Dancing with the Impossible

David F. Nixon

Description

Clear vision overcomes coldhearted indifference with warmhearted compassion. It motivates believers to do something good and loving about needy people, even when it seems impossible.

If you are willing to be weak with the weak, vulnerable with the vulnerable, and powerless with the powerless, you just might hear God say, “You can do something about that!”



David F. Nixon, a church leader and passionate Gospel preacher for over four decades, urges the readers of this book to start doing instead of dreaming. He emphasizes that bystanders watch change happen; participants make it happen.



Fortunately, for believers, God specializes in the impossible—and we get to be on His team. Find out how faith, obedience, and a willingness to act can help you:

Assist those who are less fortunate;

Change the world with seemingly small acts of kindness;

Be a better parent to your children;

Appreciate the value and significance of mission work.

Throughout the book, the author shares his own experience as a missionary, explaining how he’s lived life to the fullest by putting on his dance shoes—the Gospel of peace--and clothing himself with his Jesus jersey— compassion—and doing the next right thing.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Missions
• Christian Living
• Inspirational
• Philosophie et théologie
• Entrepreneurship
• Teamwork
• Classé X (Dr House)
• Leadership
• Miracle
• Compassion

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 02 juin 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664299382
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

ENDORSEMENTS
In his death on the cross, Jesus went into the depths of human suffering, the pits where life is taken from us by dark powers and the grave of utter abandonment where we are forever alone. His death and resurrection changed everything. Now we know that Jesus is with the suffering, in the pits, and present to the abandoned. And this Jesus simply says to us, “Follow me.” In the pages that follow, we read the story of God’s call, from among the cries of Haitians to a man named David and his friends. This story reminds us that darkness never holds infinite power, nor has the final word. Read and give thanks to the God who does the impossible through his people.
—Dr. Dan Boone, president, Trevecca Nazarene University
The author, Dr. David Nixon, challenges us to follow God, who turns impossibilities into the possible. I have known Dr. Nixon for many years. God’s story of mission is lived out in both his ministerial and personal life. He walks the talk. Reading this story and sensing his passion for missions will result in the reader developing a deeper level of commitment and engagement.
As I read this mission story, I couldn’t lay it down until the last page was read. My faith in the God of the impossible was deepened. I believe, too, that your faith in the God of possibilities will be strengthened.
—Dr. Nina Gunter, general superintendent emeritus, Church of the Nazarene
Dancing with the Impossible is a wonderfully inspiring book that reminds readers what a big God we serve and encourages us all to participate in the Great Commission in any way the Lord may lead. A must-read page-turner!
—Dr. Debra White Smith , The Wesleyan Woman , author, speaker, pastor, professor
 
It is my honor to endorse David Nixon’s new book, Dancing with the Impossible . This book is an amazing missionary walk through the troubled, voodoo-twisted, disaster-ridden, poverty-stricken, and seemingly impossible country of Haiti. It was my honor to walk and ride some of those rough dirt roads through Haiti with David. I vividly recall the night sitting in a dark, open, star-lit shell of a huge Nazarene church in Gros-Morne, Haiti. The only light was from dozens of cell phones Haitian parishioners held high. It was as if the blowing curtains neatly hung over the window openings ushered in a Word from God to David, “I want you to impact this city in Haiti.” David heeded God’s call and immediately orchestrated a great force from heaven and Southern Florida to impact the city for God and the love of Jesus. You’ve got to read this book to see the astonishing miracles God is performing in Haiti and beyond. Thanks, David, for doing this.
—Dr. Dennis Moore, Southern Florida District Nazarene Missions International president, 1986–2016
Dr. David Nixon continues through his latest work to reveal his heart for the global church as he takes the reader through disaster, devastation, and destruction on a quest to achieve the impossible. He leads the reader on an odyssey that will inspire and challenge you to become Christ’s hands and feet, locally and internationally (glocally) even when it seems humanly impossible. If you have a heart for missions and a calling to be Christ to others, this resource will capture your heart and propel your spirit forward to be Christ to others.
—Dr. Desmond Barrett, EdD, pastor, author
 
