Will Davis Jr.'s Blog, page 59

Can You Say Debt Free?

Greetings friends, in the late 1990′s ACF took on $4.8 million of debt to purchase our land in Riverplace and build our first facility. I am happy to tell you that on this Friday, September 13, ACF will be debt free! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! We’re going to be talking more about this and celebrating it in our weekend services in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Seminar of the Reliability of the Bible. One of the questions we’re asking in Explore God is about the reality of the Bible. In conjunction with that, my good friend Jonathan Dodson and City Life Church are hosting a seminar on The Reliability of the Christian Canon:

Is the Bible reliable? Does its reliability stand or fall upon the decisions of church councils? Does the Bible provide an accurate portrayal of the person of Jesus Christ? What was Jesus’ view of the Scriptures? These are important questions, especially in an educated, forward thinking city like Austin.

On Monday September 16th, Dr. Michael Goheen will address these questions as he speaks on “The Reliability of the Christian Canon.”

Dr. Michael Goheen is Professor of Missiology at Calvin Seminary and Senior Fellow at the Newbigin House. He is author of A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church in the Biblical Story (Baker, 2010) and co-author with Craig Bartholomew of the Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story (Baker, 2004).

This event is free, but registration is required. Limited Childcare will be provided.

This weekend at ACF. We’ll be wrestling with the same question of the Bible’s validity in our weekend services. Please bring your spiritually inquisitive friends and join us for one of our services at any of our Communities as we ask, “Is the Bible Reliable?”

Four Steps to More Contentment and Less Clutter

When my son Will was very young–probably about eighteen months—we made the daring decision to take him with us to dinner at a nice restaurant. We were on vacation and thought it would be great to treat ourselves to a dinner that didn’t come out of a box. And for some reason, we thought our active eighteen-month-old would cooperate.

I remember sitting at the restaurant, reading the menu with visions of steak and lobster dancing in my head. Will was munching on the relish tray the waiter had set out as an appetizer. About the time Susie and I were set to order our scrumptious meal, Will pushed up in his high chair and announced in toddler-speak, “All doe!” (Read—All done!). We were done indeed. There was no chance of getting that kid to sit there long enough for us to order, much less wait for and then eat our gourmet meal. He was done, and so were we.

How do you know when you have enough? What does it take to call “all done” in the pursuit of more, to push back from the table and determine that your cup is full? With college tuition, car payments, kids’ weddings or an uncertain economy still looming in the future, how can we possibly ever get to the point of really having enough? Beyond that, our society thrives on spending; it’s what drives our economy. Isn’t it downright unpatriotic to not support our economy by deciding we have enough? How do you really know where to draw the line, and then how do you have the courage to draw it?

Here is a simple four-step process I use to determine my enough. I bet it will work for you too.

1. Take a look around. Do an inventory of everything you have–your clothes and furnishings, your checking, savings, stocks, retirement, etc., all the stuff hidden under beds and in the attic, basement or storage. Write it all down. Chances are it’s more than you thought.

2. Say out loud, “This is enough.” That’s right, whether it’s a lot or a little, name it enough. Because chances are you have more than enough for what you need today.

3. Look to God for your future. Psalm 121:1-2 says, “I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Your hope for tomorrow is not in your ability to earn money or in your 401K. It’s in God. He always gives you enough for your right now, so look to him for your tomorrow as well.

4. Find a need and meet it. Find someone who lives with much less than you and help them. When you see how they live you’ll get a whole new perspective on what you have. You’ll see that your enough really is way more than enough.

Want to read more? Click Here.

You Promised!

And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised . . .2 Samuel 7:25

Never shy away from asking big things of God. Any doubt we have about his willingness to do great things for us should be removed the moment we look at the cross of Jesus. He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32) Any questions? He will give mightily. Your prayers should be as wide as your imagination and roomy enough for all the power and favor of God.

In the verse above, King David is praying boldly for his son Solomon. David throws caution to the wind and asks huge things of God for his son’s sake. What gave David the courage to ask and believe God for such things? Who told David he could ask God to move heaven and earth on his behalf? God did.

When David asked God for a great and lasting kingdom for Solomon, he was simply quoting God. You see…God had made many promises to David–huge promises– through the prophet Nathan. Because of what God had said, not because of his own whims, pride or desires, but because of God’s promises, David had the boldness to ask great things of him. He simply asked God to keep his Word.

