Fully Convinced - Romans 4:20-21

January 6, 2001 has been etched in history as a milestone in my life. It was on that day that I made a vow to commit the rest of my life to my wife and say the "I do." It was on that day that my entire trust and devotion to one woman for all of life was publicly announced and demonstrated to a whole sanctuary of witnesses, but most importantly before my Lord. I was fully convinced that day that Ann was the one and I trusted in her promise to be with me for the rest of her life.

This morning as I was reading in Romans I was struck by 4:20-21. Talking about Abraham the Apostle Paul writes,

No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Abraham grew stronger in the simple trust and devotion to the promise the Lord had made him. He beleived that God would do exactly what he promised he would do. Abraham was fully convinced. Are we fully convinced?

I look back on that wedding day and remember how I was unwavering in my commitment and fully convinced that Ann was the one for me. How much more should I,and you,be fully convinced that God will keep his promise.

God is able. Be fully convinced of that!

For everything there is a season

The family and I will be moving to North Carolina in just a couple of days. It seems as though it has only been a short time since we moved to Louisville, Kentucky with an 11 month old to start the seminary journey. Now just three and a half years later and many friends later, we will be leaving with a nine month old and a four year old and many memories to cherish for a lifetime.

To all who have been a part of our family and we a part of yours during out time at Cedar Creek and at Southern Seminary, Thank you! We have enjoyed the time and have learned much. More than any other time my family has grown in the Lord and can walk away from a season of life knowing, without regret, that we have done all the Lord has placed in front of us.

To the students who I had the short opportunity to minister to as interim student pastor. Please fight apathy and boredom with a hunger for the Word that will show you the awesome Father we serve who is like no other. The TASK ahead of you is never as great as the POWER behind you!

It is now time for us to begin our journey at Richland Creek Community Church. May we be humble and attentive to God's voice. I trust that the Lord will do far more abundantly than I can ask or imagine, because I will struggle with all His energy.

Obedience for the sake of His name

Romans 1: 5 "...through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ."

The obedience to the faith is for the sake of His name, that is Jesus Christ. Paul says that he has received grace and the calling of his apostleship for the sake of this very purpose. To us today, though we are not apostles, we have the same call as ministers of the gospel, including all Christians, to take the gospel and the doctrines of the faith to the world that they may obey Him. This is not a new idea but one part struck my heart this morning in a way that it never has before.

Paul said that it included the Romans to whom he was writing. Our focus should always be on the nations, including those right next to us. We many times think of missions as somewhere else, but our somewhere else is home to them. Did you ever consider that we live in some body's "somewhere else." Where you live, where you work, where you shop is included in the nations.

May I have that focus for my neighbors and those who surround me. They are the nations that must come into obedience to the faith for the sake of His name.

God's Amazing Summer

Summertime is always lots of fun for me and the family. Having a three year old who is about to turn four makes the summer days fun with his excitement and love for the outdoors and his swingset. But this summer had a bit more in store for me than previous summers of my entire life.

Starting I knew that it would be busy. A trip to Brazil, youth camp, Kent Island, MD work (both jobs), family, somebooks that I wanted to read, and preperation for possible ministry postitions through resumes and interviews all vied for my time. Little did I know that God would have so much in store.

The short of the summer is, God allowed me to be a part of more than 85 people coming to know Christ this summer! I never expected to be a part of so many amazing outpourings of God's Spirit in and around my life. More than anything I have been encouraged as I look back. God is still at work and does amazing things through simple people who are willing to follow his lead. In the midst of it all it didn't seem like much but looking back God is amazing!

Thoughts from "Everlasting Dominion"

I am reading the book Everlasting Dominion by Eugene Merrill currently and the section on God's Holiness has really set strong in my heart.

His discussion of God's Holiness and how that compels worship has made me think of why people worship, or for that matter do not worship God. In a way Michael Jordan helps to resolve the issue. God is holy that means he is "separate from all else that exists and his holiness is translated into ethical and moral perfection" (56).

Now I know comparing Michael Jordan and God is like comparing an acorn to a mighty Oak Tree and saying, "See the resemblance" but just bare with me. Jordan has a small talent. He can play a little basketball and so those of us who are not as talented look at the things he did on the court and talk about how amazing they are. "Did you see the way he flew from the free throw line all the way to the goal!" Then after years of play you no longer mentioned his play just his name represented how awesome he was a basketball. "Jordon is amazing" Then people began to where his symbol, his jersey, his number, his shoes, his cologne, Hanes underwear, and drink Gatorade all because they wanted to "Be like Mike" In a word they worshipped him because of his ability in basketball.

The term loosely used as worship in describing people's reaction to Jordan can take on the true meaning in a description of why we should worship God. He is completely other, capable of what we can never do. His deeds are far superior to any on this earth and his name represents what we will never be. So we read his Book, talk with him, emulate and follow Him, and tell of how amazing he is. We speak His name which represents His holiness

Just a little food for thought