DAN GOULD

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Author: dgould77

  • Roamns 8:1-17

    “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”  v. 5-8 (NLT)

    What do you find yourself thinking about?  I guess you could say it depends on where you are at the moment, and that would be a correct statement.  However, every moment is filled with a choice.  The choices we make in the moment will determine our actions and reveal what we are thinking.  Because of our sinful nature we are bent to think about sinful things over Spiritual things, but in order to be the person God has called us to be we have to change the way we think and begin to think about Spiritual things.

    Today, when moments happen, stop and think about what you should do, how you should respond, what you should be thinking about.  Don’t miss the opportunity to allow the Spirit to lead you, convict you, encourage you, empower you, or use you.  Remember, our goal is to become more like Christ everyday, and today we have the opportunity to take our thoughts captive and turn them into something pleasing to God!

  • NO SMALL GROUPS TONIGHT FOR FUSION

    Since School is Canceled today we are canceling small groups tonight!!!  Enjoy the break and we will see you Saturday at the Grace Fusion Bowl or Sunday for Weekend Worship!!!

  • Romans 5:1-11

    Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

    3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

    6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

    Ever faced a challenge, problem, or temptation?  How did you handle it?  In this passage, Paul encourages us to remember who we are in Christ and to not lose heart under difficult situations.  Seek the Lord and He will grow you and develop you into the person He wants you to become!  Take heart, pray and seek the Lord, He is with you!

  • I have a confession . . .

    I really was disappointed with the Lost Season opener until I realized we only caught the last hour of the season opener!  I must retract my disappointment, after watching the first hour, a lot of things made since again, thank goodness for hulu and ABC Internet TV!!!

  • You’re my Father

    Today as I was getting Joe ready for school (he was complaining about going, he’s only 4, we have a long way to go at this rate) he asked if I could give him a piggyback ride up to his room to get some clothes.  I was going to say no but instead, I asked him why?  He answered without hesitation and said, “Because you are my Father!”

    The moment he said that my heart was filled with joy and instantly my mind changed from saying, “no” to saying, “get on and lets go!”

    At first I thought it was no big deal.   But as I drove to the church today, I couldn’t stop thinking about how big that statement was and how it relates to my relationship with God.

    Josiah had no reservation about asking me for what he wanted.  In his world I am his dad and why wouldn’t I give him a piggyback ride?  It’s kinda a no brain-er.  But then when I heard him acknowledge me as his father it made my heart swell with joy and I wanted to give him what he was asking for!

    So here’s the lesson.  I have a Heavenly Father that wants to bless me more than I could ever try to bless my son, all I need to do is ask.

    Why ask . . . Because He is my Father!!

  • Purpose Driven Youth Ministry Conferenece!

    Hope you are making plans to attend the PDYM Conference March 24-27 at Saddleback Church!  This year it’s going to be in the new Students Center called the Refinery!  It truly is one of the best conferences when it comes to practical student ministry.   It’s going to be off the chain!  Hope to see ya there!

  • Acts 24-28

    “‘But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. 15 I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.” 21:14-16 (NLT)

    When the odds are against you what do you do?  Paul, doesn’t back down and stands on the Truth of the Gospel, not just once but several times in front of several officials and a King.  Each time he declares what he believes and how Jesus changed his life.  Because no-one can find it worthy to kill Paul as the Jewish leaders desire, they choose to hold him in prison, set another trial with a different leader, and the finally send him to Rome to be heard by Caesar.  In this time, he is held as a prisoner, is involved in a ship wreck, bitten by a snake, heals the sick, teaches about Christ, and writes most of the New Testament.  It would have been easy for Paul to give up, but the good news for you and I is the fact that he doesn’t.  Because of his faithfulness to the Lord, Paul’s letters are still impacting people today!

    Paul faced extreme odds!  He could have given up and thrown a pity party, woe is me, but instead he took advantage of every situation by remaining faithful and sharing the truth with his words, spoken and written.  When the odds are against you, what do you do?

  • Why do bad things happen to good people?

    Today I have the privilege of introducing Brad White as a guest writer.  He is a member at Grace and founder of Deeper Bible Studies.  Make sure you check out the site after you read this post!!!

    Many non-Christians and agnostics reject God and Christianity by posing this seemingly unsolvable question…positioning God as mean, unforgiving, wrathful, and apparently devoid of love and compassion. You’ll hear statements like “I can’t believe in a God that is that cruel”. The question is actually easily answered and souls can be saved by answering it with confidence. However, before you can answer that question, you must first ask who is good and who sets the standard for what is good?

    Popular culture and non-Christians would suggest that if you aren’t a thief or you don’t go around killing people…then you are basically good. And “IF” there is an afterlife, you’ll probably get a free pass; a “Go directly to heaven” card.

    That’s a nice thought, but it’s simply not biblical truth. If that’s what you believe…then who or what is the source of your truth? Who makes the decision of who to pass judgment on and who says you can go to heaven?  Do YOU decide? Hardly! That would be like a convicted criminal making the decision regarding whether he can be let out of prison.

