This is going to be a blog post full of random things. I haven't been posting in a while on this blog, so I thought I would catch you up on life in one blog entry.
1. SBC 2009. I did post my thoughts from here. I thought in the end it was a very encouraging convention. I like Danny Akin's thoughts on it (and Acts29) here.
2. Exercising. I still need to lose some weight, but a lifestyle change is what is needed. I've done better at that this year. So, God has been good and faithful in allowing me to be obedient.
3. Fruit picking. I've already done my fair share of berry picking this season - with at least one more Saturday set aside for this fun activity in Southern Indiana. I've picked strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries. Next to pick peaches, tomatoes, blackberries and blueberries. So yummy!
4. Work. Going very well. Summer is slow, but we are heading into a big transition. We just had the 150th anniversary of SBTS. Our guys did a great job getting everything ready and our campus is very beautiful right now.
5. Foot. A few years ago I started to notice a pain under my pinky toe of my left foot when exercising. Well, i'm finally going to do something about it. I have an appt set for July 15 to get it looked it. If surgery is needed, hopefully I can get it scheduled for when my parents will be in town in October (after race season, just in time for winter, before Spring running starts).
6. Books. I'm learning that some people are just GREAT writers. I love the description ability of Charlotte Bronte'. I'm reading Jane Eyre. I feel like I am sitting down with Jane and we are sipping tea and she is just chatting away. Her characters are so life-like. I'm also reading some for blog-material: John and Abigail Adams' letters and 7 Hardest Thing God Asks a Woman to Do. We'll see. And I'm reading one for fun - Alone in the Kitchen With an Eggplant - hilarious, some choice vocabulary, cynicism, sarcasm, some recipes. My brother is a good writer as well - especially about Florida.
7. Summer. It has been hot. I do not have air conditioning. I walk once it gets cooler. I try not to use my oven as much. God is good by having a reprieve of the heat this week - its only in the mid 80s.
8. July 4. This weekend i'll be in IN celebrating the 4th by taking a personal retreat with me and God and a pen, bible, and paper. I'm looking forward to the quiet, a/c, hanging out prayer time to seek some answers, grow in my willingness to be open and vulnerable, and be away from fb, texting, tv, computer for 48 whole hours!
9. Sojourn. I love my new church. We are seeking to start a new site here in the area of Louisville in which I live. Looking to start in August (I'll be gone the whole month however). Excited. Also, I'm loving the sermons. Continuing in the BC (OT) series. Good stuff. And they just put out a new CD - click the Sojourn link on the right.
10. Friends. I love my friends. I loved catching up with many around the SBC last week. I love how friends are moving and going to different parts of the country/world. I love friends who I can be real with and who still love me. I'm thankful for the WHOLE Body of Christ and how we can celebrate what God is doing in our lives - and have accountability with those people. God is good.
Well, that is just a brief snapshot. Enjoy
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The SBC 2009
Well, here goes. These are my thoughts and not anyone else's.
Psalm 138: this was my reading this morning. I love how perfect it is for this time and place:
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
1. Pastor's Conference - the ones I heard - rocked! JD Greear, although a sermon I've heard before - was very worth a repeat in this crowd for this purpose. I am very glad to call him my friend and pastor. David Platt - AMAZING! Simply a humble man of God who preaches the Word (knows that is more important) and calls us to Biblical action and love and missions and living out the gospel. I love his church, I love Secret Church, well worth the 6 hour drive from Louisville. Doc Reid - thankful for this man who loves Jesus and loves people. He practices what he preaches. I loved hearing him in class and learning from him because His love for the gospel is so evident.
2. Friends. I've seen many this week. Not all that I have wanted to see. But, many. Former pastors, friends from SEBTS, SWBTS, SBTS. This is the best part about the SBC to me - seeing people who get together once a year - like a reunion.
