Agape Singers Re-Launch
Agape is about to re-launch for the 2008-09 season – check us out here!
Application Questions for "Being Called A Christian"
The following are some supplemental notes to my sermon on August 3, 2008, at Agoura Bible Fellowship:
In your family of origin, what were some of the unwritten unhealthy family rules that got hardwired into your brain? Here are some common ones …
1. More money is the best source of security and importance.
2. Avoid conflict at all costs; stuff your angry feelings.
3. Men can be promiscuous, but women cannot.
4. You are not allowed to be depressed; just get over it.
5. Sarcasm is the most acceptable way to release your anger.
6. Never speak of your family’s dirty laundry in public.
7. Don’t trust people; they’ll just hurt you and let you down.
8. Other cultures or races are not as good as yours.
9. Your feelings cannot be trusted, so just ignore them.
10. You must achieve and perform well in order to be loved.
What other dysfunctional family rules would you add to this list? What other kinds of unhealthy messages did you absorb from your parents and grandparents when you were growing up?
For me, doing this is painful. I don’t want to have to look back and dig up old dirt! I don’t want to have to uncover family secrets. Can’t I just be grateful to be a new creation in Christ?
The problem is, if I never consciously grieve and bury my pain from the past, it will continue to haunt me and drag me down.
Just because we grew up in a Christian home and went to church and heard thousands of sermons does not mean that deeply entrenched negative influences of our ancestry have been eradicated from our lives. For that to happen, we must be discipled in how to allow our heavenly family identity supercede our earthly family identity.
(For more insights like these, see "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality" by Peter Scazzaro)
A Day in the Life
I had an interesting day here in the Conejo Valley today. I started out on a 4-5 mile hike through the Santa Monica Mountains, above Paramount Ranch, with our Elder Chairman Gary Rafferty. Almost two hours of incline and switchbacks made me sweat. Then I went to the office with dirty socks and dusty tennis shoes.
Then after our prayer meeting was over tonight, Karen and I went to watch the USA Olympics Water Polo team have their last stateside practice! They were using the Oaks Christian Olympic-size pool, which is only about a mile away from our home, since the team’s coach lives in Westlake Village. (Oaks is one of the best prep schools in the nation, with the children of Wayne Gretzky, Joe Montana, and Will Smith, being among the students.)
I feel fortunate, and thank God, for these unique opportunities. You just never know what a day might bring around here…
- Dale
Did You Miss Any Agape Posts?
If you missed any of the Agape posts from their recent tour, check it out here!
Agape Heads Home
Agape is hitting the road in just about one hour, heading over to the Children’s Hospital & then we are heading home for Homecoming Concert. Check out our recent posts over at the blog.
Agape Tour is Fantastic
Agape is currently in Madera, CA – we are enjoying a little downtime before we begin our day. If you want to see what we have been up to – check out our recent posts. You can check us out on Twitter as well.
- Ventura County Rescue Mission
- Beginning the Day
- Los Prietos Boys Ranch
- Santa Barbara Rescue Mission
- Vandenberg Air Force Base Chapel
- 1st Southern Baptist Church Service
- Jon Preaching
- Bridgehouse Shelter
More to come – wi-fi is sporatic – we are headed home tomorrow – two great concerts planned for today. Madera Juvenile Correction Camp & Madera Rescue Mission – God is moving. Thanks for your prayers.
Dancing With God
After preaching this morning on Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch both being responsive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, someone sent me this, and I thought it appropriate to blog it here:
When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing 'dance' at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right..
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw 'G': I thought of God, followed by 'u' and 'i'.
'God, 'u' and 'i' dance.'
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get God's guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.
I Hope You Dance !
- Dale
Reflections on an illness
It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced having a tiny virus knock me down for 2 1/2 weeks (so far) — sapping energy and clogging up my breathing apparatus. As a result of rotating between being out of commission and “playing hurt” — I’ve had time to reflect on Paul’s commands”In everything give thanks” and “Be content in whatever circumstance you’re in”. If Paul could write that from a prison cell, certainly I can practice it on the couch.
So here are a few things I’m thanking and praising my God for, even in my time of sickness:
* My son chose to serve God as a pastor, has graduated from seminary, is being trusted to oversee student ministries in a good church, and his beautiful wife will give us a grandson in November.
* My daughter is walking with Christ, lives nearby, is a happy newlywed who just got promoted to be the Starbucks District Manager in her preferred region, and we just got the wedding picture proofs.
* My wife of 31 years is full of happiness and has the energy to attend Sam’s cousin’s 8th grade graduation dinner tonight in Granada Hills.
* We get to live in a beautiful part of the world, in a free nation that allows our faith to flourish.
* I get to serve the Lord among a marvelous church family full of great people who are encouraging and supportive, and are serious about growing spiritually to become more like Jesus.
Did I mention that I feel blessed by God?
If an illness can be used by the Lord to bring these reflections to the surface, it’s all worthwhile.
– Dale
Agape Tour Schedule is Live
The Agape Tour schedule is in the sidebar of the Agape blog – check it out here!
Agape Hits the Road This Week
The Agape Singers are gearing up for there summer tour and we are getting really excited. We have posted some updates over at our blog which can found here. Come check us out and sign up for email updates or periodically check back in at the website. Go ahead and bookmark us! Enjoy!
