Dan Gould

Author: dgould77

  • Acts 11

    “Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers[a] in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God.  But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers[b] criticized him.  “You entered the home of Gentiles[c] and even ate with them!” they said.  Then Peter told them exactly what had happened.” v. 1-4 (NLT)

    The power of a testimony!  Peter has been opposed by the others for his interaction with Gentiles, since it was customary for Jews not to interact with them in the manner that Peter had done.  But then Peter shared what God had laid on his heart and what he saw God do through him.  As the others heard what God had done they celebrated among each other and had a change of heart.

    The lesson for you and I is this:  Our stories of Gods work in our lives is powerful!  When we share with others what God is doing in us, it allows them to see evidence of Gods work.  You have a story.  Maybe your story is about coming to know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior; maybe your story includes something that God is teaching you; or, maybe your story hasn’t been written completely and you are still checking to see if you can believe that Jesus who He says He is.  In this journey, wherever you are, don’t be afraid to ask God for help.  Be sensitive to His leading, spend time with Him daily and you will have more than enough stories to share with others about what God is doing in your life!

    Bible Fact – Antioch was the first place that the believers were called Christians – which means “little Christ”.

  • Acts 10

    “In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer[a] named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. ‘Cornelius!’ the angel said.

    4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. ‘What is it, sir?’ he asked the angel.

    And the angel replied, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! 5 Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter.’”  v.1-5 (NLT)

    From this passage we learn that Cornelius is a God fearing man who prays and gives to the poor.  It would be easy to assume that he had a relationship with God.  As we read further, we find out that he doesn’t and in response to the message of Christ, Cornelius and his family receive the Holy Spirit and are baptized to identify themselves with Christ.  This is huge for the early church.  Perhaps the greatest barrier to the spread of the Good News in the first century was the Jewish-Gentile conflict.  Most of the early believers were Jewish, and they thought it scandalous to even think of associating with Gentiles.  But God told Peter to take the Good News to a Roman, and Peter obeyed despite his background and personal feelings.  God was making it clear that the Good News of Christ is for everyone!  We should not allow any barrier – language, culture, race, geography, economic level, or educational level – keep us from telling others about Christ.

    Cornelius was religious, devoted, generous, respected, and sincere.  However, he was still spiritually separated from God.  Because he needed to understand the Gospel, God sent Peter to present to him the truth about salvation.  Be careful not to equate earnestness with righteousness before God.  We are brought into right standing with God by faith in Christ alone.  Have you trusted in Jesus?  Are you sharing with others, even those who seem religious, the truth that Christ is the only way to God? – NLT Life Application Study Bible

  • New Pics on Facebook

    Over the weekend I uploaded a ton of pictures to my facebook profile.  There are several albums from Grace and then some old school albums from FBCWBURG.  It was neat to go down memory lane and see students that have been involved in our ministry over the years.  God has done some awesome things in both places and I am excited to see what He does next!!!

    Fusion Pics 08

    Fusion – Wild Week 08

    Fusion – Mexico Mission 08 pt. 1

    Fusion – Mexico Mission 08 pt.2

    Fusion – Random Event 08

    Student Life Ministries Pics 2001-2007

    SLM of FBCWBURG 01-07 – Random

    SLM of FBCWBURG – Volunteers 01-07

    SLM of FBCWBURG – The Stand 01-07

    SLM of FBCWBURG – Wild Week 04 pt. 1

    SLM of FBCWBURG – Wild Week 04 pt. 2

    SLM of FBCWBURG – B2S Retreat 05 pt. 1

    SLM of FBCWBURG – Wild Week 05-06

    SLM of FBCWBURG – NYC 05

    SLM of FBCWBURG – B2S Retreat 06 pt. 2

    SLM of FBCWBURG – B2S Retreat 06 pt. 1

    SLM of FBCWBURG – New Orleans 06

    5 Year Anniversary at SLM of FBCWBURG

  • Acts 9

    “As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

    5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.

    And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.‘” v. 3-6 (NLT)

    In this passage we see Saul’s encounter with Christ.  At this time Saul had made it his personal mission to persecute those that were proclaiming Christ.  Many followers of Christ had scattered because of Saul’s mission to silence the message of Christ.  As Saul was on his way to Damascus, something radical happened that changed his life forever, he had a real personal encounter with God!  As Jesus spoke, Saul listened, and after this encounter would become one of the greatest and most influential followers of Christ the Church has ever seen.  We know him today as the Apostle Paul.

    Saul had a radical encounter with Christ, Light from Heaven, Voice from Heaven, Blind for three days, and a change of Heart!  Not every encounter with Jesus happens this way.  Sometimes Jesus speaks to us in a small still voice.  But the fact that He speaks and changes our heart is still radical and leads to this question . . .
    Have you had a radical encounter with Jesus?

