NOTE: Today, March 29, 2010 marks the eleventh anniversary of the founding of this SOUND BITES Ministry™. SOUND BITES was begun on March 29, 1999 in memory of my son, Dustin, on the first anniversary of his death. SOUND BITES was a GOD IDEA, as today's quote describes.
On this eleventh anniversary, we would value hearing from you and learning how the Spirit is using this God idea of SOUND BITES to minister to you, or how you use it to minister to others. You may comment below. You can also view other comments there as well. Over 2,500 quotes have been sent since beginning SOUND BITES, and now it is reaching over 1,925 subscribers directly and many more as a forward or through the blog. SOUND BITES reaches every state in the U.S. as well as 17 foreign countries that we know of.
Thank you for your support for this God idea, and for sharing SOUND BITES with others.
May you experience a blessed Holy Week…
Rev. Dave Wilkinson, Deacon
SOUND BITES Ministry™
First United Methodist Church
Green Bay, Wisconsin
GOD IDEAS
"Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Growing up, I always heard this verse interpreted in negative terms. Take sinful thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. And that is half the battle. But if we see only the negative implications and not the positive possibilities, it becomes a half truth. This verse is not just about capturing sinful thoughts and getting them out of our minds; it's also about capturing creative thoughts and keeping them in our minds. It means stewarding every word, every thought, every impression, and every revelation inspired by the Spirit of God. I call them God ideas. And the way we create culture and change culture is by taking those God ideas captive and then turning them into reality via blood, sweat, and tears. There is a first creation when the God idea is conceived. There is the second creation when the dream becomes reality. And there is a lot of hard work in between.
-- Mark Batterson in PRIMAL: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity
#2506
Monday, March 29, 2010
30 comments:
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The messages are always meaningful to me; and I have often sent them on to family and friends who needed a word of love and/or encouragement at that point in their lives. Although the program came from a broken heart, it has done much to mend many other hearts. Thank you for this most important ministry.
ReplyDeleteC. P. Berry
ReplyDeleteGeorgia
I enjoy receiveing the Sond bites every day. I copy a lot of them and us them in my sermons or newsletters. They have encouraged me to read several books where the quotes came from. Blessings on this ministry. Neil Epler, Enterprise, AL.
ReplyDeleteI look with anticipation EVERY day for this daily reading!!!! I very often print one out to use at the beginning of a church related meeting and such.... sometimes it's something I find I need to share with a certain person within our 'flock'...... and I often reflect on your loss and the joy, inspiration, good and wealth that has come from it.... Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteHi Pastor Dave
ReplyDeleteSoundbites is an additional piece I use with my morning devotional. If I have a friend that could be uplifted I forward it to him/her. I used it with my kids when they were in college to get a Chirstian message each day in their lives. Many of my book study members subscribe to it and it has enriched and blessed their lives. It's an awesome way to stay connected to the church I grew up in as a child - a very blessed and insprational piece in my life. Thank you for all your efforts in producing it each day.
B. Wagner in West Bend, WI
I began to receive Sound Bites after our son Zachary died from cancer. I had heard of it from another bereaved parent. Whether or not the quote of the day speaks to me, the fact that this is a blessing that erupted out of death and grief is a daily encouragement to me. On this Monday of Holy Week I am reminded that the Lord who resurrected Jesus will do the same with our son, and is even now bringing the dead areas of my life back to life- These daily reminders point me daily back to Jesus, Truth, and Resurrection- He is Risen Indeed!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for being responsive to the Sprit's call,
Doug B.
Rev Dave Wilkinson,
ReplyDeleteWhen you were sad and broken hearted, God gave you a God idea to help others. Soundbites is a pleasure to read every morning before work or even during a busy day. It is so easy to be blessed with the many quotes and scriptures you send our way. I am very sorry for the pain you and your family have experienced. It is a great act of love that you have turned your pain into a blessing for many others.
God Bless You as You Spread His Word.
Sheri Goodman
Thank you so much for listening to this idea from God. These have ministered to me in the darkest days of my life and I am so grateful.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Diane G.
Dear Rev. Wilkinson,
ReplyDeleteI have appreciated your Sound Bites for something like 7 or 8 years now. The fact that they are short, almost all the time, i.e. bites, goes a long way to guaranteeing that I will stop to read it each day. When I first discovered your ministry I was running a lay formation program and one of the students, all adults, had recommended to me and then in turn I always recommended it to other students and colleagues over the years. But personally there’s another factor that keeps me coming back. I grew up in Fond du Lac and so it’s a little way to stay in touch with Wisconsin and all that is good about that part of God’s world.
Thanks for what you do,
Bill Dittrich
Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation
Blessed Sacrament Parish
Walpole, MA
Congratulations on your ministry with and through SB on this 11th anniversary,
ReplyDeleteI must say that this ministry is wonderful not only touching the lives of people but also comforting during times of hardships and discouragements. I must also confess that I don’t read it daily but most of the days.