3. Men of God who stand for Truth. Men like Dr. Mohler, Mark Dever, David Platt, JD Greear, Doc Reid, Dr. Moore, Tom Ascol, Dr. Akin, Nathan Finn. These and many more. When people get up to ridicule them, blame the problems on things that aren't really the problems, little divisive things that don't mean squat...these men rise above it - stand for Biblical truth - and call us to action. May the future of the SBC be first - led by Christ and His love - and second, in human terms - be lead by these men - who love Jesus, the Gospel, the Word, the local church, and the World.
4. Repentance for my attitude. In all of these little nitpicky things that came up yesterday - my attitude stunk about them. I was mad at these things that people call the important things and really are just divisive. My attitude of haughtiness and pride and anger and cynicism was no better than their divisiveness. Jesus - thank you for the Cross that covers my sin and change my heart Lord Jesus to reflect you even in moments like these.
5. There is still more to come today. 150 years of SBTS - being a hostess to the many who will come on campus today. Thankful for men (and their teams) like Dan Dumas and Jeff Dalrymple who have made sure everything goes great today. Another full day at the Convention. David Platt preaching again - can't wait to tune in at 10am for that. But, the most important thing happened yesterday. The GCR passed with a 95-5% vote in favor. I just stuck my fist in the air. I was so excited. Now - the next year - Johnny Hunt will appoint a taskforce to look at some things. Will this bring change to the SBC - yes! Is change needed - most decidedly. Just like in the 80s - before I was in a SBC church - men like Paul Pressler and Paige Patterson stood for the inerrancy of Scripture and the conservative resurgence. Thankful for these men and the men who will lead us for the next odd many years.
6. Thankful for the gospel. Thankful for the SBs of Texas who gave 100k to the IMB yesterday. Thankful that hopefully many more of my friends who want to be SB missionaries will get the chance to because of the changes that will come over the next couple of years. The gospel will go further.
7. Thankful for one young dude from Plano, TX who said "we young Southern Baptists want to live for something bigger than ourselves - and we want to live for something bigger, better, and greater than the SBC." The SBC may go away tomorrow - but the gospel, Jesus, God's Word, and the name of the JESUS CHRIST will never fade away. God is making His glory known - may I be a part of that - and never cause it harm - only by the Grace of God!
Psalm 138: this was my reading this morning. I love how perfect it is for this time and place:
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
1. Pastor's Conference - the ones I heard - rocked! JD Greear, although a sermon I've heard before - was very worth a repeat in this crowd for this purpose. I am very glad to call him my friend and pastor. David Platt - AMAZING! Simply a humble man of God who preaches the Word (knows that is more important) and calls us to Biblical action and love and missions and living out the gospel. I love his church, I love Secret Church, well worth the 6 hour drive from Louisville. Doc Reid - thankful for this man who loves Jesus and loves people. He practices what he preaches. I loved hearing him in class and learning from him because His love for the gospel is so evident.
2. Friends. I've seen many this week. Not all that I have wanted to see. But, many. Former pastors, friends from SEBTS, SWBTS, SBTS. This is the best part about the SBC to me - seeing people who get together once a year - like a reunion.
3. Men of God who stand for Truth. Men like Dr. Mohler, Mark Dever, David Platt, JD Greear, Doc Reid, Dr. Moore, Tom Ascol, Dr. Akin, Nathan Finn. These and many more. When people get up to ridicule them, blame the problems on things that aren't really the problems, little divisive things that don't mean squat...these men rise above it - stand for Biblical truth - and call us to action. May the future of the SBC be first - led by Christ and His love - and second, in human terms - be lead by these men - who love Jesus, the Gospel, the Word, the local church, and the World.
4. Repentance for my attitude. In all of these little nitpicky things that came up yesterday - my attitude stunk about them. I was mad at these things that people call the important things and really are just divisive. My attitude of haughtiness and pride and anger and cynicism was no better than their divisiveness. Jesus - thank you for the Cross that covers my sin and change my heart Lord Jesus to reflect you even in moments like these.
