May 31, 2005

quote.22

For every look at self,
take ten looks at Christ.

ROBERT MURRAY McCHEYNE

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Milestones

milestone.JPG
My 1997 Toyota 4Runner SR5 is now in the 200K club. I bought it at 160K in February 2003 on ebay from an owner in Texas, drove it home in a weekend, and have been loving it ever since. I have changed the oil quite a few times, bought new wheels and tires, and replaced the starter....That's it. Toyota, you have my vote. With a toot of the horn and a flutter in my heart last Monday, the 4Runner turned over the big 200.

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May 23, 2005

quote.21

All God's plans have the mark of the cross on them, and all His plans have death to self in them.

E. M. BOUNDS

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May 19, 2005

quote.20

The devil sleeps not neither is the flesh yet dead; therefore cease not to prepare yourself for battle; for on your right hand and on your left are enemies who never rest.

THOMAS A KEMPIS

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May 17, 2005

A Tale of Three Kings - Book Review

Rating:


Gene Edwards

An intriguing story of the life, situations, and reactions of three kings--Saul, David, and Absalom. Using the Bible's account of David's choices as a framework, Gene Edwards lays out a very powerful case for the sovereign control of our God even in the most unimaginable situations. Edwards gives a delightfully human emotion to the struggles and thoughts that could have been floating around in David's head while his troubles with Saul and Absalom were in full swing. David is painted as having very humble responses in His encounters with insubordination, pride, and slander. His brokenness is portrayed perfectly. True leadership can only come through brokenness under God's control and power. The author paints God as in control, man as under His power, and every circumstance only as another opportunity to trust the All-sufficient. This book is a quick easy read (only 2-3 page chapters…100 pages in all.) Don't let the size fool you, though. It is solid. It should be noted that this book provides a beautiful variety to your reading. He has a mysteriously captivating style of story-telling that just draws you into what he is saying. It was refreshing.

Loved it. This book is a classic. Somehow, Edwards was able to bring me under deep conviction under the guise of sweeping me into a very intriguing, twisting story. I loved the fresh look at the narrative, but yet at the same time, by the end of each chapter, I kept getting whacked over the head with my own sinful reactions and my own pride in much easier trials. I still wanted to read more. I finished this book in 2 days; I was loving it. I didn't want it to end. I wanted more.

Each mini-chapter examines a different side of brokenness. Whether it is how to get good at dodging spears, or how important it is not to throw back those spears that are thrown at you, Edwards uses all the plunges in David's life to show off David's amazingly humble life. He describes David's pain as the news of his sons mutiny spreads to the palace, and yet in it all, David trusts. David trusts the God that delivered him from the power of a bear, the strength of a giant, even the snare of a deranged king Saul. He submits and submits and submits and submits and submits, no matter what.

The truth that is most evident in this book is that adversity is designed to break us into submission. David's difficulties, beginning with the days in the field as a shepherd boy and ending in the palace with a usurping son, only broke him to see and trust God. They taught him the submission that must come, and the leadership that is true. The leadership that only God can give.

[The days in the wilderness] were David's darkest hours. You know them as his pre-king days, but he didn't. He assumed this was his lot forever.

Suffering was giving birth. Humility was being born.

By earthly measures he was a shattered man; by heaven's measure, a broken one.

God has a university. It's a small school. Few enroll, even fewer graduate. Very few indeed.

God has this school because he does not have broken men. Instead He has several types of men. He has men who claim to be God's authority…and aren't; men who claim to be broken…and aren't. And men who are God's authority, but who are mad and unbroken. And he has regretfully, a spectroscopic mixture of everything in between. All of these He has in abundance; but broken men, hardly at all.

In God's sacred school of submission and brokenness, why are there so few students? Because all who are in this school must suffer pain. And as you might guess, it is often the unbroken ruler (whom God soveriegnly picks) who meats out the pain. David was once a student in this school, and Saul was God's chosen way to crush David.

"You underestimate your adversary," retorted Abishai.

"You underestimate my God," replied David serenely.

"But why, David? Why not fight?"

"It is better I be defeated, even killed, than to learn the ways of . . . of a Saul, or the ways of an Absalom. The kingdom is not that valuable. Let him have it, if that be the Lord's will. I repeat: I shall not learn the ways of either Sauls or Absaloms."


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The Disciple-Making Pastor - Book Review

Rating:


Bill Hull

A philosophy through implementation plan for creating a disciple-centered training in the church. Based heavily on Jesus' training of the disciples, Bill Hull lays out a picture of a church that shows, teaches, walks with, leads, and unleashes disciples to the world. The solution to the churches problems, he says, is in discipleship. His plan is seemingly very elaborate. It involves heavy training and testing and guidance, but the end result is willing ministers to decentralize the ministry of the pastor. In other words, the Pastor is freed from the day-to-day ministry time-killers, and other people in the church are able to use their gifts to the fullest. The result is minister-members and a Pastor-coach to lead them. Bill Hull gives some great development of the Pastor as coach concept. He lays out the pastoral responsibility as a encourager, motivator, confronter, even a participator, but not the only player. Great. Long chapters make this one a little slow getting through, but the first 8 chapters are packed with solid stuff. Skip 9...It is not worth it. I promise.

