tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73214122794029553432024-03-07T17:44:38.945-06:00"A God-Centered Mercy"Thoughts on the supremacy of God in the life of Christians by the pastor of Rockport Baptist Church in Arnold, MOUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-22802135786826351262016-08-11T13:40:00.006-05:002016-08-11T13:40:58.711-05:00Thinking About Worship<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.</i></div>
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<b>1 Corinthians 14:40</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Those who lead the church in it’s worship are called to lead in a way that</div>
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is faithful to Scripture, Christ exalting, and humbly directed by the Holy Spirit so that God’s people are not entertained, but are instead helped to set their minds and hearts more fully on what God has done in Christ through the Gospel. The result of this God-ward focus, is that the church is better able to respond to Him with appropriate actions of praise, gladness, repentance, prayer, confession, singing, trusting, and all other expressions of worship that arise from a living faith. With that kind of worship in mind, I have been thinking a lot lately about what biblical worship in the church should be like. I have likewise invited Nevin, as Elder in Training, and Stuart, as our Intern for Worship to do the same, so that the three of us can come together and prayerfully consider how we might provide more faithful leadership in this area. Would you join us in praying for wisdom in this matter?</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One clear principle from Scripture, in 1 Corinthians 14:40, is that our times of worship must be “proper” and “in order.”. I take that to mean that they must be well-planned and led in such a way that the distractions of disorder and confusion are kept to a minimum while the truth of the Gospel is kept in the forefront. It is that undistracted focus on Christ and His Word that will free us to respond to Him with genuine expressions of worship.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In the coming weeks, I will be giving instructions and guidelines that I hope will help us “order” our worship in an increasingly God-honoring fashion. I ask that you join me in praying and seeking the Lord as we try to think and plan biblically so that every aspect of our weekly gathering in God’s presence will serve to encourage the body and exalt the Savior. </div>
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Serving the One Who is Worthy of Our Worship!<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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Pastor Scott</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-88197563453923995242012-11-09T13:28:00.001-06:002012-11-09T13:28:38.112-06:00What Am I?<i>I rediscovered this brief "poem" of mine recently, while rummaging through some old computer files. I remember writing it back in college, oh so long ago. It was shortly after I'd come to faith in Christ, and I was trying to work through how different my view about ultimate destinies had become now that I was a Christian, as opposed to what I had once believed when I was edging near the borders of atheism. I do not claim that this is great literature by an stretch! But the thoughts expressed here still ring true to my mind.</i><br />
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<b>WHAT AM I?</b></div>
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What am I?<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Some absurd ape taken in by a grand illusion<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of false grandeur?<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Or am I a child of a loving Creator-God<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>formed from dust into his everlasting image.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
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Is my life wrapped up in a sad delusion?<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A delusion that will pitiably end in the sticky <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>black darkness of death?<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Or am I destined to serve my King,<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>to serve my King in eternal, heavenly glory?<br />
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But I know in Whom I have believed,<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And I am persuaded that He is able<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>To keep that which I have entrusted to Him<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Until that final day.<br />
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Yes Lord, I am Yours.<br />
Amen.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-48374333473261876292012-10-24T10:38:00.001-05:002012-10-24T10:38:37.664-05:00Multiply<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8oUqMb2ptnE/UIgKzb2vqrI/AAAAAAAAMVM/qjIEyQKBcXQ/s1600/multiply_square_black1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8oUqMb2ptnE/UIgKzb2vqrI/AAAAAAAAMVM/qjIEyQKBcXQ/s320/multiply_square_black1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Join us Friday, November 9th at 7 pm at Rockport Baptist Church 3761 Telegraph Road in Arnold, MO for <a href="https://vimeo.com/49492342">The Multiply Event</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-57735803414908163082012-06-04T15:07:00.001-05:002012-06-04T15:07:12.279-05:00Two Great Responses to the Southern Baptist "Statement"<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have really wanted to respond to the so-called<a href="http://sbctoday.com/2012/05/30/an-introduction-to-%E2%80%9Ca-statement-of-the-traditional-southern-baptist-understanding-of-god%E2%80%99s-plan-of-salvation%E2%80%9D/"> "Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist View of Salvation" </a>that was issued recently (and which ought to be called, "A Statement of the Neo-Traditionalist Arminian View of Salvation"), but frankly I have not had the stomach or the time to do so. Fortunately, several faithful brothers have done what I could not do. Let me commend to you the following.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First, a dear brother named Scott Weldon has issues this excellent response, which he calls </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://scottweldon.blogspot.com/2012/06/my-two-cents-re-statement-of.html?spref=fb">My Two Cents re: "A Statement of Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God's Plan of Salvation"</a>. I highly recommend it.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Second, Brother Tom Ascol is doing an excellent point by point analysis. It also is highly recommended and you can find it at the <a href="http://blog.founders.org/">Founder's Blog here. </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My many thanks, brothers, for taking the time to declare truth.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-12066165676069022792012-05-03T12:20:00.004-05:002012-05-03T12:20:22.839-05:00Ephesians: A Celebration of Salvation<br />
I have, for years, had a desire to lead our <a href="http://www.rockportbaptist.org/">church</a>, Rockport Baptist, through a study of the Book of Ephesians. With that study finally beginning this Sunday, I've written the following as a sort of "introduction" for our congregation.<br />
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<i>Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,</i></div>
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<i> To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: </i></div>
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<i>Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. </i></div>
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Ephesians 1:1-2 </div>
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With these words we begin what I believe will be an exciting and faith-building journey through this book of Ephesians. It’s been called many things. William Barclay called it <i>“the queen of the epistles” </i> Another man likened it to<i> “the Grand Canyon of Scripture”.</i> It’s<i> “pure music!</i>” says another.<br />
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But what is it about this letter that has drawn such high praise? For surely “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God” as 2 Tim 3:16 declares. So it can’t be that this book is ”more God’s word” than some other portion of Scripture. Yet it is here that we have, distilled into it’s purest essence, the very heart of the Gospel itself. So let me give you three things that have been noticed about this book of Ephesians before we begin our study<br />
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<b><i>(1)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Someone has noted that Ephesians is intercession!</i></b> <br />
