Something to Say about the OKC Thunder

What I have to say about the OKC Thunder is that I love it! I love that OKC has an NBA team, not only a team, but a quickly developing team. I think its incredible and says a lot about our state, that when everyone said we couldn’t sustain a team, here we are with great attendance every single game. The people who worked hard and have seen the vision for making OKC, the city its becoming I salute you. It’s incredible the change that is occurring, seemingly every day.

I love Oklahoma, I’ve lived here all my life. I’ve been a lot of places around the world and all over the united states, and there are a lot of places I love to visit, but I prefer to live in Oklahoma. Why? The people. Hands down, this is one of the friendliest and caring places in the world. Friends I have visit say that every time they come here. They say, “the people here are so nice.”

I love it that we are letting the Thunder mature, giving them a chance to grow, and they are not disappointing us. They are proving to be a real contender, and showing the whole nation that we are a team and a state to be reckoned with.

It takes true leadership to be the best at what you do, and I believe that the OKC Thunder are heading down that road quickly. They have excellent chemistry as a team, working well together. The top players, have shown humility, and character, and the whole team plays together like a family. I want to say about KD he is a true superstar because he not only performs at an extremely high level but he appears to have a team mindset and a humility about him.

I saw one of his tweets the other day on twitter and it further solidified my confidence in him as a leader, he was asked, “do you like living in Oklahoma?” Even with all the pressure of some of the guys in the media and other teams, he said “I love it, I love Oklahoma.”

Its fun having this team and means positive things for our economy our businesses and our future.

Lets continue to support them, and the growth of our state and City, and lets learn from this. Vision is the beginning of a dream, and leadership causes that dream to come to pass. Go Thunder!

How do you think the Thunder will finish this year?

Something to say about honesty

It matters not if it comes from a republican or democrat, I am truly tired of the dishonesty in Washington. Is it honest for the president to say in the state of the union tonight, “And that’s why we’ve excluded lobbyists from policy-making jobs or seats on federal boards and commissions. But we cannot stop there….” When his administration has many lobbyists in it.

* Eric Holder, attorney general, was registered to lobby until 2004 on behalf of clients including Global Crossing, a bankrupt telecommunications firm.
* Tom Vilsack, secretary of agriculture nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year on behalf of the National Education Association.
* William Lynn, deputy defense secretary nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for defense contractor Raytheon, where he was a top executive.
* William Corr, deputy health and human services secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until last year for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a non-profit that pushes to limit tobacco use.
* David Hayes, deputy interior secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until 2006 for clients, including the regional utility San Diego Gas & Electric.
* Mark Patterson, chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for financial giant Goldman Sachs.
* Ron Klain, chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, was registered to lobby until 2005 for clients, including the Coalition for Asbestos Resolution, U.S. Airways, Airborne Express and drug-maker ImClone.
* Mona Sutphen, deputy White House chief of staff, was registered to lobby for clients, including Angliss International in 2003.
* Melody Barnes, domestic policy council director, lobbied in 2003 and 2004 for liberal advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the American Constitution Society and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
* Cecilia Munoz, White House director of intergovernmental affairs, was a lobbyist as recently as last year for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy group.
* Patrick Gaspard, White House political affairs director, was a lobbyist for the Service Employees International Union.
* Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff to the president’s assistant for intergovernmental relations, lobbied for the American Association of Justice from 2001 until 2005.

Is it honest for him to say, “I want congress to continue down the path to earmark reform.” When they put around 9000 earmarks in the omnibus bill, and he signed it. This would be laughable if it wasn’t so sad.

You can’t keep saying one thing and doing another and expect the american people to support you, no matter how well you say it. I am not against our president and hope that he can work together with all of congress, i just want truth. I want our government to tell us the truth.

Thoughts?

David

Something to Say about President Obama’s State of the Union Speech

I love this Country. I love what it stands for. I love the generosity of its people, and it’s compassion for the hurting. I love the freedom and the pioneering spirit of the people of this nation.

This nation is the proof of what can happen when people cooperate, when people stand for a cause. It seems lately however that we as a people are so self interested that we have lost sight of our cause. Its all become about power.

Our government is set up to combat that. I believe what we see happening right now with people speaking out, is this nation doing what our forefathers set it up to do, if it got off course. I know many people disagree on many things. I know many people reading this may not agree with me on a lot of things, but I’ll bet you we can find a lot of things to agree on.

Sometimes I wonder if we are so caught up repeating what we’ve heard, that we really aren’t thinking for ourselves. What I do know, and what I think most Americans can agree with, is that when you are in a financial crunch, you can’t spend your way out of it. I think we can also agree, we don’t know need people leading who say they know better than everyone else what we should do, but who’s solutions are political and not practical.