    So, who makes the call? God does! It’s God’s heaven (or home) and He makes the rules. Ever hear the saying “My house, my rules!” In heaven, God sets the standard for who and what is good.

    So, what is God’s standard for who and what is good? The Ten Commandments are a good start. But read the words of Jesus Christ who adds in John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” If you don’t love one another, then you have broken a command of God.

    Jesus adds in Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” If you look at the opposite sex with lust in your eyes, you have already committed adultery, and broken a command of God.

    Jesus says in Matthew 5:23-24 that “…if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. ” This passage suggests that repairing relationships and resolving conflicts between family members and neighbors is GOOD, and even more important than offering gifts to God.

    In other words, your good works, gifts, donations, and tithes are worth nothing if you hate or envy your neighbor or harbor resentment for another person. In this way, Jesus helps us define “Good” in God’s eyes as getting along with and resolving differences with other people. If you are angry with someone else, or harbor resentment, or neglect to repair a broken relationship….you are not acting in accordance with God’s will and favor.

    So, do these things make you a “bad” person, or can you still be a basically “good” person?

    Christians believe there is only one person who ever walked the earth that was PERFECT: Jesus Christ. The Pope, Gandhi, Buddha, Jesus’ Mother Mary, and Mother Teresa all have one thing in common…they were not perfect. Only Jesus Christ was perfect.

    So, what does Jesus Christ say on this issue? Mark 10:17-18. “As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good–except God alone.’” So, if the only perfect human said that no one is good, what does that suggest about us?

    The answer? None of us are good in God’s eyes. Only through Jesus Christ are we made acceptable to God. Jesus Christ holds the key to our eternal salvation and eternal life with God in heaven.

    OK, so back to the question. If God sets the standard for what is good. And by this standard none of us are good. Then, the question actually needs to be re-phrased: Why do bad things happen to bad people?

    Answer: God’s judgment on a selfish, Godless people, is just and true. When people don’t live according to His holy and perfect standard, his judgment is holy, sovereign, and true. Just as good and responsible parents discipline unruly and defiant children, so God disciplines his children. And this is an act of love, not hate.

    So, is God mean, unforgiving, wrathful and devoid of love and compassion? Certainly Not!

    John 3:16…. “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God loves you and me so much that even though we are completely hopeless and unworthy in our own right, he died for us, to save us, so he can be in intimate relationship with us. That is the biblical definition of love.

    1 John 3:16… “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” God IS love and the source of all love.

    So, what’s a better question to ask? God, will you please forgive me of my sins, through your son Jesus Christ? Lord Jesus, I accept the sacrifice you made for me on the cross, and I believe that you are resurrected from the grave so that I can have a new life in you. Lord will you come into my life and work to make me holy, clean, and acceptable to God almighty? Lord, I give you my life! Amen!

    Copyright © 2008 DBS Company. All rights reserved.

  • LOST – Season Opener

    LOST has been our favorite TV show for almost 4 years now.  However, I am losing interest in it for a couple of reasons.

    1. The short season!  It’s been almost a year since the last episode and the new episode that aired last night (which I might say was a disappointment).  I remember the hype, excitement, and buzz that use to be around in the first 3 seasons, but now, with all the time in between, I think people have gotten interested in other shows that are more consistent and provide the same type of drama, action, and suspense.
    2. Season Opener!  I don’t know when they filmed it, but it didn’t meet my expectation of what it was going to be.  Since leaving the Island I think its been hard to adjust to the way the characters who we loved and cheered for, are now depressing and messed up.  I did like that we got to see what was going on on the island last night with the others.

    It will be interesting what happens next week!  Maybe my expectation and excitement were just too high for last night.  I am not throwing in the towel but hope it gets better as the season moves along!

  • Acts 23

    “Gazing intently at the high council,[a] Paul began: ‘Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!’” v. 1 (NLT)

    What a statement!  Paul says he has a clear conscience, and he is not ashamed of the way he lives.  That’s confidence; and he has that confidence because he lives pure before the Lord.

    How about you?  Can you say you have always lived before God with a clear conscience?  Is purity something you pursue?  Lets take a test

    • Do you have a clear conscience about the things you watch on TV, the Movies you see, or the Music you listen to?
    • Do you have a clear conscience about the conversations you have publicly and privately?
    • Do you have a clear conscience about your actions and reactions to people or situations?
    • Do you have a clear conscience about your private life as well as your public life?

    I am sure the list could go on, but the goal for us is to become more like Christ!  Let’s begin and be reminded that we have this awesome opportunity to walk with God, to be used by God, and to see God do great things, but we have to be ready for it.  If we are living in ways that aren’t pure we limit our experience with God, lesson our effectiveness for His Kingdom, and live with out a clear conscience.  This in return steals our joy, peace, and confidence.

    Today, let’s examine ourselves, and begin to live pure in a dirty world!