Would you rather be told what is wrong or shown how to make something right?  Most people prefer positive feedback over demeaning discourses, especially when a word of correction is being delivered.  In a world filled with negativity and harsh realities of just how rough life can sometimes be, we should give encouraging words instead of negative lectures. 

Friends,

Please “pardon our progress” as this blog will soon be undergoing some slight restructuring.  This blog will become the area where I post sermon summaries and general devotional thoughts.  My other blog, http://davidpepplersr.blogspot.com is dedicated to leadership development and encouragement.  I find it best to separate the two instead of having one blog try to encompass too wide a topical appeal.  Thank you for your patience with me and I look forward to rekindling the fires of blogging in the very near future.

This is the location of my new blog.  I will still keep this account open and probably split uses between the two blogs.  That will be decided later.  Until then, please refer to (and feel free to subscribe for free) the following web address.  Thank you for following.  God bless!

http://davidpepplersr.blogspot.com/

Dearest subscribers, visitors and friends;

I am entering into a remarkably busy time in life from now through July 2011.  My final two semesters of formal education are going to be overflowing with commitments.  I want to thank you for your loyal readership.  Just knowing that the words on this blog are helpful is all the motivation I need to keep it rolling.

I do not anticipate having any time to write until classes are completed.  However, once they are behind me I am actually anticipating MUCH time for writing!  In addition to this blog, I also have created files for the beginnings of four books I intend to author.  Time will tell how all of that transpires.

For now, thank you again for reading what is on here.  I may pop in some devotional work between classes, but I must make this commitment to you and to myself – I will not be driven by the guilt I have felt in the past year for not posting regularly here.  If I allow that to be my motivation for writing, I can assure you that none of it will be worthy of the standards to which I hold myself.  I know you understand.

God bless you.  I look forward to rekindling my keyboard and this website.

Dave

I belong to seemingly countless email groups that keep me informed in the world of religion, culture, and ministry.  One of those groups (smart ministry and preaching unleashed) sent an email yesterday with a prayer for all of their subscribers who are mostly ministers and church leaders.  I was moved to hear such a prayer for me and simply want to pass this along to all who dare to read it.

My challenge to those of you who are not in ministry or church leadership positions is to pray this prayer for your pastor and other leaders.  It isn’t very often we ministers hear of such prayers being offered for us.