My hope is this state of the union will not be a speech to appease or please anyone. I hope this Speech will be one that is forthright and honest. That says, we need to change our plan of action. We have been majoring on the minors, and arguing over the peripherals while our nation is increasingly taking on debt and passing it on to our children’s Children. My hope is this speech will not be politically motivated but wisdom motivated. I Hope our President, doesn’t try to save face but instead faces the challenge of leading us out of the current situation. It doesn’t matter how we arrived here the time for arguing that is over. What matters is, that we think about our future. Not our personal political future but our nations future, our children’s future.

At some point Ladies and Gentleman in washington. Democrat, Republican, and Independent, this has to become about reality, not theory. The time for catch phrases and political posturing is over. We need you to pull together, and be solution oriented. I hope the president can pull the nation together tonight, and speak to the important issues, and take responsibility to lead us out. Then act responsibly, and competently for futures sake.

I honor our leaders, but if they can’t get together and put the politics aside and come up with a solution that will not bankrupt our children, and the legacy of this great nation, we should kindly ask all of them to step aside, and vote in some people who have the integrity to lead. Come on leaders, we need you.

My hope is that this state of the union speech will be the beginnings of a turn around that will make next years state of the union a much more positive reality.

That’s what I have to say, What do you have to say?

David

Something to Say about the NBC Late Night Fiasco

Well, I must say, I don’t watch late night talk shows much, but I have caught these shows enough to form an opinion. I like them all. All the guys are funny and for the most part their shows are very entertaining. Lets all remember that the decisions that will be made are bottom line decisions. Ratings, money, etc. It has very little to do with the likability of the people themselves.

I have always liked Jay Leno, but I have an opposing opinion to all of this. When they made such a big deal out of giving Connan the tonight show, several years ago, it was a great opportunity for him, but lets face it this is the “tonight show” The icon still connected to this is Johnny Carson. The “Tonight show” is an incredible long standing Franchise, and in my opinion should be left alone. Give Connan the time and chance to win over the audience, and boost his ratings. He is the best chance to get this upcoming generation attracted to the tonight show. Although Jay relates to the older generation, its time to move towards the future, (thats what I would be thinking if I were NBC)

Leno, wanted to go prime time. He touted his show, would be something completely different, fresh and new, and to be honest, it is the exact same show, with some furniture moved around. There is nothing different about it. Bottom line, it didn’t work. He took the chance, but it didn’t succeed. So in my mind, he should just take his lumps and move on. Let Conan, continue to build his audience and keep the franchise in place, or the future for it will be over. Thats what I have to say about that.

Thats just my opinion, what are your thoughts?

thanks
David

Something to Say about Leading Progress

“Leading to Progress Takes Courage”

Joshua 1:6-9 (NKJ)
6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

(MSG)
In the same way I was with Moses, I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”

Question: Why do we need courage? We need courage to be brave in the face of fear. Fear is our enemy. Any kind of fear is our enemy. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of resistance, fear of opportunity, fear of people, fear of leadership. Fear is going to raise its ugly head in us any time we face a challenge, courage is the answer to that fear. Courage is important.

In Chapter one of Joshua it says be strong, take courage, and not fear four times. God is trying to get across to Joshua that Courage is important to leadership.

Why do we need courage?

1. For the pursuit of the dream vs 6
a. Owning the dream takes courage.
b. Think about the disciples after Jesus ascended. They had to rely on the Holy Spirit to give them power to be courageous, most of them all the way to their death.
c. The enormity of the dream can intimidate you (just another word for fear)
d. The enemies of the dream can sidetrack you.
i. Distractions
ii. Procrastination
iii. Personal doubt
e. others opinions of the dream can scare us.
i. The only opinion that matters about the dream is Gods.

2. To do what’s right vs 7
a. It takes courage to be a leader because real leaders do what’s right even when its not popular. Even when its hard, even when no one else is.
b. It takes courage to stick to the plan
c. Joshua did what was right even when those following him didn’t.
d. Think of the Apostle Paul when he called Peter out for his obvious hypocrisy.

3. Fear itself vs 8-9
a. You have to have courage as a leader simply to combat fear. Not fear of things but fear itself. Fear paralyzes, it puts a pause in your purpose.
b. You have to have courage to push fear back when all your circumstances are screaming you should be afraid. God said to Joshua do not be afraid do not be dismayed. In other words don’t let anxiety rule you.

4. Fear of leading people vs 16-18
a. Jeremiah 1….do not be afraid of their faces.
b. Courage in the face of responsibility for people
c. Courage in the face of the inconsistency of people
d. Courage in the face of the complaints of people
e. Courage in the face of the imperfection in people.

Courage is the ability to look fear in the face, and keep moving forward. If we are going to lead to progress, then fear can not rule us. Opinion can not rule us. Courage must be our central charecteristic. Progress is necessary but not inevitable. Someone has to lead to it. So lets lead, and see people’s lives changed because we are not afraid to do it!

