The Perfect Gift

What If

At The Crossroads

Stronger Together

Esther's RomCom

Life's A Mess

Perfect Plans

Jesus Called us to GO!

Welcome to Discover Church

A Journey to Discover

Recently I did something I never thought I would do. I stood in front of the congregation that I have served for around 8 years, and told them that Amy & I were going to start a journey somewhere new.

Over 3 years ago, God began to birth something inside of us. We loved what we were doing and the people at our church, but God was putting a new desire and urgency inside of us. We started to feel as though our time there was coming to a close. This was not an easy decision and we started to pray about exactly what God was calling us to do.

We have spent that last 3 years praying, fasting, and seeking the council from some pastoral friends. We are announcing that God has birthed a passion inside of us to plant a church in Central Sussex County. We are planting a church for those not in a church so they can find love in Christ and a community to work with. We want to reach outside the "walls" of the church to leave a lasting impact on our community and build relationships that will change lives through Jesus Christ.

We may live in what seems like a small county, in a small state, but did you know that over 58% of people that live in Sussex County do not attend a church, thats around 125 thousand people. So we hope to join in the community of believers in Sussex County to reach the lost.

Discover Church is who we are and if you have a heart to change your community, town, county, and state than you may want to join us. 

We are seeking people who will:

Pray - For the leadership team & launch team, for the perfect location, financial provision, and that people will come to know Jesus.

Give- Our goal is to raise $80,000 to launch Discover Church. Please prayerfully consider giving a one time donation, or partner with with us to sustain this ongoing project. All donations can be made by mail or securely online at www.discoverchurch.cc and are tax deductible. 

Go-  We are looking for people to help make this vision a reality. We believe that God wants to do something incredible in the lives of people in Sussex County and we are deeply committed to serving, attending, and making it hard for people to go to hell by making it easy to go to church.

We need you!

Smooth out the edges

So after working in a church for a while you realize there are a whole mess of well…crazy people out there! You know the kind of people that who after they come around you, you have to ask Jesus for a little more patience. You might say to me, you don’t even know about the people I have to deal with in a day, week, or month, but I can guarantee that we all have those who get under our skin.

Kerry Shook in “One Month to Live” called these people sandpaper people, because they are rough to deal with but they can help smooth out the edges in our own lives. And do you want to know a secret, we are sandpaper people, we all drive someone in this world a little crazy. You never thought of that have you? Think about the person who really drives you up a wall, and then think about the fact that you do that to someone else. It’s comforting isn’t it?

 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, 

which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10 

(Who is a sandpaper person in your life presently? How do you usually relate to them?)

An easy way to help understand others is to identify how they bug you. What part of their personality do you struggle with? Then think about how that person was raised, the life they have lived. This could be the explanation for how they behave. We have to realize that no one is normal, there is no such thing as normal, God has made us all unique. We should not try and pick someone apart when we all have our own problems we have to deal with.

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, 

but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 

‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?"

Matthew 7:3-4 

God puts people in our life sometimes to help smooth us out and to try to help us be transformed from what we were to become more like Jesus.

Portions quoted other than scripture came from "One Month to Live" by Pastor Kerry & Chris Shook, to buy click http://www.onemonthtolive.com/

True Values

“Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this”

Psalm 37:3-5

Ever wonder why so many times we wait till we have a major issue in our life before we let God catch our attention? We get off track and start on a path to a collision and don’t know how to apply the brakes. Many times it start when our time is crunched, we get overbooked and feel overwhelmed because we know we don’t have enough time. Many times we think we can just manage our life better to solve the problem, but have you ever thought that maybe we are spending time of things that really are not important?

(“When was the last time you experienced a life collision,

a season or experience in which you found yourself coming apart at the seams?”)

We think our schedule is overbooked because we have to many things to do in a day, it may just be we need to reevaluate our lives based on our values not what we would like to get done. Many times we say our health, spouse, or children are important to us, but does our schedule and time spent line up with this belief? Other times we need to seek God’s point of view and ask “Is what I am spending time on what you want me to spend time on?” Our values are based off of what we truly believe is important. Do you work late when your kids have games or plays you should be at? Do you feel it is more important to sleep in on a Sunday rather than show up to worship God with the church your part of? No matter what you think you hold near you true test of what you value will be tied to what you spend time doing.

Take time today to ask God if the things you value and the things He values line up.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6


Portions quoted other than scripture came from "One Month to Live" by Pastor Kerry & Chris Shook, to buy click http://www.onemonthtolive.com/

How Deep is Your Love

“He who cannot forgive others

Destroys the bridge over which he himself must pass.”

-George Herbert

So growing up in Southern Delaware many people who did not grow up in the area often ask about the beach, and to their surprise I inform them that I don’t visit it very often. Not too big on the sand or the fact that I can’t see what’s in the water with me. But, whenever I go somewhere tropical, I am always fascinated by those who snorkel and scuba dive. There is a whole other world in the ocean to explore.

Did you know that most people who scuba dive can only go around 130 feet deep? That may sound deep however consider the ocean at its deepest is around 7 miles deep!

