today.

today we celebrate the unbelievable story of christ.

today he is risen.

today love.

hope.

and life.

win.

today they triumph.

today we believe.

today we rejoice.

today we celebrate the win over sin.

death.

and the devil.

today we're forgiven.

today we're alive.

today we rise.

today christ lives.

much love and peace, dmaloney

a simple thank you will do.

today is an interesting day in the christian church. in my mind it's the forgotten day. and a day of preparation. a day to gather our things for easter. maybe it's the ham. maybe it's the dye for the eggs. whatever we are doing we're often preparing for the resurrection, and lately it has been on my mind that today should be a day similar to good friday. a day where we mourn, not prepare. the disciples didn't know what would happen.

it's like knowing the end of the story and allowing it to influence the way you read the rest of the book. i could very well be wrong, but i really believe that today should be sad, like good friday. all i'm asking of you is that today you spent some time in prayer to say thank you. to say thank you for the amazing gift. there's no need to be eloquent just say thank you. much love and peace, dmaloney

sometimes you just need to suffer through

so it's that time. you're probably wondering what time? well, it's thursday, holy thursday, it's also time for a lovely lineup on nbc and grey's anatomy. and for some reason grey's anatomy always makes me think about huge life topics. lately the show has been focusing on topics like the choice to have children, but that's not the point. in tonight's episode a husband had to watch his wife taken off life support, not by his choice, but by his wife's choice three years prior. also in tonight's show a female police officer was wounded and lost her uterus in a surgery complication. the woman's story made me think about how often we have things that we love that hurt the people that love us most. this woman loved her police work and her husband. her husband loved her deeply, but after seven years wanted to settle down and finally have kids. unfortunately there were other plans for them.

i think that there is a lot that we can take from this story, and that this takes place in our lives often. (not this exact story, but you understand the point) we much too often disappoint the people who love us most for something that we love. i feel that i have a way to work on this. not as the woman, but as the husband. what do we do when someone we love continually disappoints us with something that they adore? what can we do?

well, i believe that a christians we're called to 'be the bigger person' for a lack of a better cliché. to be supportive and forgiving. i'm not saying that doing this is easy. it's extremely difficult and we'll all fail at this multiple times.we're human and that means we can learn from our mistakes. when i think about situations like this i can't help but think of God being the husband. God is often disappointed with our actions, but he still sent his son to die. so the next time you're sitting at a ridiculous event someone you love, loves remember the ultimate sacrifice given to you by the humble man, known as jesus christ.

happy april fool's day! and more importantly holy thursday. much love and peace, dmaloney

go attack your nineveh!

so i recently watched Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie and it made me think about the story of Jonah. so here is the link to watch the movie and here's a selection from the first chapter of Jonah :

The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: ² "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." ³ But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. ⁴ Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. ⁵ All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. ⁶ The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish." ⁷ Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. ⁸ So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?" ⁹ He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land." ¹⁰ This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.) ¹¹ The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?" ¹² "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you." ¹³ Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. ¹⁴ Then they cried to the LORD, "O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased." ¹⁵ Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. ¹⁶ At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.

this is the part of the story that i want to focus on. this is the part that makes me think the most.

in this story we have jonah and in this story jonah is one of the biggest prophets of the time. he is popular and when he has something to say everyone drops what they're doing. he has total respect of the people and when he speaks they believe (and it is) coming directly from the Lord. so one time God tells jonah that he needs him to go to nineveh. during this time nineveh is the bottom of the bottom. it's horrible. the city is full of greedy people that don't know right from wrong. anyway, jonah is like yeah right.. i would go anywhere but there.. i can't save those people they're horrible people. God insist that jonah make the journey, but the next day jonah heads out of town to tarshish. (the opposite direction of nineveh) and from there we all know the story.

but in this story jonah is a big part of the faith of the people at the time. they believe what he said to be the word of God. and jonah was a leader for God and a follower of God. he was a prophet because he had a sound relationship with God. but this great relationship failed when jonah didn't want to go to nineveh. for lack of a better term, jonah "rocked the boat" on the great relationship he and God had because he was afraid. he didn't want to waste his time on people he felt we're already a lost cause.