Something to say about closing school and church because its cold…

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s thought this, but I am a little stunned by the fact that we would closed school because its cold. I understand that many in OKC walk to school, I understand, because we don’t normally have this intense cold most are not geared up for it. I just can’t believe that we couldn’t come up with a more creative solution than to just close school. Now it doesn’t bother me, or cause me or my family any inconvenience i just thought is was strange that we would do that.

Second thought, I more than couldn’t believe the churches that I saw canceling services because it was cold. Come on guys, how do you build a church, convince people who are raised on not being inconvenienced to commit to a the cause of the kingdom when all it takes is a little cold weather to cancel services.

I know, I know you probably have reasons I don’t know about. However, lets gain some perspective. There are people all over this world, who in extreme heat, and extreme cold will travel hours and set in buildings with no heat and no air, because they are so hungry to worship God and hear his word.

My whole point here, is lets not look for ways to get out of things, lets have the attitude that come hell or high water, we are moving forward, and we are serving the kingdom.

Not meant to offend but, thats what I have to say about that.

For the school system, come on, we all know there are places in the country that have much colder weather and their in school, to the churches, come on, what’s up with that?

Thanks
David

Something to Say about the end of a Perfect Season

Let me start by saying I’m no football commentator, however I am a fan. I love football on every level. I think the game is terrific and has many great traditions. I’m having a ball watching this year. They seem to be playing more competitively then i can remember in a while. I really loved the attempt at a perfect season by the Indianapolis colts.

How unfortunate to lose at this point, especially when it didn’t have to happen. Far be it from me to be an arm chair Coach, however i feel the move to take out the best players on the field to assure their health at this point in the season was ridiculous and incredibly near sighted.

I love the quote i have heard from so many coaches, I don’t know who originated it, but it says, “we play to win, we don’t play not to lose.” What a huge statement. Playing it safe, playing to maintain, playing not to lose, always seems to land teams in the loss column.

I realize it seems a lot of players are hurt this Season, not sure why, maybe because the guys are bigger, faster, stronger. Maybe because they seem to be more strategic, don’t know, but it is a factor. To a degree it has always been, this is football, its a tough sport. I can understand the coach wanting to make sure he has his best players on the field in the biggest games. Now, however, he has to deal with the momentum shift and moral of his teams, because of the disappointment of losing the perfect season. I’m certain he thought they would win, but is it a chance you take? Not me.

Because at this time of the year, going into the playoffs everyone is playing their best and hardest and nothing can be taken for granted. Now, there is nothing guaranteeing that if you leave manning and the others in the game they will win, but there is definitely a much better chance.

Its just unfortunate that such a great quarterback, who has a team, that I believe will go to the super-bowl, and win, will not also be able to say, “we had a perfect season.”

I want to encourage you, don’t live life not to lose, but live life to win. Live on the offensive. Not maintaining but pressing forward, going for it, taking chances, not playing it safe. Add a little faith to your life, and believe it will come out right. If it doesn’t then you don’t walk away having any “woulda, shoulda, coulda,” but you know you did everything you could, and that is almost as good a feeling as a win.

Nobody’s perfect, but a perfect season is not out of the question, and that’s what I have to say, about that.

thanks
David

Finish Strong!

Here in one passage of scripture we find two perfect examples. One of what it means to finish Strong, and the other to finish weak.

2 Timothy 4:6-8
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Finishing strong or well, has a different meaning than just finishing.

(MSG) 6-8You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.

10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica

Thoughts on finishing Strong.

The average person feels like its good enough to just finish. Merely finishing is just surviving.

Finishing strong is winning, its ending with purpose, completing with excellence.

Finishing strong is less about externals or things people can see. Finishing strong is measured by our internal capacity and How successfully we will start the next thing.

The average person goes through life with it all running together. Never stopping to evaluate, never thinking it through. Whatever happens, happens.

A person of purpose or significance takes natural starts and stops to evaluate. To measure where we are, and envision where we go from here. Gods plan and purpose for us are so important that we must be strong Finishers as well as Strong Starters.

So as we draw near to the end of this year, we look at what we’ve done and plan for what we will do.

***Lets look at the two men in this scripture, one of which was the ultimate in strong Finishers, the other was the ultimate in failing to finish. These two men were friends who parted company over this very thing.

***Lets look at the weak finisher first. Lets see what keeps him from Finishing strong.

Demas: In other epistles Demas is referred to with honor and like one of the team, but at this moment a crisis moment, Paul facing his death and the Gospel being preached to the highest levels in Rome. Could be considered the greatest moment in the churches history at that time, and this is how we will all remember Demas.

For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica.

1. Weak finishers forsake their intended purpose. They lose sight of their Goal.
• Demas at a pivotal point, a crisis moment, just lost sight of what was important, and quit.

