My Beacon Article from Febuary 2006

A pastor friend of mine once told me something that sticks with me to this day. "Every day, I learn something new," he would always joke with me. Even in his 50s, Mark always let us know that he had things that he could learn. In other words, he was unfinished.

No matter how learned we are in the Bible, there is still always room to learn even more. Because it is a living, breathing book, it always leads me to new places each and every time I open it. The thing is, every time I think it answers a question of mine; I get two more questions in return.

That's because questions and learning are ingrained into our very being. They are part of who we are. We cannot stop. Questions about faith are not evil; they lead us to the path. Only a quick read through of Job can teach us that. Even David, the super warrior King that was "a man after God's own heart" doubted at times.

Pastor and author Rob Bell wrote in his book "Velvet Elvis":

A Christian doesn't avoid questions; a Christian embraces them. In fact, to truly pursue the living God, we have to see the need for questions.

Questions are not scary. What is scary is when people don't have any. What is tragic is a faith that has no room for them...

Questions, no matter how shocking or blasphemous or arrogant or ignorant or raw, are rooted in humility. A humility that understands that I am not God. And there is more to know."

So, First Baptist Church, I pray that we never stop learning. I pray that we never stop having questions to ask God. I pray that our faith will always be humble enough to fall before God in humility and learn what he has to teach us until the day we go home.

Bro. D

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An Open Note to All Readers

Ok, a couple of people I know have done this since they also work for churches and have personal blogs. So... here goes.

1. Every thought expressed here is my own unless I quote someone else or give them credit for the idea. My thoughts and opinions may not be the same as County Line Baptist Church, it's staff, my senior pastor, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, or anyone else related to the church. I also must say the same things in regards to the American Taekwondo Association.

2. This is a personal site. I'll try to keep negative thoughts out, but sometimes, bad things happen. As a Christian, I believe that hard times can give us the strength to become who God wants us to be. When you read this blog, you will be getting me, in raw form.

3. I am a Christian. I make no apolgies for that. My entire worldview is shaped by my belief in God, the Bible, and what that will create me to be.

4. Please feel free to comment, even if you disagree with me. I love to talk to people, so I will try to respond as much as I can.

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Who You Calling Reverend?

Talk about a very long but good day. I've been fighting off this cold for four days now. Thanks be to God, though, that I was able to keep my voice long enough to make it through the service this morning. Picking a lot of low register songs probably helped that.

Anyway, that wasn't the important part of the day. You are reading the blog of the newest ordained pastor in the Southern Baptist Church. That's right, I am now Rev. Daron . Not that I will use that title very much, but still. I am so glad that God put me in a church that, even though we have had some differences, wants to do things to help me grow as a minister.

I don't think that this did anything different that what I've already been doing. Someone asked me, "Do you feel like a minister?" I told him, "I always did." This is my church validating what God has already made clear.