Journey to London in Less than Six Months and Counting…

In July 2012, myself and 28 other individuals are embarking on a mission trip to London, England during the Summer Olympics.  I will be using this blog as a mechanism to communicate with friends and fellow Christians about this journey.  Who would have ever thought I would be going to a foreign country so the gospel could be shared!  Me, who has never been outside of the country except for short trips to Canada.  Me, who is a home-body.  Me, who thought it silly to go outside of the USA to share the gospel when there is such a need here.  Can you see how participation in this trip is contrary to my very nature?  What is happening!  God is nudging me out of my comfort zone and most likely priming me for future works or using this testimony to spur someone else for future works.  Why me?  I am an ordinary person with no particular talent.  God can and will use those willing.  He has commanded in Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciple of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” 

Several people have asked what they can do for me to help prepare for this journey.  My response is prayer.  Prayer for wisdom.  Prayer for protection.  Prayer for refining fires so nothing interferes with hearing the Holy Spirit.  And lastly, prayer for His will to be done. 

I invite you to follow this journey until the end.  I have a feeling you won’t be disappointed.   

Becky

Church in Transition

There has been quite some time since a blog was posted on this site.  Our past blogger and pastor has resigned and our church is in transition.  Transitions are painful, awkward and unnerving.  The dictionary defines "painful" as causing physical or psychological pain, tedious and difficult.  As I read this definition I thought of David and how he cried out to God in brokenness.  Yet David had a level of confidence that his God was hearing his pleas. But when he lacked a sense of God’s presence, he couldn’t sleep.  If we Christians are not confident in God’s love and assistance, even small trials feel unbearable, and we may lose sleep! 

Through prayer we can ask God to give us that kind of grace and strength to trust He will bring us out of the valley of the shadow of death, stronger and in better shape to reflect His glory and assure our place in Heaven with Him than we were before. Don’t be afraid to pray to God for relief of your burdens. If relief is not in sight, ask Him for the graces you need to endure in these troubled times. Remember as well to keep your eyes on the prize: heaven, where “God will wipe way every tear…and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore” (Rev 21:4). 

Even though I am confident God has already chosen our next Pastor, we covet your prayers. 



Will (Is?) the Media More Powerful Than the Gospel?

Answer: no!

Amy Goodman is one of the most popular radio hosts on alternate radio today. She is the host of Democracy Now. I heard her say in an interview today that the "media" (which is a tough noun to define by the way) is the most powerful force on earth, more than any bullet or bomb.

I hear what she's saying. The news media (which I assume she was speaking of) is incredibly powerful in influencing hearts and minds. But at the end of the day, I fundamentally disagree. The media is not, can not, and will not ever be the most powerful force for one massive reason: the heart of the world's population is beyond the reach of the media.

What did Jesus say? Mark 7:15 "There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him."

Meaning, there's nothing that we see, hear, taste, touch, or smell that can fundamentally change our hearts. Our hearts are desperately wicked, and everything we see and hear (media included) serves only to bring out of and/or shape what is already in our hearts.

Conversely, there is one power (and only one) in the world that has the power to radically alter hearts: the Gospel. Last I checked, the media didn't wield the ability to so change a person that it was as if they were "born again".

Don't worry folks, the Gospel isn't going anywhere!

Raising Children - JC Ryle

Erik at the JC Ryle Quotes Blog posted five short lessons/articles on how to train your children. You'll want to check these out.

1. Training Your Child to Love God Depends on You
2. Training Your Child Means Watching Over Their Soul
3. Training Your Child to Know the Bible
4. Training Your child to Have a Habit of Prayer
5. Training Your Child to Love the Church and the Lord's Supper

Here are a few excerpts to whet your appetite:

“And all this is one of God’s merciful arrangements. He gives your children a mind that will receive impressions like moist clay. He gives them a disposition at the starting-point of life to believe what you tell them, and to take for granted what you advise them, and to trust your word rather than a stranger’s. He gives you, in short, a golden opportunity of doing them good. See that you do not neglect such an opportunity. Once you let it slip, it is gone forever."

“Parents, if you love your children, do all that lies within your power to train them to have a habit of prayer. Show them how to begin. Tell them what to say. Encourage them to persevere. Remind them that if they become careless and slack about it. Let it not be your fault, if they never call on the name of the Lord."

“Oh, dear friend, if you love your children, I charge you, do not let the early impression of a habit of prayer slip by. If you train your children to do anything, train them, at least, to have a habit of prayer.”

And much more!

Hell Glorifies God

James Hamilton takes on the difficult task of showing how the reality of Hell brings glory to God. Here's the conclusion:

In sum, hell glorifies God because

• it shows that he keeps his word;
• it shows his infinite worth, lasting forever;
• it demonstrates his power to subdue all who rebel against him;
• it shows how unspeakably merciful he is to those who trust him;
• it upholds the reality of love by visiting justice against those who reject God, who is love;
• it vindicates all who suffered to hear or proclaim the truth of God’s word;
• and it shows the enormity of what Jesus accomplished when he died to save all who would trust him from the hell they deserved. If there were no hell, there would be no need for the cross.

Check out the complete article here.