The writings of Dr. David Nixon are a must-read! I was a pastor in Guyana, frustrated, drained, and ready to quit, working to navigate my church from decline to health. Dr. Nixon traveled to Guyana to provide practical insights and guidance through his teachings and writings. I experienced a paradigm shift that transformed and reenergized my spirit. Dr. Nixon’s practical and transformative teachings on leadership, missions, and prayer left an indelible mark upon my life—so much so that today I am leading a growing global ministry.
—Rev. Dr. Neilford Chase, lead pastor, North Ruimveldt Church of the Nazarene (Guyana, South America); founder, Neilford Chase Ministries; author, Embracing Change in Uncertain Times — Navigating the New Normal .
My history with the Nixon family is so deep that I cannot explain everything in full detail. Their efforts on my behalf allowed me to fulfill the greatest dream of my life—to study medicine at the Calixto Garcia University in Cuba. When my father took a false step and fell, his injuries did not allow him to walk for six months. We prayed and searched, but a solution seemed impossible. I was helplessly torn between my studies and caring for my father. We turned to the Nixon family for help, and they raised the money needed to fly my father to Cuba for the medical care and surgery he could not receive in Haiti. My father, Gilbert Jean Francois, had successful surgery and rehabilitation. Now my father can walk, and he is back to serving his Nazarene congregation in Ravine Aux Lianes, Haiti. God used the Nixon family to make what was impossible possible for the Jean Francois family. Without them, I could not study medicine, and my father would have remained incapacitated.
—Berthony Jean Francois, third-year medical student, Calixto Garcia School of Medical Sciences, Calixto Garcia University, Havana, Cuba
Dancing with the Impossible
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DAVID F. NIXON
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Copyright © 2023 David F. Nixon.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
 
 
WestBow Press
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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
Interior Image Credit: JuicyEcumenisn
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9937-5 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9938-2 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023908904
 
 
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 6/2/2023
 
Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.
 
Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
 
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CONTENTS
Foreword
Introduction
 
Chapter 1       A Heart for Missions
Chapter 2       Honor Thy Father and Mother
Chapter 3       The Inevitable Return
Chapter 4       Big Little Things
Chapter 5       Built to Last
Chapter 6       Le Catastrophe
Chapter 7       The Only Cross Worth Dying For
Chapter 8       The Next Right Thing
Chapter 9       Celebrate Success
Chapter 10     The Dreamers’ Quest
Chapter 11     Hope Helpers
Chapter 12     Please Don’t Step on My Air Hose
Chapter 13     The Day of the Mission Outpost Has Come
Chapter 14     A New Day Is Dawning
Chapter 15     Louder Than Words
Chapter 16     What Else Can We Do?
Chapter 17     Pray. Give. Serve. Glocally!
FOREWORD
As a pastor, I have been blessed to work alongside several great leaders who have made a lasting impact on my life. I was especially blessed to develop a personal relationship with Dr. David Nixon shortly after he arrived in Southern Florida as district superintendent (2005).
To my amazement, it took Dr. Nixon no time to feel at home among the various cultures in our district. He displayed a Christlike attitude in his interactions and involvement with the various language groups. His Christo-centric ministry emphasized winning the lost, transforming families and communities with the power of prayer, and the ever-living presence of the Holy Spirit.
Although I marveled at the level of his missional leadership, my first surprise came in July 2006, on my first Work and Witness trip with him to Brazil. There I witnessed his passion to plant churches among various ethnic groups in Southern Florida while also displaying physical prowess in pushing a wheelbarrow and planting sod at the Summer Campground in Campinas.
That trip to Brazil showed me that David was called to be not only our district superintendent but also a pastor of pastors, the creative leader needed to steer our multicultural district through a turbulent time. We had a God-fearing man and