DAN GOULD

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Author: dgould77

  • Acts 14

    “The same thing happened in Iconium.[a] Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 2 Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. 3 But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. 4 But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.” v. 1-4 (NLT)

    As the Gospel began to spread many people were coming into a relationship with Christ while others were turning away and rejecting the teachings and testimonies about Jesus.  Paul and Barnabas were resilient in telling others about the Lord.  One day they would be favored and the next they would be hated by the same people.  In either case, praise or cursing, or in their case stoning, Paul and Barnabas didn’t hold back from sharing.  They knew it was more important to please God than to be popular with the people . . . even if that cost them their life.

    These two men not only went to share the Good News, they developed leaders to take on the role of leading a church.

    “After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, 22 where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. 23 Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” v. 21-23 (NLT)

    Questions: Who is the next generation of leaders in The Church?  How am we, you and I, helping them take on that leadership with passion for Christ?  How could God use us to empower the Church today and tomorrow?

    God wants to use us.  Sometimes we feel inadequate, but the reality is that He can take the ordinary and do extraordinary things with them.  That’s good news for you and me.  Today, lets ask God how we can make a difference for the Kingdom today and tomorrow, for this generation and the next!

  • What a Day – Family Fun, Cussing, and a Seizure

    Yesterday started as any normal Friday does, everyone sleeping in a little, before the day get off to a start.  Stephanie had the pleasure of having lunch with Kristy who has been a huge encouragement and blessing to our family, while I had the pleasure of hanging out with the boys at Chick-fil-A FOREVER.  No it wasn’t that bad.  The boys had so much fun!

    From there we went to visit one of our students in the hospital.  If you will join us in praying for Brittany Stene, that would be awesome.  Brittany for the last year has been battling cancer and now has to battle a blood clot in/near her heart.  Praying with and hearing their story made Jackson seem very healthy.  Just reemphasizes that everyday is a gift from God, and one that should be cherished, enjoyed, and put to good use making the most of the opportunities presented.  I don’t know all that is in store for Brittany, but i do know that God is growing her faith and using her to grow the faith of her mother as well.

    Since we were in North Dallas, we decided to make our 2nd visit to North-park Mall.  This time was much different than the first visit in the fact that you could park, and walk through the mall peacefully.  We ate at PF Changs which has become one of our families favorite restaurant.  The boys love the chicken fried rice.  As we walked the mall, we did hit up some stores.  I found a good deal on some sweat pants that I wanted to try on before I bought them.  I take Josiah to the dressing room with me and as we are talking I am trying on the sweat pants, without missing a beat Josiah looks at my sweat pants and says, “Dad, you can’t buy those they are to f****** long!” . . . . . . . . yeah, that’s what I did also.  I thought maybe I had not heard him correctly so I asked him to repeat what he said!  Yep, he said exactly what I thought he said.  I know what you’re thinking, Yes, I am a pastor, and yes, he is a pastors kid.  I told him that’s a bad word and we don’t talk like that.  I tried to get him to tell me where he heard that but he couldn’t answer.  So, we are in the process of evaluating how and where he could be picking up language like this!

    Once we got home, we put the boys down for bed and then Jackson decided to have a seizure.  This is the first time that I felt like I knew what to do.  Jackson’s seizure only lasted for 3-4 minutes, it’s still 3-4 minutes to long.  After his seizure was over we took him to the ER at Centennial where he had another smaller seizure as we were walking in.  The doctors were great.  They put him on oxygen and gave him some Valium.  After 3 hours we were able to go home.  We don’t know what the nexts steps are.  Jackson has had a seizure every month at the first of the month now the last three months.  We thought we were one the up and up, but I guess we now have more questions that still need to be answered.  The Good news, Jackson is back to his normal self and already getting in to things he is not supposed to.  Please continue to pray for us as we continue the journey of finding out why he is having repeated seizures and/or get his medication under control!

  • Acts 13

    “One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.” v. 2-3

    In this passage we see Gods special calling for two men, Saul and Barnabas.  They were to go and share the good news!  Please understand that all of us have the same calling but God does appoint specific people for specific tasks.  The local church commissioned them by laying their hands on them and praying for them.  This was a special time dedicating them to Lord and encouraging them with prayer.  It doesn’t take long for them to run into challenges.  We see early that Paul has boldness and is not afraid to stand for the truth when confronting false teachers and/or devout Jews.  In both situation, Paul and Barnabas did their part, they went and shared the good news, and left the details, changing of the heart, to God.

    Today, think about what God has called you to do.  Are you doing it faithfully?  Are you giving %100?  How do you handle opposition or false beliefs and/or teachings?  All of these things play into your effectiveness of fulfilling that of which God has called you!

  • Jesus Loves ME this I know . . .

    Do you remember the song?  When Josiah was real little, this is the song that I would sing to him as I was putting him to sleep, or trying to calm him down.  Last night Jackson was having a terrible time trying to go to sleep.  I think he has some teeth coming in that is really causing him to be fussy.  So as I laid in bed holding him I started singing Jesus loves me. Within seconds, Josiah who was laying next to us, started singing also.  We must have sung the song several times and each time I was reminded of how deep and true those word are.  It made me think of the random text that a student sent me and others last night that said , Jesus love you!  Not only did I sing the song to Jackson to calm him down, I needed those words and the reminder yesterday also and it brought peace and comfort to me as well!

    Today is a new day, remember that Jesus love YOU!

  • 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!