2. Weak finishers confuse their devotion. They love the wrong things.
• Demas loved “this present world” This implies, he chose temporal things over eternal. He made his world more important than the kingdom. He was tired of waiting for the future and wanted his now! He became impatient and driven by his own desire instead of a greater purpose

3. Weak finishers are distracted and go off course.
• Thessalonica was a metropolis, a big city, a place with numbers of options and things to take our mind off priorities. Lots of distractions. Anything that pulls us off course from our kingdom purpose is a distraction. Our world is filled with them. We can not let distractions take us off course. It’s tiring to hear Christians say, “how did I get here” I want to be spiritually hungry and I want to fulfill my purpose in life, but somehow I’m off course. It’s simple, they’re distracted.

Paul: The other friend in this story is Paul. He is the ultimate example for finishing strong. We can finish with Great confidence, we can end one season and go into the next with Strength and power. No matter what we have gone through or what our circumstances have brought us, we can finish strong and begin again with power.

Paul Said, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness with the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day and not to me only but also all who have loved his appearing.

1. Strong finishers surrender to a great cause, and are fully given to the cause. (poured out)
• They hold nothing back, they have an all or nothing mentality. They look at their life like an offering. They are giving their life for a cause. Rom. 12:2 …living sacrifice.

2. Strong finishers are willing to fight to finish well.
• They realize this is a battle its not easy, and they are willing to face the challenges and fight for it. They look at obstacles as opportunities, not places to stop.
• Paul fought for the Gospel he was attacked on many levels and he fought through it.

3. Strong finishers are focused on finishing
• Not looking for rest stops
• Not looking to slow down and let the race pass them by
• Not looking to get most of the way there.
• They are focused on the finish line

4. Strong finishers always believe in the outcome and don’t allow for quitting, ever!
• They don’t have a back door mentality
• They believe In the goal, in the purpose, in the cause more than anything. They will not quit until they finish and they will finish well.

The Birth of Grace

These are my notes from a Christmas message…”The Birth of Grace”

Matthew 1:23 (msg)
…She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus – ‘God saves’ – because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term: Watch for this, a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; they will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for God is with us)

The idea of the son of God being born to be the Savior of mankind, also included him being mankind’s sacrifice. Giving us salvation through grace. Unearned, undeserved, unmerited Favor of God.

Meaning when Jesus was born, Grace entered the earth. Mankind would never be the same again.

Several ways we see grace given in the birth of Jesus.

1. We see grace being prophesied through his family tree.
• There were only four women mentioned in his family tree. Only Four, and all four had particular stories of redemption and Grace.
o Matthew 1:3 Tamar
• Geneses 38: Tamar’s story is one of vindication, one of justice, wrong things being made right. Redemption. One of her sons name was perez (break forth) and the other zerah (Scarlet, as in the color, crimson)
o Matthew 1:5 Rahab
• Joshua 2: Rahab was a harlot but had heard the stories of Gods people and believed, so she hid the spies and she and her family were saved, redeemed. The spies said, your lives for our lives. Just hang this “scarlet” Thread out the window, and bring all your family in, and you will be saved.
o Matthew 1:5 Ruth
• Ruth: The entire story of Ruth is about redemption. About her Kinsmen redeemer who purchased her and gave her offspring an inheritance. Her son was David’s Grandfather. Jesus became our kinsman redeemer.
o Matthew 1:6 Bathsheba (wife of Uriah)
• We know the story of Bathsheba and how her life was marred by adultery but in her and David’s repentance they were redeemed and she became the mother and teacher to the wisest man on the earth.

2. We see Grace In Joseph’s handling of the entire situation.
• Joseph before he knew it was God, did not want to shame or embarrass Mary, he extended grace to her. He walked in grace throughout the birth of Jesus and the upbringing of Jesus. The amplified said he handled Jesus tenderly.

3. We see Grace in His Name
• Jesus (Joshua) Savior
• Immanuel, Hebrew for God is with us

4. We see Grace in the Conception of Mary.
• Luke 1:46-55 Although Mary was a virgin She was a human and not perfect but God gave her grace and allowed her to be the carrier of the great gift to mankind.

5. We see Grace in the Angels declaration of the birth of Jesus
• For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto, you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will towards men.

6. We find Grace in The baby.
• The Fact the king of Kings came in the form of a baby, implies an act of Grace. He didn’t come to overthrow us but to be one of us, and be here for us, and to love us. In spite of our failings and his perfections. In spite of our weakness and his strengths. That is called Grace. Thank God for the birth of Grace.

When Jesus Was born, it was the birth of Grace, the completion of the law, and Now, though man couldn’t live up to the law, He has the opportunity to believe in Jesus, and His gift of Grace. The law did its job in showing us we can never meet its standard, so Jesus Came and in His grace he met the standard for us. Now all we need do, is believe.

Take this, study it for yourselves.

God bless you.
David