I’m re-reading the Life and Diary of David Brainerd and again being humbled and encouraged by his radical sensitivity and passion for Christ. This quote made me think of the missionary couple that I posted on the other day and how easily I can lose sight of eternity. This life is a vapor in light of eternity.
“Oh, I love to live on the brink of eternity, in my views and meditations! This gives me a sweet, awful, and reverential sense and apprehension of God and divine things, when I see myself as it were standing before the judgement seat of Christ…My soul is delighted to be a stranger and pilgrim on the earth.” p. 101
Just stumbled on this site. Very interesting. I’m looking forward to hanging out here a little bit. You can also go here to find an interactive map showing the ethnic diversity of the country.
“The danger of the internet is not necessarily porn but the continued waste of time to find the next great thing.”
~ Dr. Michael Goheen
I’m very excited to announce Together for Adoption. Our goal is to see churches partnering together with
established orphan care and adoption organizations that recognize the
importance of vertical adoption, in order to sponsor regional adoption
conference events. Ultimately, we believe that these conferences
will help serve the church in fulfilling its responsibility to visit
orphans in their affliction.
Check our new website here.
I’m really enjoying the Bowerbirds. Check them out here.
Be sure to check out Dan Cruver, Dr. Russell Moore, and Joel Beeke tommorrow as they talk about adoption on the Calling for Truth radio program.
This article came out yesterday and has caused lots of discussion. I hope to put some thoughts down before too
long but would love to hear yours!
You can also listen to the discussion about the issue from Talk of the Nation yesterday on NPR - “Report Criticizes ‘Colorblind’ Adoptions.”
This morning I had the joy of graduating from Reformed Theological Seminary. This was the culmination of a 7 wonderful and sometimes long years (two years of that at The Bethlehem Institute)
I am struck with a deep sense of gratitude, first for God’s grace then for my wife. My graduation is more a reflection of Shawnda’s dedication, encouragement, and sacrifice than it is of mine. She bore the brunt of the responsibilities on the homefront as God grew our family over the past three years from O to 3 children. And while I balanced working full-time with my studies she gave up having me home on Saturdays, evenings, and many other times.
I also want to thank my parents who have relentlessly encouraged and supported me through all these years! Next to Shawnda, they continue to be my greatest cheerleaders in following God’s will.
I can’t help but thank my friends and brothers and sisters who have also encouraged me along the way to keep pressing on.
I pray, and ask you to pray, that I will be a good steward of the excellent teaching and training I have been blessed with over the years. That I will never stop being a student and disciple; and that I will lead and pastor my family faithfully in these days ahead. Pray for grace to serve and work diligently as unto the Lord, knowing He will guide and direct my every step for His glory in all that He has for me ahead.
Thank you!
Last night before bed we did our usual reading from the children’s Bible, prayer, and song. The reading last night talked about how Jesus had twelve men called disciples who followed him and learned from him. It would be easy for me and my children to think that Jesus had 12 disciples and that was all, but what do we call the rest of the folks that followed Christ. What do we call ourselves?
I’m reading through Luke right now and was struck the other day at how he makes a distinction between ‘disciples’ and ‘apostles.’
Luke 6:13 “And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles”
Luke 6:17 “And the came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon”.
The Gospels also often refer to the “crowd” or “multitudes” that followed Christ along with the disciples. I think these can be helpful distinction to make because it helps us realize that anyone who follows Christ is either part of the “crowd” (those following out of curiosity, seeking, not necessarily believing or trusting in Christ) or a “disciple.” A “disciple” by definition is a student, an apprentice, follower, learner, one who has given his life to walk in the footsteps of another. A “disciple” is anyone who has put their trust in Christ as master, Savior, and Lord.
If my children ask me “how many disciples did Jesus have?” I would say “many and He is all about making many, many more!” It is the mission of the church to “make more disciples” - Jesus command in Matthew 28:19 was: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
