Dan Gould

Category: Church Stuff

  • 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.

  • Illuminate – Be Our Guest This Christmas Eve

    christmas-eve-08

    Make plans to join us at Grace Community Church in Plano, Texas for Christmas Eve.  We have four different services you can attend:

    2:00 pm – Celebration Service with Nativity

    4:00 pm – Celebration Service with Nativity

    6:00 pm – Celebration Service with Nativity

    11:00 pm – Celebration Service with Candles, Choruses and Communion

    We would love to have you as our special guest this Christmas Eve as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Here is a glimpse of what you could experience.

  • Weekend Review

    giveThis weekend we started a new series called the big give.  Kinda stole the idea from Oprah.  My wife and I caught a couple of episodes of the show and as I watched I couldn’t help but think how students could get involved in something like this that allows them to see a need and meet a need. This weekend I challenged the student to do these three things

    What is required to get involved in the Big Give!

    1. You have to DREAM BIG!
    2. You have to LIVE BIG!
    3. You have to SERVE BIG!

    We will have some organized opportunities for students to get involved with but the general idea of the series is to look at the needs around us and to get involved.  This week we talked about Gifts of Grace.

    This is how Gifts of Grace- Toys for East Plano was started and where I need your help blog land:-) Please, Please help a child in need. All you have to do is 3 simple steps!!

    1. Cut out a tag provided on this pdf file.

    2. Purchase a toy.

    3. Mail your NEW toy with a securely attached tag by Nov. 30th to:

    Grace Community Church
    Att: Toys for East Plano
    4501 Hedgcoxe Road
    Plano, Texas 75024

    OR drop it by the Church on Dec. 7th.

    **Please mail gifts by November 30th
    You may send wrapped or unwrapped toys as long as you include a tag.

    Our goal is to provide 800 Toys for this community need. Please help us reach our goal and make a difference in a child’s life!

    For more information about participating churches please visit: www.findgrace.org and www.willowcreekfellowship.us

  • Guys and Paintball

    xpaintballlogo1Today I joined a group of 8th and 9th grade boys, with three adult leaders, in an afternoon of paintball.  It was cold enough that we had enough layers on that when we got shot it didn’t hurt.  The place we played is probably the best paintball field this novice has ever played on.  It was a lot of fun.

    I think the highlight for me was hearing one of our boys talk about how “he was a better paintball player than he thought!”  He wasn’t saying this with pride but with growth.  Growth of overcoming a fear and gaining some confidence.  This is the same guys who said before we started that he is usually is one of the last ones left on his team and last time when he was the last one he surrendered so he didn’t get shot!  Anytime you get to hangout with students in a different environment you learn a lot about them.  I really enjoyed getting to know Cameron better as well as the other guys!  We had a great time!  Makes me appreciate even more what our troops do to secure and maintain our freedom!

  • The Senior Choir Remix

    This video is making it’s rounds in the blog world.  Starts a little ruff but gets better, I promise!

    What do you think?  Could you see your senior adult choir doing something like this . . . or have they?

  • Pastor Appreciation Month

    October is deemed Pastor Appreciation Month.  It’s supposed to be a time where you love on your pastor/s and let them know how much you appreciate them.  I have had some great pastors in my life and I just want to take the time here to thank them for their investment in me.