this story makes me reflect on this weekends youth leaders conference. we talked a lot about "servant leadership" and i think that jonah's story is a story of a leader who was afraid to be a servant leader. see jonah was happy in the town he was in. he was even comfortable leaving and going to anywhere in israel. but was afraid and unwilling to travel to nineveh. jonah was afraid to do "God's dirty work" he didn't want to travel to tell people unwilling to listen that they would perish.

i believe that God often puts our faith to very similar tests. tests of servant leadership. God knows when we are faithfully following him and he knows when he can test us. so he sends test to check our faith. in these tests he has a do things outside of our comfort zone. maybe it's that feeling you get inside that says you should go talk to them. or maybe it's a call to stay in the kitchen a scrub a pot.

now those examples aren't examples exactly like jonah's but they are still a call to something that we are uncomfortable with and a call to be something bigger than ourselves.

so maybe the next time you'll think twice about that person you thought was a lost cause. jonah thought nineveh was a lost cause yet the city changed their ways and turned to the Lord. the story of jonah tells all about grace, mercy, and forgiveness, but i think that the bigger lesson is in his leadership.

we can be comfortable in our own leadership positions, but we need to comfortable anywhere. God calls us to be more than leaders. he calls us to servant leadership. it's a big concept but if you can grasp it and, more importantly, but it in to practice you'll be a better person. God is calling you to go sit at the other table in the cafeteria. he is calling you the kid sitting by himself. but the question is how will you respond?

will you be jonah? will you turn and run the other way in fear or will you willingly accept the challenge? will you be a servant leader for God? the choices are yours. do what you please, but just remember you could end up inside a fish for three days!

go attack your nineveh! much love and peace, dmaloney

a different type of anniversary.

today marks my 40th blog post. in a way i feel accomplished i made 40 posts before easter and i'd have to say that i wanted to do something special for this "anniversary". when i think of anniversaries i think of love and relationships. today i'm not going to get mushy on you, but i'd like to honor a family that i have a great relationship with.

that family is the hertl's. i have know the hertl's since before i can even remember and for those of you who don't know they're moving in august. the talk of moving had been imminent for years, but the reality is finally here. it's taken me sometime to be okay will it and so today i'd like to honor each of you and thank you.

michael, there are so many youth group memories that involve you. there are too many to name. when i look back on those years i think that you're one of the main reasons why i enjoyed youth group so much. you are an awesome person and i am continually amazed by your creativity and patience. you've always been there to change the light bulbs (among other things.) you change the church. you helped the church develop and i don't think the church even knows how much you did and still do. michael, today, i'd like to thank you for helping to shape my faith journey and for all of your help throughout the years.

steph, you're one of my best friends and i wouldn't trade you for the world. we've had some great times, and even greater ones are to come. you're complex and multifaceted, yet live simply. you're extremely creative and gifted. as you know i'm not a fan of people saying that you can give over a 100%, but i think you do. you've never left me hanging. you'll always go until the lifts stop. and you are just amazing. you have always kept me on my toes. and i never know what's coming next. i'm excited to see where life takes you because i know that wherever you go you'll be successful. thanks for all the times you've helped me create something, make something better, or just quote the brady bunch movie. thank you for being such a great person. always dedicated.

becca, we've had some interesting experiences together. from our late-night-drowsy camp talks i've concluded that you're someone that i could go to with a question about life and you would listen and talk through it with me. when i think about you all i can think about is your positive attitude and how always makes me want to smile. it's rare for me to see you in a bad mood and you're positive attitude is always refreshing. it makes me love life. it makes me appreciate every breath that i take. every day. every drop of rain. just life in general. you're more complex than meets the eye. i believe that you're are someone who appreciates a time that works your brain. a time that makes you think. yet sometimes you can be frustrated by the fact that the thinking doesn't stop. becca, you're interesting in a good way. and that's what i love about you.

bryanna, i think that this picture describes who you are. you are unique in so many ways, and have so many awesome quirks. i'm so glad that you share them with me. from your pregnant belly to your accents to our man voices to our hand motions. everything you do makes me laugh. but you aren't just a joke-ster. you are very talented. you play piano which is something i wish i could do. i admire people who can play as well as you. i think that you are one of the quirkiest and coolest people i know. don't be afraid to show people who you really are because i believe that no matter where you go people will find you just as awesome as i find you.

