Perspectives

David C. Howard
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The “Perspectives” podcast hosted by David Howard reflects the Gospel designed to address the needs and challenges of a contemporary culturally diverse multi-millennial audience. While our ethnicities and languages differ, those contrasts should not be, nor are they sufficient enough to separate us in our fellowship with one another. David during the course of his ministry has met people from around the world. In the course of establishing those very unique relationships it is understandable how things can get lost in translation, thus the title "Perspectives", designed for a global audience.

  1. 07/07/2024

    Who is this?

    If the pillars of our faith are to hold true, if they are to steady us upon troubled seas, it is imperative that we truly know who "Jesus" is. What does his presence look like in our lives. Not in the all too familiar context of a warmhearted story that traditionally encapsulates Christmas and Easter, but rather knowing with the utmost assurance the reason for his coming, the significance of his life, the cost of redemption, and his enduring love towards us. Many may ask who is this, while others will, without exception state, over and again I do not know him.   This is not Christ preached as a matter of debate or philosophical pretense, but of a savior that saves, the good Shepard that leads us in the way we should go, one who teaches us in righteousness and truth. Not of our own rightness, applying the splendor of God as if He is governed by the ideals and morals of men, manipulating scripture as it appeals to our personal benefit, rather than of necessity, even when doing so makes us uncomfortable.   Today’s podcast is titled.   Who is this? 07/06/2024   Romans 10:14   How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?     For more than 2,000 years we have muddied the waters of Christianity, turning the prophetic nature of God’s message into a form of mockery, believing the message of salvation (the Good News) to be empty and powerless. Yet, I will surmise it is quite contrary, as it is thus that shaped the foundations of the universe, our lives abound and are a constant reflection of God's longsuffering towards us. God's word is not void, nor will it return unto him empty, but it shall accomplish all that is intended. Whether we agree or not, when the Master moves, who can forbid him from doing so? As we attend church and dwell in the quietness of the Pugh, let your hearts be turned towards Christ, asking that he reveal himself to you, in you, and through you. Come to know him through the word, how he lived, how he walked, how he ministered, how he prayed, how he spoke, and how he met the earnest needs of the people and heeded their call. Such as when blind Bartimaeus cried out saying, “Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me.” (Mark 10:46).   Again, I believe more than ever, it is important to know who Jesus is, not in terms of the words echoed from contemporary pulpit, but of one that walked the streets of Jerusalem, Samaria, and Judea, he stooped, he talked, he touched, he cried, he hurt, he ached, he gave, without every echoing the phrase, "what about me". He came to fulfill a single purpose. Yes, just one, the redemption of the whole of humanity, ransom’s price for our sins and transgressions.

    17 min

  2. 09/06/2024

    Grape Juice & Wine

    Good morning, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the class of 2024, and all the kindergarten through college graduates, on their academic success. Wishing you the absolute best in your future.    In life we can be so wrong about so many things, in fact the longer I live, the more life I experience, that notion proves to be true often, when it comes to our presumptions, assumptions, and opinions. Likewise, there are times when we cannot always believe what our eyes may reveal, as they only paint a brief picture in a broad and rapidly changing landscape. There is an old saying, “never believe what you hear, and only half of what you see.” The is a bit of truth that rests in such a statement, as we become more eager to rush to judgment, or to have someone suffer the gravest of consequences for an unjustified hurt. And unassumingly, not understanding the gravity of what we ask, we ask God for immediate payback, equal satisfaction for what they have done to us. So many await such judgment today, losing hours, days, and weeks of our lives on something that is beyond our grasp and our control,  19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Romans 12:19)   There was a gentleman I rode to work with every day, he did not talk a lot, and to me he seemed a bit smug, as he would always sit in the front seat. We periodically attended church together when services were available, and I would wonder, why is he there. It was communion Sunday and as the elements were passed, we were reminded of its purpose, to serve as a reminder of the Lord’s death, until he comes once again. As we partook of the elements, they were shared with the stipulation that both wine and grape juice were available. That Sunday I sat behind the gentleman that I considered to be quite peculiar, and said to myself, “I know he’s going to take the wine,” as he looked (to me) as someone to would partake in such lavations. As the tray reached him, I said, “ah ha” I knew it, as he selected the wine over the grape juice. The tray finally reached me, and I retrieved them as well, and when it was time to take them, I suddenly gasped, as I had inadvertently taken the wine as well, as I was immediately convicted for my thoughts and the deeply held perception I had.   3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (John 7:3)   It was not long thereafter that we became wonderful friends, sharing stories and laughing about so many others. Today’s episode is titled.   Grape Juice & Wine John 7:1-2   1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