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More than any other<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>book in the New Testament, it has the feel and quality of an extended<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>prayer. As you read it, it takes hold of you and lifts you up into the very presence of God Himself in the “heavenly places” (1:3)</blockquote>
<b><i>(2)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ephesians is exaltation</i></b><br />
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There’s a celebration going on here! This is not just some dry tome giving us our doctrine as it instructs us about the grace of God. This is <i>a riotous explosion of grace</i> that brings great joy in Christ!</blockquote>
<b><i>(3)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ephesians is evangelism</i></b><br />
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Here, in the clearest possible terms we will see again and again the great lengths and heights to which God has gone to rescue us from our sin and to bring us home safely in Christ.</blockquote>
That’s why I’m calling this study, <b><i>A Celebration of Salvation!</i></b> Here is something that is meant to make you rejoice as you see just how extravagant the grace of God is, that has been poured out for us sinners in Christ Jesus!!<br />
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May God give us eyes to see! <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
Pastor S. Scott Lee<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-71714493577916508452012-04-30T15:27:00.001-05:002012-04-30T15:28:34.001-05:00Grace Camp Meeting MessagesWhat a great time God gave us at this year's Grace Camp Meeting! Here is a<a href="http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sourceonly=true&currSection=sermonssource&keyword=rockportbaptist&subsetcat=series&subsetitem=Grace+Camp+Meeting+2012"> link</a> to all the messages from this three day conference at <a href="http://www.rockportbaptist.org/">Rockport Baptist Church.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-64509309739676926162012-04-30T15:25:00.001-05:002012-04-30T15:25:15.006-05:00By Grace Alone: Dan Quayle Was Right (some notes on Savage and savagery)An excellent perspective on the anti-bullying bully, Dan Savage.<br />
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<a href="http://scottweldon.blogspot.com/2012/04/dan-quayle-was-right-some-notes-on.html">By Grace Alone: Dan Quayle Was Right (some notes on Savage and savagery)</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-18195600409501360202012-04-09T13:35:00.001-05:002012-04-09T13:36:49.315-05:00Headed out to T4GGetting ready to head to Louisville for <a href="http://t4g.org/">T4G</a>. Looking forward to it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-39587794523509921762012-04-02T22:15:00.002-05:002012-04-03T09:55:47.797-05:00My daughter's blog<div><p>My daughter recently began her first<a href="http://morethanrealkimmyj.blogspot.com/"> <u>blog</u> </a>with an article on depression that I found so encouraging I wanted to share it here. </p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-89011333577842448442012-03-21T13:35:00.001-05:002012-03-21T13:36:54.435-05:00Rockport Systematic Theology Class Downloads<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwr9TYaqS_x4EqfQpmSMfb3TftfWlTLsws3ZkJZcIe9dwDj-Y_EfaCGWR7kDR-cBkLGgVrhGl1ncDEfX9rviPS_vVTTHDEhdBOTFy6ywunbLIE6OSs66kwsT8eBPJv8b2JO5cfcBkuTxA/s1600/systematic.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwr9TYaqS_x4EqfQpmSMfb3TftfWlTLsws3ZkJZcIe9dwDj-Y_EfaCGWR7kDR-cBkLGgVrhGl1ncDEfX9rviPS_vVTTHDEhdBOTFy6ywunbLIE6OSs66kwsT8eBPJv8b2JO5cfcBkuTxA/s200/systematic.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722421055932276050" /></a><b>Why Study Theology? </b><span>Bottom line: Because God is worthy to be known. Indeed, Jesus said that this, in and of itself, is what eternal life is really all about -- </span><i>"that they may know You, the One True God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent"</i><span> (John 17:3). And so that is our goal at </span><span></span><a href="http://www.rockportbaptist.org/">Rockport Baptist Church</a><span>:</span><span> to know God as fully as possible (as we make Him known to the world).</span><div><br /></div><div>And when we say "to know God, we don't just mean to know him in a merely intellectual way. As Puritan Pastor William Ames once put it, <i>"Theology is the doctrine or teaching of living unto God."</i>That is what we want: real knowledge of God that is more than just knowing about God. It is knowing God as a Person who is real and who has revealed Himself clearly in the Scriptures (and most fully in His Son) so that we may delight "<i>to glorify God and enjoy Him forever" </i>as the old catechism says.</div><div><br /></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span><span style="font-size: 16px; ">That is our aim. And so we are meeting each week at Rockport to study God's wonderful </span>revelation<span style="font-size: 16px; "> of Himself! We are using </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; ">Dr. Wayne Grudem's excellent book,<i> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Introduction-Biblical-Doctrine/dp/0310286700">"Systematic Theology" </a></i>as one of our guides. But of course, the Scriptures are our main and surest guide of all!</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; ">These studies are available for download <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/rockportsystematicclass/">here </a>-- both the <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/rockportsystematicclass/home/class-mp3-files">mp3 audio files </a>as well as the<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/rockportsystematicclass/home/powerpoint-slides">Powerpoint slides </a>that I use each week.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; ">Our hope is that these may be a help to other travelers who desire to know God even more.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; ">To the Praise of the Glory of His grace.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span>S. Scott Lee</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-41385185068029164382012-03-16T17:22:00.000-05:002012-03-16T17:23:18.273-05:00The 180 ChallengeIf you have not done so yet, please take time to watch this video.<div><br /></div><div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7y2KsU_dhwI?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div><div> </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-3318878417045349842012-03-01T16:34:00.000-06:002012-03-01T16:34:49.776-06:00Understanding What is at Stake in the Bible Translation Controversy<span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">Take a look at this article by "World Magazine" on the </span></span><a href="http://www.worldmag.com/articles/19184" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Translation battle</a><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"> taking place today among missions groups that seek to bring the Gospel to Muslims. It is a </span>devastating<span style="font-size: 100%;"> mistake tamper with the meaning of words so central to the Christian faith as "Father" and "Son" are. While I understand that those who are doing so may have the best of motives, it is a tragic misstep for at least two reasons.</span></span><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">First, as the article mentioned above demonstrates, pastors and Christians from the nations in question are begging missionary groups not to issue Bibles that have altered the words of </span>Scripture<span style="font-size: 100%;"> in a misguided attempt to make the Word more palatable. They above all understand the confusion this will cause among their congregations and among those to whom they seek to bring the message of Christ.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">Second, and even more important to understand, such a move plays right into the hands of Muslim apologists who have always claimed that the Bible has been "altered" by Christians. So how can actually doing the very thing they claim has been done help the situation? Not only will it not make the Gospel more palatable, it will actually </span>erect one more barrier to the Gospel being clearly understood.</span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">This move also ignores the fact that the Gospel actually </span><i style="font-size: 100%; ">is </i><span style="font-size: 100%;">offensive. To remove the offense is to gut the Gospel. John Piper does a really good job making this point in a recent article that points out that the words "Father" and "Son" were also </span>controversial in the first century. And yet the Apostle John did not flinch from using them. (You can find that article <a href="http://www.worldmag.com/articles/19235">here</a>).