Blogging for Jesus

Richard D. Dover BlogGreetings to all of you who visit my personal blog site. This is where I share my heart, and hopefully at least some of the time, share the heart of Father  God, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Please understand my posts are my own opinion alone, and not necessary representative of the organizations that I represent. Also be aware that I am not a politically correct person. I much rather be biblically correct. So my posts may not line up with what the world has to say, or at times, even what it appears the Church is saying in America. I strongly believe the truth sets us free.

(We have transferred over 10 years of articles to this blog site. As time allows we are formatting the old entries.)

At One Time-Part One

at one timeAt One Time
Part One

For those who have followed the Brett Kavanaugh hearings and nomination for Supreme Court Justice, you know how divisive it was during the hearings, and even after his confirmation. The hatred, bitterness, poison is beyond belief (sadly, it is not because of the current political environment.) In the midst of all this, something just came out that gives some hope for our nation. Some hope that common sense still reigns.

Recently Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor, who leans to the Left in politics, was asked how she will be able to get along with Kavanaugh as a Justice. Her response is powerful and enlightening. It reminded me how we were as a nation at one time. Continue reading “At One Time-Part One” »

At One Time-Part Two

at one timeAt One Time
Part Two

In my previous article I shared how liberal leaning Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor stated she would relate to controversial conservative leaning Brett Kavanaugh who just became the latest Supreme Court Justice. “When you’re charged with working together for most of the remainder of your life, you have to create a relationship,” “The nine of us are now a family and we’re a family with each of us our own burdens and our own obligations to others, but this is our work family, and it’s just as important as our personal family.” She also said that she would not judge him by what he was accused of. “It was Justice [Clarence] Thomas who tells me that when he first came to the Court, another justice approached him and said, ‘I judge you by what you do here. Welcome.’ And I repeated that story to Justice Kavanaugh when I first greeted him here,” Continue reading “At One Time-Part Two” »

Integrity-Your Greatest Defense 1

integrity

Integrity-Your Greatest Defense

No matter who we are, there will be people who will dislike us, or have a disdain for us, or even be at the point of hating us. This cannot be avoided whomever you are. This will be true as long as there humans on earth. Those who dislike or hate us will try to find things wrong with us. Some may go as far as to make false accusations against us to harm us. To discredit us.

How do we defend ourselves if we are falsely accused? There is a good chance that no matter what we say it will not be believed by some because of the massive lies about us. What is the greatest defense we can have if falsely accused?

Continue reading “Integrity-Your Greatest Defense” »

The Bait of Satan

bait of satan offense offended

The Bait of Satan

The Bible says we should not intentionally do things that will offend others and cause them to stumble. But the Bible also says we all will have opportunity to be offended. That means there will always be something, someone, that can offend us. (Chapter 18:1-10)

The Bible also says that there will be people that get offended even by Jesus who was perfect. (Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:3, John 6:61) It is clear that many people are offended by the truth. Notice that Jesus did not stop speaking the truth just because someone is offended. It should also be clear that some people seem to live a life of easily being offended. Continue reading “The Bait of Satan” »

Book of Remembrance 1

book of remembrance malachi

Book of Remembrance

On Memorial Day we remember, honor, the men and women who gave their lives for America in times of military service. Each of them by their sacrificial living, left a legacy. The question that each of us as Christians, should ask ourselves, is “When I die what will be my legacy? What will I be remembered for?” Our acts and deeds may not remembered by others, but the book of Malachi states there is a Book of Remembrance that has the names of those who feared the Lord and esteemed His name. (Malachi 3:16).

There are Christians who are worried about what others think of them, how they are perceived. More important than how others perceive us is how God perceives us.  Luke 8:17 states,’For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.’ Are we known by God for our good deeds, dying to self, giving His name honor by the way we live? Continue reading “Book of Remembrance” »

SODC-Mother’s Day Breakfast

happy mothers day

Seattle Open Door Church Mother’s Day Breakfast 2018

At Seattle Open Door Church for Mother’s Day we had women from 6 years old to around 85 years old.
We had women from a variety of nationalities, socioeconomic levels, women who have been addicts for most of their life, even up to a few days ago, and women who have been abstinent for decades and decades and decades. Single moms, married, widowed, never had children, to women who have great great grandchildren.

mothers-precious-cooks-sodcAs a church we have as our vision to Love God, Love People, Love Life. We believe if you love God, you will love people, and if you love God and People you will love life. We like to say “Our Doors are Open to Whomsoever”. Everything we do as church is based upon these principles. sodc mother day

Throughout Seattle there are White churches, Black churches. Churches for the rich and famous and churches for the lowly. Churches for the oldies and churches for the millennials.  We don’t always do a good job but we do whatever we can to be a church for all people, saved or lost. It is our desire to have the rich and the homeless sitting on the same pew. The person who has never touched alcohol sitting next to the person who has is still struggling with addiction. Then we have fulfilled our vision. On Mother’s Day we got closer to fulfilling our goals.

Our next event will be a Men’s Retreat in June. One more event to have a chance to walk out our vision. It will be a time for Real People to Seek God and Love Life. No masks required. Then in August we will will be sponsoring young people to attend Youth Camp.

#seattleopendoorchurch #sodc #mothersday

Light Confronts the Darkness-Introduction

bomhoeffer do something

Light Confronts the Darkness-Introduction

In this series we will be looking at the following principles and applicable verses regarding the Light Confronting Darkness. We will be looking at each Bible passage in context.

Light Confronts the Darkness
Ephesians 5:11-12
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

Shining Stars Expose Darkness
Philippians 2:15
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Speak the Truth in Love
Ephesians 4:15
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ Continue reading “Light Confronts the Darkness-Introduction” »

Confront the Darkness-Summary

bomhoeffer do something

Light Confronts the Darkness-Summary

The following is a summary of recent articles regarding the concept of Light Confronts the Darkness.

Light Confronts the Darkness
Ephesians 5:11-12
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

Christians are called to expose darkness, not accommodate it. There are many ways to do it. One of them is for Christians to reflect Jesus.

Shining Stars Expose Darkness
Philippians 2:15
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Stars should bring light into darkness. Stars should expose darkness. If we are walking in the character of Jesus our life will expose darkness. Thus Jesus is our example. At times Jesus spoke truth to confront darkness. Continue reading “Confront the Darkness-Summary” »

Lamp Under a Basket 1

light under basket

Lamp Under a Basket

In the last few articles we have been talking about Light Confronts Darkness, Christians Should Shine Like Stars in the Sky, and Speaking the Truth in Love. In this article we are going to talk on letting your light shine. A light under a basket does not shine. There are things we should do and say that reflect the character of God. We should point people to Jesus and His Word.

Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Continue reading “Lamp Under a Basket” »

Speak the Truth in Love

truth in love

Speak the Truth in Love

In our last article we talked about that we are shining stars and that shining stars overcome darkness. We also took a quick look at the concept of speaking truth in love. We mentioned that it does not mean to never confront darkness. In this article we will explore more the concept of shining stars and the concept of speaking the truth in love.

Philippians 2:15
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
 Continue reading “Speak the Truth in Love” »