Do you have promises from God? If you read his Word, you should. Are you asking God to keep them? Are you making some big requests of God?

But you say, “I’m different. David had Nathan to tell him what God had said. I don’t.” You’re right; you actually have much more. You have all the writers of the Bible and the interpreting, teaching and guiding power of the Holy Spirit to show you how to ask. You have the example of God giving his Son as the standard of just how generous he is willing to be. If you don’t have huge promises from God about your life, your ministry, your family, your future, then you are not listening. Every time you open the Bible there are promises that God wants to give you. Scour the Word. Listen to his voice for his promises. Then ask him to do what he has promised. Pray boldly. God never fails to keep his Word.

Is God Real?

If God had wanted us to believe in Him, He would have existed. – Linda Smith

God is an ever-receding pocket of scientific ignorance that’s getting smaller and smaller and smaller as time goes on. – Neil deGrasse Tyson

Oh that it were so simple. My friends in the disbelieving community propose that science–and specially, the great minds behind it–really can answer all of life’s most pressing questions and can fully explain how we got here and why we exist. It’s their best argument: We don’t need God. We can explain everything without him.

And yet, God doesn’t seem to be going away.

Do you believe in God? If you’re a typical resident of the planet, you do, or least you believe in some type of deity or deities. And yet the discussion of God’s existences goes on. I’m glad it does. Those who genuinely press into the question of God tend to end up better for it.

So here’s why I believe in God. (For better look at questions and answers about God than I can list here, CLICK HERE.)

1. I was raised believing that God exists. Yes, I was brought up in a God-fearing home. But that doesn’t mean that I’m brainwashed or that I quit thinking along the way.

2. For me, the evidence for God’s existence is overwhelming. The reality of a Supreme, Creating Being is still the best answer for why and how we exist. I’m not stupid and I haven’t checked my brains at the church door. I’ve read and still read many of the books and blogs by those who don’t believe. But I personally find their arguments wanting. From the immenseness of our ever-expanding universe, to the curious and apparently infinitely repeating pattern of fractals, the amazing world we live in (to me) requires a Creator. If our universe is the effect–then the cause/source must be something else–literally.

3. Answered prayer. I have personally experienced so many direct answers to prayer that I’ve stopped trying to chronicle them. Day in and day out, I see God move as a direct answer to prayer. Yes, I’ve seen miraculous healings and miraculous provision. I received wisdom at the precise moment I needed it and seen God intervene in critical situations. I could list them by the hundreds and thousands. But one of the most impressive answers to prayer I’m seeing these days is what God is doing in my hometown of Austin. Many faithful Christ-followers have been praying for a spiritual awakening in Austin since the 1950s. And today, Christians and pastors like me are reaping the benefit of their prayers. There is unprecedented unity in the churches and an openness to spiritual discussions in Austin. City and school district leaders have stopped seeing the Church as a villain and more as an extremely helpful friend and advocate. Ministries and non-profits that serve Christ by serving the poor are popping up all over Austin. And, there’s more to come. I can tell you as an Austin native that such spiritual favor and fervor in this city is nothing less than God’s direct intervention in our city, and that as a direct response to prayer.

4. The Existence of Evil. I believe that evil is one of the best indicators of the reality of God. Evil goes beyond people being mean to each other. It’s the deliberate inflicting of pain on one for the gratification for another. It’s a kind of heinousness and wickedness that is unmatched in nature. That kind of evil doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It has a source. And it indicates, at least to me, a source of evil being that goes beyond anything we can imagine. Once you open the door to the reality of a personified source of evil–a devil–then you’ve also opened the door for the reality of personified source of good–God.

5. My Personal Experience. God is so much a part of my daily life that to deny him would be the same as denying myself. I feel his Spirit. I hear his voice. I receive his promptings and leadings. I have received his discipline. I KNOW him.

6. I Choose to Believe. I think that the most important factor in whether a person believes or not is his or her will. Belief is a choice. We will never be able to prove that God doesn’t exist, and neither can we prove that he does. At the end of the process believing or not believing is a choice that we all have to make. I believe in God not just because I think his existence makes sense, I believe because I want to. I want to be a man who is marked by a deep and profound faith. Many of my friends in the disbelieving community don’t want to believe. Their disdain for God and religions is often hard for them to contain. Their experiences with “organized religion” have been more than negative. They don’t want anything to do with the god of any religion. That’s why we can look at the same evidence and come to such opposing conclusions. I want to believe; they don’t.