</span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">No, the answer is not to alter the translation. Let the words of </span>Scripture<span style="font-size: 100%;"> stand. Translate them faithfully. And then teach people what they mean. That is the way to overcome the offense.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">May God direct those involved to maintain faithfulness to His Word.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-10792928743874108902012-03-01T13:02:00.000-06:002012-03-01T13:03:05.330-06:00Camp Meeting!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYXpMR9Qbhwjam5lEDr-UK2D0BMly73uwGtA_lHYth0hMwBmdBcwvGks0T6SexpJsHkolM_tnNP9ojg8UDLIFfMJ0Vp8IaLEe5zf_xtpV4WR3XYOaYl0MN0fI_N9CR2Z0IDYq7R3pnco/s1600/Grace+Camp+2012+Flyer.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYXpMR9Qbhwjam5lEDr-UK2D0BMly73uwGtA_lHYth0hMwBmdBcwvGks0T6SexpJsHkolM_tnNP9ojg8UDLIFfMJ0Vp8IaLEe5zf_xtpV4WR3XYOaYl0MN0fI_N9CR2Z0IDYq7R3pnco/s320/Grace+Camp+2012+Flyer.jpg" /></a> </div><br />We're looking forward to this year's Camp Meeting at <a href="http://photos.blogger.com/www.rockportbaptist.org">Rockport Baptist Church </a>April 19-22.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-85013510710906539952012-02-15T15:07:00.000-06:002012-02-15T15:07:45.341-06:00Frank Jenner - George Street Evangelist<iframe width="459" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/h76MHjjGu08?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> After I posted the story below, my fellow elder Bob Schembre sent me a link to this video which gives even more details about this amazing story.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-5269069791010516252012-02-15T14:27:00.003-06:002012-02-15T14:36:32.790-06:00The Little White-Haired Man on George Street<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:center 3.25in"><span style="line-height: 12pt; "><b><span><span >This true story has been told many times by my seminary professor Dr. Roy Fish who knew some of the persons involved. It has always been a great encouragement to me to be faithful sowing Gospel seed, knowing that it is God who can and will ultimately bring fruit</span>.</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><span style="line-height: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>There was a Baptist preacher in England named Francis Dickson.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">He had a man in his church named Peter.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">Now they don't have church staff in English Baptist Churches, but Peter was the closest thing Francis had.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">One Sunday they asked Peter to give his testimony in church.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">Peter stood to share and said,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule: exactly;mso-pagination:none"><i>"Folks, let me tell you how I was saved. I was stationed with the Royal Navy in Sydney Australia."</i> And he said, <i>"I was walking down George Street in Sydney one day when out of nowhere came a little white-haired man. He stopped me on the street and said, 'Excuse me sir, but I want to ask you a question. I hope you won't be offended, but tell me, sir, if you were to die today, where would you be in eternity? The Bible says it will be either heaven or hell. Think about it wouldn't you sir? That's all, God bless you. Tudelu.' And he was gone.</i>" Peter said, <i>"Those words cut like an arrow shot out of heaven to my heart. I was deeply disturbed. But I didn't know what to do. For six months I was under conviction. Finally we sailed back to England. I had one Christian friend. I sought him out, and he helped me to Christ."</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">They had what we would call a revival meeting in that church where Francis Dickson was pastor.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">And part of the revival team was a young man whose name was Noel.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">They asked Noel to share his testimony.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule: exactly;mso-pagination:none">He said, <i>"Folks, I'd like to tell you how I was saved. I lived for a while in the beautiful Australian city of Sydney. I was walking one day down George Street and out of nowhere came a little white-haired man who stopped me on the street and said, 'Excuse me sir, I want to ask you a question. I hope you won't be offended, but tell me, sir, if you were to die today, where would you be in eternity? The Bible says it will be either heaven or hell. Think about it wouldn't you sir? That's all, God bless you. Tudelu.' And he was gone. I knew enough gospel to get saved. So I went to the house where I was living and that afternoon I got down on my knees and trusted Jesus as my Savior.</i> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none">When that service was over, Peter went up to Noel and said, <i>"Noel, you've got my testimony. It happened to me just like that. The little old man on George Street."</i> And the pastor overheard them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 12pt;">Francis Dickson was preaching not too long afterwards in the city of </span><span style="line-height: 16px;">Adelaide</span><span style="line-height: 12pt;">, Australia, some 500 to 1000 miles from Sydney, way down in the southern part of the country.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">And he felt impressed to tell the story about the two men in his church and the little man on George Street.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">When he started telling the story, a man toward the back of the church stood up and started waving his hand like this.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">Now we don't do that in Baptist churches, and so Dickson tried to ignore him.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">But he kept waving until he got his attention.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule: exactly;mso-pagination:none">Dickson asked him, <i>"Hey mister, you want to say something?"</i> <i>"Yes I do! I want to tell you how I got saved. You see, I was walking down George Street in Sydney, Australia. And out of nowhere came this little white-haired man..."</i> And the story was the same!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">When Francis Dickson got to Perth, Australia, the largest city on the western coast, he knew he had a story.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">So he told the story there in Perth.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">When the service was over, a Baptist deacon came</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">up to him and said, </span><i style="line-height: 12pt; ">"Sir, I'm another. I was walking down George Street in Sydney, when out of nowhere came this little white-haired man..."</i><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">That's how I became a Christian.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">When Francis Dickson got back to his church in England, he knew he had a story.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">He told his own congregation.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">When the service was over, a young woman came up to him and said, </span><i style="line-height: 12pt; ">"Sir, I'm another. I was walking down George Street in Sydney, when out of nowhere came this little white-haired man..."</i><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">That's what led me to Jesus</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">Francis Dickson preached at Keswick, England in the north part of the British Isles.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">He told this same story.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">Afterwards an aged man came up to him.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><i style="line-height: 12pt; ">"Sir, I'm another. I was walking down George Street in Sydney when out of nowhere came a little white-haired man."</i><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">That got me started to Christ.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">Francis Dickson preached all over the world.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">He told this story to a group of missionaries in India on one occasion.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">They said, </span><i style="line-height: 12pt; ">"Would you talk to us about personal evangelism."</i><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">After he told this story, a woman missionary came up to him and said, </span><i style="line-height: 12pt; ">"Sir, I'm another. I was walking down George Street in Sydney, Australia..., </i><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">It happened to me like that.</span><i style="line-height: 12pt; "> </i><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">He told that story on the island of Jamaica, and an eighth person came up to him and said, </span><i style="line-height: 12pt; ">"Sir, I'm another. That little white-haired man on George Street helped me to Christ."