DAN GOULD

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Category: Dan Gould

  • Something New Is Coming

    Something New Is Coming

    For a while now, I’ve wanted to create a place where I could share more of what God is teaching me through ministry, family, leadership, relationships, health, discipline, and just everyday life.

    So, I’m working on something new.

    Over the last few days, I’ve been rebuilding this site from the ground up. There’s still a lot to do, but I’m excited about where it’s headed.

    My hope is that this becomes more than just a website. I want it to be a place where I can share things I’m learning, resources I’m creating, and lessons God is teaching me along the way.

    You’ll find things here about faith and discipleship, biblical counseling and personal growth, leadership, family, fitness, and everyday life.

    Some of it will come from what I’m teaching, some from conversations I’m having, some from things I’m reading and studying, and some will simply be things I’m learning along the way as I try to keep growing too.

    I’m hoping to start adding new things here regularly, so check back often. There’s a lot more coming soon!

    At the heart of all of it is something I’ve believed for a long time: real transformation happens from the inside out.

    Know it! Believe it! Live it! Share it!

    Keep Running,
    Dan

  • Keep Running: Why I’m Not Done Growing

    Keep Running: Why I’m Not Done Growing

    You can love Jesus deeply and still struggle to take care of yourself physically.

    A question came up several weeks ago that still has me thinking: “Why are so many pastors overweight?”

    Honestly, it’s a fair question.

    One of the challenges of ministry is that you can spend so much time caring for other people that taking care of yourself keeps getting pushed further down the list. Add family responsibilities, late nights, stress, meals on the run, and a schedule that never seems to stop, and unhealthy habits can creep in pretty quickly.

    I understand it because I’ve lived it. I can always come up with a reason why the workout can wait, why grabbing something quick is easier, or why I’ll start making changes next week. But I also know plenty of people with demanding schedules who still make their health a priority. At some point, I have to stop making excuses for myself and start making changes.

    I turn 50 next year, and one of my goals is to enter my 50s in the best shape of my life physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I’m not there yet, but I’m working on it.

    One thing has become pretty obvious: there aren’t any shortcuts.

    Most of the progress I’ve made has simply come from showing up consistently, making better choices, and doing it again the next day.

    Paul writes, “You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, (NLT)

    For me, this is about stewardship. Stewarding the things God has blessed me with.

    I want to take better care of the body God has given me. I want to have the energy to serve well, enjoy life with my family, and hopefully still be doing the things God has called me to do years from now.

    That doesn’t mean I have to change everything overnight. In fact, most of the progress I’ve made hasn’t happened that way. Most of it has been pretty ordinary. Make a better choice. Do it again tomorrow. Get off track sometimes, then get back at it.

    That’s really what Keep Running means to me.

    It’s not about being perfect. I’m going to miss workouts. I’m going to eat things I probably shouldn’t. There will be days when I’m motivated and plenty of days when I’m not.

    For me, it simply means I don’t want to stop growing just because I’m getting older.

    The phrase or charge to “Keep Running” applies to more than fitness. In fact, it comes from Hebrews 12 where we are encouraged to “run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus.” Keep Running his a reminder for me to keep growing spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

    At 49, I confess that I still have a lot of growing to do, and hopefully a lot of race left to run and so do you!

    Keep Running!!!

  • Good News Worth Sharing

    Good News Worth Sharing

    “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” Isaiah 52:7 (NLT)

    We share things with people all the time. Things like favorite restaurants, TV shows, movies, songs we’re listening to, books we’ve read, events we’ve attended, and stories we’ve experienced ourselves or watched on socials. If we like something, we usually don’t have a problem telling someone about it.

    Isaiah 52 points us to news worth sharing: God reigns, and salvation has come.

    God’s people had experienced judgment and exile, but God had not forgotten them. God was coming to rescue His people. That was news worth sharing.

    Big Truth: If the Gospel really is Good News, we should want other people to hear it.

    Isaiah 52 reminds us that salvation is God’s work, not ours. We didn’t find a way back to God or somehow make ourselves worthy of Him. God came after us. He sent Jesus to rescue sinners who could never rescue themselves.

