Dan Gould

Author: dgould77

  • Soccer 101 – We are getting better!

    Last Night was Josiah’s third soccer game, one in which he played three quarters.  He is really becoming pretty good when he stays focused on the game and not playing super heroes with his friend Brandon.  But at 4 years old, what can you expect?  However, I am learning a ton through this process.  I am learning a lot about myself, Josiah, other parents, other kids, and about a game I don’t know much about.

    As a kid, we played soccer at recess but that was it.  In Jr. High and High School it wasn’t even an option.  Times have changed and I don’t have to drive very far to see kids of all ages playing soccer.  This year is Josiah’s first year to play.  We have been working on dribbling the ball, kicking without falling down, and stealing the ball, (this is the simplest since I just tell him to try to get it from me, he thinks its a game).  These things seem to be working because he is getting better.  Words can’t explain how much fun it is for me to watch him have fun on the field. In fact, on Saturday, Stephanie and I even talked about possibly coaching Josiah’s soccer team next year. (scary I know)  Not that we are any better than the Coach that Josiah has this year, but hopefully the learning curve is not to big.  After all, I have a good resource with teenagers who could help us coach and make up for our lack of knowledge!  Could be an adventure!

  • Matthew 20:1-16

    “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage[a] and sent them out to work.

    3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.

    6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’

    7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’

    “The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’

    8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

    13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

    16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

    From the NLT Life Application Study Bible:

    This parable is not about rewards but about salvation.  It is a strong teaching about grace,  God’s generosity.  We shouldn’t begrudge those who turn to God in the last moments of life, because, in reality, no one deserves eternal life.

    Many people we don’t expect to see in the Kingdom will be there.  The criminal who repented as he was dying will be there along with the people who have believed and served God for many years.  Do you resent God’s gracious acceptance of the despised, the outcast, and the sinners who have turned to him for forgiveness?  Have you ever been of what God has given to another person?  Instead, focus on God’s gracious benefits to you, and be thankful for what you have.

  • Anniversary

    Today marks the 1 year Anniversary of this blog.  Thanks to all that read, pray, comment, and follow, the things going on from the inside out as I journey through this thing called life.  So far here’s what has happened on the blog

    Blog Stats

    Total views: 12,796
    Busiest day: 804 — Thursday, July 24, 2008
    Posts: 479

    Top 10 Post

    Summer Camp
    Healer – Michael Guglielmucci Confession
    Preacher Faked Illness?
    It’s Official . . . our house is on the
    Mexico Day 2 – Student Perspectives
    If I had a daughter . . .
    Mexico Day 6 – Student Perspectives
    Mexico Day 3 – Student Perspectives
    Weekend Rewind – Student Baptisms
    Prayer for Jackson

  • Mark 10:17-31

    “As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” v.17

    Have you ever asked this question.  If you haven’t it is a question you should consider asking.  In this passage we know that this man had a lot of money and seemed to be a good person because he was doing a lot of good things.  But Jesus tells him it wasn’t enough and that he needed to sell all of his possessions to the poor in order for him to have eternal life.

    So does that mean that all a person has to do is be good and sell all thier stuff?  No.  Jesus explains this later with these verses,

    “’Yes,’” Jesus replied, ‘and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.’” v. 29-31

    Having eternal life comes from having a relationship with Christ.  Being a Christ Follower, is not necessarily made up of a check list of things I do and things I don’t.  Yes, these things can be good, but being a Christ Follower means that I am completely sold out to Christ.  Being sold out means that nothing stands in the way of my relationship with Him.  The question that has to be asked is this, I am willing to give up everything for Him and the sake of the Gospel.  The way you answer this will tell you a lot about what yourself and your relationship with God.  Jesus is teaching that there should be nothing that stands in the way of a relationship with him! This is what it means to be sold out and that’s the type of person I want to be.

    Today, is there anything you are holding on to that might be getting in the way of your relationship with Jesus?  Are you willing to give it up for His sake and the sake of the Gospel?

  • Jackson @ the Plano Balloon Festival 08

    Jackson video premier.  Here he is at the Plano Balloon Festival watching fireworks and dancing to “I love Rock and Roll”

    Vodpod videos no longer available.

    more about “Jackson @ the Plano Balloon Festival 08“, posted with vodpod

  • Plano Balloon Festival 08

    What a night. This was our second year to attend Plano Balloon Festival and we had a great night.  Josiah Jumped on a trampoline with bungee cords attached, we ate carnival food, watched Hot Air Balloons, Sky Divers, and Fireworks, all while hanging out as a family with some good friends.  I think Everyone had fun!

  • Mizzou Raw!

    Buffalo at (5) Missouri

    It’s happening this afternoon at Mizzou’s Faurot Field Columbia , MO. The nation’s No. 1 ranked offense takes the field in its last non conference game when Missouri hosts Buffalo. Chase Daniel continues his Heisman push as he’s tossed 10 TDs.  Hope I can find a station here in Texas to watch it!!

  • Go Hawks!

    The boys were at it early today with pre-game team pictures and then the game.  Josiah was so excited all week!  His highlight real included stealing the ball, running all the way down field to have one of his team mates steal it at the last minute to kick it in the goal!

    Josiah is such a team player that he still gave two thumbs up after it happened!  I am so proud of him.  He is really getting pretty good.

  • Mark 10:1-12

    “But Jesus responded, ‘He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts. 6 But ‘God made them male and female’[b] from the beginning of creation. 7 ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife,[c] 8 and the two are united into one.’[d] Since they are no longer two but one,9 let no one split apart what God has joined together.’” v. 5-8

    The Pharisees are trying once again to trick/corner Jesus by asking a controversial question.  This time the question is centered around the concept of Divorce.  If you have ever experienced divorce you know how difficult it is.  The Pharisees looked at divorce more as a legal matter where Jesus addresses it more as a spiritual matter.  Here is what the Life Application Study Notes said today,

    God allowed divorce as a concession to people’s sinfulness.  Unfortunately, the Pharisees used Deuteronomy 24:1 as a proof text for the sanctioning of divorce.  Jesus explained that divorce was not God’s ideal; instead, God wants married people to consider their marriage permanent.  Don’t enter marriage with the option of getting out.  Tour marriage is more likely to be happy if from the outset you are committed to permanence.  Don’t be hardhearted like these Pharisees, but be hardhearted in your determination, with God’s help, to stay together.

    That said, we know that in our world, divorce is sometimes necessary (for physical survival, for well-being of children, etc.).  Jesus clearly gave God’s ideal for marriage priority over Moses’ permission for divorce.  Jesus did not cancel Moses’ teaching, however.  For possible exceptions, see Matthew 5:32 and 19:9, where Jesus permitted divorce when the spouse had been unfaithful; and 1 Corinthians 7:15, where Paul recognized divorce when the unbelieving partner leaves the marriage.  Divorce is wrong; it serves a holy union.  But divorce is permitted.  Jesus did not elaborate on the permissible reason, but his high view of marriage surely requires that divorce be a last resort to avoid greater disaster.

  • A Showing!!!

    Tomorrow (Friday) our house is being shown for the first time!  If you have time to say a prayer we would appreciate it.