</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">A godly layman named Gene War in Oklahoma City is a friend of Dr. Fish.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">He was telling this story to a gathering of chaplains at Fort Benning, Ga.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">And as he told the story one of them raised his hand.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><i style="line-height: 12pt; ">"Mr. War, you're not gonna believe this. But let me tell you how I became a Christian. I was walking down George Street in Sydney, Australia when out of nowhere..."</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">Well, Francis Dickson</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">made sure that Sydney was on his itinerary the next time he was in Australia.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">He wanted to meet this little old man.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">He got there, but didn't really know what to do.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">So he called a Christian friend of his and said,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><i style="line-height: 12pt; text-indent: -0.5in; ">"You'll probably think I'm crazy, but have you ever heard about a little old man who stands out on George Street and asks people when they die, if they know where their going to spend eternity?"</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"> <i>"Sure,"</i> he said, <i>"That's Mr. Jenner!"</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"> <i>"Mr. Jenner? Do you know him?"</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"> <i>"All of us know him. He doesn't get out very much any more. He's a bit infirm,<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>doesn't</i><i style="line-height: 12pt; "> see</i><i style="line-height: 12pt; "> very well. He's getting on in years."</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"> <i>"Do you know where he lives?"<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><i> "I can take you right to his house."</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">They went to his house.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">Knocked on the door.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">A frail little old man welcomed them in.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">And after introductions were made, Francis Dickson, that pastor from Great Britain, told that little old man about all those people who'd come to Christ through his winsome word of warning and witness.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">And that dear little old man broke down and copiously wept.</span><span style="line-height: 12pt; "> </span><span style="line-height: 12pt; ">He said,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><i style="line-height: 12pt; ">"I've shared with literally thousands of people on George Street in Sydney, and this is the first time in my life that I've ever heard of any who came to Christ through my testimony!"</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none"><b style="line-height: 12pt; "><span >So, faithful friends, be faithful in sowing. You never know what God may do with the smallest seed planted and watered with tears. He is faithful.</span></b></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-82147816438261465192011-12-22T11:10:00.002-06:002011-12-22T11:12:31.512-06:00<div style="text-align: center;">“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, </div><div style="text-align: center;">for He will save His people from their sins."</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Matthew 1:21</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>“He will save His People from their sins!”</i> That’s the good news of Christmas we hope to celebrate this year! It's the fact that Jesus came to save us. From what? From our sins! From our God-denying, small-minded, earth-is-all-I-care-about meaningless and wasted lives! – from flittering away 20 or 30 or 80 years on nothing! – like money and sex and luxuries and houses and lands and vacations and beauty and fame or whatever else you might come up with!. <i> "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and yet forfeit his soul?”</i> (Mark 8:36)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Or maybe we can say it this way: What does it profit you to live your whole life and yet never know God! You see, that’s what Christ has done for us. Not only has He saved us from God’s wrath against our sin, He’s brought us into fellowship with God. “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. !” (1 Peter 3:18). You and I were made for God! We exist to know God (John 17:3) – to glorify and enjoy Him as God! So any life lived without God, is a waste! You can be a millionaire celebrity, but without God, it’s dust and ashes! But if you have Him, if you know Christ the way a man knows and trusts a dear and faithful friend – even an ash-heap becomes a castle.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Do you know Him? This is the greatest gift you could gain this Christmas. Not just to have your sins forgiven by Christ, but to have Christ Himself reigning as Savior and Lord of your life! That’s how he saves His people from their sin, by giving us Himself! </div><div><br /></div><div>In the Grace and Love of Jesus!<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div>SSL<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-849956877115098382011-10-19T11:56:00.000-05:002011-10-19T11:56:50.757-05:00Rockport Family Camp 2011<iframe width="480" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/upc3TUamKok?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-2318119184917708782011-04-26T15:50:00.006-05:002011-04-26T16:13:08.029-05:00Romania Report -- March 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLR-V_4JJZNg6gqxVw1idWKB35jLidlR4AtLPDWcWc_Mwe2wG69hh9UJ7Dl0UFYs0to0EJaOC8SOAM0tHDy7deVzJtJgvzGpq5aW2GFe0iskUJlryi1XkoGu8wlorI2q0VRmsRLWqRuks/s1600/IMG_5653.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLR-V_4JJZNg6gqxVw1idWKB35jLidlR4AtLPDWcWc_Mwe2wG69hh9UJ7Dl0UFYs0to0EJaOC8SOAM0tHDy7deVzJtJgvzGpq5aW2GFe0iskUJlryi1XkoGu8wlorI2q0VRmsRLWqRuks/s320/IMG_5653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600000384646445106" border="0" /></a><br />I was privileged to go back to Brasov, Romania (a place I have grown to love) and speak in several churches and a student conference for a few days this March. While there, I did my best to keep my church family at Rockport Baptist informed since they were praying for me and many had helped provide the funds so I could go. What follows is a collection of the reports I sent back via our church news group.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Fri March 11 </span><br />Just a quick word to let you know I arrived safe and am staying with Sorin in Brasov Romania. We start tomorrow with a youth meeting. The Gypsy meeting has been postponed until next Monday. All else is the way I have printed in the bulletin.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sat March 12</span><br />About to turn in tonight. Much preaching and traveling in the morning. We had a youth meeting today. It began with many games. I played the Romanian version of Risk (Risc) with several teenage boys (and one girl). I did not win. I then spoke to the group from Isa 6. Several of the boys are not believers. Pray the Lord opens their hearts. One of the families have two daughters. They represent something very rare in Romania. They are homeschoolers. .<br /><br />We had dinner with the Tomeci and Palada families tonight. It was good t<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu159l2wVbYlDfvo61qnRBEn66lR0WosiA-fSxzExOmMt875JJPn47pxAlCdzx5_y26woRNY7Y3J5oV60YnKOrDTPb2jiAQIzDoRtjsRiic1D0bPHKQcK11u8q3pf2kfFVh-nI15HP4HU/s1600/IMG_5637.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu159l2wVbYlDfvo61qnRBEn66lR0WosiA-fSxzExOmMt875JJPn47pxAlCdzx5_y26woRNY7Y3J5oV60YnKOrDTPb2jiAQIzDoRtjsRiic1D0bPHKQcK11u8q3pf2kfFVh-nI15HP4HU/s200/IMG_5637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600001358544757186" border="0" /></a>o see them. Their children have really grown up. Kim, Bob and Aaron, they pass their love along to you all, as well as to the whole of Rockport.<br /><br />God bless you all. I am very tired and must go to bed!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sun March 13</span><br />I was praying for you all this morning as you were meeting (afternoon here). Right about the time Aaron was standing to preach, I was doing the same for the second meeting of the day. Things went well. God protected us as we drove across the mountains to Fiene. There is a good work going on there -- a church plant. It is a difficult work. The Orthodox are very much against them and threaten them and warn the people that they are a dangerous "cult" so they must stay away. People treat them that way, but the persevere in preaching and sharing. There is only a small congregation, but the two missionary families continue faithfully. I preached from Mark 8 on taking up your cross to follow Jesus.