    As we begin 2009, let Christ make you a new person.  He can change every heart, even yours!

    I would love to hear your story about how you came to know Christ, you can read mine here!

  • 2008 Rewind – Retreats and Events

    Last night we brought in the New Year in a big way!  We had so much fun hanging out.  I have never seen so many cameras at onetime until Austin started shaving my head.  It’s sad that this would be the thing that got everyone excited.  So yes, 2008 we said goodbye to some great retreats!  Student Life, Planet Wisdom, and the Back 2 School Retreat were off the chain.  I also said goodbye to my hair (hope it grows back).  I am sure some picks will be posted later at which time I will post some of the sad moments on here so you can insert random pocks at my expense!  I am not bitter I promise!

    Enjoy these two video that highlight some of the things we were able to experience as a ministry together in 2008.  We do have two retreats coming in February.  You will be sad if you miss them so get the info here!

  • 2008 Rewind – Mexico Mission Trip

    What an experience!!! We saw God move in our group and in the kids and adults we were blessed to hang out with.  We are already working on this years trip, adding a puppet show and a couple of teen services to the format.  If you went last year you know what to expect and are probably planning on returning.  If you didn’t go last year, check out the video and make plans to join us June 13-22, 2009.  You will be so glad you did!

  • 2008 Rewind – Small Groups

    If you haven’t connected with a small group yet . . . you are missing out!  This year we have moved all of our small groups to homes and they are awesome!  We have great leaders that would love to get to know you and encourage you.  We are only halfway through the year so its not to late to get connected.  They will start again Wednesday January 7th 2009.  Click here for more info. Check out the video to see what has happened so far . . .

  • 2008 Rewind – Wild Week

    What a great week, the beach, Lambert’s, the ocean (with jelly fish . . . boooo) sand volleyball, condos, awesome worship, Ken Freeman, Kacy Benson, Nick Thurmond, Baptisms in the Ocean, and a 13 hour bus ride.  Wild Week 08 at Orange Beach has to be one of the best camp experiences I have ever had.  Our group grew closer to God and each other.  God did awesome things in each persons life that week.  If you did get to go to Wild Week last year, make plans to go this year when we invade camp wow in Oklahoma for Wild Week 09 July 7th-11th.  For more info click here!

    Here’s a video of some snap shots from last years experience!

  • Acts 8:26-40

    “As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Go south[b] down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

    29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and walk along beside the carriage.’”                v. 26-29 (NLT)

    Two different times with two different assignments Phillip was told to go and do something for the Lord.  Because of his obedience, we see that God used Phillip in a big way to explain the Gospel to an Ethiopian Eunuch, who in return, would be taking the Gospel to Ethiopia.  The thing I notice is that Phillip didn’t hesitate, he didn’t question if that is what God really said or really wanted him to do, he didn’t say I’ll get to that right after I am done with this, no, when God spoke, he listened and obeyed!   He went where the Lord sent!

    Have you ever heard or felt the Lord telling you to go somewhere or do something?  How did you respond?  Did you listen and go like Phillip or did you question and wait, or maybe even ignore feeling inadequate or scared.  As we begin 2009, lets listen to Gods voice and go wherever He leads!  It could be a radical adventure that we never expected!

  • Weekend Review – 2008

    What a year!  Wild Week, Student Life, Mexico Mission Trip, Planet Wisdom, B2S Bash, B2S Retreat, and this is just the big events.  2008 was an awesome year for Fusion!  God did an amazing work in each of us.  Some came to know Him as their Lord and Savior, while others made new commitments to Him, but all of us were challenged with the reality of the Gospel!  This last weekend we highlighted 6 areas from out ministry and heard stories from students and watched videos of what took place at these events.  It was so good hearing each student share what they liked about the event, what God taught them or is teaching them, and how they encouraged others to get involved.  We have some very cool things in store for 2009.  I cant wait to see what God does and how He shapes us to be more like Christ.

    Here are the 6 things we highlighted today.

    2008 REWIND

    1.    Random Events!
    Dates for 2009 – http://www.gracefusion.com
    Cost: $5-$20

    2.    Retreats!
    Dates for 2009 – February
    Cost: $120 if registered on time

    3.    Wild Week!
    Dates for 2009 – July 7th-11th
    Cost: $315 if registered on time

    4.    Mexico Mission Trip!
    Dates for 2009 – June 13th-20th
    Cost: $400.00 if registered on time

    5.    Small Groups!
    Dates for 2009 – January 7th-May 27th
    Cost: FREE

    6.    Baptisms!
    Dates for 2009 – Anytime
    Cost: FREE

    I will be posting a different video each day over the next 5 days so check back to watch the videos from each highlighted event.  I’ll start today with a baptism video.  This didn’t capture all of the baptisms but here are a few from this past year.