I liked this one. Ever since my leadership training and discipleship group at Northland the last two summers, I have been burdened for this kind of discipleship--One-on-one and small group training to impress the burdens and heart of a ministry on other eager disciples. This book lays out why discipleship-centered ministry is so important, who is to be involved, what difficulties you will face in implementing it, when to start, and how to go about laying it out. I think Hull's strongest sections are the first four. The implementation of it is a little weak. He describes the end result merely as training a disciple to go out and join a rec league and help out at the rescue mission. That's great, but I see a disciple as one who takes up discipling others…evangelizing and discipling.

Bill Hull's ministry experience shines a little to glaringly at a couple of points as he rants on about church's inability to change, petty arguing, and other pad church problems.

All in all, a solid foundation for starting this type of ministry in a church. Good philosophy, good tips . . . Not perfect, but I guess it drives you back to the True Discipler . . . our Savior. Worth the cost for the thoughts it provokes, and for bringing the importance of disciple-making back to the forefront of our ministry.


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May 15, 2005

The Jig is Up.

Case of the Chili Finger Solved

Yes, thats right. An acquaintance of Anna Ayala's husband lost his finger in an industrial accident in December, saved it till March, handed it over, and cooperated in the sinister plot to slip it into the waiting brew of tasty chili.

My favorite picture is this one. The good old thumbs-up, as if to say, "Really, I promise it's not my finger."

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May 14, 2005

Unless the Lord Builds the House

For the past 4 months, Beth and I have been looking for a house. We have been getting a little discouraged, because the house market in our town is just strange. The market weighs heavily on two ends of the spectrum. A lot of this and a lot of this, but not much in between. So, needless to say, we were getting a little discouraged. We started looking pretty hard about a month ago, and looked at quite a few houses. We got extremely excited about one, but there was an offer that went in in on it that morning, so we had to move fast. We liked the house, and we were battling over what to do about it. Finally, we put in an offer, they countered way higher, and the house sold for more than it was listing for. Hah. Amazing. So, yes, the Oak Ridge House market is crazy for our price range.

Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.

PSALM 127:1

After our last experience Beth and I were extremely broken over how much this was going to have to be God doing the work. We had looked at everything in our range, and it seemed like nothing was going to work. We prayed hard that when we went through the house God wanted for us, we would know. No battle. No stress. Just God putting a desire in our heart.

A new listing popped up Tuesday.

We looked through the house, and immediately I said, "This is the one." We prayed about it. We put in an offer. They countered. And we accepted. We bought a house. God gave us a house!

We love this house.

The Lord did awesome work. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised! He alone is responsible for the price, the floor plan, the condition, the yard, for everything! Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. Great God of Wonders! Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high? He owns the cattle on a thousand hills!

Why do I ever doubt Him?

Read on to see pictures of the house!

Click Here for the Whole Page

Pantry
Pantry
pantry2
pantry2
kitchen cabinets
kitchen cabinets
kitchen range counter
kitchen range counter
full bath cabinets
full bath cabinets
master bedroom
master bedroom
2nd bedroom
2nd bedroom
3rd bedroom
3rd bedroom
downstairs bathroom
downstairs bathroom
laundry
laundry
downstairs bath sink
downstairs bath sink
downstairs fireplace
downstairs fireplace
downstairs rec room
downstairs rec room
downstairs rec room 2
downstairs rec room 2
backyard deck
backyard deck
backyard deck2
backyard deck2
downstairs rec room 3
downstairs rec room
backyard
backyard
backyard left corner
backyard left corner
deck
deck
living room main level
living room main level
full bath shot
full bath shot
2nd bedroom
2nd bedroom
down hallway to main level
down hallway to main level
downstairs bath
downstairs bath
front from driveway
front from driveway
front from road
front from road
yard
yard
front door inside
front door inside
living room
living room
kitchen
kitchen
kitchen2
kitchen2
garage yeah
garage yeah
kitchen door to garage.JPG
kitchen door to garage
kitchen3.JPG
kitchen3
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May 13, 2005

quote.19

A Christian is something before he does something.

MARTIN LLOYD-JONES

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May 10, 2005

Freedom is over.

Today I am enrolling myself in online seminary-level training.

Courtesy of Biblical Training, I plan to work my way through some core courses to better equip myself for whatever God brings my way.

Currently I am sitting at my desk listening as Dr. Douglas Stuart introduces Old Testament Survey. The outlines are transcribed, and you can follow along with the streaming audio. It seems like a pretty good setup. The content looks good so far. I may end up picking and choosing classes, but hey, its free. I'm not going to be too picky.

By the way, take a minute and check out what the site has to offer. They have a bunch of different tracks, from lay classes and Biblical Institute Training, to full-level seminary instruction.

Piper teaches Pastoral Theology in one of the segments.

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May 03, 2005

Spell it out


tile cletter rOS, with some guy in the background.S


TRnInformation

Click Here to spell with Flickr for yourself. It is a fairly addicting distraction.

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May 02, 2005

quote.18

There remains for us only the very narrow way, often extremely difficult to find, of living every day as though it were our last, and yet living in faith and responsibility as though there were to be a great future.

DIETRICH BONHOEFFER
Letters and Papers from Prison

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May 01, 2005

Talk to Yourself

“You failed before; its just going to happen again…you don’t need to talk to that person, you have enough problems of your own...you can’t be faithful to the Lord.”

Have you heard those thoughts bump around in your head recently?

Today, use every opportunity to talk to yourself. I know that sounds odd, but we must continually remind ourselves of what is truthful (Philippians 4:8.) The heart is deceitful above all things. Our minds can trick us into thinking the promises of God are ineffective but, the stability of our lives comes when we remind ourselves that God does what He says. God’s word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

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