<br /><br />Sorin and I then drove back across the mountains to Brasov. The church here meets in the evening. It was wonderful to be with so many people I know. In addition to the Tomeci and Palada families and Sorin, there are also many I know from the summer Aaron, Bob, Kim and I spent two weeks here. It was wonderful to spend time with them. I preached from Colossians 3 on love and forgiveness in the body of Christ.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrx9hOKJSKb7P_VpsmNaCg2wifEeb628N8NPfT4BWTBmpysCdXtqbNjk9VdOp-yf2XI7C3sUS_xNa22-ss9kwiXwATun6FGLq56Ey40Gv4yyW6xP_-d0N79QlaPa_dYrPDWDS652RoBE/s1600/IMG_5594.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrx9hOKJSKb7P_VpsmNaCg2wifEeb628N8NPfT4BWTBmpysCdXtqbNjk9VdOp-yf2XI7C3sUS_xNa22-ss9kwiXwATun6FGLq56Ey40Gv4yyW6xP_-d0N79QlaPa_dYrPDWDS652RoBE/s200/IMG_5594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600001985330047490" border="0" /></a><br />Tomorrow we will go on the university campus and do some witnessing in the dorms. Tuesday there is a prayer meeting with many of the students. Wednesday the conferences start (this is a change from what I had put in the bulletin).<br /><br />I don't remember if I told you, but Sorin's wife is not here. She is in America with her parents. She is seven months pregnant and there are some complications. It is not severe, but the medical help she needs is much better in the US. She will be staying with her parents until the baby is born. Sorin will join her in early April. Please keep them both in your prayers.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tue March 15</span><br />As long as I am at Sorin's apartment I will have access to a computer so that I can jot these notes. I hope you find them encouraging. It helps me to know I can share a word with you. (I've noticed as I type, that I'm writing in short sentences. Just as i must speak to my Romanian friends. )<br />We had a really good day Monday. I spent the morning and afternoon with our good friends Bebe and Ani Tomeci. We walked in old Brasov (where Aaron, Bob and Kim have been). We then went back to their apartment to fellowship and have lunch together. I think it was an encouraging time for them. In the evening we went to the University of Transylvania campus to share the Gospel with students. We found several there from Nigeria (who speak English). We were able to converse with them. It was more relationship building that giving a direct gospel. Alex and Bebe want to develop a ministry to the international students here, so this was our first real contact. We spent a good deal of time with them. We are praying they will come to our conference this weekend.<br /><br />Today, there will be more meetings with friends (Ionutz and his new wife). Then tonight I will be speaking at a Campus Crusade prayer meeting. I am not certain what I will be speaking about (I have two possibilities), but the Lord will certainly direct me.<br /><br />Please keep us in your prayers. Tomorrow we will begin traveling for a few days to the cities of Fiene and Pucioasa for conferences there. Please pray for pastors Florin and Nicu as we share with their congregations. I am not sure if I will have internet access during these days or not, so ....we will see.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wed March 16</span><br />We had a great prayer meeting here last night. God gave real freedom in sharing from the Psalms on desperation for God in prayer. I believe it was a help to them. Sorin said that He could tell the Holy Spirit was among us and that there was a real joy and faith in the prayer time that has been missing lately among them. I am grateful to hear this. There is a great spiritual resistance to the Gospel in this city and indeed in Romania these days. The spirit of secularism and atheism has returned with a vengeance. So has the religious spirit of dead orthodoxy. This kind comes out only by prayer! Please be praying for us!<br /><br />Here very shortly Sorin and I will travel the 2.5 hours to Putuoasa. We will meet with the elders for prayer. Then I will preach twice this evening. Tomorrow we will go to Fiene and do the same thing there. We will then return to Brasov. The student conference begins on Friday and goes thru Sunday. Please pray God will provide us with a place to meet. Currently we plan to meet in Sorin's apartment, but it is not very large and there are many students who said they are coming. God knows our need.<br /><br />Please pray for our safety and our health as we travel. I am praying for you all by name while I am here and longing to see you. Pray for my family while I am gone as well.<br /><br />Love to you all. Love especially to Amy and my girls (sorry I was rushed and did not have time for a separate email).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wed March 16 PM</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMxzI-BNr5LdSwToJ_g0WLYtR_bYLCUmzsHgRpSJpbodSdKrbz0iQ2CHmlwvW7Qobd61XDoNrUe1IlG4L7A-FdYCQtvwufOaZCVPZWKEy2S3V-1xKDGdZ1i62cT1HhQqt9SlrYtkkeiU/s1600/IMG_5700.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMxzI-BNr5LdSwToJ_g0WLYtR_bYLCUmzsHgRpSJpbodSdKrbz0iQ2CHmlwvW7Qobd61XDoNrUe1IlG4L7A-FdYCQtvwufOaZCVPZWKEy2S3V-1xKDGdZ1i62cT1HhQqt9SlrYtkkeiU/s200/IMG_5700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600002652842478050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A short note from my phone. Good meetings tonight in Pucioasa. In a hotel tonight. Found a worm in my bed. Interesting. Yes I have a picture.<br /><br />Wonderful time with Pastor Nicu and family. His little daughter is a doll. We became good friends. I know it is true because she told me so. She also said I need to learn better Romanian. I saw many villiages where there is no Gospel preaching. They are working hard to start churches.<br /><br />Tomorrow we will do a conference on Firmer. Please pray for us. Pray also for me. I've had a mystery ache in my side.<br /><br />God is good. Late here. Must go to bed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday March 18</span><br /><br />We are back in Brasov in the mountains. We had a really good meeting yesterday in Fiene. God gave me a lot of freedom in sharing from Genesis 3 and Genesis 12 as we were looking at Christ in the Old Testament. It seemed to be a help to the congregation. There was one man there who has lived for 9 years in the States. We were able to speak for some time. He has been confused by some in the charismatic movement. Please pray for him.<br /><br />We also had a really good meeting the pastoral team in Fiene, answering questions and trying to encourage them. We spent a lot of time talking about the husbands role in raising children. There has been very little teaching about this here. Even in Christian families it is often left to the wife to do nearly everything, with the men only occasionally making sure she is doing it right. I hope I was able to share some things to help this brother understand his responsibility. Please pay for bro Florin and his wife. They recently lost their second daughter in infancy and, as we talked about it I could tell they are still deeply grieving.<br /><br />After the conference was over late last night, Sorin and I grabbed a quick meal at a restaurant, and then headed back over the mountains. It was dark, rainy and foggy. If you'll remember, this is Transylvania, so imagine all the images that were running through my mind! Narrow, broken down roads twisting through the mountains of Romania in a dense fog! You could almost see the werewolves and hear the vampires moving through the bushes! To be honest, it was great fun. Sorin and I talked about family and ministry most of the way, then turned on some Christian music and worshiped the remainder of the journey. When the song "Jesus Thank You" came on, just for a moment I felt a very strong longing to be back home worshiping with Rockport. Soon . . . .<br /><br />I'll have lunch with Alex Palada and his family later today. Then the student conference will begin this evening. Imagine 30 to 50 college students or more crammed into an area no bigger than the Johnson's or the Dickman's living room and you'll have an idea what we are looking at.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday March 19</span><br />Greetings from Romania. I'll need to be quick since the second day of our conference will begin shortly. Friday evening's meetings went very well. We had a house FULL including 8 young men from Nigeria who came. Since they were here the whole conference had to be translated into English from Romanian, and not just from English to Romanian when I spoke. I preached from James about living as those who know they must die. I believe God used it to awaken some to the reality of their own mortality. Afterwords one of the Nigerian young men asked me if he could have my notes. I have no idea what he'll do with them, but I gave them to him.