5. There is still more to come today. 150 years of SBTS - being a hostess to the many who will come on campus today. Thankful for men (and their teams) like Dan Dumas and Jeff Dalrymple who have made sure everything goes great today. Another full day at the Convention. David Platt preaching again - can't wait to tune in at 10am for that. But, the most important thing happened yesterday. The GCR passed with a 95-5% vote in favor. I just stuck my fist in the air. I was so excited. Now - the next year - Johnny Hunt will appoint a taskforce to look at some things. Will this bring change to the SBC - yes! Is change needed - most decidedly. Just like in the 80s - before I was in a SBC church - men like Paul Pressler and Paige Patterson stood for the inerrancy of Scripture and the conservative resurgence. Thankful for these men and the men who will lead us for the next odd many years.
6. Thankful for the gospel. Thankful for the SBs of Texas who gave 100k to the IMB yesterday. Thankful that hopefully many more of my friends who want to be SB missionaries will get the chance to because of the changes that will come over the next couple of years. The gospel will go further.
7. Thankful for one young dude from Plano, TX who said "we young Southern Baptists want to live for something bigger than ourselves - and we want to live for something bigger, better, and greater than the SBC." The SBC may go away tomorrow - but the gospel, Jesus, God's Word, and the name of the JESUS CHRIST will never fade away. God is making His glory known - may I be a part of that - and never cause it harm - only by the Grace of God!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
God's Good Providence
I read a quote on someone's facebook status yesterday that went something like this. "If we look to God's providence instead of God's promises for the base of our faith - then our faith may crumble." This would be one of these days I'm glad I know the promises of God.
God's providence to us doesn't always come in the way we would want it to come. I'm reminded of William Cowper's quote "behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face".
I rarely take my prayer journal and put it on here, but lately I've been praying very specifically - from a pattern that JD gave us in his sermon when I was there in May. Thanks JD. So, here goes today's entry:
Adoration: You are the good providential God. You are constant and will never change. I can trust in your name. You are my hope and stay and comfort.
Submission: Thank you for the answer. Even though I may not like the answer, I know you are good and your will and answer are always for my good and your greatest glory.
Petition: I ask that my heart be relieved of its heaviness and your goodness and presence heal it.
Recognition: I ask for wrong things. Please take my wrong desires, burn them, remold them into the right desires that are for you.
Gospel: This wish obviously wouldn't bring you the greatest glory. You still have your greatest glory at heart - way behind is my "happiness".
I was reminded through a friend of this Psalm - a song we used to sing at the Summit. I always sing it when I read it in the Word: (Psalm 70.4-5)
"May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!"
I am thankful for God's nearness. I am thankful for God's answer. I'm thankful for tears. I'm thankful for friends. I'm thankful for the promises of God. I'm thankful for the Word.
God's providence to us doesn't always come in the way we would want it to come. I'm reminded of William Cowper's quote "behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face".
I rarely take my prayer journal and put it on here, but lately I've been praying very specifically - from a pattern that JD gave us in his sermon when I was there in May. Thanks JD. So, here goes today's entry:
Adoration: You are the good providential God. You are constant and will never change. I can trust in your name. You are my hope and stay and comfort.
Submission: Thank you for the answer. Even though I may not like the answer, I know you are good and your will and answer are always for my good and your greatest glory.
Petition: I ask that my heart be relieved of its heaviness and your goodness and presence heal it.
Recognition: I ask for wrong things. Please take my wrong desires, burn them, remold them into the right desires that are for you.
Gospel: This wish obviously wouldn't bring you the greatest glory. You still have your greatest glory at heart - way behind is my "happiness".
I was reminded through a friend of this Psalm - a song we used to sing at the Summit. I always sing it when I read it in the Word: (Psalm 70.4-5)
"May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!"
I am thankful for God's nearness. I am thankful for God's answer. I'm thankful for tears. I'm thankful for friends. I'm thankful for the promises of God. I'm thankful for the Word.
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