    Ultimately, this Good News points us to Jesus. Jesus went to the cross for our sin and rose again, doing for us what we could never do for ourselves. That’s the Gospel. Think about the people around you right now. Some of them need to hear this good news.

    Sharing the Gospel doesn’t mean you need to have every answer or turn every conversation into a sermon. Sometimes it simply starts with telling someone what Jesus has done and why following Him matters to you.

    Today: Think of one person God has already placed in your life who needs Jesus. Pray for them by name, look for an opportunity to have a real conversation, and be willing to share the good news you have received.

    The Gospel was never meant to stop with us.

    Keep Running,
    Dan

  • Making the Most of Every Moment

    Making the Most of Every Moment

    Sadly, this is our last full day at the beach!
    It’s been so refreshing to sit by the ocean beneath an umbrella with nothing on the agenda except enjoying the breeze, drifting in the waves, or relaxing poolside in the sunshine. More than anything, it’s given us the opportunity to slow down, enjoy extended family time… now including Josiah’s fiancée, Emily, have deeper conversations, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

    I’m grateful for God’s kindness in giving us the opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and simply enjoy one another. These are the moments that become some of life’s greatest treasures.

    Now… one more walk on the beach, one more swim in the ocean, one more dip in the pool, and one more day to soak it all in before heading home.

    #FamilyVacay2026 #TotallyPresent #Rest #DadStuff #NavarreBeach

  • Looking for the latest update …

    … sadly you’re not going to find it here anymore. And to be honest, you’ve probably stopped following this blog because it has become inactive.

    However, if you want to see life from my point of view, then click here:

    From The Inside Out by Dan Gouldhttp://dgould77.tumblr.com

    I hope you’ll stop by for a visit to be encouraged/challenged or to simply see what is going on in everyday life.  Here, I am writing thoughts from my daily time with Jesus, and capturing life as it happens. Hope to see you there.

    Keep Running,

    Dan

  • You Are Special


    Tonight at our Family Dinner I had the “God thinks you are Special Today” plate. It’s something we started a while ago with our boys to let them know that God thinks they’re special and so do we.  The rule is simple, whoever has the plate gets to hear from every member of the family one thing that that family member likes about them and what make them so special. Both boys had the plate earlier in the week. It’s been a lot of fun and encouraging to our boys; it’s something we do that causes them to glow for the rest of the night. Well tonight, it was my turn.  When it got to Josiah turn to share, I’ll never forget what he said. After some thought He said, “I like that you read the Bible with me and pray with me.”

    Wow, what do you say to that? I wish I could say that we read the Bible together every night, but that’s not always the case.  However it is something we are trying to get back into the habit of doing nightly, especially now that he has said this tonight.  The first time around I read to him, but this time around,  Josiah is reading from his own Bible. Yes, it takes much longer, but it gives him an opportunity to develop reading skills and comprehension skills as we read through it and then talk about what he has just read. We just finished our reading for tonight and I have to say, it was very humbling and awesome to know that my son has a great desire to read the Bible. I am praying that it begins a hunger in him for Gods Word that will guide the rest of His life and become something that he continues to do on a daily basis.

    It’s just another reminder that intentional times with your kids are important. These small things turn into big things that forever impact your child’s Character.

  • 5 Gauges for Health (part 5)

    Believe it or not, God has given each of us the capability of learning new things.  Now some of us may take longer to learn them, but we have been created to learn.  We all have this need to grow intellectually.  That’s why we go to school, college, and seminars, so we can learn the things we need to know to help us get by in life!  This is why we will continue to read books not just for entertainment, but also to learn new things.

    Can you imagine what it would be like if you never learned to tie your shoe?  Now we sit here today and say man that’s stupid, it’s easy to tie your shoes.  But when you were learning to tie your shoe, it was the most challenging thing for you to learn at that time.  The reason we can say that it’s easy now is because we didn’t give up when we couldn’t do it the first time.  We developed the intellectual ability to tie our own shoes.  Hopefully that same tenacity and learning process will cause us to commit to be a life long learner. Scripture says,

    “Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser.  Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.” Proverbs 9:9 (NLT)

     As we enter a New Year what will you do to continue growing becoming Intellectually Healthy? Here are some questions that I use to help me see how healthy I am in this area.