<br /><br />Alex then preached a message on the meaning of real friendship, and the ultimate friendship which is found in Christ. It was pretty good. I was glad they had to translate it so that i was able to understand. If the Nigerians had not been here I would not have been able to listen in.<br /><br />We will begin a morning session here soon. I must get my room put in order since some will have to sit there as an "overflow" room. They cannot see the speaker from there, but they will be able to hear. Even more students will be with us today, since some have traveled here by train from Sibiu.<br /><br />Usually when I am in Romania I have not really struggled with being homesick. For some reason it really hit me last night and this morning. I am glad to be here, but my heart is beginning to long for home.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday March 19 PM</span><br />Well, we just finished our Saturday morning and afternoon sessions. I preached twice -- once on<span style="font-style: italic;"> "Living with all Your might for the glory of God" </span>and a second time on cultivating biblical contentment. It seemed to go very well. We had a full house. After a lunch of spaghetti (with a really unique and good sauce) we spent time in prayer. The students have now gone out two by two to witness in the dorms. They have left me behind to rest since it would be hard for me to share the gospel in English. My plan is to jot this note and rest a bit for now.<br /><br />Later today I will go to a young couple's apartment for dinner and fellowship. Tomorrow morning Bebe Tomeci and I will both preach for the last session of the conference. I will then preach in the evening service for the church that meets here in Sorin's apartment (Providence Baptist Church).<br /><br />So many have told me to send their love and appreciation to you all. You have mine as well!<br /><br />God bless you. I am praying as you all meet tomorrow that God would pour out his Spirit richly upon you!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday March 20</span><br />Things have been very busy this weekend. Last night, after the conference, Sorin had rehearsal with his worship team, and then we had dinner with a sweet newly married couple (Bob, Aaron and Kim may remember Ramona from their time here).<br /><br />This morning we will finish the conference. Then, church this evening. Tomorrow morning very early we will leave for Bucharest. I will then preach a small conference with the Gypsies there which had to be postponed from last week.<br /><br />And then, very early Tuesday morning I'll go to the air port and head home! :-)<br /><br />I am praying as you all gather for worship this morning! (by that time it will be evening here and we will be worshiping with Providence Baptist in Sorin's living room.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday March 21</span><br />It seems this is my last email from Brasov. In about 10 minutes Sorin and I will pile my stuff in the van and head to Bucharest. We'll get there just in time to go to the gypsy church for a conference. I'll preach twice. Then I'll be done for this trip. My heart is already turning toward home. I pray I can keep my focus for these last two messages.<br /><br />Yesterday was very busy, but very good! It was hard to say good bye to the Tomeci and Palada families, as well as all the other friends we now have here -- Ionutz and his wife, Ramona and her husband. But God is so very good. I was very tired for the second service yesterday and not sure I'd have strength to preach it. But God helped and things seemed to go very well.<br /><br />There was one tragedy. Some have small children. They were running around afterwards, as small children do. One of them knocked over Sorin's guitar and the neck broke. This guitar was given to him by someone from the states. It was a very nice one (I'd guess about $1000). It is ruined now. I could tell he was grieved, but he took it very graciously.<br /><br />This evening I hope to get to bed early. We must be up very early 4 am in order to get to the airport. I am longing for home and the chance to see all of you. I miss my girls terribly.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday March 21 – via Facebook</span><br />We drove through snow to get to Bucharest. Conference with the gypsies went well. Now just hanging out til tile to get to the airport!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday March 21 – PM</span><br />Hey church! I'm sitting in Starbucks with Sorin waiting for our friend Ruxi to join us to go to supper. The gypsy conference went well. I am done. My plane leaves in about 14 hours! Can't wait to be home. Grateful to God for all he has done.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday March 22</span><br />Sitting in the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. No coffee yet. Romania is a fond memory and I am dreaming of home. I'm grateful for all God has done over here, but I'm ready for my feet to hit US soil. Soon enough. Long layover here.<br /><br />I did get to see our friend Ruxi for a bit for supper last night and pray with her about her ministry to young women.<br /><br />Two hours til my plane begins to load now. I think I'll Get that coffee.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday March 23 – FB</span><br />To my dear friends and family, Thank you so much for your prayers & words of encouragement while I was gone. The Lord sustained me thru you! I hope to rest today so I can hit the ground running tomorrow. Love to you all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-64074237669001335672011-01-18T09:42:00.001-06:002011-01-18T09:42:59.791-06:00Romanian MissionDear Friends,<br /><br />We are currently praying about an opportunity to return to Romania for a mission trip in March with dear friends <a href="http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/donors/eeurope-mainmenu-29/romania-mainmenu-44/223-key-ocean-mission-goes-into-orbit-">Sorin</a>, <a href="http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/donors/eeurope-mainmenu-29/romania-mainmenu-44/213-key-ocean-mission-goes-into-orbit-">Ian </a>and <a href="http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/donors/eeurope-mainmenu-29/romania-mainmenu-44/207-key-ocean-mission-goes-into-orbit-">Alex </a>from <a href="http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/donors/">HeartCry Missionary Society</a> who are in the process of planting a church in Brasov. Please pray for me and for my potential preaching/teaching partner, <a href="http://www.providencedenton.org/itinerant.php">Mack Tomlinson</a> as we seek the Lord concerning this opportunity.<br /><br />Soli Deo Gloria,<br /><br />S. Scott LeeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-15290474655938299652010-11-09T16:15:00.000-06:002010-11-09T16:16:07.143-06:00Song of Assurance<p>We were talking about assurance in our C-Group last week, from Romans 8, when I remembered an old Welsh hymn I once heard Martyn Lloyd-Jones quote. I couldn't recall the words exactly, so i looked them up. It can be sung to the tune of<em> "Come Thou Fount"</em>. There are other verses, also, but I can't seem to find them right now. I hope this is a blessing to someone.</p><p><br /></p><p>Sung to the tune of Come Thou Fount</p><p><br /></p><p> <strong> Speak I Pray </strong></p><p><br /></p><p>Speak, I pray, Thou gentle Jesus.</p><p>O, how passing sweet Thy Word.</p><p>Breathing o’er my troubled spirit</p><p>Peace that never earth affords</p><p><br /></p><p><em> Tell me Thou art mine,O Savior</em></p><p><em>Grant me an assurance clear. </em></p><p><em>Banish all my dark misgivings </em></p><p><em>Still my doubtings, calm my fears. </em></p><p><br /></p><p>O my soul within me yearneth</p><p>Now to hear Thy voice Divine</p><p>So shall grief be gone forever</p><p>And Despair no more be mine.</p><p><br /></p><p><em> Tell me Thou art mine, O Savior </em></p><p><em>Grant me an assurance clear.</em></p><p><em> Banish all my dark misgivings </em></p><p><em>Still my doubtings, calm my fears</em></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-73232304798116211412010-10-28T14:13:00.003-05:002010-10-28T14:31:38.314-05:00Happy Reformation Day!So many, today, are unaware of the great significance of October 31st. Greater than Halloween (or Pumpkin Day), for it was on October 31st, 1517 that God used a timid young monk to begin one of the greatest revivals in history: <span style="font-style: italic;"> The Reformation.</span> But I'm getting ahead of myself.<br /><br />The Apostle Paul wrote, in Romans 1:16-17,<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> "The righteous will live by faith." </span> <br /></div><br />When he read these words, nearly 500 years ago, they stunned the young monk who's name happened to be Martin. Up to that point, he’d been taught by his Church that salvation came as a result of his own efforts to be righteous by doing good and trying his hardest to keep the commands of the Law laid down by the priests and bishops. And try, he did – as hard as any man could. He fasted. He prayed. He wept. He confessed his sins. Yet still he was plagued by doubts and tormented by the guilt of his sins. It nearly drove him mad!