Dan Gould

  • Luke 8:22-25

    “The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’  When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm.  Then he asked them, ‘Where is your faith?’  The disciples were terrified and amazed. ‘Who is this man?’ they asked each other. ‘When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!’ v.24-25

    Storms, they happen typically when we are unprepared for them.  Just like physical storms that we see, we also experience storms in life.  They come when we least expect it and can cause hurt, pain, disaster.  The good news is that when we have a relationship with Jesus, He has the power to get us through even the toughest storm.  All we have to do is have the faith that Jesus can see us through any storm that comes our way!

  • Mark 4:1-29

    “Then he said, ‘Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.’” v.9

    “Then he added, ‘Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.’” v. 24-25

    This passage is close to my heart because it is the text I used to preach my first sermon. I was scared to death, a little legalistic at the time, but God was teaching me so much.  Today as I read it, three words keep jumping out at me; Hear, Listen, and Understand. The study notes of the NLT Life Application Study Bible nailed it this morning!  Read for yourself,

    “The hearing that Jesus wants from us in not the kind we use when we listen to background music or when someone starts to recount a long story we’ve already heard.  To truly “hear” Jesus’ words is to believe them, to use them immediately in decisions and attitudes, and to base life on them – your reaction and work, family plans and money matters, praying and singing.  To hear Jesus’ words is to make Jesus your true Lord.

    The light of Jesus’ truth is revealed to us, not hidden.  But we may not be able to see or to use all of that truth right now.  Only as we put God’s teachings into practice will we understand and see more of the truth.  The truth is clear, but our ability to understand is imperfect.  As we obey, we will sharpen our vision and increase our understanding.”

    I still have much to learn, and apply!  But everyday I pray that I am becoming more like Jesus, and that I hearing, listening, and understanding the things He is teaching me!

    Today, listen for God!  Do you hear Him speaking?  What is he asking you to do?

  • All By Myself!

    Well, I just said goodbye to my wife and kids!  Stephanie and the boys will be spending the week with her mom and dad in Missouri.  Mexico will be here before I know it.  Have no idea what to do tonight since our dish network went out Wednesday.  They are supposed to come fix it tomorrow but that still doesn’t help me tonight! I guess I will just head home and either sleep, work, or read.

  • Matthew 12:22-50

    “’A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.  A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.  And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.’” v. 33-37

    Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in out hearts.  What kinds of words come from your mouth?

    Isn’t it sad how we watch what we say depending on where we are or who we are around!  As a teenager, I remember having to really watch my language whenever I went on church trips with the student ministry.  (I thought I had everyone fooled, I doubt it!)  But sadly, isn’t it like that today?

    Jesus says that the words you use, is an indication of what is really going on in your heart!  Ouch!  We can watch what we say, and even clean it up a bit, but if we don’t change our heart, it will be a constant up hill battle that we don’t experience victory over.  However, when we let the Holy Spirit move in our lives and fill us with His presence which includes a new attitude and motives, then our speech will be affected from the source.  From the Inside Out!

    Today, lets focus on our heart and see if our words don’t change also!!!

  • Josiah’s First Love Letter

    Last night we hung out with some friends from church who have a daughter a little older than Josiah.  We have been spending more time with them and have really enjoyed getting to know them better.  Well, after swimming yesterday we decided to go to dinner together at Ihop.  In the 30 minutes of changing and driving to Ihop, Krista made Josiah a little note to give him at the restaurant.  She told her parents “It’s a picture of us falling in love”.

  • Luke 7:36-8:3

    “‘I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.’” v.47

    Jesus words are humbling.  He has just had his feet washed with tears and expensive perfume, by an immoral woman, while he had dinner with a group of pharisees.  This verse answer the question Jesus asked Simon after he told this story:

    “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” v.41-42

    How would you answer Jesus question?  Does this affect the way you live on a daily basis?  We have been given so much, yet it is so easy to take it for granted.  Today, may we thank Jesus for what he has done for us and may it cause us to live differently!  Lord Jesus, thank you!  Help us (me) to always remember your love and forgiveness for us (me).  Let me live each day with a thankful heart that affects the way I live!

  • Healer

    Wow, I wasn’t going to post about this yet but I can’t stop thinking about this song.  I get up early to hang out with God and read some other blogs.  This morning, I was looking at Pete Wilsons blog withoutwax and saw this song.

    As I watched it made me wonder who the worship leader was!  I was intrigued by the fact that he was wearing oxygen.  I know I am shallow I guess.  But as I researched I found this.

    It is so powerful and gave insight to a lot of the questions I had about the song and the worship leader.  Please take time to watch them both and then think about the words, the story, and how it might impact your everyday!

  • Hosanna – Please Save Us

    This song has been in our groups hart ever since camp.  The word I often find myself singing throughout the day.  Here’s some info on how the song came about!

  • Matthew 11:1-30

    “John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus,  ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’” v. 2-3

    As John sat in prison, he began to have some doubts about whether Jesus really was the Messiah.  If John purpose was to prepare people for the coming Messiah, and if Jesus really was that Messiah, then why was John in prison when he could be preaching to the crowds, preparing their hearts?

    Jesus answered John’s doubts by pointing to the acts of healing the blind, lame, and deaf, curing the lepers, raising the dead, and preaching the Good News to the poor.  With so much evidence, Jesus’ identity was obvious.  If we sometimes doubt our salvation, the forgiveness of our sins, or God’s work in our life, look at the evidence in Scripture and the changes in our life.  When we doubt it is important not to turn away from Christ, but, to turn to Him!

  • Where do I start???

    There is so much to do!!!!  If I didn’t love my ministry, I would want to give up when challenges arise.  We have a lot still to plan, prepare, and pull off before school starts and to see school start with a bang.  Here are the things I am working on . . . if you can help in any of these areas, please feel free to leave a comment, or encouragement . . .

    Mission Trip

    • Pray that we have all the paperwork and are prepared for God to use us
    • Get shirts to everyone
    • Get Bags to those that ordered them
    • Pick up Vans
    • Pack – my least favorite

    Weekend Worship

    • Work with John on the talk for this week and next (1 John 3 and 4).
    • Figure out how they are going to do worship this week without a band – most of the band members are going to Mexico.
    • Make sure notes are made and presentation slides are ready also.
    • Create a new Bulletin Shell! (someone is working on this, i hope)

    Staffing

    • Still looking for a part time Worship Coordinator if your are interested send me you resume and look at the job description here!

    Back 2 School Bash

    • Find a car to bash
    • start promoting the event

    Back 2 School Retreat

    • Find Host Home
    • Make sure Small group Leaders can be there
    • Order Curriculum
    • Start Registration
    • Create T-Shirt Design
    • Secure the Band and Speaker (seems last minute but it really isn’t)

    Small Groups

    • Recruit Coaches, Small Group Leader, Host Homes, and Student Leaders
    • Organize the Small Group Calendar
    • Train Leaders and cast vision for changes
    • solidify curriculum for each age group or groups!

    Other

    • Paint Student Center
    • Order Furniture
    • Get Banners Printed
    • Hang out with Students
    • Start an Internship Program with HS students
    • Things that get assigned to me by other staff.

    Family

    • My family leaves for MO Thursday
    • Vacation in August
    • Need to fix the alignment on our Jeep Grand Cherokee (not fun and cost money)
    • 6 year anniversary coming quickly
    • Josiah start soccer in September

    So much to do and so little time to do it!