Skip to main content

NBA FINALS, DAVE STONE and RICK ATCHLEY

Written by admin on . Posted in do good, leadership, NBA, pastors, perseverance. No Comments on NBA FINALS, DAVE STONE and RICK ATCHLEY


Imagine hearing the news that Dave Stone from Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky has just resigned. Likewise, Rick Atchley just resigned from The Hills Church in Richland Hills, Texas. And I just heard the news that Dudley Rutherford is resigning from Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch, California. But why do you ask?

The Three Pastors have decided to leave their churches and join together to start ONE AMAZING church where they will create a SUPER TEAM of Pastors to build a dynasty of a church that will rise above all other churches. They have decided to use the same formula of the Miami Heat in attempting to create a championship caliber church.

You might not believe me but I laughed out loud while writing the two previous paragraphs. For so many reasons it’s an absurd thought. First of all, they are NOT our churches. Secondly, we all think we are normal, run of the mill, average ordinary people that are fully trusting in God for his mercy and grace. Thirdly, ONLY God builds the church. Let me repeat that thought unless some of you don’t understand how strongly we believe this truth that GOD builds HIS church.

NO SUPERSTARS NEEDED. Just ordinary folk who are willing to be used by God in anyway he chooses. I can speak on behalf of Dave and Rick, we are all three humbled that God would ever do anything good through our lives.

However, what ignited this blog post is that tonight the Dallas Mavericks are playing the Miami Heat in a best of 7 game playoff format and I, for one, vigilantly root against the Miami Heat because the BIG THREE Superstars that joined forces in attempting to win a championship down there in the gator state. Two of the three turned on their team and their fans, pulled up stakes and said “see you later” and headed for what they think is going to be greener pastures. Now, honestly, I don’t really care. Did you hear me? I said I don’t really care because it’s just a game and I agree with their right to go play their game wherever they wish to play.

But so often, I have seen SO MANY people JUMP to what they thought was greener pastures, only to discover what they had originally had, on their side of the fence, was actually the better place.

Sometimes it’s a marriage, or a school. It could be a job or a new home. Isn’t there a truth to that maxim, “that the grass is NOT always greener on the other side?” Call me OLD SCHOOL but I still believe that it’s always a better reward if you stay and work through the problems and you perhaps take longer to get the job done, but you stay and work and turn the soil and work the land on YOUR SIDE of the fence and you will then enjoy the spoils of your labor and the joy and reward will be greater than taking the road of least resistance.

I was actually just out of Bible College when a pastor in a large church showed me the wisdom of Psalm 37:3. It reads “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture”. I was told it means just stay where you are and do good. Trust in the Lord and just dwell in the land or place that God has led you and the result of that is you will enjoy or experience the blessing of God upon your life.

You see Rick Atchley (twitter@rickatchley) has been at his church for 22 years. I (twitter@pastordudley) have been at Shepherd for almost 25 years. I know Dave Stone (twitter@davestone920) who has been at Southeast probably that same amount of time. Dave worked with Bob Russell who was the Senior Pastor for 40 years. Anybody can leave and try to take shortcuts to God’s blessing, but the real joy and real blessing comes from staying where God has planted you and working diligently with God’s help to make your side of the fence “the place to be”.

Go Mavericks!!!

Pain of Job

Written by admin on . Posted in death, devotions, Job, perseverance, storms, trials. 1 Comment on Pain of Job

Job said these words in chapter 16, verse 6, “If I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away either.” These are the words of a man who was truly hurting. Have you ever hurt so bad that you didn’t know what to do and didn’t know where to turn? Job had so much pain in him that he couldn’t find a solution to relieve him of his heartache. Life had been difficult for him, with his family and possessions all ripped away from him.

There is no greater pain than the pain of being separated from someone you love. There is something about love that bonds hearts and relationships together in such a way that whenever loss occurs, it is devastating.

I think that’s what Job was going through, and the pain was overwhelming for him. He tried to talk his way through this pain, thinking that if he talked about the issues, the pain would subside. Then he tried to not talk about the issues, thinking that if, perhaps, he ignored them, they would mysteriously disappear. Well, no such luck! When pain sets its terrible hooks inside of you, it’s nearly impossible to detach oneself from the pangs of tribulation that result.

When this type of suffering occurs, we can only RUN TO the AUTHOR of LIFE, the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone can lift this burden. No other agent or entity has the means to ease one’s pain. Jesus suffered in all ways that He might relate to us and minister to us. I have been there when the only way for comfort was to lean on His majesty and His sovereignty.

I always take comfort in knowing that Jesus watches over the little birds of the air (Matthew 6:26), and if He’s watching and providing for them, then I can be assured that He is watching and providing for me as well. The only question that remains is whether or not God is able to truly care for me when I’m going through the valleys of this life.

One only needs to read Job chapters 38-41 with an open heart to reach the conclusion that God is the only One who is able to meet our deepest needs. Even Job reaches this conclusion in Job 42:5 when he acknowledges that “my ears HAD heard of you but NOW my eyes have seen you.”

This leads to this obvious conclusion: when we are hurting, truly hurting… we need to look no further than Jesus. When we understand His greatness and His authority, our problems will begin to diminish. He alone will walk us through the storm. He has… “been there, done that” when He died on the cross. He will see us through when we think we can’t go on.

OKLAHOMA ROLLS

Written by admin on . Posted in favorite videos, football, Oklahoma, perseverance. 3 Comments on OKLAHOMA ROLLS

Today was a good day of football because the University of Oklahoma beat in state rival Oklahoma State and set up a chance to be the BIG 12 conference champions if they can beat long time rival Nebraska on December 2nd. Yes… I know what some of you are thinking… You thought I was a Bruin. Well, truth be told, I root for both the Bruins and the Sooners. That is NOT a sin. I cannot find a verse in the Bible where is says you can NOT root for two teams. So chill.

Back to the Sooners. Earlier in the year Oklahoma got ripped off from having a win over Oregon. You can watch the video for yourself. It was one of the worse calls ever in sports history. And had that call been made correctly there is a chance that Oklahoma NOT usc (notice the small case letters of usc 🙂 would be playing the Ohio State Buckeyes for a National Championship. Oh well, I guess there is always next year.

The reason I am mentioning this is because after this disastrous call in the Oregon game Oklahoma could have folded. They could have called it a season and just been content with having a lackluster year. But NO! They have battled back and have this chance to become CHAMPIONS. It should encourage all of us to never give up. Even when it looks like things are stacked against us. I’m hoping the Sooners can get to the BIG GAME and show the character it takes to overcome the odds. You certainly don’t have to, but if you have NO ONE else to root for during this Holiday Bowl Season…pull for Oklahoma. Go Sooners!