by David Docusen | September 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
I have prayed the same prayer over our church family every single week for the past three and a half years. It’s my passion and my desire for each person that calls Center City Church home.
I believe that it’s powerful to receive a blessing from a pastor on a weekly basis. I believe it’s infinitely more powerful to dig into the revealing, life changing, perspective altering Word of God that brings life to our souls. If I can do anything as a pastor, I hope to spark intrigue for our people to dig into the Word for themselves. It’s because of this deep desire of my heart that I consistently pray this over every person in our church from the bottom of my heart. May it be so.
CENTER CITY CHURCH | BENEDICTION | PSALM 119:105
God’s Word is a lamp to guide your feet and a light for your path.
I pray that you wouldn’t stray left and right where there is darkness and confusion,
but that you would stay on the path that is lit by the light of God’s word.
Amen.
by David Docusen | September 3, 2013 | Uncategorized
The teachings of Jesus are brilliant, counter-intuitive gems that only get more and more beautiful as you dig in, explore and apply to your life. We will pick up where we left off with the Beatitudes series by starting on the very next verse. These most famous teachings of Jesus are life changing, perspective altering truth that meet us at a place of genuine love, compassion and instruction.
Can’t wait to kick off this new (continued) series this weekend at our Fall Kickoff at Center City Church. For those that are a part of our church family, remember that we move our service time to 10am this week!
by David Docusen | September 2, 2013 | Uncategorized
We have a simple rule in the Docusen home. When it’s your birthday, you get to do whatever you want to do (within practical and financial reason, of course).
I celebrated my 34th birthday on Saturday. So, according to Docusen family rules, I got to pick the day’s activities. Here’s a rundown of my perfect day:
8am-12pm – Absolutely nothing. Hung out at the house. Kids playing around us. Lazy morning that included coffee with my lovely bride and extended time in God’s Word.
12pm-1pm – Chipotle. Because it’s delicious.
1pm-4pm – Attending the grand opening of Romare Bearden park in Uptown. This is awesome on so many levels. First of all, this included hours with Dara and the kids. In our family, an open field and a bag of sports balls goes a long way. Second, we absolutely love our city. Spending the entire afternoon in the city is just a dream for our family, and this new park is such a great addition to our community. Included open spaces, splash pad for the kids, a waterfall feature for them to play in, local bands, aerial arts performers and so much more. Such a fun day.
4pm-4:30pm – Dara and the kids surprised me by bringing me to King of Pops (a locally owned, specialty popsicle stand). They also got me a t-shirt that I’ve wanted for a long time that says “King of Pops.” Loved it.
4:30pm-6:30pm – Absolutely nothing. Back at the house. Hanging out. Relaxing.
6:30pm-8pm – Kickstand Burgers -n- Bar. Our favorite local restaurant. Chicken wings & nachos. Delicious. And to top it off, the managers completely comp’d our meal and made a rather boisterous announcement to the entire restaurant, “We’d like to wish a happy birthday to a lifelong regular, David Docusen.” And then everyone, seemingly a bit confused by the loud announcement, clapped. Great fun.
8pm-8:30pm – Bedtime process for the kids. Family devotions.
Such a great day! If given the opportunity to do whatever I want to do on a certain day, I am going to pick time with my family. We love spending time together. Dara and I value making memories as a family, and this was one very, very memorable day.
Dara then informed that she had made reservations for the following night at the Melting Pot for her and I to have dinner together. Date night with my best friend…yes, please and thank you!
by David Docusen | August 31, 2013 | Uncategorized
Prophetic leadership. These two words are challenging, inspiring and revealing.
PROPHETIC – To hear the voice of God for the benefit of others.
I long to be a man that hears the voice of God for my life, my family and our church family. To spend time in the presence of God (through prayer, reading and reflection) and listen for the still, sweet, genuine voice of God. I long to spend my days with others that will not simply rely on personal gifting or great ideas, but lean into the presence of God for wisdom, guidance and next steps.
LEADERSHIP – To take others from one place to another.
I long to be a strong leader like the men and women that have led me throughout the years. To hear the voice of God and have the courage to respond, no matter what the task may be given by God.
I believe that our church family is moving into a new season. And God is raising up new leaders within our church family. Prophetic leaders that hear the voice of God for our community. We embrace the fact that on our own, we are disoriented, confused and powerless. But with God’s direction, we can see, do and accomplish more than we can imagine.
I have been reading through Jeremiah lately, and I am so moved by the amount of interaction between him and God. That’s the beauty of serving a living God; you can actually have a conversation. Jeremiah is talking to the other prophets of the day (many of them false prophets). He says something so revealing, so penetrating:
**Jeremiah 23:18 – “Have any of these prophets been in the Lord’s presence to hear what he is really saying? Has even one of them cared enough to listen?”
As our leadership team moves into this new season for our church family, I am praying that we will have the commitment to spend time with God, hear his voice and care enough to listen. I am praying that we will model for our church family what it means to be prophetic leaders.
God is not confused about your next season of life. Just as our leadership team is moving into a new season, I believe that this fall can be the best season of your life. Lean into the presence of God. Care enough to listen. And respond when you begin to faithfully hear the voice of your living God giving you wisdom and direction.
I leave you with the words of Jesus as he is teaching about prayer. May these words move you into a new season. A prophetic season…
**Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT) – “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
by David Docusen | August 31, 2013 | Uncategorized
https://vimeo.com/73462246
Deep longing. Desperate pursuit. These are the type of indicators of somebody that is truly pursuing a relationship with Jesus that is described in the Sermon on the Mount. How hungry are you?