sam, when we've actually talked i've enjoyed those experiences. i think that you're a strong person. you've been pushed around a lot throughout your life and i think that when you're older you won't take any crap from anyone. so sam i want to thank you for being a good sport and the butt of way too many jokes.

thank you hertl family for being such a large part of my life. you've each had an individual impact on me. best wishes to all of you as you prepare to embark on a new journey. i love all of you!

much love and peace, dmaloney

quality not quantity.

to grow or not to grow. that is the question. i'm not talking about height. i'm talking about churches. the pressure to grow churches and groups within the church is always present. but why?

numbers don't show commitment. they don't tell anyone anything. maybe that's a harsh statement but that's not the point. this is one of doug fields biggest points and i'm a big believer in it.

here's a question for you:

would you rather have one hundred sporadic members or fifteen totally dedicated people willing to grow in a relationship with others and God?

i would want the dedicated group.

but maybe this question doesn't apply to you. here's another one:

when it comes to friends would you rather have..

fifty friends that speak to you only when they need you and when you need them they completely blow you off...or have...

two or three friends that are always there for you. when they need you you and you need them they're there for you.

again, i'd want the two or three friends.

quantity isn't quality. and that's what we need to think about. that's what we need to focus on. this is what we need. so that's it. focus on the things that have quality not quantity.

much love and peace, dmaloney

n-a-n-a

i love my nana. end of story.

this a picture from the harlem globetrotter's game tonight that nana took me to. i don't want it to seem like i'm saying that i love her because she took me to the game. i'm saying because i really do love her. and i don't know what i'd do without her. much love and peace, dmaloney

the not so simple story

you changed everything.

but no one changed.

you gave everything.

but no one thanked you.

you suffered.

but no one cried.

you rose again.

but some still didn’t believe.

you simply gave your life.

so i could still be a sinner.

i am confused.

puzzled.

mystified.

speechless.

i’ll never understand.

but i still receive this gift.

i will never be able to re-pay you.

but that’s why you’re amazing.

and that’s why they call you Jesus.

the beauty pageant

beauty. it's defined in the dictionary as the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising fromsensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personalityin which high spiritual qualities are manifest). and as humans i'd like to believe that we each have our own definition of beauty. to some it looks like this:

or this:

but the one of the amazing thing about God is that he isn't the judge of a beauty pageant. he doesn't care how you look in a bikini or if you can walk down a runway in heels. God loves you the way you are. he made you the way you are because he think you are beautiful. here are some of the top image results for beauty, you might be surprised,

beauty comes in a shapes, sizes, colors, races, and God doesn't see any of that. he sees all of us as a b-e-a-u-tiful child. his creation. so don't change yourself because you want to look "beautiful" because you all ready are.

just smile and don't change yourself to fit societies demand of beauty.

quote of the day:

"be yourself and think for yourself; and while your conclusions many not be infalliable, they will be nearer right than the conclusions forced upon you." - elbert hubbard.

joke of the day:

i don't have one, so go look in a mirror, and make a funny face.

photo of the day:

start this week with a new attitude. wake up with a smile. much love and peace, dmaloney

one of the most powerful tools

if you haven't notice by now i really enjoy using music as a tool to communicate ministry. it's powerful. and i obviously wasn't the first person to feel that way, as the majority of church services revolve around music. music is powerful. it's a way to communicate your own message. but that message can have so many interpretations. like the post on regina spektor's song 'laughing with' and jars of clay's song 'like a child'. well, today i have a new song for you.

it's called 'how he loves' by david crowder band.

link to video w/ lyrics : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWgeUrD4MHI

it's a cool song, with some really great lyrics. my favorite part:

'And oh, how He loves us so

Oh how He loves us

How He loves us all

Yeah, He loves us

Oh how He loves us

Oh how He loves us

Oh how He loves'

i read somewhere recently God loves you as if you are the only person on earth. it's pretty amazing. and it's so crazy we'll never be able to understand. we'll never be able to wrap our minds around God's unfathomable. indescribable. unexplainable. love.

it's love and it's there for you.

i have a large collection of songs that i listen to when i'm looking for God. in my meditation, most of the time. but most of them are reflective or illustrate my individual conclusions and beliefs. another favorite is 'grand canyon' by ffh

