Growing Pains...

“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:16)

The Lord's work begins and ends with making disciples, the kind that grow together into locally functioning bodies of believers, i.e., churches. How do you get from no church to church? ...from zero to maturity? I wish more of the next generation of Christians could be enjoined to envision and commit to the entire process, whether next door or "...unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Divine use of the past tense...

At the outset, we were told that in order to learn a new language, we would end up learning our own as well. That turned out to be true. It is hard, but the prize comes years later when you feel as comfortable in the learned language as you do in the one you were born into.

Orbus Update...

http://refreshingbones.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html

Remember Orbus? He is four and a half months old now. A few thoughts on the analogy that continues to unfold around his rescue:

"Salvation is not meant for everyone, right?"

In Monday night's Systematic Theology class, we touched on the concept of universal salvation, something propounded by a few and felt to be true by many: basically, that since Christ has died for all and risen from the dead, then all are now safe from eternal judgment.

While the Bible makes it clear that the sacrifice of the Son of God was complete, eternal, and perpetually efficacious, it makes it equally clear that many will still not escape that eternal horror. No one has ever always believed in God... no one has ever done enough good things to get into heaven... no one is free of sin... no one is inherently perfect in a way that would satisfy the demands of a just God... no one goes to heaven just because he wants to.

Keeping them close or cutting them loose?

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength;
 they shall mount up with wings as eagles...” (Isaiah 40:31a ) 

I want to exemplify a healthy philosophy of ministry.

Early on, I felt like the Lord wanted me for something more than just warming a seat on Sundays. Who knew what it would be all about? After all these years, some questions still remain unanswered for me:

Crisis in Haiti...

Haiti has a special place in our hearts.

Our granddaughters Angeline (age 8) and Kayleigh (age 9) were born there.

Assertively Apolitical

I finally did it! I finished writing an article that I have been working on for the last several months.
 
"Thank you" Linda, Rebekah and Brian (wife, daughter, and son-in-law) for your input, help with the formatting and finding appropriate reference material.

My purpose and motives are set forth in the preface.

Clicking on the link below will automatically open the article in Adobe Reader.

"ASSERTIVELY APOLITICAL" 

“10 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, [be] with you all. Amen.” (2 Corinthians 13:14 AV)