We often like to treat God and his love for us the same way as we do the water at the beach, splashing around on the surface. We don’t like to realize our sin never goes away unless we really dive into the love of God.

“(If you only had one month to live, what would you ask forgiveness for? From whom? Whom would you need to forgive?)”

Why do we need to forgive? Well…because Christ commands those who follow him to do so, if you follow Jesus, forgiveness is not an option. (Colossians 3:13) If we try to live without forging others we won’t survive, we just turn into bitter ungrateful people.

“(How have you experienced bitterness in your life?)”

We have to realize that bitterness often leads to anger and Ephesians 4:26-27 speaks of not letting the sun set while you are still angry because you can give the devil a foothold in your life for anger. Sometimes we get angry at God and some would say they don’t, but the great thing about God is he already knows about your anger, he can handle it.

Jesus prayed in Luke 23:34 “Father forgive them for they know not what they do,” this is where we get the power to forgive others. Jesus can take our sin, guilt, and shame and totally get rid of it, but only if we let him.

Portions quoted other than scripture came from "One Month to Live" by Pastor Kerry & Chris Shook, to buy click http://www.onemonthtolive.com/

Tick, tock

Tick tock, tick tock, Hook's afraid of an old crock. - a line summarized by Peter Pan when he confronts Captain Hook. We all know Hook to be the villain in the story. However if you think about it we know that we can be just like him from time to time. We all know that there's a point when we run out of time, you can buy it, you can't trade it, and you can't get anymore no matter how hard you try.

This is something that Captain Hook fights with trying to out run the crocodile and at the same time getting Peter Pan. Now at first look we think that Pan and Hook just don't like each other but Hook doesn't like Pan because in his words he doesn't show "good form." In other words Pan and the lost boys are wild and do whatever they like with little or no consequence, wile Hook always gets the bad end of the deal. I think we relate to Hook and Pan in different was at different times. We can't spend so much of our lives worrying about time that when we get old we wonder what happened, nor can we just go about doing any crazy thing we want just because we feel we can. Also we can't be so blind that we end up thinking we are just a good guy like Hook thought. That's right Hook would not have thought of himself as the villain he would tell you Pan was. Hook was educated businessman who lead his men through life. Pan did the same thing with his lost boys the key difference was that the boys never wanted to grow up and the men were not responsible enough to think things through clearly. 

Ephesians 5: 15-17 "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is" 

I don't know if you have ever felt this way but I feel the older I get the faster the weeks, months, and years move. So I don't want to live afraid of time slipping away but take every opportunity that I get to live a life that in the end I would be happy how it was spent. Enjoy your friends and family wile you can, take nothing for granted.

We don't like No

What is necessary to change a person is 

to change his awareness of himself.

-Abraham Maslow

I don't know if anyone has ever told you no, but most of the time it is unpleasant. People in general don't like to be told no. In fact in writing this someone (a salesman) called me and because I did not want his services he hung up on me. Most would admit that wealthy people or people in charge really don't like being told no. How many wealthy people have gotten into trouble because someone told them no and they did not agree with it. 

Now what if I asked you if you were rich? You mite say that you don't consider yourself rich, but according to Andy Stanley's book "How to be Rich" if you make over $37,000 a year you are in the top 4% of the wealthiest people in the world. 

Crazy right!

It seems funny to consider that fact and yet still find it difficult to lead the kind of generous life Jesus called us to.

"Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes"

 -Mark 4:24-25

We like to have stuff, acquire more things, build our wealth. None of this is inherently bad, we must use caution though so we don't become consumed by getting instead of giving. Stanley in his book compared it to our appetite, once it gets going it is hard to satisfy. For me it would be like trying to eat just one potato/Doritos chip and then stopping. I can do it, but boy it's hard, I am unable to find contentment because I want more. 

This idea of not being satisfied is why at many restaurants the waiter brings out the try of desserts instead of just showing you the menu, they are trying to arouse the want inside of you so that you are not content with just the meal. 

This is why our appetites are not good for making decisions, we want to increase everything to give a scene of happiness. But we must continue to passionately pursue to live the generous life God called us to. 

"Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears."

-Hebrews 12:14-17

click for more information about Andy Stanley's book "How to be rich"

Thanksgiving time again, Thanksgiving for Thousands

Well another November has come and at Dagsboro Church of God we are and have been working on Thanksgiving for Thousands. This is an outreach event that started over 20 years ago way back in 1994 when our church started making hot dinners and serving them on Thanksgiving day. This all happened inside the church and volunteers even delivered hot meals to those who could not come out. Well by the third year of doing this Dagsboro Church of God was feeding over 1000 people. Then in order to help more people we partnered with a local chicken company and started boxing the dinners and passing them out a few days before Thanksgiving to allow family's the opportunity to sit down in their homes and enjoy the day. This year the program has expanded to serve the most people ever, this year 10,000 boxes with a meal for 6 that will feed people in need all over the Delmarva Peninsula. By having boxed meals it allows us to help more people in more locations. We have over 125 local groups (charity and other non profit groups) that we are able to help with these 10,000 boxes of food as well as serving those who call as ask for assistance. Overall we will help feed around 45,000 people this Thanksgiving!

