Dan Gould

Author: dgould77

  • Christmas Eve at Grace

    As Christmas winds down, the kids are sleeping and it’s the first time I have had a chance to write in the last 48 hours.  Christmas is always a busy time for us, but this year, adding 5 days of rehearsals because I was asked to play Joseph for the Nativity at Grace Community Church and then 8 hours on Christmas Eve, with 3 services,  made it even busier.  However, this Christmas will definitely be one I will never forget!  It truly was humbling to play the role of Joseph, and really brought a different perspective to Christmas for me this year.  Even though the rehearsals seemed long, and I tended to get in trouble, or be a distraction, and I had to grow the beard and hair out, I had a great time.  I pray that God was able to use it to bless all that attended the services on Christmas Eve!  Here are some pics from the 6:00 service

  • Lessons for a 4 year old: Stealing is Wrong

    Today, we took Jackson to get some test run and while we were there Josiah played with the toys in the waiting room like always.   No big deal right!  Well when we got home I happened to notice that Josiah had a car from the doctors office.  When I saw the car I asked him how it got home with us?  He said, “I put it in my pocket because I wanted it.”  As I looked at him, I was saddened that he would do this, but knew it was a teaching moment.  We talked through why it was wrong for him to take the car and how we needed to take the car back after Christmas.  I know there will need to be some follow up conversations because after he figured out we weren’t taking the car back until after Christmas his next question was, “well can I play with it until we give it back?”

    Being a Dad is a big responsibility.  As our boys grow up it is going to cause us to really watch how we raise them by what we model, and teach with our actions and words.  I don’t believe Josiah thought anything was wrong with him taking the car, but the lesson is one that I would rather teach earlier than later.

  • Acts 8:1-25

    “But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.” v. 4 (NLT)

    After the stoning of Steven, Saul who agreed with Stephens stoning went from house to house putting Christ Followers in jail.  This caused the early church to spread out into other areas of that region because of persecution.  People were leaving Jerusalem and moving to other towns for safety.  Thus again fulfilling what Jesus said,

    “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)

    Even though the early church was scattering because of persecution it didn’t stop the early believers from sharing the Good News.  Because of their commitment and boldness, the church kept growing.  People were turning from their sin and coming into a relationship with God.  God was using ordinary people to bring the extraordinary message of Christ to others and He desires to use you and I in the same ways.

    The Real Question for us Today is: Are we, you and I, willing to tell others about Jesus wherever we go? Why or why not?

  • Friday Frenzy

    After a rough start we ended up having a great day yesterday as a family.  We took Jackson to an allergist to rule out or find out if he was allergic to anything that could be causing him to have pneumonia so often.  If you have never taken your child to an allergist be thankful, after the pokes were finally done he did ok!  We found out the he has no allergies but the things that were high were dogs and cats.  We have both!  The doctor said we didn’t have to get rid of them though, that was was good news.

    The rest of the afternoon was filled with lunch, a little shopping (very little praise Jesus), a haircut for Stephanie (is that what women call it) and then off to see Santa.

    I have to say, the Village at Allen has the best place for  Santa, filled with, real reindeer, elves and a large fake Christmas tree!  There are several place to take other photos also.  Next year we will go here to take Christmas Card pics unless we use the tree at Grace.  Lucky for us it was in the 70’s yesterday so it was perfect to be outside and wait in line to have pictures taken with the Jolly old Man.  If we were to do it again, we would go a night so you don’t see the cars in the background through the fireplace.  You probably don’t notice it but that what happens when you have a perfectionist mentality!   We ended the day at Pete Pipers Pizza, which is like Chuck E Cheese and got home to open a package full of Christmas Gifts for the boys from my MOM, Grandma Sheila!

    We are getting ready for Christmas, family coming in, and Christmas less than a week away.  I have been asked to be Joseph for the Nativity this year so I have been growing out the facial hair, (I hate it).  I have my first rehearsal today at 1pm.  Hate the beard but excited to do it!

    Here are some pics from our adventures.

  • A Sad Celebration

    Today was Josiah’s Christmas Party at Grace.  This year has been a hard year for him given all the things that have been happening around him.  The party was filled with Cake, juice, presents and parents.  The kids had such a good time.  Afterward, Mrs. Janet passed out gifts, I expected a little gift but Josiah walked away with a little Bible, a transformer, and a snow globe Manger.  Mrs. Janet and Mrs. Erin really went out of their way to make this party special for each kid.  Thank you so much!!!!