There are many other reasons–countless reasons–to believe in God. But the most critical one may be the simplest: What do you want to believe?

So, do you believe in God? Why or why not? Please weigh in. Personal attacks at those with opposing beliefs won’t be posted.

If you would like to watch or listen to my message at ACF on this subject, CLICK HERE.

(See source for quotes here)

 

Hearts Set Free

I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. Psalm 119:32

People who do not know God or his Word very well tend to view his Laws–his commands and teachings–as things to be avoided. They’re viewed as harsh, punitive and freedom limiting. They infringe on our rights and privileges. God is often viewed as the Great Rule-Maker; the Judge in heaven who sits around and thinks up ways to steal our independence. Freedom, conventional wisdom teaches, is found in going your own way, doing your own thing, establishing your own morality and in answering to no man . . . or God.

That makes these words from David all the more astounding. He confesses to willingly and happily living the life prescribed by God. He acknowledges that his life is lived out under the close scrutiny of God’s commands. For David, the law of God set his heart free. Doesn’t that seem strange, almost oxymoronic? When was the last time that you heard someone declaring freedom through obedience or through embracing restrictions? And yet that is exactly what David declares here. And it’s what the Old Testament prophets and even Jesus taught.

Freedom–the true freedom of the soul–does not lie in independence from authority. Liberty is not found in moral isolation. Were we really nothing more than evolved accidents, that might be true. We are, however, the most finely tuned creatures in the universe. We are keepers of God’s image and designed for eternal existence with him. Because of that, we function best in the environment that he prescribes. Just as we cannot live in an environment without oxygen–an obviously limiting thing–neither can we live in any environment that embraces moral vagueness. We function best when we live according to his commands.

Friends, God’s laws are not some great prohibition to keep us from having fun. They are eternal standards set up by our eternal Creator that will help us live life on an eternal level. To turn from God’s laws is not just to slip into moral rebellion, it is to miss life as God intends. Freedom and liberty are not found by walking away from God, but rather with Him. Tyranny of the soul always lies in the path unmarked by God’s precepts.

The Danger of Self-Flattery

Every day when I do my confessions, I have to confess my pride. If I’m honest before God, I have to admit that I’m in the habit of thinking way too highly of myself.

In light of that, let’s listen to David’s reflection on pride: For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin, Psalm 36:2.

In short, David is stating that we all tend to think too highly of ourselves. He is not advocating self-hatred or self-rejection, for both are ungodly. He is, however, advocating sin-hatred and sin-rejection, for both are godly and biblical. When we think too much of ourselves we miss the reality of sin in our lives.

What is self-flattery? It is the promotion of yourself over what is accurate and truthful. It is the unrealistic view that you are responsible for the good and blessings in your life. It is seeing yourself as naturally better than others and thinking that you are always right. It is being so enamored, so pleased with yourself that confession of sin and brokenness before God seem almost unnecessary. What little confession that is offered is actually only rote religious behavior.

And because of this, we can neither detect nor hate our sin, both of which are necessary for authentic Christ-following. So what do we do? How do we combat the never-ending onslaught of self-flattery? First, read the Word. The Bible does a great job of painting an honest picture of man. Second, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your sins to you. Ask him to unearth what you have buried and to keep your heart broken over your sin. Third, live in community. Give godly Christ-followers permission to probe your heart. They’ll see things in you that you either miss or ignore. Finally, serve others. Serving those who can’t serve you back is a great way to keep ourselves in perspective.

Jesus would not have had to die if things were peachy keen with us. Don’t be blind to your own need. Lord, help me not to think too highly of myself.

True Inheritance

The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! Proverbs 20:7

I know many men and women who are working furiously–60 and 70 hours a week–to make sure their children have a good inheritance. They want their kids to have the best educational opportunities, the best vacations, the best sports training and basically guaranteed financial security even before they hit adulthood. And these men and women often make difficult choices, including sacrificing their physical and emotional health, and even sometimes their marriages, to make sure that their kids’ inheritance is secure. And while their intentions are noble, they are unfortunately misguided. For the kind of inheritance a kid needs has nothing to do with financial security or educational opportunities.