If you are in need of a meal this Thanksgiving, you can call the Dagsboro Church of God at 302-732-6550 Monday-Thursday 9am-3pm up until November 13 or wile they are still available. Also if you are interested in helping to pack the meal that will happen on Monday November 24th at the Mountaire warehouse in Selbyville, DE beginning around 8am till they are done.

Distribution will take place the following day on Tuesday November 25th from 9am-3pm in many locations across Sussex County.








A big thank you to Mountaire Farms, Love INC of Western Sussex County, and all the local grocery stores that help with the food drive for their help to make this event possible. Also to the congregations of Gateway Fellowship in Bridgiville, St. John United Methodist in Seaford, Laurel Wesleyean, Milford Church of the Nazarene, and of course Dagsboro Church of God for all their help and support to make this event everything that it is.

Food drive accross Delmarva

Come out and join myself along with many others to help the Thanksgiving for Thousands food drive be a huge success. This Saturday November 8th from 10am till 3pm many from Dagsboro Church of God will be at the Super Fresh in West Ocean City for the food drive. If your not in the West Ocean City area you can catch another location across Sussex and Kent County's.

Other locations for the food drive are:

 Hockers's Super center in Ocean View * 

Superfresh - West Ocean City * 

Redner's - Georgetown * Redner's Milford * Redner's - Camden *

Giant - Long Neck * Giant- Millville * 

Safeway - Rehoboth Beach *

 Superfresh - Rehoboth Beach * 

Wal-Mart - Rehoboth * Wal-Mart -Georgetown * Wal-Mart- Milford DE

We have great people from the American Legion as well as other churches and community groups taking part in the food drive to help fill 10,000 boxes this Thanksgiving all across Delmarva. These boxes will be filled with a chicken as well as veggies and a dessert then distributed to families in need later this month to help others in our community to have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. 

So come on out help spread some good this Saturday for Thanksgiving!

The Power of Forgiveness

Never forget the three powerful resources

 you always have available to you:

 love, prayer, and forgiveness.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

It is funny to think how powerful forgiveness can be. It helps to usher the ability to love others even when they don't deserve it. One of the best accounts of this in the Bible is with Joseph. We see in the last few chapters of Genesis the story of Joseph a man who had been on an incredible journey through slavery and imprisonment stand before his brothers who sold him and forgive and bless them. If Joseph had not forgiven his brothers the rest of his family could have died, thus never leading to the tribes of Israel and the people they are today. All of this came from the power of forgiveness.  

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins

Mark 11:25-26

Some Ingredients to a Healthy Spirit

I was looking at some of the blogs I like to follow and seen that Pastor Steven Furtick is doing a series dealing with a Unhealthy Spirit and it made me think, what are some of the ingredients to a healthy Spirit?

On of the things that came to mind, probably because of what we are doing this week at our church is serving. This week we are serving the kids from our community by having VBS (Vacation Bible School) at the church. Where we have teams of kids going from station to station learning about Jesus and the Bible. Now we have around 30 or so volunteers helping to make this happen this week, sweating and trying to keeping track of everyone. And we have to ask ourselves is it worth it?

I say boldly YES!! By serving these kids for just a few hours a week they could have a life changing moment. You ask how? Well one of the councilmen in our church gave a testimony a few weeks ago about how he did not grow up going to church very often, but he did go to VBS every summer at a church not to far from his home. Even though the people running that VBS at the time would not have known it was their deposit into him helped to bring him into a closer walk with Christ as an adult and has helped him raise a godly family and have influence in his neighborhood.

I know many times we hear the work serve and go uhhhh. Because in our mind sometimes that just means work. But take joy in you work for the Lord because you never know where the fruit of your labor will lead. You just may change the world without even knowing it.

Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Remember that everyone in God's kingdom has a place to serve others, so who do you serve?

What are some other ingredients for a Healthy Spirit? Leave a comment!

Political Jesus?

Well as you know election day is getting closer and like you I hear more and more about President Obama and Mitt Romney, and like you I am already tried of it and we still have a way to go. But a interesting thought I had when the owner of Chick-fil-a defended his stand on marriage and everyone on Facebook had the signs about supporting them, why is it so easy for us to go buy a chicken sandwich but not share the love of Christ.

We like to post things on social media about our political views but have people all around us who need to hear the good news but can't talk to them about it. It has become so easy to click and share a thought, we many times do it without even thinking about all the people who may not share your thought on the issue.

You may ask what the big deal with that, well I will tell you, Christians have become known not for our love and compassion but for being "Conservative" or even dare I say "Republican." Well this may burst some of your bubbles but Jesus never said join the Republican or Democratic party, but he did say in Matthew 25: 35-40
 
"I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me."Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me."

And when I read this I don't take it as our governments responsibility to feed, clothe, and take care of others it is the responsibility of those who love Jesus. So before you go and bad mouth the President or the candidate who is running against him remember that so called "Christians" are the majority of this nation and we put our own self in this position. And remember that what you post on social media creates a image that people see about you and all the other "Christians" out there so represent the real Jesus.