Tag: Purpose

“He was Too Honest?”

As I left the theater, some people behind me were talking about a character in the movie, saying that “He was too honest to be trusted.”

My mental reaction to overhearing that was: “You’re kidding. Too honest to be trusted?”

But then I remembered that Jesus’ opponents said something very similar about him: “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth.” (Luke 20:21)

Yet… they opposed Jesus.
Clearly, they knew better, but somehow didn’t want to do better.
I need to look at myself to make sure I’m not doing the same thing.

Luke 20:21

Dave “Tud” Nance
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“What A Knee!”

One day, I overheard heard a doctor tell a friend after surgery, “your knee’s beautiful.

To me, it was unsightly and swollen. But the doc was right.

I’m prone to think of beauty in a surface way. But the Bible speaks of a deeper attraction, of “the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29:2)

Thankfully, despite the fantastic beauty in our world, God sees past my scars, bruises and blunders. Past mine, and past yours.

Psalm 29:2

Dave “Tud” Nance
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“Scary Books”

I like reading spooky books.
One author wrote: “Scary stories sell because everyone fears a lot of things that won’t happen. Even things that have no chance of happening.”

Our society seems to thrive on fear and worry. We watch the news every hour of every day—in case something important happens.
But the news seldom helps us look forward to anything positive. Disaster, distrust and doom.

But, for me, the spiritual difference is that I have hope. A deep hope because, in Christ, “all things work together for good.” (Romans 8.28)

Romans 8:28

Dave “Tud” Nance
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“A Useless Planet”

A friend once called Mars “an un-peopled and purposeless planet.”
I suppose there aren’t many people on Mars, but is it really useless?

I’m inclined to think not. After all, God made it and said “It is very good!”

Of course, I don’t quite know why He made Mars. But then, I don’t always know why He made me.
But Jesus said “I go to prepare a place for you,” in John 14:2, so I’m inclined to think He has a purpose for me. And for you.

John 14:2

Dave “Tud” Nance
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Tough Love!

I get excited when I’m with people I love, and who love me.

Yet Jesus showed that love involves pain.

Paul felt love’s pain when he wrote: “I will gladly spend and be spent for you, although I know that the more I love you, the less I am loved by you.”

People may misunderstand me…or reject me…or intentionally offend me. Yet godly love leads me to hold the relationship open. 

Sometimes, this is tough. Tough love?

I’m inspired by Paul’s confidence that love’s problems don’t last, but that joy does. . . if I truly love!

Dave ‘Tud’ Nance

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Costly, Yes –Rewarding Yes!

Jerry Sargent Photography / Sunbeams from Heaven

I get excited when I’m with people I love, and who love me.

I’m blessed because, being human, I can experience the joys of love. But Jesus showed that sometimes love involves pain.

Paul felt love’s pain when he wrote: “I will gladly spend and be spent for you, although I know that the more I love you, the less I am loved by you.”

People may misunderstand… or reject… or intentionally offend me. Yet godly love leads me to hold the relationship open.

This is tough. Sometimes really tough.

But I get excited about spending time with the people I love. And I am inspired by Paul who understood that problems don’t last, but that joy does . . . if I love!

Dave ‘Tud’ Nance

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“Intentional Beauty?”

OpenToJesusDave'Tud'Nance Jerry Sargent PhotographyDavidNance

I suppose you’ve occasionally noticed the tremendous beauty that exists in the world. A flower. A sunset. The music of a mother’s lullaby!

Of course, it isn’t everywhere. And that’s simply the way it has to be, since if everything were beautiful, then we’d have no way to notice beauty when we see or hear it. After all, beauty is a comparison with something less beautiful.

But, I’ve asked myself why does beauty exist? And why are not all things beautiful?

As Psalm 27:4 suggests “…it is good to behold the beauty of the Lord.”

I’m convinced that beauty exists to draw me closer to God. If I’ll simply take a moment to admire it, I’m naturally led to admire the one who created it.

So beauty, like everyone and everything God creates, has a purpose. A beautiful purpose. So I pray that I pay attention or I’ll miss much of the world’s beauty—and the beauty in you!

Dave ‘Tud’ Nance

“Are You Bothering Me?”

AreYouBotheringMe OpenToJesusDaveNanceTud

The hallway was outside an auditorium at a Christian university near where I live.

A young boy climbed on an empty table and laid down. He was face down, with his head hanging over the edge so he could look under the table.

His father reached over and tickled him. The boy asked with a smile, “Are you bothering me?”

Laughing, Dad said, “Yes I was. I thought you needed bothering.”

And, of course, they both laughed a little more, and the boy got off the table. And I chuckled too.

Virtually every day God provides a little moment of lightness, a glimpse of humor, a small encouragement. But when I’m a bit too serious, or a bit too worried, I don’t notice.

God encouraged Elijah with “a small, still whisper” in 1 Kings 19:12. I thank God that He loves me, and loves me enough to bother me, maybe even hoping to see me smile.

Dave ‘Tud’ Nance

“An Accident?”

here-by-accident-dave-nance-opentojesus-church-of-christ-mission-iheartchrist-moment.jpg

The book of John begins with the phrase “In the beginning.”
So does the book of Genesis, for that matter.

I love this phrase, because to me it suggests that life isn’t an accident.
Not mine. Not yours.

After all, beginnings don’t just happen by themselves.
Neither do they merely happen by accident.

Since my life is no accident, then no matter how dark or depressed I feel today, hope is the deep reality and truth of life. And death is no exception.

Jesus’ hope. It’s real. It’s forever. It’s no accident.

Dave ‘Tud’ Nance

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