But, it has everything to do with spiritual blessing.

In this timely proverb, Solomon says it well: You want to leave your kids a great inheritance, leave them the blessing of being righteous. Did you know that righteousness and unrighteousness pass on from one generation to the next? Of course you do, because you can look back and know what kind of spiritual blessing (or lack thereof) you received from your parents and grandparents. And all the money in the world can’t undo the damage or reverse the power of a negative spiritual inheritance.

So how can you best set your kids up to win in their adulthood–be godly. Get off the treadmill of money-making and stuff-chasing and show them how to love God. Teach them to pray, to serve, to worship, to give and to pursue godliness. If you leave them that kind of spiritual blessing, everything else they need will take care of itself.

Have You Ever Seen an Angel?

Have you ever seen an angel? I’m not talking about the face of one of your kids or your current main squeeze, angelic though he or she may be. I’m talking about a real angel. The heavenly–Michael and Gabriel–kind. They’re all around us and sometimes they give little hints as to their real identity. I read a great angel account a few weeks ago and I wanted to share it with you.

On Sunday, August 4, Katie Lentz, a Tulane University student, was driving from her parents’ home in Quincy, Ill., to Jefferson City, Mo., where she was planning to attend church with friends. She was hit by another car on the highway and the impact crushed her car into a ball of torn metal. She was trapped inside the tangled mess with life-threatening injuries.

Rescue workers try to free Katie

Emergency responders worked for 45 minutes trying to free Lentz. But the metallic prison that held Katie wasn’t giving. Katie’s vital signs began to weaken and rescuers were afraid that she wouldn’t make it out of the car alive. Then Katie asked from inside the car if someone would pray with her. A voice said “I will,” and up walked a Catholic Priest who had previously gone unnoticed. First responders thought it odd that he was there, as the road was closed on both directions and no spectators or pedestrians had been allowed near the site. There is only one catholic church in the area and some of the emergency workers attend it. The priest isn’t part of that church and no one recognized him.

The mystery priest prayed out loud with Katie. He prayed for the workers and encouraged them to be calm because he knew they would get Katie out alive. He also anointed Katie and two of the workers with oil. After the prayer, workers were able to turn the car upright and remove Katie. She was airlifted to a hospital with two broken femurs, a broken tibia and fibia, a broken left wrist, nine broken ribs, a lacerated liver, a ruptured spleen and bruised lung. She is expected to make a full recovery.

After Katie was freed, rescue workers looked around to thank the priest for his prayers and calming presence. He was gone. No one saw him arrive at or leave the scene. There are also seventy photos of the accident scene and rescue attempt and none of them captured the image of the priest. 

I like what Chief Raymond Reed, of the New London, Mo., fire department had to say, “I think it’s a miracle. I would say whether it was an angel that was sent to us in the form of a priest or a priest that became our angel, I don’t know. Either way, I’m good with it.”

Father Patrick Dowling

And then, a few days later, the mystery priest stepped forward. He is Father Patrick Dowling, of the Diocese of Jefferson City. He was behind the wreck when it happened and stayed on the scene in case he was needed. And when Katie asked for prayer, he was right where he needed to be.

I believe God stepped in on behalf of Katie and those workers. He believe he sent an angel (in this case, a human priest) to encourage them and to help them stay focused on their task. I don’t believe it was random or an coincidence, especially in light of the fact that Father Dowling was there at the exact moment that Katie asked for prayer. God was obviously directing him.

We have no reason to doubt angelic appearances. They occur frequently in the Bible and the writer of Hebrews told us to be on the lookout for them: Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it, Hebrews 13:2. But sometimes God chooses to use humans as angelic instruments. And if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of one of those “just in time” appearances, you know that they are no less angelic or miraculous.

Here’s the point: Sometimes God sends angels to act as humans and sometimes he sends humans to act as angels. Either way, he gets the glory.

So what about it? have you ever seen an angel? I believe that I have, but that’s another story for another day. If you have, feel free to share it with the rest of us below.

