by David Docusen | August 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
Jesus was always dealing with religious people. But their religion didn’t look much at all like the love, joy and peace that the Scriptures describes true followers of Jesus. These religious leaders were greedy, angry, judgmental & pious (this list could certainly go on).
In one encounter with these pretentious leaders (Matthew 12), they tried to trip him up by saying that he couldn’t help a crippled man on the Sabbath (the holy day of rest). Jesus wouldn’t have any of it and reaches out and heals the man. The religious leaders are oblivious to the miracle in front of them, instead they are incensed that Jesus did such a thing on a day that was set aside for rest.Jesus slips away as these leaders begin crank the engine of “religious justice.” As he is leaving, hordes of people follow him,their eyes opened to the reality of God’s love, power and sovereignty. And the religious leaders of the day are left only with their greed, anger, judgment and piety.
I don’t want to live my life defending a religious system. I want to be intimately aware the there is a God that loves me. That the same power that Jesus displayed that day when he reached out and healed this crippled man is available today. That the love that Jesus displayed to anyone that would truly seek him is available to me today. That’s a love worth living for every day. Even more, that’s a love worth laying down my life to follow.
In the following Scriptures, a prophecy is quoted that described Jesus hundreds of years before he ever came to live on this earth. In the final description (Matthew 12:21), it says this:
“And his name will be the hope of all the world.”
My prayer today is that I would not be boxed into a religious system. My prayer is that I would be in relationship with Jesus. The all-powerful, all-loving, ever-compassionate savior. I pray that I would remember that every hope that I have is found satisfied in Him.
If you are searching for hope, peace, freedom & joy, I believe that every hope you’ve ever had is satisfied in Jesus. Not in religion, but in relationship with Jesus – the hope of all the world.
by David Docusen | August 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
You were not mass produced. When God created you, he didn’t create you on an assembly like to look like every one else and process things like everyone else. He knows you. He cares for you. He designed you.
I have been totally enamored by the artisan industry lately. Artisans train for years to become masters at what they are making. They actually care about the product that will make it to the marketplace. Artisans are found in a variety of fields – bread, cheese, wine, clocks, etc.
If God is the master craftsman, what does that mean for us? What is our role?
We are called to be artisans of faith. To truly care about growing in our knowledge of God. Spending extravagant time with him. Learning. Growing. As we continue to grow in our faith, we naturally begin to make disciples around us by sharing what we have learned.
Artisan faith – unique design; genuine pursuit.
by David Docusen | June 10, 2013 | Uncategorized
I’m excited to share with you that we have launched our new website – www.ebenezerscharlotte.com. This new site is our official landing pad to share the vision, receive online donations and keep everyone up to date on this incredible journey.
I love you guys and appreciate all of your prayers, support and enthusiasm. Let’s tell the world that Ebenezers Coffeehouse is coming to Uptown!
by David Docusen | March 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
I will never forget meeting Hunter and Ranaye 5 years ago. Ranaye was my co-worker at Caribou Coffee and Hunter was her boyfriend. They gave their heart to Jesus and began to pursue him with so much passion. It inspired me. Four months later, Hunter was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease (cancer). After eight months of chemotherapy, Hunter and Ranaye got married and found themselves walking through this season together. Their faith became stronger and their response was simple: we have to do something to share the message of Jesus with those who have not heard.
They are now preparing to move to Japan. Their goal is to share this same message of freedom, healing and salvation that they have experienced with so many in Japan.
We have an incredible opportunity as a church family to get behind them both in prayer and with financial support. They have already raised 70% of their financial goal and we can help them cross the finish line. They are only $500 per month away from being sent to Japan. I believe we can do this out of our church family.
Will you consider supporting them on a monthly basis? You can be a part of the work of Jesus going to Japan. Let’s do our part, together.
For more information on supporting Hunter and Ranye,
email Hunter. by David Docusen | February 22, 2013 | Uncategorized
We just took the biggest financial faith step of our lives this past week. We agreed to terms on a property that will bring Ebenezers Coffeehouse to Uptown Charlotte. The total cost of this project will be around $2,500,000. It’s absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to show everyone the architectural plans that are bringing this vision to life right in front of our eyes. The potential is off the charts.
I got an email yesterday from our friend and partner in this vision, Mark Batterson. We have crafted an affiliation agrement that will be a model for others around the country to be able to reproduce Ebenezers in cities across the world. Check this out…
Hey David,
We want to give 1% toward the $2.5M ballpark target.
Someone gave us $25K when we were building Ebenezer’s seven years ago…
It was the largest gift actually…
We’ve had a few more miracles since then 🙂
We wanted to do for you what they did for us…
Maybe it’ll also help with other donors…
Praying for the floodgates to open!
Mark
Needless to say, I freaked out (freaking out includes yelling at the top of my lungs in my office and doing some sort of very awkward happy dance).
Talk about generosity and being of one heart and vision for the Kingdom of God.
Thanks to Mark and all of his team at NCC. Through the faithful generosity of people we may never meet in Washington, DC, we were able to be the beneficiaries of an incredible gift that we now get to steward in Charlotte, NC.
We are all in this together. Now let’s all scream and do an awkward dance together. Ebenezers is coming to Uptown Charlotte!