    29 min

  3. 27/05/2024

    Wounded Warrior

    I want to pause before I begin today’s message to salute the service and commitment of our servicemembers as we celebrate Memorial Day this weekend. Warriors apprehend at some point in their lives they are unable to abide under their physical strength alone, but to endure it requires something far greater. Having been to war and suffered the hardships of life God has kept me through the promise of his word. In his eyes I have found grace. I am both careful and mindful of the words that I use in this instance, and purposefully did not use the word “favor”, as that would imply that I’ve done something more worthy than those that have lost this life's battle, those who having sacrificed everything, and are no longer with us. What I have found to be true, over, and again, as I have had the pleasure of working and conversing with so many incredible people. Great and small, men and women of Valor, of great prominence, talented far beyond the reach of the stars of heaven, and yet they are no longer present with us.   If the opportunity presents itself to have the fortune to speak with someone and listen to the stories of those that fought in the gas filled trenches in France, during World War I; or those whose exploits were recognized for their gallant efforts on the shores of Normandy in Europe, or the sands of Iwo Jima in the Pacific during World War II; those of the forgotten war in Korea, that spoke of the unforgiving winters in the Chosun reservoir in which many were not failed by the enemies bullet, but rathe the unforgiving nature of the climate and sub-zero temperatures; or the audacious 17, 18, and 19 year-olds who fought unfailingly in ”Hue City”, and bravely during the sudden onslaught of the “Tet Offensive”, in Vietnam.   To speak with someone of that stature presents a unique set of circumstances, as it forces us to come face to face with our own mortality, realizing that in a moment one's life could suddenly end. However, I give this assurance having been to the severe and austere environments of Iraq and Afghanistan, even in the desert, “roses bloom.” Reminding us of the hope that God grants each of us.   In the desert, in the midst of nothingness, when soldiers grew weary from exhaustion, missing loved ones, and oftentimes wondering, having lost close friends and comrades if they were next, God was there as I witnessed firsthand something of such vivid beauty that words, not matter what language, cannot even begin to express, as young men and women lined up to give their lives to Christ, to be baptized in a place so far from home, thousands of miles away. Yes, when a soldier is weary, when a warrior is wounded, God’s presence is manifested in a place we least expect. Some would suppose like the words spoke in scripture, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46). The answer is a resounding, “yes.”   Today’s episode is titled. Wounded Warrior Psalm 32:7   Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

    29 min

  4. 12/05/2024

    "Te amo"

    Before I begin today's podcast, I want to wish all the mother's a very happy Mother’s Day, showered with flowers, candy, cards, balloons, and the treat of a special meal that she does not have to cook herself. Thank you for absolutely everything. .  Is there anything greater, more beautiful than a mother’s love, to hear her voice, as she shares words of comfort and tender mercy. Is there a love that exceeds words unspoken, a purposeful glance, a gentle nod, or a well-timed wink, giving the assurance that everything is going to be okay. A mother’s love greets us at birth, as we experience her lasting presence, and continues throughout the peaks and valleys of our lives. Her voice often tender or firm in the moments that require such, the patient attentiveness of her listening ear to sensibly weigh our haste towards ill-advised decisions, and the remarkable warmth of her hug as it covers a multitude of our apprehensions, failures, disappointments, fears, and vulnerabilities. She covers the depth of our sorrows, gives refuge to the brokenness of our hearts, and wipes away the abundance of grief’s tears that we shed in the abyss of our despair. And should we perish before, she will always, no matter the bounty of her love, carry the unbearable burden of loss. Her words are often few, but her voice is known of the Lord, for her effectual prayers long before sunrise, and those late at night, when intuition tells her trouble is on the horizon. She feeds, she clothes, she nurtures, and her vigilance is unequaled as she attentively safeguards the family, watching intently their coming and going as a centurion guards the gates of the city. And in those moments when her strength wains, she can call out to heaven, having a direct line, not one of presumption, or of demand, but reserved in humility and grace, always placing the needs of others before herself. There is none more valiant, brave, courageous, noble, or fearless, there is none more devoted, tender, or loving.   Annie Maude Anderson, lovingly referred to as “Gran”, epitomized the life of so many women in the Bible: Ruth, the daughter-in-law of Naomi;  Ester, the Queen that saved her people; Sarah, Abraham’s wife who patiently awaited the promise; Hannah being mocked, who cried out to God, until He heard her plea, Elizabeth, the unexpected mother of John the Baptist; and Mary, the mother of Jesus, that while the angels proclaimed the birth of the Messiah, scripture states,   But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)  Annie did as well.

