Vince Deagler

TRANSFORMATIONAL INDICATORS

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:49:29 -0400

Hi everyone. It’s been awhile since i last wrote…Diane and I got away for a week to...

CALLED TO CHANGE THE WORLD

Wed, 09 May 2012 15:07:26 -0400

Hi everyone. Last week in our Sunday morning worship service we began a new series entitled...

THE POWER OF HISTORY

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:36:00 -0400

Hi everyone. I haven’t been too busy this week as my Mom is visiting from PA and I wanted to...

THE PROBLEM WITH PERCEPTION

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:43:00 -0400

Hi everyone. Most of you are aware of what happened here in Modesto last Thursday morning. If not,...

BRAND NEW DAY

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:33:18 -0400

One of my favorite songs has a line that says “the sun comes up, there’s a new day...

Hi again. Don’t know about you, but this is a...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:36:43 -0400

Hi again. Don’t know about you, but this is a good…no a great week. We have Easter coming up where we are reminded that Christ has conquered death, that in him we can experience life to it’s very full. Then it’s Masters week…yea, I know that sounds kind of weak comparing Easter and Master’s week, but those who think that way aren’t into golf. I am, the Master’s is good stuff. And then Bruce has his latest album out, “Wrecking Ball”. I have been a fan since the early 70’s when he was getting started. Graduated high school 1975 the year Born to Run was released…the stuff of legends. I wasn’t sure I would like this new work, I love the old stuff. But my wife, didn’t even give me a chance to decide whether i would get it. First day it was out she brought it home for me…that makes me a very lucky man don’tcha think??? Anyway, I’ve been listening to it for a few weeks now, and it is a keeper! Enough old sound to remind you this is Bruce, classic Bruce themes, and some new styles/sounds that really do work. The kind of album that grows on ya…at least it is really growing on me. Now, let me get back to why it is a good week. Music is one of the most powerful forms of communication I know of. Just think, when was the last time you sang a kid’s song like ”Jesus love’s me”? Years ago? Decades? Yet many of us could sing it right now without a second thought. That message was embedded in our mind set to music. Music is that powerful. Now, Bruce is not a christian artist. But he very much is a secular poet, prophet, and storyteller. And often, his songs speak to a truth far more significant than he probably realizes. This depression is one of those songs.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
“This Depression”

Baby, I’ve been down, but never this down
I’ve been lost, but never this lost
This is my confession, I need your heart
In this depression, I need your heart

Baby, I’ve been low, but never this low
I’ve had my faith shaken, but never hopeless
This is my confession, I need your heart
In this depression, I need your heart

And I’ve always been strong, but I’ve never felt so weak
And all my prayers have gone for nothing
I’ve been without love, but never forsaken
Now the morning sun, the morning sun is breaking

This is my confession, I need your heart
In this depression, I need your heart
This is my confession, I need your heart
In this depression, I need your heart
This is my confession, I need your heart
In this depression, I need your heart

If you read these posts regularly, you know the past few years have not been easy on our family, especially my wife. She lost her dad, one of her best friends, her sister. I have hurt with her, but more for her. Her loss has been excruciating. But then I listen to a song like this, and it literally inspires me. In the midst of depression, hurt, pain I think of how God says come to me, cling to me, I will cause this to work out for good. I am equally reminded of how important community is. The power of a hug. The power of kind words, empathy, a card or some flowers. This song inspires me because it reminds me I am not to bear my sorrows in isolation or aloneness. I am to bear them clinging to God, and clinging to all those wonderful people God has brought into my life to share life with me. Sometimes I am there for them, but lately they have been there for me and Di. And I pretty much can’t listen to this song without being inspired, reminded…and I smile. Give it a listen, especially if your down. Think about the God who loves you, the people who love you. And do not bear your pain alone, Let God and those around you in…you’ll be glad you did. Have a blessed Easter. Vince

Because God is good...

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:31:10 -0400

Hi again. let me start by asking you to make sure you read my last post. It introduces what I will...

REALLY GOOD QUESTION

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:16:00 -0400

Hi all. Every now and then I drive by a church in our area that uses banners. Because they are...

no, no, no, it can’t be true, it just can’t be...

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:00:49 -0400

no, no, no, it can’t be true, it just can’t be true. these were the first words diane spoke when dean shared the news that debbie was gone. in one moment our live were turned upside down. how could a quiet saturday morning, where we were preparing for a family excursion to the zoo to celebrate bailey’s 2nd birthday go so wrong.

after she hung up the phone and we were trying to make sense of what we just heard she turned to me and said, “what am i gonna do now, she was my other half”. that could not be more true of anyone i have ever known. deb and di had a relationship far beyond anything i have ever known, and way beyond my ability to understand. and now she was gone.

di was asked to come up with a few words to describe what deb meant to her. how do you describe what is indescribable? what good are words when they are totally inadaquate to express what is in your heart? so, di’s mind…debbie’s other half…went to a song they had shared just a few days earlier while deb was visiting us in california.

it’s not the kind of song that makes you want to stand up and dance. or the kind that makes you want to shout for sheer joy. no, it’s the kind of song that makes you think. it’s the kind of song that 2 sisters share who live some 3000 miles apart, and then cry. because they know the song is about them and the deep connection they have with each other. it’s called “sister”

we said goodbye to deb as she was returning to pennsylvania on wednesday, february 29. we never thought we would say goodbye again so soon, so permanent a week later. but we were reminded that just because she is no longer with us doesn’t mean she is gone. i know that, she is in my diane…and that is good.

deb, we love you, di loves you, give aaron and chief a hug for us!

FAMILYMATTERS: Listening Quotient Inventory

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:21:47 -0500

FAMILYMATTERS: Listening Quotient Inventory: Listening Quotient Inventory to be used alongside...

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM GOD???

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:25:09 -0500

at a meeting this week someone asked me “what is god working on in your life”? good...

LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:21:13 -0500

now that i have gotten your attention, can we have an adult conversation on a hot button topic of...

IS THERE A CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO POLITICS?

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:51:44 -0500

we are in the midst of the election cycle, and there is an ongoing political debate raging in our...

A GROWING BODY, EXACTLY WHAT CHRIST HAD IN MIND

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:14:24 -0500

hi again. in a related post i suggested the body of christ can and should grow in 2 distinct ways. ...

SPIRITUAL MATURITY AND BODY LIFE

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:37:10 -0500

let’s play a game of word association…okay 2 words…spiritual gifts. what comes to...

THE BODY OF CHRIST...GROWTH

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:08:07 -0500

hi again. as i mentioned last time, i want to focus on the body of christ for awhile. if you have...

THE BODY OF CHRIST

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:45:04 -0500

religious verbiage can be tricky business. as an evangelical i am of the conviction the bible...

OLD DOGS...NEW TRICKS

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:00:37 -0500

happy new year. a common refrain these days. but why? i’m sure there are many answers. do...

DO YOU BELIEVE...WHY???

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:44:21 -0500

hi everyone. i hope each of you experience the merriest of christmases and the most blessed new...

IS THERE A LESSON IN HERE SOMEWHERE???

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:46:52 -0500

hi everyone. can i bring up something god has been impressing on me lately? one of the things we...