With My Own Eyes

Can You Know For Sure If You Are God’s Child? Romans 8:14-15

Josh turns 13 today.  In celebration of his birthday, here’s a list of 13 things I appreciate about him:

1. Josh loves to laugh–especially deep belly laughs where he can’t catch his breath.

2. Josh is respected by  adults, especially his teachers. 

3. Josh has a tender heart for young kids.  I think he would make a great elementary school teacher some day.

4. Josh still lets me read to him.  We are currently reading The Red Badge of Courage.  I hope that we always do this.

5. Like me, Josh tends to be sentimental, reflecting on “the good old days.”   He loves to create memories and traditions.

6. Josh absolutely LOVES the Christmas season–the songs, the decorations, the food, the stories, the traditions.

7. Josh is very discerning about his selection of friends.  This is going to pay huge dividends in the days ahead.

8. Josh is a very good communicator–both in speech and in writing. 

9. Josh has accumulated a lot of knowledge about many things.  More than once I’ve thought, “How does he know that?”  I think it is due to the fact that he loves to read (especially history) and he pays attention to what is going on around him.

10. Josh is punctual, almost to a fault.  It is a disaster if he is even close to being late for anything.

11. Josh is a conscientious, hard worker.  If he is running sprints at an athletic practice, you will find him at the front of the pack.

12.  Josh’s love language is quality time.  He just wants to do things together.  Some of my favorite times have been just shooting baskets or playing catch with him.

13. Josh cares about his Dad.  More than once during my physical issues of late he has told me that he is praying for me. 

I love you Josh.  Happy 13th birthday.  I am proud of you and so glad that God blessed us with you. 

Check out Amanda’s blog entry on God’s provision:  God Provides

“Mr. and Mrs. ____________ have a nice home, and belongings, and two cute kiddies, but are so like the rest of us that it is disheartening.  We are so utterly ordinary, so common-place.  We profess to know a Power the twentieth century does not reckon with, but we are harmless and therefore unharmed.  We are spiritual pacifists, non-militants, conscientious objectors in this battle to the death with the principalities and powers in high places.  Meekness must be had for contact with men, but brash, outspoken boldness is required to take part in the comradeship of the cross.  We are sideliners, coaching and criticizing the real wrestlers, while content to sit by and leave the enemies of God unchallenged.  The world can not hate us; we are too much like its own.  Oh, that God would make us dangerous!” — Jim Elliot

A man I consider to be a great friend and mentor is in his last days.  Dick surprised us all by rallying enough strength to come to worship with his family and sing one more time.  He is finishing well and I will forever be grateful for the impact he has had on my life.

We had a great day of worship Sunday with Dr. Sam Chetti challenging us to consider the snapshots of the church contained in Romans 12:9-21.  At the conclusion of his message, I presented you with a homework assignment to write a brief description of how we as a church would practically live out one or more of these snapshots.  I have already received some responses and they are fantastic.  If you have not yet done so, would you please take a moment and consider how we as a church can practically apply this passage?  You can send this to me via email.  This is a great opportunity to dream.

May God fill your mind with His dreams for First Baptist Church!

I have mentioned christianaudio.com before.  As the name suggests, it is a great site for downloading Christian audio books.  It also has some amazing sermons/teachings/messages, many of which are free.  In particular this week I came across some rock solid teaching from John Piper on significant figures in the history of the Church.  I was blown away by what he shared about Spurgeon and Mueller.  It went way beyond informational to inspirational.  I highly recommend this to you.  Visit christianaudio.com.  Click “best sellers” and scroll down until you find the appropriate messages from John Piper.  I think you will also find other teachings of interest as well.

You have probably gathered from earlier posts that I am doing a lot of wrestling with God these days.  I feel like my life (my safe, comfortable, healthy life) is being taken from me.  Nobody likes to have anything taken from them.  It makes us feel violated and cheated, especially when it is something valuable to us. 

But when we give something valuable as a gift to someone we love, that is a great joy.  It is interesting that the removal of the same object from our lives can produce resentment or joy.  The question is whether it is being taken from us or being given by us?

Galatians 1:4 refers to the Lord Jesus Christ, “who gave himself…”  He set the example.  He is calling me to give as He gave.  And He knows that for me to experience true joy, I must give my life (my safe, comfortable, healthy life) to Him as a gift.  At some point (soon hopefully) I need to quit wrestling with the idea that my life is being taken and joyfully give it to Him who has given everything to me.

It is very humbling when the worship services that are the most meaningful are those in which I have the most limited role.  This past Sunday was a great example.

John 3:30 (NIV)
He must become greater; I must become less.

Podcast for Sunday, July 31st

The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul

“Jacob, Job, and Habakkuk all declared war on God.  They all stormed the battlements of heaven.  They were all defeated, yet they all came away from the struggle with uplifted souls.  They paid a price in pain.  God allowed the debate, but the battle was fierce before peace was established (144).”

“Indeed, for the transforming power of God to change our lives, we must wrestle with Him.  We must know what it means to fight with God all night if we are also to know what it means to experience the sweetness of the soul’s surrender (139).”

“Yet Job was satisfied.  Even though God gave no answers, Job’s questions were put to rest.  He received a higher answer than any direct reply could have provided.  God answered Job’s questions not with words but with Himself.  As soon as Job saw who God is, Job was satisfied.  Seeing the manifestation of God was all that he needed.  He was able to leave the details in God’s hands (142).”

“With the appearance of God, all of Habakkuk’s angry protests ceased.  Suddenly the tone of his speech changed from one of bitter despair to one of unwavering confidence and hope:  “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior”  (Hab. 3:17-18).  Habakkuk was now as fierce in his joy as he had been in his despair.  He was able to rest absolutely in God’s sovereignty (143).”