    Click here to take survey

    Now that you have thought through and/or thinking about your Intellectual Health, I encourage you to take some time to write down some goals to work towards in 2012.

    My Intellectual Health Goals for 2012

    1. Learn more about some of my hobbies

    2. Read at least 6 books on leadership/Theology/Discipleship

    3. Teach something new so I have to learn it also.


    As you look at these five areas I am sure you will see areas where you are doing well and areas you need to do better.  This year these are five areas that I really want to focus on and want to challenge you to look at as well.  I understand that as a Husband, Father, and Leader that my health will lead to growth, why, because healthy things grow!!! Good luck and Happy New Year!!

    “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”  Ephesians 3:20-21(NLT)

  • 5 Gauges for Health – (part 4)

    We all have the need to feel love, accepted, valued, encouraged, and the list goes on.  God has created us with emotions!  We can be happy, or sad, confident or afraid.  However, each of us have certain emotional needs that need to be met and if they are not met, we begin to feel alone, isolated and depressed.  They can cause us to cut, and/or even become suicidal.  Our Emotional need’s play a huge factor in who we are and who we become.  When we understand that we were created as emotional beings by an emotional God and learn to be with Him, we can become emotionally healthy. Scripture says,

     “A glad heart makes a happy face, a broken heart crushes the spirit.” Psalm 15:13 (NLT)

    Emotional Health is sometimes ignored. But if we aren’t careful it can do serious damage.  As we enter a New Year will you take some steps to become/remain Emotionally Healthy? Here are some questions that I use to help me see how healthy I am in this area.

    Click here to take survey

    Now that you have thought through and/or thinking about your Emotional Health, I encourage you to take some time to write down some goals to work towards in 2012.

    My Emotional Health Goals for 2012

    1. Confide in a trusted friend and talk though the day-to-day things

    2. Get at least 6 hours of sleep each night

    3. Let God do the things that only he can do and not try to do them also.

  • 5 Gauges for Health – (part 3)

    The third thing I look at and evaluate as a New Year begins are my friendships and family .  These things are important because they make up my SOCIAL HEALTH!

    Let’s be honest … We are social creators. Some of you may not feel that way, but God created us that way!  We see this in Genesis 2:18 check it out for yourself.

    “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18 (NIV)

    After creating and saying everything was good and/or very good, the very first thing that God said was bad was for us to be alone. We have this inner thing going on that causes us to want to be around other people.  Now that doesn’t mean that we can’t ever be alone, it simply means that we have an inner desire to be around others!

    Will you take some time to think through these questions to see how socially healthy you are?

    Click here to take survey

    Now that you have thought through and/or thinking about your Social Health, I encourage you to take some time to write down some goals to work towards in 2012.

    My Social Health Goals for 2012

    1. Be more consistent in calling friends and family

    2. Pray for my friends more often.

    3. Spend quality time with both family and friends

     


  • 5 Gauges for Health – (part 2)

    Many times when we think of New Years Resolutions it includes some aspect of getting our bodies healthy.  Whether it is starting a new diet or beginning to exercise these are important when it comes to our PHYSICAL HEALTH. This is the second thing that I evaluate as I reflect on the past year and make goals for the new year.

    Now I am not saying that God has created all of us to be athletes, but He has created us to be physical.  Each of us has a need for some type of physical activity to remain healthy.

    I don’t know about you but I have heard and seen more health club/ infomercials about working out more in the last month than any other time of the year.  It’s because health clubs understand that people will make New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight or start working out!  Sometimes it takes a New Year to realize we are out of shape.  But understand that God has created each of us with physical needs and we need to take care of our bodies!  Look what the Bible says,

    “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NLT)

    By getting enough sleep and simply exercising at least 12 minutes a day with an increased heart rate, you will experience a Physical change.  You begin to feel better, you think better thoughts about yourself, and you become healthier.  Will you take some time to think through these questions to see how you are doing in this area.

    Click here to take survey

    Now that you have thought through and/or thinking about your Physical Health, I encourage you to take some time to write down some goals to work towards in 2012.

    My Physical Health Goals for 2012

    1. Get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night

    2. Develop a “Me Time” to work out and build my schedule around it

    3. Start a food journal to evaluate what I eat