Dan Gould

Author: dgould77

  • Luke 18:1-14

    Then the Lord said, ‘Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man[a] returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?’” v. 6-8

    How often do you pray for the things that are disturbing you, once, twice, more?  The lady was relentless in her request for justice and the unjust judge answered her request.

    God cares so deeply for us and wants us to bring our request to Him so He can answer them.  Yes we tend to go to God in the bad times, but God also wants us to go to Him in the good times with thanksgiving.  What Jesus is really teaching here is an attitude of prayer and the victory that we will see one day when He returns and God brings justice.  It is going to happen, do you believe?  So the questions I am asking myself and would pose to you are these – Hows my/your prayer life?  How could it be better?  What need to change?

  • Paranoid!?!

    Have you ever been there?  I guess this is a form of worry, but ever since our last Hospital visit with Jackson, I have not been sleeping well.  It’s almost like I dread the evenings coming because most of our bad experiences have happened in the late evening/early morning.  I find myself watching his every move, feeling to see if he is breathing ok, or checking to see if he has a fever.  It typically starts about the time he is wanting to go to sleep.  It almost seems as if I sleep with one eye open.  If I do by chance wake up, I always check on him.  I am hoping that this is a short lived phase that doesn’t linger so I can get some good sleep with confidence that he is ok.

  • Luke 17:20-37

    “If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. 34 That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.[e]” v. 33-35

    Jesus is coming back.  When, no-one knows the exact time but, but if he came today, would you be ready?  Here are some thoughts from the NLT Life Application Study Bible,

    Life will be going on as usual on the day Christ returns.  No warning will sound.  Most people will be going about their everyday tasks, indifferent to the demands of God.  They will be as surprised by Christ’s return as the people in Noah’s day were by the Flood. (Genesis 6-8) or the people in Lot’s day by the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19).  We don’t know the time of Christ’s return, but we do know that He is coming.  He may come today, tomorrow, or centuries in the future.  Whenever Christ comes, we must be morally and spiritually ready.  Live as Jesus were returning today.

    When I read this I can’t help but think of this song and how it impacted me as an 18 year old soaking up and discovering what it truly meant to be a Christ Follower.  Going a little old school but the message and words are so powerful!

  • Luke 17:1-19

    “One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 2 It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. 3 So watch yourselves!’” v. 1-3

    Powerful words this morning!  Temptation is everywhere!  Just because you become a Christ Follower, doesn’t mean you won’t be tempted, in fact, the temptation to sin may increase because Satan still wants to have control of your life.  He knows if he can keep you trapped in sin it will lesson your effectiveness to lead others to Christ and to experience the peace of Christ.  Jesus says that we are to watch ourselves!

    We are to watch the way we live, this includes the way we talk and the way we act.  It also includes the things we watch, listen too, and do.  Our life is on display for others.  Lets not cause someone else to sin because they justify it by our lifestyle.  Now that doesn’t mean we have to walk around on eggshells, but we should be aware of the impact that we have on others and make the most of every opportunity!

  • Weekend Review

    Well last week was a week of sickness in the Gould home.  It seems like this month has just been an unhealthy month for us.  On Monday Night Jackson was throwing up, Wednesday Night Josiah, Thursday should have been me, but I hate throwing up, but Saturday takes the cake.  I felt like death.  Couldn’t even move without wanting to vomit, then Sunday, guess who, yep Mom (aka Stephanie was sick)  So all of us have had it and hope it stops there because I don’t want a repeat!

    However, the weekend services must carry on and they did.  Lucky for me, we are developing a teaching team in Fusion and I was able to pass the baton to Marti late Saturday Night and she did an awesome job!!!!  We started a new series on Habits encouraging students to start some.  From what I have been told is everything went well.  Worship was great and students paid attention for the most part.  I’ve been told there were two that were really a distraction. If you are reading this you should feel bad and repent!  You know who you are!!!  🙂  Anyhow, attendance was up and God is moving!  Its so awesome!!!  If you are a teenager you should come check it out, if you are a parent of a teenager, you should encourage them to check it out, if you are a random reader of this blog, well, pray that God would give our ministry a passion for Him like no other!