    23 min

  5. 28/04/2024

    Wherefore Shall I Complain?

    Over the last few months I have attended four funerals, as I witnessed firsthand the grief and sorrow the families endured at the loss of their beloved. I listened to wonderful eulogies, acknowledgements, words of comfort, and invitations to Christian fellowship, and all with the exception of one sang the lyrics to the song by Reverend Paul Jones, titled “I Won’t Complain”, as he says   I've had some good daysI've had some hills to climbI've had some weary daysAnd some sleepless nights But when I look aroundAnd I think things overAll of my good daysOutweigh my bad daysI won't complain Sometimes the clouds are lowI can hardly see the roadI ask a question, LordLord, why so much pain?But he knows what's best for meAlthough my weary eyesThey can't seeSo I'll just say thank you LordI won't complain   We spend an awful amount of time worried about things we cannot control. A lot of time worried about who has advantage; who owns this and that; wondering when or if we will ever get our rightful piece of the pie. We ask, “when will our ship will come in?” We ponder why the fortunes of the unjust are greater than those of the righteous, and how they constantly and persistently take advantage of the least of us, and nothing ever happens. Unscathed, in fact it appears the extremes of their iniquity are well rewarded. We, on the other hand, have tirelessly worked and scraped, just to put two nickels together, and for every step of progression forward, we seem to take three back, ending up right where we were before.   Scripture does not promise equity; however, God's words are true. They do not ring hollow, as it is written, Isaiah 55:10-12 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.   We are not a suffering people, but those that endure, persevere. Our lives are not filled with a wealth of hardship, but an abundance of joy. And while the world falls deeper into sin, we are the light that shines forth in darkness. A lighthouse that sets forth the path for those that are adrift to follow, not as a principle of title (Christian), but through the manifest demonstration of our abounding faith, enduring patience, and the abundance of love we earnestly demonstrate towards one another.   Today’s episode is titled.   Wherefore Shall I Complain? Psalm 27:13-14   I had fainted, Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

    21 min

  6. 14/04/2024

    No Confidence

    Throughout our lives, we are constantly pressured to be confident, self-sufficient, and be certain of our own abilities, depending on absolutely nothing or no one. Confidence enough in oneself to believe that we can do and accomplish anything we put our hearts and minds to, albeit innocent or ill intended. Given the ideal set of circumstances we can achieve and compete at the highest level and reach the pinnacle of life. A summit in which the view is simply amazing, patting ourselves on the back, in a self-congratulatory way, as we have long ago, passed our peers and exceeded the accomplishments of our contemporaries. Only to express our aloneness, and the deepened sadness we now feel at the top. Absent of humanities touch, and God’s presence, yearning for something more, as we hear the echo of the phrase, by Wilson Mizner in 1932;     Be nice to those you meet on the way up because you will meet them on the way down.   How do we define confidence? Cambridge dictionary suggests the following: (a) the quality of being certain of your abilities: (b) a feeling of having little doubt about yourself and your abilities:   But … what happens when our strength fails, and our substance comes to naught? What happens when in moments of our deepest despair, family walks away, and friends betray us? Wherein lies our confidence when our lives are in disarray, our bodies ravaged by disease, our stomachs ache from hunger, and our once plush savings, in anticipation of a future, are now depleted? Wherein do we place such when our hearts are broken, and our soul cries in anguish for just a moment of relief, when the enemy attacks us, and the presence of God has long ago departed. Wherefore then, do we cast our hope?   Romans 12:3   For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.   Where is it that or in what do we place our utmost confidence? Is it foolproof, does it come with a  surety or a guarantee? Are we confident that it will sustain us and remain reliably steadfast? Or draw us deeper into the abyss of uncertainty and sure emptiness? What are we absent of God? Who are we? What do we become? If I attend renowned academic institutions such as Cambridge or Harvard; if I become the CEO of the world's most prestigious enterprise; if by means of strength I become the world's strongest, with an incomparable physique; if my portfolio is equivalent to the upper 1%, and I own lands and territories beyond imagination. Suppose you achieved it all on your own, your own ability, your own might. What does it mean? Does it have any significance at all?   Today’s episode is titled.   No Confidence 1 Corinthians 6:19-20   19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