    • My Grandfather – He will never be able to read this because he is with Jesus.  But growing up as a kid, he was the person I talked to about God.  When I was eight years old it was him that prayed with me when I asked Jesus to be my Savior.  Now, I still have a collection of books that were meaningful to him and that he poured his life into.  When I read them and see his markings it still speaks to me today.
    • Richard Eakins – This was my first Pastor.  I grew up under his teachings, was baptized by him at Boulevard Baptist Church, and then served on staff with him at First Baptist Church in Nixa, MO as an intern and then part time student pastor.  I learned a lot from him, and appreciate him more now than I probably did then.  He knows the Bible so well, and cared for people.
    • Mike Frazee – God used this man in a time that I was searching!  I was a senior in High School, my grandfather had just past away, and I had questions about God, Heaven, and me.  He was my first and only Student Pastor.  I grew up going to church without a Student Pastor.  He taught me that being a Christian wasn’t something I did on Sunday, but was something that was taking place on the inside of me everyday.  He took the time to Disciple me, and then asked me to volunteer with a MS Boys Sunday School class.  I think he was desperate!  But God started working on my heart and used that situation and Mikes dedication to lead me to the place I am today, sharing the love of Christ with Teenagers.
    • Doug Fields – I have had the privilege to get to know Doug a little more over the last couple of years by participating in the PDYM Community.  His books have been an inspiration to me and a resource I come back to more times than not.  I love his heart for coaching, and really simply linking arms with other youth workers for the sake of building the Kingdom.
    • Bob Ingle – Man of God, Great Pastor/Teacher, and good friend.  I was able to serve with Bob for almost 7 years.  We saw a lot of things happen in those 7 years.  I was only 24 when FBC Warrensburg took the risk to higher me as their full time Student Pastor.  Every Sunday was a great Sunday.  Bob is probably one of the best communicators I have ever listened to.  He is able to take some of the most difficult teachings, throw some humor in there and walla, you leave convicted yet inspired.  I learned a ton about leadership from watching him lead not only the church but his family.
    • George Feiser – Is the founding and Senior pastor of Grace Community Church where I currently serve.  I am still getting to know George.  I like his heart and vision for Grace and The Church.  He cares about people and wants to see them become all that God has created them to become.
    • Pastor’s by Podcast – Because I am teaching Teens the same time we have Church for adults it has caused me to enter the realm of Podcast’s to listen to other great pastors.  Currently I am listening to these guys on a regular basis Steven Furtick, Perry Noble, Ed Young Jr, Erwin McManus, and Matt Chandler.  It is still knew but I am loving it.  These guys are all passionate about seeing God be lifted up and others changed from the inside out by the Gospel.

    This turned out to be a longer list than I thought it would be, but God has used, and is using, these guys to shape me, encourage me, inspire me, and convict me to become the Man of God I was created to be.  For that I am always thankful.  Thank you to each one for you passion for God, your dedication, your time and effort, and your willingness to share the truth in love even when it is hard.

  • B2S Retreat Video

    We have set up a youtube account to start posting our video since more of our students are blogging now.  Our hope are that you will post them on your blog also!  This is the latest one from our B2S Retreat all of them can be found under the user name: thefsmshow enjoy

  • Invasion

    My office has been invaded by my youngest son Jackson.  Right now it looks more like a daycare than and office.  Jackson spends from 12:30-2:00pm with me Mon-Thurs until Josiah gets out of school.  Here is what he is doing right now!

    I am not used to the quiet!

    Join the conversation – Have you ever had to take your kids to work?

  • Healer – Michael Guglielmucci Confession and Apology

    Well, here is the DL (down low) from the person who knows the story and situation the best Michael Guglielmucci. There are a lot of different views and responses to this. I think sometimes we forget that even Pastors deal with sin and sometimes feel they have no where to turn for help. I am not justifying what has been done, but continuing to pray that somehow God would use this to bring His Name glory and advance His Kingdom. He still is the Healer!

    Vodpod videos no longer available.

    Join the Conversation – How do you think the Church should respond? Does his story discredit the song?

  • Donald Miller Prays at the DNC

    Well since we spent the last week in the hospital with Jackson I missed some of the news and coverage of the Democratic Convention. However, my good friend Tyler and our new Student Worship Coordinator showed me these two videos yesterday take a look

    Vodpod videos no longer available.

    more about “Donald Miller Prays at the DNC“, posted with vodpod

    Wow, what a great prayer, wish I could have heard all of it without the sound going out!  Was he censored? Before his prayer he did this interview with Christianity today!

    Vodpod videos no longer available.

    more about “Donald Miller“, posted with vodpod

    — What do you think?  Have you read any of Donald Millers books?  Do you agree with what he says? Why or why not?