'So I'm reaching across the Grand Canyon

Hoping you will take my hand

Wondering why you're just not listening

So for the time being

I'll just keep on reaching for you'

this song always makes me think back on my confirmation. during the classes i remember one point that was jesus is the bridge between you and God. he's the reason we can have a relationship with God. and that's exactly what this song is saying.in a way both songs are related. they both symbolize the power of God's unfailing love. and that love is a bridge across the grand canyon and so much more.

quote of the day:

'oh how He loves us' - david crowder band song: 'how he loves'

joke of the day:

horse walks into a bar. bartender says 'why the long face?'

haha!

photo of the day:

have a wonderful sunday. and happy birthday to becca hertl. much love and peace, dmaloney

it's the little things

today marks the beginning of lent. and maybe you're wondering what i'm "giving up". well, i'm not "giving up" sweets. meats. or beets. (sorry, i just wanted a rhyme) i'm not really a believer in "giving up" things. i like to resolve to do things. make a commitment. so why don't i really believe in "giving up" material possessions? well i believe in continuing your resolution or promise even after easter is over. to me it's like going to church for the month of december and stopping after christmas. is that what God wants? no. like the other day i said God wants all of you all the time. he wants your love. mind. strength. soul. i'm not saying that whatever you've resolved to stay away from is the wrong decision. i just have my own reservations about lent. but since it's lent i would challenge you to resolve to do something for more than just the purpose that's lent. do it for God. do it for good friday. do it out of love.

heres a link for a video on lenten thought

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMUJ2_nUyQI&feature=related. just give it a try..

today after school i was standing in the hallway when i looked down to see a post-it.

i don't know who wrote it. who it was for. or anything else about it. but it seemed to be a sign. or God-sighting to just be content. to be pleased with life. just to smile and love life. be happy. so this is the...

quote of the day:

"you are beautiful! so put down the eyeliner, & smile.">

joke of the day:

for those of you who were on june project or know the anger management story check out this http://www.youtube.com/user/failblog#p/u/5/OFu1HYhQOWA

photo of the day:

so which path do you choose this lent? much love and peace, dmaloney

what's your metaphor?

i recently started listening to regina spektor thanks to becca and emily and i came upon this song laughing with. the song really made me think so here's the link to the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rov3pV9PsRI

and i've listened to it time after time and every time i try to discover her message. i mean what is she really trying to say. is she trying to tell me not to God so seriously? is she saying God can be funny? maybe she's saying God is multifaceted. she's saying God is there for every situation. you can rely on him in when the police officer comes to your door with bad news. he's there when you're in war. he's there when you're starving. he's there when you're in the hospital. he's there when you need love. but he's not only there for the bad. God is there for you when you're searching for something funny to say. he's there when you just need someone to bounce ideas off of. so maybe regina spektor has the right outlook on God. God is always there in the good and the bad, and just like love, he wants all of you. he's wants you all the time. not only when you're scared or hurt or worried. he wants you when you're laughing. when you're crying. when you're thinking. when you're cleaning. when you're driving. when you're sleeping. God wants all of you. your soul. your mind. your strength. all of you all the time and that's a scary concept. it scary to give all of yourself to something you can see but that the point of faith. God doesn't just want your mind. he doesn't only want to see you on sunday. he doesn't just want you to call on him when you're struggling or in pain. he wants to hear it all. God wants to know about your paper-cut. your promotion. the five dollars you won on a scratch-off lottery ticket. he wants it all. the best analogy i can think of is when your best friends finds out some awesome news and not only do they neglect to tell you but you find out from an acquaintance that you barely know. the feeling is horrible. and that's how God feels when you only talk to him when you need a favor. i have been reading a book called God the what? lately and it's a book about our metaphors that we have for God. i think we all have our own metaphors that show each of us something different about our faith. i like to think of God as a best friend. a nursing mother. a light. the most-high. and love. we each have our own unique metaphors for looking at God and for myself my metaphors for God change with the situation that i'm in. when i'm looking and worrying about my future God is a light. when i'm in pain God is a nursing mother. and when i just need someone to talk to God is my best friend. this is what regina spektor is saying. God isn't just a healer. he's not just a father. he's everything and no matter what time of day he's there. so don't just go to God on sunday mornings or when you're scared. go to him when you're happy. sad. and looking for love. bring it all to him.