<br /><br />How could he, sinner that he knew he was, ever hope to be righteous in the eyes of God! That was his problem. He knew his sin. He knew God was holy. He understood that even if he did manage to purge the sin from his life (as impossible as that was!) and even if he did come to the place where he could believe he was righteous 98% of the time, with only 2% sin remaining, still he knew he would fall short of God’s perfect standards. What could he do? When told by his superiors that he must simply <span style="font-style: italic;">“Love God”</span>, in the agony of his soul he cried out,<span style="font-style: italic;">”Love God? Sometimes I think I hate Him!”</span><br /><br />But God had mercy upon young Martin. He was assigned the task, by one of his superiors, of teaching the New Testament. And there, in the book of Romans, God opened his eyes and let him see the simple, life-giving truth of the Gospel – that God gives the righteousness He requires freely, as a gift, to all who put their faith in Christ alone to save them. Not by works! Not by religion! Not by morality! Not by ritual! But by grace alone through faith in Christ, sinners may be saved!<br /><br />That realization changed everything for Martin, who’s last name was Luther. He began to share the good news with others, thinking it would find as welcome a home in their hearts as it did in his. It was that drive to let others know what he had found that drove Luther, on that cool October day, to post his 95 Theses (95 points of debate he wished to raise about the religious system of his day). He thought his publication would lead to a lively debate among scholars and perhaps even a return to the truths of Scripture for some. Instead, it touched off a firestorm that would erupt into the Protestant Reformation. Europe would never be the same. Millions who came to faith through his preaching and the preaching of those who followed him would never be the same. And now 500 years later I, as an heir of the Reformation, can never be the same. <br /><br />The message that God used to open the eyes of a terrified monk, has come home to me as well. By faith in Christ I know that my sins are forgiven, and I have been accepted by God as righteous, not because of any good thing I have done, but because of the finished work of Christ received by faith! It is my hope that this same message will come home to you as well. There is hope for every sinner, who by faith will repent of his sin and trust in Jesus, God's Son, by Grace, through faith alone.<br /><br />Oh! What a rich mercy!<br /><br />Pastor Scott LeeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-72882673269830084472010-10-12T08:39:00.001-05:002010-10-12T08:39:16.994-05:00Private Prayer<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<i>Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful</i>." <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1286890564_0">Colossians</span> 4:2 </span></span></div> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />In all the ages of the world, the saints have kept up secret prayer. In spite of all opposers and persecutors, in prisons, in dungeons, in caves, in chains, on racks, in banishments, and in the very flames--the saints have still kept up secret, private prayer.<br /><br />A Christian can as well </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hear </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">without ears, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">live </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">without food, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">fight </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">without hands, and walk</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">without feet as he is able to live without private prayer! Private</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> prayer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is the life of our lives--the soul, the sweet, the heaven of all our earthly enjoyments. Of all the duties of piety, prayer alone is the most </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">soul-sweetening, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">strengthening, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">enriching, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">spiritually fattening, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">refreshing, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">satisfying, and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">encouraging duty.</span></div> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />"<i>Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace--that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need</i>." Hebrews 4:16</span></span></div> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- <span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1286890564_1">Thomas Brooks</span></span></span></div></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-46203619408410667542010-09-08T12:04:00.001-05:002010-09-08T12:08:51.220-05:00Rivers and Oceans<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqClOKOQU28qzDVRYzabitYaNdiiDX-eno8Kak9OQDpAm82Idn7-VV6I2Jy-A-NPJpH53cHDVVH7nwpU1of6SCMt5wieu6gHfC8cFcYUP3HjScHMWOZJ_1vSsEin6SCZe0du9-CsPVP7w/s1600/_MG_1209.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqClOKOQU28qzDVRYzabitYaNdiiDX-eno8Kak9OQDpAm82Idn7-VV6I2Jy-A-NPJpH53cHDVVH7nwpU1of6SCMt5wieu6gHfC8cFcYUP3HjScHMWOZJ_1vSsEin6SCZe0du9-CsPVP7w/s320/_MG_1209.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514590600075670322" border="0" /></a><br />From my daughter, Kim . . . <br /><br />Rivers and Oceans<p> To drown in the deepest ocean of grace, springing from rivers of love and mercy would be the greatest way to die. When you die, you find that all that is dead is the sin in your life and the power death had over you. Through the love of God, the new heart that reflects Christ is living in you and will never die. You find yourself no longer drowning but swimming in this ocean of grace and drinking from the rivers of love and mercy.</p><p> Christ gives you new robes that He wove with His righteousness. When these new robes you have soiled, you can plunge head first into the river of love, where Love Himself washes you clean. The river of love flows red with blood, blood that man alone could not claim. Only the blood of the one who is both God and man could clean my soiled robes. The river of mercy washes away my shame and guilt, it purifies me within. The deepest part of my heart is by mercy made clean and my sin can no longer reclaim it.</p><p> The ocean of grace my sins forgot, my slate is clean and fresh. I have no righteousness of my own, but grace gives me His. Without these rivers and this ocean deep, my sin would beat me to the grave. My glorious Savior came and took it all, my guilt, my pride, my shame, from Him flows these rivers of love and mercy. The ocean fills from His veins. He took my sin and the wrath of God. If I do not my worship bring, what good is each breath I breathe. Glory goes to God alone, no earthly thing my glory should receive. As I drink from love and mercy, it propels me to give Christ my glory, and as in grace’s depths I swim, my love and glory goes only to Him.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-30444298439652522432010-09-07T15:52:00.003-05:002010-09-07T15:53:34.520-05:00Labor Day Dad<p>I've asked permission to re-post a tribute written by one of the young women in our church to her dad. I thought it was excellent and well worth passing along.<br /></p><p>---------------------------------------<br /></p><p>September 6, 2010</p><p> </p><p>Today is Labor Day - the holiday in honor of the hard-working American citizens who labor day after day throughout the year. It is a day when many choose to relax. If you google Labor Day, the fully reliable source known as Wikipedia (yes, that’s sarcasm) states it so profoundly as to say that, “the holiday is often regarded as a day of rest and parties.” Some go fishing, others go camping, and many do other types of leisure activities. Is there anything wrong with these? No. Our bodies are designed to work, but we are also dependent on rest. In fact, God commands us to rest (Ex 31:15). Resting reminds us (as I learned from my new friend C.J. Mahaney) that we dependent creatures and we are not self-sufficient.</p><p> God has used this Labor Day to remind me what an awesome earthly father He has given me. I have always looked up to my Dad. He never missed one of my basketball or volleyball games in school. He would practice with me and push me to be my best. More importantly, he constantly displays patience, humility, and wisdom. He leads and guides our family, as he is the head of our home. He works hard to provide for us. He would be the first to admit that he is not perfect, but he is the most selfless man I know.