God’s richest blessings on this ministry and also your ministry at Green Bay!
I appreciate your faithfulness and commitment to spread the good news to all people here and everywhere. FYI, I have most of the sayings/quotes stored in my computer under SOUND BITES,
Grace and Peace,
Rev. Dr. Samuel J. Royappa, Superintendent
Wisconsin Conference UMC
By sharing Dustin with the world, you've made God visible to many through his too brief life. Blessings to you and your family on this anniversary and during the Easter season.
ReplyDeleteN. Kohrman, Green Bay, WI
Considered Dustin my buddy and have enjoyed the e-mails over the years. They have spoken to me both in times of joy and discouragement, and I have forwarded them to family and friends from time to time. Best,
ReplyDeleteGordon Beggs, still at CSU in Cleveland OH.
Deacon Dave--I have been receiving Sound Bites for quite some time now and use it as my “10 minutes of dedication to God” every day. Whenever I get the e-mail, I stop whatever I’m doing and reflect on its message. This truly is an important part to my day...when I don’t receive it (for whatever reason), I feel like I’m missing something until the next one arrives.
ReplyDeleteYour Brother in Christ,
A. Henderson
YES, I forward SOUND BITES often, they are a serious blessing.....Thank you for acting on your 'God Idea'.....May the Lord continue to bless you,
ReplyDeleteSandy in South Dakota
Dave,
ReplyDeleteI am also a United Methodist pastor and find great value in your posts. Many of them make their way into sermons. I recently used one to reinforce a point in my doctoral dissertation. Thanks for your gift to us.
Yours,
Pastor Matt Henry, Myrtle Creek, Oregon
Thank you for allowing God to use your heartache to be used for good for so many. I have been blessed many times by Soundbites & have often shared it with others.
ReplyDeleteSue in Victoria, Australia
This space has provided encouraging words at just the right moment. Thanks for your obedience to share turning your suffering into a blessing for others.
ReplyDeleteEach day I look forward to your words of inspiration and consolation and Gods whisper to me through Sound Bites ---Thank you!! God's ideas are always good ideas--God bless you for your faithfulness!!!
ReplyDeleteD. Hopkins
One of the most powerful Sound Bites I have received this year was the one on True Repentence. It spoke volumes to my soul and I forwarded it to friends.
ReplyDelete-M. Powell, England
THANKS Rev. Dave Wilkinson, for being obedient to pursue the God idea of SOUND BITES:) It is an absolutely beautiful tribute to your precious Dustin's memory. It has obviously been a huge blessing in countless lives and we know it has ministered to us daily. We have in turn forwarded it on to many others.
ReplyDeleteB & T Hoffner, Wisconsin
Rev. Wilkerson,
ReplyDeleteI don't know how long I've been receiving Sound Bites, but someone forwarded one to me at some point and I immediately signed up to receive it. Before I ever knew that you were a bereaved parent, I realized that you had a real handle on grieving and I often shared the day's message with other bereaved parents. It was as if you were right here with us. Then to read a few years back that this ministry was born out of the grief of losing a child--Godincidence! Keep up the God work. My son and only child is gone soon 12 years (1998) and my only sibling is gone soon 5 years. Life has been altered, but I have Jesus and I know without doubt that I will be reunited with them both someday. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
G. Simpson
York, Pennsylvania
I am grateful for Sound Bites providing me with daily God time each day, especially giving me time from the rushing of life! Thank you for the gift of Sound Bites.
ReplyDeleteTori Gillis, Wisconsin
Dave, so often the SOUND BITES speak directly to what's happening in my life, and lead me to new understandings and deeper faith. I, too, have gone to several of the resources cited for further spiritual nourishment. Thank you for this life-changing ministry~~from grief to love and joy.
ReplyDeleteMary Beth Byrne, Wisconsin
I look forward to your Sound Bites message starting my day off on a strong spiritual path. Many thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes, I do very much appreciate the opportunity of sharing your fine "God's work" program. It is very helpful in keeping me on the road to spend a lifetime with the Lord.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your help!
Curt Silverthorne
Thank you to such an important ministry that glorifies God. I have some of my favorite, encouraging sound bites pinned up on the wall by my computer.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Sharon Muirhead
Brother Dave, I so very much appreciate your daily SOUND BITES. They are what I need for that day. Have passed them on to others many times.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Pastor Joseph Lair, Sr.
Forgot to say where I am from. Must be getting old!
ReplyDeletePastor Joseph Lair
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Your inspirational messages always seem helpful whether I read them morning, noon or evening from the e-mail or your blog. I particularly like refreshing my memory when one is quoted from a book I have read or studied in small group study.
ReplyDeleteThank you my friend,
PJC
Green Bay, Wisconsin
I, too, am thankful to read and consider the thoughts presented on SOUND BITES daily message. With continued guidance from the Lord, may you reach others with your ministry. Thank you for this method of outreach which is a blessing to many!
ReplyDelete