Bigtime Praise

Hey guys-
I just wanted to share with you a crazy story about how God can pull someone out of a seemingly impossible situation and give them comfort and hope. There is a guy about our age, Justin, that used to go to my church but stopped about 4 years ago. His grandma is still a faithful member, however. About 2 weeks ago Justin's 15 year old sister died in a car wreck. As you can imagine, the family was devastated. Immediately people in our church began praying for this family, as well as making visits and sending cards and food. About a week passed and the family remained on the top of everyone's prayer list, including mine. Last Wednesday, I was teaching a prayer class (first adult class to teach!) and Justin was there! He hadn't been to church in over 3 years, but he was there! It was incredible, God moved in that room in a very powerful way. People were praying for God's will to prevail and for the family to somehow come to terms with what happened and to seek God for their comfort. There were very few dry eyes. Justin was also at Church this past Sunday morning and Sunday night! People always talk about how an event such as the death of a loved one can bring you closer to God, but unfortunately the reverse often happens. I was just amazed at the power of God when you pray to Him with faith and dedicate yourself to allowing Him to show His love through you. There is a good chance that Justin, his parents, and his girlfriend Monica may become saved through this ordeal. Please keep all of them in your prayers and know that you serve a living God.

Zack

2 prayer requests

Guys I have had a pretty bad weekend. A lot has happened, first of all guys I need you to pray hard for a guy that is in our youth group named Justin Tisdale. On Friday night a bunch of the Youth Group went to the Casting Crowns concert. He left early and went to hang out with his cousin (from what I understand is not a good influence). Anyways, at about 2 in the morning I received a phone call that Justin was in trouble. His cousin got robbed beccause of some sour deal he made with these guys. These guys put a knife to his neck and Justin wrestled the guy to the ground but in the process this guy put the knife in Justins leg. Justin had been drinking that night and made some bad decisions following that incident. So now he is suffering through some physical pain but also is very mad and "revenge" has even crossed his mind. So guys please be praying for him.

Ok now Im gonna be selfish and tell you what is on mind and what I am going through. So as some of you know in December I got a speeding ticket in Nashville. Well it turns out that there is some rule in Georgia about people under 21 years of age getting a ticket for 20 over in another state. So Saturday my parents got a letter in the mail that said that my liscense is going to be suspended for 6 months. Guys I am not sure if it is a good rule or not but it was a pretty discouraging thing for me. Because of the fact that I live 15 hours away from where I am going to school, so this is definately going to effect me a little. So guys please be praying that we get this worked out.

Thank you guys! I will be praying for all of yall!
Saller

"He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30

Random Thoughts

Heeeeeeelllllllloooooooo (think Seinfeld),

Hope the Lord has blessed you all this week. I'm actually at work right now and things are pretty slow....so...I decided to post!

For some reason God has really put Ezekiel 16 on my heart this week. If you haven't read it before, it basically describes how God saved us and gave us totally undeserved mercy....and then how we "trusted in our beauty" as the text puts it, and turned from God...and then how God atones for all that we have done, even though it should be punished on our heads and not his sons. But don't just take that summary, read it, because it uses very very strong language and really gets the point across.

The point that God stressed to me was that, honestly guys, how much forgiveness is flowing through the relationships in your life. We, sometimes, are so wicked and so horrible in the things that we do and think...and God not only forgives us of them and gives us everything for life and Godliness, but he also atones for our sins with his own perfect son (2 Peter 1:3-4).

Christ calls us to forgive as we have been forgiven, or to "love your wives as Christ loves the Church". I sometimes think we can pass off those huge statements just as "yea, seventy times seven...whatever that means....but, of course, Jesus didn't really mean that many times." I'm not saying to let people walk all over you and for you to be naive; we are told to be as shrewd as serpents....I'm just saying try to genuinely love people just as Christ loved you, and BECAUSE Christ loved you, and when you do love people, forgiveness will, as a result of love, flow out from you.

Once you've read Ezekiel 16 I believe it's very hard to go and deal harshly with your wife, brother, friend, girlfriend, etc... So, I just wanted to encourage you guys to let forgiveness flow through you and really show people, through your forgiveness, how much Christ's forgiveness really means to you. Not only will we demonstrate how much it means to us, but also it will demonstrate how much greater Christ's forgiveness is...we, through sin, have offended an infinitely good and perfect God...we deserve death....but he pardons us. Praise be to God for that!

As Paul exclaimed in Romans, "Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death? Praise be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (Romans 7:24-25)

With Much Love,
Donny

The Mighty Mac Daddys!

Alright men (and you are men), I want to chime in along side of the latest post with some observations:

1. Why is it always about the women?

2. Who is the next lady killer?

3. Who will Max mac in in the UK?

4. Is it true that Bryson has $786,349.00 in the bank from mowing lawns?

5. What is the difference between the giant ball in Times Square and Matt Saller? >> The giant ball falls once a year for new year and Saller falls once a week. Ouch!