 

 

 

Christian Outcasts

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. Acts 9:27

The name Barnabas means Son of Encouragement. After reading about the way he treated Paul, it’s easy to see why. At this point in the game, Paul was still considered public enemy number one. His was still thought of as Saul the Christian-killer, not Paul the preacher of Christ. Simply not enough time had passed for the word to get out that he had truly changed. When Paul sought out the fellowship of other believers, they shunned him. He was a Christian outcast.

They still exist today—Christian outcasts. You’ve seen them. They’re Christians, blood-bought and fully redeemed, but they have messy records. Not enough time has passed in their discipleship for other Christians to see them as brothers and sisters and not as who they used to be. They’re all over the church, some are even well known: the drug dealer, the prostitute, the White House conspirator, the homosexual, the girl who had the abortion, the porn addict, the murderer, the corrupt politician, the terrorist, the other woman, the mob executioner. These believers in Jesus may indeed have messy records, but don’t we all? Doesn’t the New Testament teach that God sees all sinners the same? Aren’t we really just like them–redeemed only by God’s grace?  The trouble is that while God sees them as Holy, we don’t. While God sees them through the blood of Jesus, we just see them as who they used to be. Funny how short our memories can be–we used to be exactly the same way.

The church today needs some Sons and Daughters of Encouragement. Barnabas embraced Paul and reminded the other disciples how he should be treated. He said in short, “Hey guys, there are no outcasts in Jesus’ family.” Indeed not. So to whom can you be a Barnabas? What former ___________ (you fill in the blank) needs your loving acceptance and care? Who needs to be guided safely into the midst of your community of disciples? Are you shunning someone who really needs your Christian embrace?

Jesus knows no outcasts. Neither can we.

Are You Ready?

Here we go! Buckle your seat belts! If God honors obedience (and he does) there we’re in for a fun Fall. The worship changes we’re beginning this weekend are nothing but obedience on our part. God has asked us to step up, and by his grace we are.  He will honor it.

So don’t forget that this weekend, among others things, worship events at all Communities will be 10-30 minutes longer (9 AM start for the early service at 4 PTS) with more time for response and participation. School age children and youth will be in our worship services as part of Second Sunday Worship.

I can’t wait to worship with you!

This Weekend @ ACF

It’s Explore God, part 1. We’ll be wrestling with the question Is God Real. You’ve got friends who need to be at the ACF Community you attend so they can hear this message. Don’t be a chicken! Pray for them and then invite them to church.

Explore God is Spreading!

I got word this week that the Austin Police Dept has agreed to sponsor Explore God discussion groups at the police academy, at the main station and at all police sub-stations. Travis and Williamson Country EMS are also considering having discussion groups in each of their sub-stations. This is another major ‘first” for greater Austin. Yea God. Have you had a conversation about God yet with a spiritually inquisitive friend?

Seen at a veterinarian’s office in South Austin: Explore DOG Here.

Do You Need to be Baptized?

Part of our worship changes include monthly baptism events at each Community as part of Family Worship Weekend. Our next baptism weekend will be October 12/13. Do you need to be baptized?

1. Have you confessed faith in Jesus as your Savior and Lord? Have you embraced the claims of Jesus as a free act of your will? If yes, then . . . .

2. Have you been baptized since then. It doesn’t really matter what your parents did for you, as well meaning as they may have been. Baptism is your choice as a direct result of your decision to follow Jesus.

If you answered Yes to 1. and No to 2, then you get to be baptized! Woo hoo and yea God! For more information or to sign up, contact your respective Community Pastor.

ACF Northwest

ACF Brushy Creek

ACF Northeast

ACF Four Points

Happy Anniversary ACF Northwest!!!!!

My family and I had the pleasure of worshipping at ACF Northwest last weekend . It was an amazing time as they were celebrating the one year anniversary of their weekend services.

Pastor Thom Fulmer and many others shared what they had seen God do since ACFNW began meeting. It was a very inspirational time and a great confirmation of our community strategy. ACF currently has four communities with more on the way.

Are you interested in seeing an ACF Community in your part of town? Write me and let’s talk about it!

Can You Help?

ACFNW needs at truck to pull their trailer each weekend. If you would like to donate a truck that is in excellent condition and has significant towing capacity, then please contact ed@acfellowship.org .
ACFNE is looking for retail, warehouse or other space for small groups to meet in and/or to hold their weekend events. If you think you might have access to space that the ACFNE family can use, contact shawn@acfellowship.org .