" we do not have to let go of one sense of God to take up another. neither do we need to about challenging old metaphors. what is crucial is to find a metaphor-- or two, or six-- that creatively point toward what we believe." - from chapter one of God the what? what our metaphors for God reveal about our beliefs in God

Joke of the Day: this one is quite long.. but i really like this one.. credit to jay cooper..
Little Carol came into the kitchen where her mother was making dinner.
Her birthday was coming up and she thought this was a good time to tell her mother what she wanted. 'Mom, I want a bike for my birthday.'Now, Little Carol was a bit of a troublemaker. She had gotten into trouble at school and at home. Carol's mother asked her if she thought she deserved to get a bike for her birthday. Little Carol, of course, thought she did.
Carol's mother, being a Christian woman, wanted her to reflect on her behavior over the last year, and write a letter to God and tell him why she deserved a bike for her birthday. Little Carol stomped up the steps to her room and sat down to write God a letter.

LETTER 1:
Dear God:
I have been a very good girl this year and I would like a bike for my birthday. I want a red one.
Your friend, Carol

Carol knew this wasn't true. She had not been a very good girl this year, so she tore up the letter and started over.
LETTER 2:
Dear God:
This is your friend Carol. I have been a pretty good girl this year, and I would like a red bike for my birthday.
Thank you, Carol

Carol knew this wasn't true either. She tore up the letter and started again.
LETTER 3:
Dear God:
I know I haven't been a good girl this year. I am very sorry. I will be a good girl if you just send me a red bike for my birthday.
Thank you, Carol

Carol knew, even if it was true, this letter was not going to get her a bike. By now, she was very upset. She went downstairs and told her mother she wanted to go to church.
Carol's mother thought her plan had worked because Carol looked very sad.
'Just be home in time for dinner,' her mother said.Carol walked down the street to the church and up to the altar. She looked around to see if anyone was there. She picked up a statue of the Virgin Mary, slipped it under her jacket and ran out of the church, down the street, into her
house, and up to her room. She shut the door and sat down and wrote her letter to God.

LETTER 4:
I GOT YOUR MAMA.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN, SEND THE BIKE.
Signed,
YOU KNOW WHO


enjoy your saturday and valentine's day.. much love and peace, dmaloney

does love have a price tag?

so it's that time of year again... valentine's day. it's pretty well a love or hate holiday. am i right? i've always thought of it as a halmark holiday. a day to spend extra money as proof of love. chocolate. flowers. expensive dinners and wine. but maybe it's really a holiday to remind us to love. it's not the money you spend but the thought. the care. the love. so this morning i looked at one of my favorite pair of shoes and saw that they obviously needed to be loved. so i grabbed the crazy glue and i glued them back together and as i worked to get my shoes to look somewhat presentable i glued my fingers to the shoe. at first i didn't realize it but when i pulled my fingers away the glue ripped some skin off of my fingers and it hurt. now i know that this may sound ridiculous but i tried to revive my shoes out of love. right? so i caused pain on myself out of love. love is crazy and it makes people do even crazier things. people throw themselves in front of buses for the people they love. and when i think about the craziness of love i can't help but think of the life of Christ. i just think that he lived knowing it would all end on the cross, in pain. but it was out of love. so maybe, just maybe, the missing skin on my fingers is a small price to pay for love. does love have a price tag? no, it wants all of you. love calls us to give everything and love is paralyzing. so this valentine's day don't buy overpriced flowers or chocolates. just love with all you are because we all need love.

Quote of the Day:

"The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread."-mother teresa

Joke of the Day: longer than usual hope it's worth the time.

Two friends are discussing the possibility of love. "I thought I was in love three times," one friend says.

"How so?" his friend asks.

"Five years ago I deeply cared for a woman who wanted nothing to do with me."

"Was that not love?" his friend asks.

"No," he replies. "That was obsession. And then two years ago I deeply cared for an attractive woman who didn't understand me."

"Was that not love?"

"No," he replies. "That was lust. And just last year I met a woman aboard a cruise ship to the Caribbean. She was smart, funny, and a great conversationalist. And everywhere I followed her on that boat, I would get this strange sensation in the pit of my stomach."

"Was that not love?" his friend asks.

"No," he replies. "That was motion sickness."

Picture of the Day:

try looking at things with a new perspective.

enjoy your friday night and valentine's day. maybe it's love or maybe it's motion sickness.

much love and peace, dmaloney