  • John 11:1-44

    “But when Jesus heard about it he said, ‘Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.’ 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days.” v. 4-6

    Does God allow bad things to happen?  That probably isn’t a fair question because we could go around and round about what we define as bad. But in this case Jesus allowed Lazarus to die so that God could be glorified when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

    We have to understand that bad things happen!  Many times they happen because of the fallen world we live in.  But maybe a bad situation has happened to bring Glory to God.  This could sound morbid if you look at this the wrong way, but what if God used the loss of a loved one to get your attention?  Would that not be used to bring Him Glory?  What if God used the illness of a Child to remind you of His Unfailing Love and Faithfulness?  Would that not build your Faith.  God can use bad situations to bring people to a closer relationship with Him or realization of Him.  Sometimes it takes a situation like this for us to stop and realize how much we need God, thus giving Him Glory.

    Join the Conversation – Has God used a bad situation to get your attention, to grow you as a believer, or to convict you of a sin?  Would you share with others so God could be Glorified?

    “Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.[e] Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?’” v. 25-26

  • Savior King – Hillsong

    As I have been listing to the Hillsong United “I heart Revolution Live”, this song has become an anthem this week!

    Vodpod videos no longer available.

    more about “Savior King – Hillsong“, posted with vodpod

  • Fun at Target

    Target has put their Halloween costumes out so Joe and I had some fun!

  • It’s Official . . . our house is on the Market!

    We just met with the Realtor today to put our house on the market.  We are selling so we can move closer to a Children’s Hospital since Jackson likes to visit the Hospital so often.  Our last experience was enough for us to say that’s enough.  Knowing that this is a temporary situation, meaning that Jackson should grow out of his seizures, we are looking to move closer to the church and the new Children’s Hospital less than 5 minutes away.  At first we were skeptical, now we are starting to get excited about the new adventure and believe God is at work in this.  My wife shared a great post about this here!

    Apartment life will be much different than what we expected.  Our first thought was that the apartments would be small, crowded, and if we were lucky, they may have a pool.  We have been home owners for almost 8 years.  So we are use to larger rooms and privacy, plus our neighborhood has a two nice parks and a pool.  Needless to say our expectations were low.  However, we were wrong.  The place we are looking at has pretty much everything we want minus 2 bed rooms, a second living area, and a partial bathroom.  But we gain the use of an indoor basketball court, racquetball court, theater room, workout facility with a children’s play room, heated pool and hot tub, gas grills throughout the facility, and a business meeting room.

    It will be different, but we believe that by moving closer, we will be able to provide the care that Jackson needs.  If it means giving up a house to have a healthy child, I’ll take the healthy child any day!  Please join with us as we pray for our house to sell and begin to transition to this new adventure!

  • Luke 16:19-31

    “Jesus said, ‘There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

    22 Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham.[a] The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and his soul went to the place of the dead.[b] There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.’” v19-23

    Today you are probably going to have to read the rest of the passage to understand what happens.  Click here to do that.  Jesus use the example of these two guys to drive home a couple of points:

    1. Wealth is not proof or righteousness – Even though the Pharisee’s thought this and even today we have some “name it and claim it” teachings are out there, it doesn’t prove you to be righteous.  We will be held accountable for how we spend our money. It doesn’t mean that we all have to be poor, but it does mean that we will held responsible.
    2. Everyone Dies – It’s a reality.  We don’t know when or how but it will happen.  Are you prepared for eternity?
    3. There is life after death – you will spend eternity somewhere.  This isn’t reincarnation!  You will either be in eternal peace with God (Heaven) or you will be in eternal torment (Hell).  What you choose on this earth determines where you spend eternity. (read more about this in verses 24-31)
    4. If dead people could talk  . . . they would warn us – The rich man was pleading that someone go to his family and tell them the truth so they didn’t end up where he was.  Abraham answered him, they have the prophets and won’t listen to them, what makes you think they will listen to someone who is raised from the dead.
    5. Not everyone will believe – It was ironic that Jesus would use this story and end it with this statement, “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’”  Jesus knew that He was going to die.  He also knew that he would be resurrected from the dead.  Even then people still denied who He was and rejected His teachings.  Today its the same way.  People believe many different things.  People have heard the truth and rejected it, while others heard it and took it to heart.  The sad reality is not everyone will believe.

    Where do you find yourself.  Passages like this are a good reminder of the reality of eternity.  Its easy to get caught up in the things of the present and forget about the things to come. Take some time today to reflect on this passage and listen to what God might say to you.

    Today lets be people who take advantage of the opportunities now, so we and others can enjoy eternity together with God in Heaven.  Don’t hang on to your stuff so tightly that it becomes a stumbling block for you or gets in the way of God using you.