    22 min

  7. 31/03/2024

    Uneven Exchange

    Before I begin, I want to wish you and your families a very wonderful Easter, and the many blessings the day brings for us all as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I continue to keep you in my prayers and ask for yours as well as I seek to present with all humility what God has given unto me to share.    For more than 4,000 years God sought to redeem the whole of humanity through, signs, wonders, famine, drought, floods, decrees, laws, commandments, plagues and captivity, and for the 2,000 years since Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, He has ceaselessly bid us to come unto repentance, and the excellency of His knowledge that the grace of God be revealed therein. Oh, if we truly knew the weight, the cost, the gravity of our offence, we would not dare to hesitate, but run with haste to fall before the Savior and say, “have mercy.” We should not treat the gift of God, as in the days of old when someone would visit (friend, family, or otherwise) unannounced, and we would speedily turn out the lights, unplug the phone, and shutter the blinds, giving the sense of not being home. When the truth is they are unwelcome. We count their visit as an intrusion or an invasion of sorts. I ask, even at this moment, is the Savior, Jesus Christ, even today, unwelcome in your life? Do we hide away as Adam, when we have given into the severest form of sin, or fallen into the depths, the abyss of temptation? In doing we find ourselves far too distant from the safeguards of salvation.   How many times, or yet, how long does God have to stand and knock, upon the doors of our heart, all the time demonstrating to us the splendor of His unmerited grace and mercy? How often are we convinced that we have the benefit of time on our side, as it slips away ever so suddenly, as sand between our fingers? How often, how many more times, must we plead for another chance, lest He say unto us as well, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:” (Luke 12:19)?   Today’s episode is titled.   Uneven Exchange Mark 8:37   37what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?    The unequivocal answer for us all should be, “absolutely nothing.” Our mind cannot grasp the enormity of Christ's suffering. Allowing us to discern, with the greatest certainty, that we are unable to save ourselves from the deadly clutch of sin, how it fractures our covenant with God, separates us, and hinders our ability to hear the solemn nature of His voice, as He speaks to our heart, and mends the weariness of our soul. No matter how lofty our desires, no matter the conceit of our stature, it grants us absolutely nothing, nor does it curry any measure of favor.

    21 min

  8. 17/03/2024

    Pick & Pluck

    Succotash, of which I cannot spell, is the most insufferable complement to vegetables known to humanity. Whereas the peas and carrots are pleasing, the dried tasteless texture of the lama beans make it unbearable, as I would do my best to purposefully separate them, and on occasion hide them in a napkin to inconspicuously throw them away. There are others such as “black” licorice that many find appealing, however I find it utterly deplorable, an offense to my taste buds.   Most of us are aware of what a convenience store offers. Places like 7/11, Circle-K, and others, in which to pick up essential items, but they were never designed to be our principal means of purchasing groceries. You can find an abundance of things, some needed, others not so, but when we take them home, they are immediately consumed, and again the cupboard is bare, lacking those fundamental items vital for our survival. Salvation is not a convenience, but a necessity. The entirety of God's word covers us from head to toe, inside and out. However, if we “nit-pick” what we believe to be of importance, we find ourselves vulnerable. Naked and exposed to the evils of this world in which we, lacking even the bare necessities, find ourselves drifting further away from god, and into the abyss of deception, conflict and confusion, because we intently choose to pick the parts that make us feel good and allow us to convict others, rather than allowing God and the inerrancy (perfectness and wholeness) of His word to do the same for us. There used to be a common phrase, “what you don’t know won’t hurt you.” It may be applicable in theory, but it cannot hold it weight as it is applied to scripture.   While we can be selective in such, we cannot be so when it comes to God's word. We can neither add to nor detract from its completeness, its wholeness, as it applies to our lives, and how we entreat others as emissaries of the Gospel, as we share the gift of salvation, and the promise of eternity. “All” of God’s word is beneficial.   Today’s Podcast is titled.   Pick & Pluck   2 Timothy 3:14-17   14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

    21 min
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About

The “Perspectives” podcast hosted by David Howard reflects the Gospel designed to address the needs and challenges of a contemporary culturally diverse multi-millennial audience. While our ethnicities and languages differ, those contrasts should not be, nor are they sufficient enough to separate us in our fellowship with one another. David during the course of his ministry has met people from around the world. In the course of establishing those very unique relationships it is understandable how things can get lost in translation, thus the title "Perspectives", designed for a global audience.

Information

  • Creator
    David C. Howard
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    123
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © David C. Howard
  • Show Website
    Perspectives