God is awesome

It is hard to believe that my inherited son is 18 and miles away In east Texas. It is an honor and privilidge to have been doubly blessed with not only a wife on my wedding day but also a son. God is awesome how he provides and looks out for our needs before we even know that we are going to need them.

Bible Study For Dummies

After many years of trying to get people to study the Bible, I have come to the realization that there is this misconception that studying the Bible is difficult. In this message I wanted to break down people's misconception that studying the Bible is difficult and present a simple strategy for Scripture journaling called S.O.A.P.
S - Scripture Read and Date
O - Observations (what you see in the passage)
A - Apllications (what will you do with what you have learned)
P - Prayer (Interact with God based on the truth, pray his Word, pray for help)

The main point of the message is "Doing your devotions is as easy as using S.O.A.P."

Download the message Bible Study for Dummies to GROW in you devotion to God's Word.

Who Loved Who First?

I John 4:19 says that "We love because he first loved us."

Many struggle and lack the power to change because they are blinded to God's love. I have had friends turn on me. Parents fail me. Relationships disappoint me. Yet one thing is for sure. God loves me and His love for me will never fail.

The crazy thing about it is... He loved me even when I hated him.

Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

In a few verses before this one, it says that we were actually enemies of God while we were sinners. God doesn't wait for us to get our act together before he loves us. No! He loves us and what's us to come to him as we are... broken in sin. Then His love will transform our lives and revolutionize us.

The power of changed life is God's love demonstrated through his grace and mercy.

The more your realize how Great his love for you is... the more you will want to love him back!

Download the audio file Who Loved Who First? to hear a two minute devotional on experiencing God's Love.

Little Mercy... Little Love! Much Mercy... Much Love!

The Power of a Changed Life ... It all begins with God's Mercy!

In Luke chapter 7 we discover a powerful story of forgiveness and a life totally changed by an encounter with Christ.

36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."
40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
41 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

If you want your life to change, you need to experience God's love and mercy. And that will happen when you realize how messed up your heart is and how much you need Him. Then your love for God will be genuine and your life changed forever!

Download the audio file Much Mercy equals Much Love to hear a two minute devotional on experiencing God's Mercy.

The Key to Receive God's Mercy

The Power of a Changed Life. It all begins with God's Mercy.

How many of us really want to change. But the struggle is too great. The power to change begins with God's Mercy. But so many miss out on God's mercy and never receive it. What is the key to receive God's mercy?

REALIZE YOU ARE MESSED UP AND BEG FOR GOD'S MERCY!

Here Jesus tells a story to some people who didn't think they were messed up (becuase they were confident of their own righteouseness).

Luke 18
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:
10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Download the audio file Key to Receive Mercy part 1 to hear a two minute devotional on receiving God's Mercy.

AM 1110 Radio Interview

I had the awesome privilidge of being interviewed on the radio last week. The program is called Urban Praise and it is on Moody Radio's AM Station 1110. They have a great music selection with a mixture of contemporary gospel and latin flavored music. It comes on right now from 3pm - 6pm.

In the interview, I was able to talk about See You at the Pole and also my recent trip to Mississippi to help deliver a semi load of relief supplies to the Hurricane Victims.

I added the background instrumental truck and hopefully it is for your listening pleasure and not annoying.
DISCLAIMER: I create all my podcasts on my apple powerbook laptop with the program Garrageband and they are "homemade" and not necessarily professional.

Download the Interview from AM 1110 to hear about See You At The Pole and my trip to Ocean Springs, MS.

Trip to Ocean Springs, MS

Last weekend, six of us represented New Life Community Church on a delivery of one gigantic semi trailor loaded with all kinds of supplies for Ocean Springs, Mississippi. We drove about 1000 miles in 16 hours to arrive to the town across the bay from Biloxi. We unloaded the semi in a couple of hours and were able to tour what was left of the homes near the beach. We then got back in the van and drove 16 hours to return to church on Sunday morning and give a report. The trip was life changing as there is now doubt that man is not all powerful. We are fragile and life is short. We must be ready to meet our creator as that day can supprise us all. Stay tuned for more updates. Pastor Decrease Dwayne

J.O.Y. --- Jesus first. Others Second. Yourself last.

It is exciting to be back on the net with a new release for the podcast. After two weeks of vacation and then an incredible pastors retreat with the families of the pastors of my church... I am excited to be blessed with such a great family God has given me and blessed with such a great place to serve.

This summer I got to preach at 5 of the 8 New Life locations and it was a great privilidge. This last Sunday it was awesome to see a young man of 17 years of age accept Christ as His Lord and Savior and be so excited about it that after the celebration, he was going around to some of his relatives at the church and smiling huge and telling them.. "I'm saved.. I'M SAVED... I just got SAVED!!!. Keep this young man and prayer and I hope this message wets your appetite to study the book of Philippians and to get to share your faith!

Pastor Decreae Dwayne

Download the full message J.O.Y. - an overview of Philippians to hear a message given by Pastor Dwayne on August 28th, 2005 at New Life Community Church -- South (NIV).

Disclaimer... this is not intended to be professional... just a tool to help you memorize the Word.
All tracks created in garageband. (copyright 2005 by decrease, flower, and tiger productions)

Memory Mix Philippians 1:1-2

Gettin Crazy Ambitious!

Imagine memorizing a whole book of the Bible!

Well if we are able to finish what we start...

Memory Mix will be able to help you memorize the whole book of Philippians!!!

Download the Memory Mix Philippians 1:1-2 Memory Mix to get started on the first 2 verses of a 104!!! "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV).

Disclaimer... this is not intended to be professional... just a tool to help you memorize the Word.
All tracks created in garageband. (copyright 2005 by decrease, flower, and tiger productions)

The Masked Dad

This week marked the arrival of a new member in our family! Coming in at 8lbs and 19 inches... she is ready to wage war in the spiritual realm as the princess prayer warrior. I am feeling a little sick so the things we will do as a dad. Visit www.syatp.com for information about the biggest youth prayer meeting I have ever heard about ever. Start planning S.Y.A.T.P. for your school NOW. No guarentees for when the next podcast will be... I am on vacation for two weeks!

Decrease Dwayne

Download the brief explanation of the picture of the Masked Dad to hear from the family on what's going on.

Disclaimer... this is not intended to be professional... just a tool to help you memorize the Word.
All tracks created in garageband. (copyright 2005 by decrease, flower, and tiger productions)