Dr. Dave’s Blog

Nick Vujicic - Larger than Life

Fri, 8 May 2009 12:04:26 -0600

Okay - WOW!!!
Maybe the most powerful speaker I have heard in...ever. Nick has no arms or legs, but has spoken to (I think) about 3 million people in the last few years. he preaches Christ in nations where the rest of us would be arrested or shot. He reaches out to homeless in countries like Columbia. His message is a call to live life in the fullness of Christ. A few quotes:
“God doesn’t make mistakes and doesn’t waste our time. We waste Him.”
From Henrietta Mears, “I would be dishonoring God if I didn’t live my life believing I can change the world.”
“Fear is our biggest disability (False Evidence Appearing Real).”
“I prayed, ‘God, give me arms and legs! But if you don’t I will still serve you.’”
“God will only ask us two questions in heaven:
-Did you know me?
-Who did you bring?”
“If you’re praying for a miracle and it doesn’t come, become the miracle.”
“Satan is more interested in taking your joy than your arms and legs.”
“Don’t let obstacles keep you from following God’s call. An excuse is a skin of reason filled with lies.”
“Trust God. If you fall, He will catch you.”

What can I say. You start out to feel sorry for him, you end up simply admiring, maybe envying, and definitely being challenged by him. He exudes passion for Christ and love for people. He taught me a great deal and has helped me towards some decisions in my ministry.

I’m a groupie...

Fri, 8 May 2009 11:42:54 -0600

Okay, I admit it. As much as I love to listen to these other guys, when I got to meet Ravi Zacharias, I was...a bit of a groupie. What a phenomenal man of God! As he spoke, I soaked it in. No effort to impress anyone from him, just someone speaking from the overflow of a life immersed in the Scripture and the efforts of meeting a culture and pointing it to something greater. He is at ease with the academic elite or the hurting and homeless. He challenged us to live in these four realities: the eternal, the moral, the accountable, and the charitable. Such a life will be well invested and make a difference for God’s kingdom.
For me, Ravi was powerful, because I find myself caught between the academic and the pragmatic. I’ve been inspired not to give up in my quest to have conversations...
with those inside the church to know what they believe and live as though it matters...
with those asking hard questions, but genuinely interested in whether there may be answers...
with those just wanting to know that life can be better.
God, use me too...

Andy Stanley and Guy Kawasaki

Fri, 8 May 2009 11:02:54 -0600

The first two speakers at Catalyst West. Andy is the pastor of North Point north of Atlanta and Guy Kawasaki is the guy who was part of the Macintosh team at Apple in the 80’s and is now a venture capitalist and maybe the foremost twitter expert. Takeaways from these two:
Andy Stanley - uncertainty is a certainty, which is job security for leaders. You still cannot afford to be unclear, so in times of uncertainty, retreat to the vision.
Guy Kawasaki - 11 principles of innovation - key ones include...make meaning; don’t be afraid to polarize people since you can’t please everyone; niche thyself (find where you are both unique and valuable); and don’t let the bozos grind you down.

Catalyst West

Fri, 8 May 2009 08:08:31 -0600

Wow. Best conference I have ever been to, with powerful, worshipful music and great speakers who spoke with insight and relevance. Takeaways - okay, I started to put them all in one entry - ain’t gonna happen. Check out my subsequent entries. Just a few notes on “non-speakers,” or those less prominent to me.
Ellis - a cool guy I met who ministered to me. He is in charge of 141 church starts for the Anglican church. The other cool part is that the project/ministry for starting these churches is out of Rwanda. The bishop there said he could not stand by and watch a spiritual genocide in America like the genocide that happened in his country.
Naeem Fazal - Pastor of Mosaic in Charlotte, NC - incredible testimony of a Muslim-raised Kuwaiti turned evangelical pastor - google his name with “The Encounter” to see the video.
Toms shoes - Blake, from Toms shoes (at&t commercial) was there. I guess he goes to Mosaic in LA. Ask Katrina about her shoes.
Tim Hawkins - YouTube at your own risk. I recommend not drinking anything while trying to watch him, lest you spew on your computer.
Hillsong United and Fee - great stuff - very focused on worship and ministering to those gathered.

Momentous Thoughts

Tue, 7 Oct 2008 10:09:44 -0600

Funny thing about time. The past can be learned from, but it cannot be changed. The future can be influenced, even shaped to an extent, but not controlled. This moment, fleeting as it is, is the only one I have. Oh, I know as Christians, we have eternity, but that is not time...it’s forever. What that will be, we do not yet know. So, what about now? What will I write on my life’s journal entry that is today? How will I spend? Will I invest? “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Hit the play button under the picture above to listen to Chris Rice’s song, “Life Means So Much.”