Hey seriously, I love you guys and miss you guys and want to hear about what God is doing in your life. I know Max and Chase are chillin with the Brits but I want to hear from them. Max, you better start posting pics on this sucker. It is easy to do so just let me know if you need help.

Please be praying for Kim and I. I preach this Wednesday at Highland and then travel to Katy, Tx to preach and interview at Cinco Ranch. The next weekend I'm in Ca for a wedding and preaching and then the next week I am doing a camp in Co.

I love you guys.

Prayer Requests

Hey guys this post is one that I thought that we could all comment on when we have prayer requests so that we can all be praying for them.
Matt

Greatest Summer Ever

Ok guys first of all I would like to apologize for the lack of writing on this blog. I am absolutely having the greatest summer ever. First we will start off with camp. Fellas camp was AWESOME! The them was Breakaway. Which was a very good theme for me spiritually. And for the real exciting news. I did my first baptism. Her name was Brianna Claiborne. I have known her since she was very little. When she first asked me to do it early in the day I thought she was joking and then that night when we were walking down to the pool she asked me again and my stomache dropped. And when I got into the pool to do it I literally was holding it in to not pee my pants. But it went good I didn't forget anything at least I hope not (the last thing we want is for it not to be official lol).

Ok so I went to Uplift at Harding University. And no joke fellas that week changed my life. It was one of the most spiritually uplifting (hint the name) weeks of my life. I became a lot closer with God and the kids in the youth group. I also decided that I believe that the Lords plan for me is to spend my life serving him through youth ministry; while focusing on junior high kids. It was just a real reassuring week for me.

And also at Uplift (ok I know guys this is going to sound kind of dumb) but I basically fell in love! Her name is Amanda Makool. She is awesome and in my opinion and my youth staffs opinion she is perfect for me. To be honest with yall I am not sure that I have had this feeling before. She is a great girl who I have a whole lot in common with. The only negative is that she goes to Harding. Guys please pray for this situation and help me to see Gods will in this.

We'll yall I hope that everything is going great, and that everyone is having a good summer! Guys I am going to start a prayer request blog that we can all comment on and put our prayer request so that we can be praying for each other.

"The Lord himself goes before you, he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." Deut. 31:8

Mucho Apologies

Fellas,

Hello my fellow mighty men...I know this is my first post so mucho apologies for the lack of...but the internet at my house hasn't been working since I've gotten home and short trips to the library had to suffice for email. But now it works! So, expect more posts.

Well, to give you all a general update: my summers going great! Still working at Universal:Islands of Adventure, but I also got a job at a Gym and they're paying me $10 and hour! (for basically doing nothing but answer the phone...it's great!) I have some more time now to read great books and really try to get into the word everyday b/c I'm not working as much at Universal b/c the other high-paying job.

But now...for the really freakin good news (sorry if the "freakin" offended anyone...this situation just called for it)! Maxwell you should especially appreciate this due to your endeavors with your lady friend (which, by the way, I want to know more about...so post!) That situation with the girl that I had mentioned back in Abilene is going great! In fact excellently...no...magnificently! In case you may have forgotten, her name is Morgan...and she's the most amazing girl ever! And we're officially dating...like "boyfriend" and "girlfriend." So...no complaints in that dept., except for the fact that she is spending most of the summer in Tallahassee, FL with her Dad and little bro, which is fine w/ me, but of course, I wish she was in O-town (Orlando) with me :-( But she's doing a really good thing by spending time with her little brother and w/ her Dad whom she doesn't get to see to often.

But, just to recap, summers going great and, to my surprise, I'm actually dating the girl who I've liked since, basically, freshman year of high school...I was always like "there's no way she'd ever like me"....and now were dating...it's hard to believe...but nevertheless, really great!

Hope everything is going great with you guys, and I know the whole blog thing has kind of died, but never forget, it can still be salvaged. Remember how many times Jesus brought someone back from the dead...I think we should be able to do that with a blog. Much love and be safe! Don't forget to post!

-Donny T.

Hey Yall!

Just wanted to say hi to matt and joel b/c you two are the only ones who read this!
Life is good.
Star Wars was awesome.
and relationships are swell. Jess and I had our first "Defiine the Relationship" Talk, which was a subject that came up naturally, i might add. Anyways, Sometime this week she is coming over for a family dinner before she leaves back home.
God is Good!
Love all of yall. Matt, how is N-town. I am sure the kids love you!
-Maxwell the turtle (or should i say snail?...hmm)

Check out these pictures:
http://homepage.mac.com/acandleburns/PhotoAlbum26.html