</p><p> Let me just give you a small glimpse into his Labor Day. He wakes up to a demanding list of tasks that are waiting to be completed. Between our house and 3 rental houses, there is always something to be done. Alright, let me just pause right here to say that is one example of his selflessness. He is always willing to give up his time to help others, even when there’s something better or more fun to do. That’s a Colossians 3 type of love right there! Okay, back to his day. The past couple days he has been working on fixing my sister’s ceiling fan (They live in the rental house next door to us). This normally wouldn’t have taken that long, but one thing went wrong and then another and he ended up having to buy a new ceiling fan for their rental house. During this time, one of the neighbors backed their car into my sister’s mailbox. So today, Dad is working on fixing that. Some men may look at these repairs as inconveniences in the road to what they want to do. Not my Dad. He uses these “fix-it” times as teachable moments. My oldest brother (almost 11 yrs) loves helping Dad with whatever task is at hand. The younger bro (9 yrs) loves to tag along too, but he does tend to be more easily distracted. Both of my brothers have learned so much just by being with my Dad and helping him out. They each have their own little tool set and love being able to use them. They probably have more tools than most guys my age!</p><p> Back to the mailbox dilemma- Dad and the boys worked on that most of the morning. During the process, Dad got sawdust in his eye, which is obviously not the most preferable circumstance. This can actually be quite painful and caused him problems the rest of the day. Despite this, they are all working hard to get this thing fixed when who decides to grace our streets with their presence? The Jehovah Witness clan. Does Dad complain about this? No. Does he shrug them off or ignore him? No. He uses this as an opportunity to proclaim the Gospel truth to these men who are wrapped up in their false religion. I’m afraid my natural tendency would be to say, “No thanks. I already have the real Christ!” and walk away or simple try to ignore them. He talked to them for around half an hour sharing the true Gospel. I think he ended up doing more witnessing than they did! During the course of that half an hour, we discovered that our basement had flooded. So Dad comes inside after talking to the Jehovah Witnesses’ and being out in the sun working on that mailbox with sawdust in his eye to hear all of us exclaim that our basement flooded and we couldn’t use the water. He has a servant-like attitude and doesn’t complain (ahem, Phil 2 yes, I was feeling convicted). Why doesn’t he complain? He knows that this is what God has called him to be – a man! It sounds so simple, but this is exactly what is lacking in our culture. Men who are bold enough to stand up and lead their wives (Eph 5:23). Men who work hard to provide for their families (Gen 3:17-19). Men who train their children up in godliness (Proverbs 22:6, 23:13-14 and yes, this includes DISCIPLINING them). Men who deny themselves and live according to God’s standard (Luke 9:23). It is not easy to give up pleasures, material things, or conveniences, but that is the cost of following Christ.</p><p> So my Dad will probably go into work tonight feeling exhausted, somewhat irritated (that sawdust is still really bothering his eye), and like he has accomplished little. He’ll sleep when he gets home in the morning. He’ll wake up with a new day full of new challenges. Despite this, he won’t forget to wrestle with his children (that’s his favorite way of expressing his fatherly love) and make them laugh/scream and then shout, “Dad’s the Champion!!!” He’ll lead his children in studying the Word of God and prayer. He’ll try to get what needs to be done accomplished, but if not, that’s okay. He’ll go into work that night and repeat it the next day all while echoing the words, “<em>’My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of <strong>Christ</strong> may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong</em>.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10</p><p> </p><p> I apologize now for the A.D.D format of this note and for any grammatical errors (writing was never my thang!).This isn’t in anyway meant to come across as depressing or anti-fun. My family and I have lots and lots of fun memories together especially if it involves the word, “free.” If you know us, then you know we’re goofy and even kinda weird. =) But as one of my favorite quotes by JohnnyMac goes, "<em>Following Christ isn't rooted in spectacular events, juiced-up conferences, or continual mountaintop experiences. It's found in loving Him, obeying Him, thanking Him, and glorifying Him in the most mundane daily details of life.</em>" </p><p> </p><p>So Dad, thank you for your example of humility and self-sacrifice, which is a portrait of Christ. Thank you for showing me the qualities of a Godly husband through your daily living. I LOVE YOU!</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="photo photo_center"><div class="photo_img"><a linkindex="682" href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5034081&fbid=441754039176&op=1&view=all&subj=486637920920&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=486637920920&id=507409176"><img class="img" src="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs295.snc4/41110_441754039176_507409176_5034081_5357971_a.jpg" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321412279402955343.post-56294776711236843242010-09-01T12:03:00.003-05:002010-09-01T12:06:23.018-05:00Good HealthHere is an insightful journal post from <a href="http://bobjenningsjournal.com/">Bro Bob Jennings</a>, a dear friend of mine who has pancreatic cancer. Please keep him in your prayers, but also, gain the value of the things the Lord is teaching Him during his fleeting days here "under the sun" as Ecclesiastes tells us.<br /><br />---------------------------<br /><br /><h2 class="entry-title"><a linkindex="5" href="http://bobjenningsjournal.com/?p=44" title="Permalink to Good Health" rel="bookmark">Good Health</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author">Posted on</span> <a linkindex="6" href="http://bobjenningsjournal.com/?p=44" title="9:49 pm" rel="bookmark"><span class="entry-date">August 30, 2010</span></a> <span class="meta-sep">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a linkindex="7" class="url fn n" href="http://bobjenningsjournal.com/?author=1" title="View all posts by jjennings">jjennings</a></span> </div><!-- .entry-meta --> <div class="entry-content"> <p><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);">Acts 4:10</span> let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead–by this name this man stands here before you in <strong>good health</strong>.</p> <p><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);">3 John 1:2</span> Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in <strong>good health</strong>, just as your soul prospers.</p> <p>Good health, apart from the welfare of the soul, is a supreme blessing. If you are in bad health, you can scarcely enjoy any material blessings – a fine house means so little. If you are in bad health, service for God can be hindered – Trophimus was left at Miletus sick, 2 Tim. 4.20. Peter’s mother-in-law was healed and was able to serve again, Mat. 8.15. It is astonishing that so much attention is given to car maintenance and house maintenance, but often the body is neglected and abused.</p> <p>Our bodies are very important, very close to home. The devil knows that and told God that Job would compromise if his health were stripped, Job 2.5. Demons, even religious demons, want to destroy the body, Col. 2.23. The medical industry is enormous. In about any society it is big. The medicine man or witch doctor is the big man in primitive tribes. God speaks loudly to the non-Christian through his body, Rom. 1.24. That applies for the Christians too, 1 Cor. 11.30. The fact that all are returned to dust is a powerful sermon as to the awfulness of sin. For the non-Christian, God will put body and soul in hell, Mat. 10.28.</p> <p>For the Christian, though our body is dust, yet, what a mercy, what a full salvation it is that the Lord has redeemed our body too, Rom. 8.23. Our bodies are even now called members of Christ, 1 Cor. 6.15. They are the temple of Christ, 6.19. The body is for the Lord and the Lord is for the body, 6.13. We are called to continually present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice, Rom 12.1.</p> <p>It is a blessing to die in a ripe old age, Gen. 25.8. But our times are in God’s hand, Psa. 31.15. So we press on and work with what we have and seek to glorify God in our body, whether by life or by death, 1 Cor. 6.20, Php. 1.20.</p> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0