    However, today marked the last day that Josiah will have Mrs. Janet as his teacher.  He has taken it really well so far, and even though she was dying on the inside she held her composure today.  It had to be hard for her because her love for these kids oozes out of her.  As a parent, I have seen Josiah learn so much just from Mrs. Janet’s way of teaching, especially the Bible Stories!  The next teacher has some big shoes to fill.  Mrs. Janet will be greatly missed!

    Thank you Mrs. Janet for your faithful service to Grace Community Church and the “Funky Frogs”!!!

  • Acts 7

    “You stubborn people! You are heathen[l] at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”

    54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage.[m] 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

    57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him 58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.[n]

    59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.”             v. 51-60 (NLT)

    Have you ever had to take a stand for Christ where you didn’t know the outcome would be?  In America, we don’t know what it is like to fear loosing our life because we are Christians.  We think we experience extreme persecution when someone rejects us or mocks us for Christ.  While in other parts of our world people die because of the name of Christ.   Stephen is the first Christian who is killed for his faith.  He didn’t hold back and shared the truth with boldness, regardless of the outcome.

    What would it look like if we had boldness like Stephen taking a stand for Christ no matter the cost?  What does that look like for us in the workplace, at school, in our neighborhood.  We may never have a life or death situation, but everyday we have an opportunity to represent Christ to those around us.  When those moment arise may we step out in faith and trust that the Holy Spirit will guide our word and actions.

  • Christmas DVD

    For the last couple of years we have made a DVD of pictures with music in the back ground to give to family members as Christmas Gifts.  This years dvd will be no different but it will include a section titled Hospital.  It was pretty hard to make when I realize how many times we have been there with Jackson.  I am excited about the DVD but this section was challenging!

  • Acts 6

    “But as the believers[a] rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.”              v. 1 (NLT)

    The church is growing and God is moving but yet there are Rumblings of discontent!  Sadly many churches have people who feel discontent toward their church.  Why?  Great question, that probably has many answers.  However in this situation, the rumblings were caused by the lack of communication do to some language barriers.  It was easily fixed by appointing others to take on a new task in the early church.  By doing this, it allowed the Apostles to continue to teach, and gave others a chance to serve.

    The question for us today is two fold. As leaders, how are we dealing with disontented people?  Is there an opportunity for others to get involved to solve the problem?  As believers, lets do our best to make situations better not worse.  Satan wants nothing more than to divide the church and we have to work hard to protect it’s unity.  If you see a situation that you don’t agree with or don’t understand, find out ways you can help by getting involved.  Maybe God could use you like he did these people in this passage so the Church can continue to move forward seeing many come to know Christ.

  • Weekend Review – Big Give pt 4

    give

    This week was week 4 of the Big Give!!  God has really been doing some neat things in our time.  Our students really engaged in worship this week.  Both service were intense!!  Fish Throw created a fun little crowd activity. Out of both services a girl threw the fish the furthest.  (by the way, you have to dangle the fish by the tail from your mouth and swing your head to throw it.)

    Here is what we challenged the students with this weekend,

    THE BIG GIVE
    Where to Give?
    December 14th, 2008


    “Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!” Proverbs 21:26 (NLT)

    WHERE DO I GIVE?

    1.    Give where there is A NEED!
    “Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’” Mark 1:41 (NLT)

    “Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” Mark 6:34 (NLT)
    The Key: See where God is WORKING and JOIN HIM!

    2.    Give where you are PASSIONATE!
    “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.  There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.  God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NLT)
    Spiritual Gifts
    Heart
    Abilities
    Personality
    Experiences
    The Key: Know YOURSELF, and GET INVOLVED!

    3.    Give where you can make AN IMPACT!
    “He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few.  So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.’” Matthew 9:37-38 (NLT)
    The Key: Just Do SOMETHING!

  • Acts 5:17-42

    “But Peter and the apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross.[b] 31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. 32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.’” v. 30-32 (NLT)

    Faith Under Fire! The Apostles have been imprisoned because of their teachings about Christ.  When questioned again, after being put in jail and released by an Angel of the Lord, Peter, without regard, tells the council that they will not be quiet and it is better for them to please the Lord and do what He says than to please the Council and stop teaching about Christ and using the power that is found in His Name.

    The Apostles had a bold faith!  They understood that they could be killed for what they were teaching and doing, but it didn’t stop them.  They had a reckless abandonment for Jesus!  Nothing else could compare to Him, or stop them from telling others about Him.  They would rather please God then please man.

    Sometimes you cant please both God and man!  When this happens, it is better to please God and trust in His promise found in Luke 6:22

    “What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man.” Luke 6:22 (NLT)