Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
28 Days
Freaky-Deeky Zombie Horror Movie (which I loved...)
...and the countdown until we close on the house, and I leave my family behind for two months to move to Pittsburgh for classes. On that day, I will begin blogging - June 23rd, 2008. Day One.
Check back in then for the journey to begin.
...and the countdown until we close on the house, and I leave my family behind for two months to move to Pittsburgh for classes. On that day, I will begin blogging - June 23rd, 2008. Day One.
Check back in then for the journey to begin.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
What's been happening
Very soon, I will start blogging regularly. For now, we are still pushed to the limit with packing, living arrangements, finishing up at SBC, preparing for school, etc...
But in the meantime, here are some updates:
Our house has sold - for $150 more than our asking price!
I have completed my undergraduate Biology course (with an A)
I have begun my first UofP class online - Psychology of Education and Learning
Steve and Barry came to my home church for a presentation on the church planting vision, and it went very well. The church votes on a support package on June 1st.
Packing is going well, and a truck and storage are all worked out. Paying for them is another story....
If I think of anything else, I'll throw it on the list later...
Hefe
But in the meantime, here are some updates:
Our house has sold - for $150 more than our asking price!
I have completed my undergraduate Biology course (with an A)
I have begun my first UofP class online - Psychology of Education and Learning
Steve and Barry came to my home church for a presentation on the church planting vision, and it went very well. The church votes on a support package on June 1st.
Packing is going well, and a truck and storage are all worked out. Paying for them is another story....
If I think of anything else, I'll throw it on the list later...
Hefe
Support Requests
We have had quite a few people ask us how they can financially support us beyond the package that my home church is generously providing us to live on for the next 6 months while I am pursuing my education degree. We are truly blessed by the outpouring of love and requests for opportunities for additional support. And one thing I have learned is not to rob people of the chance to give to others when they honestly desire it. So, for all of our loving and faithful friends, here is a list of specific items we could use help with over the next year.
Doxa Mailbox: $150 for One Year
Having no physical location for the beginning of the church plant, we will be renting a box at the UPS Store on Forbes Avenue. This will give us a physical address separate from our homes which we can use for all manner of application for 501c(3) status, EIN numbers, etc....
Panther Bucks: $320/semester
Being a commuting college student, I will end up eating many a meal on campus, and there is a special dining plan which allows you to buy flexible dining dollars that can be spent anywhere on campus, and even a a dozen or so off-campus restaurants. It saves a little money to buy a semesters worth, and since eating is something I like to do 2-3 times a day, This would be a great help.
Car Insurance: $550 in November
Yeah, the state kinda likes it when you insure your cars. And we like to be able to drive places and meet people. I put this one up because I haven't quite figured out how we will pay this lump sum when the time comes without breaking the tight budget.
Health Insurance: $70/mo
We have been blessed to be covered by the Adult Basic program for the last 3 years, which has saved Stewartstown Baptist Church an incredible amount of money. For low-income families, it offers full coverage for only $35 per person (with a LONG waiting list). Now that I will be making significantly less (nothing), this will be an even bigger blessing to have health insurance at this cost. what would be even better would be a Good Samaritan covering this expense for us to keep us healthy and safe on the field.
Tires: $600
One situation we are running into right now is that BOTH of our cars need ALL new tires. That gets expensive fast, even for cheap tires. We could use some help here.
Two final things here, this is a link to my amazon.com wishlist, of all the books I would like to read. Being a church planter and missional leader means LOTS of reading. These are the books that would be benefical to me right now in preparing and plantings. I will keep the list updated. This is a wonderful and simple way to support us with equipping material at $10-$20 at a time.
And since this is all personal, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that the church plant itself will need support. Right now all gifts to the church plant can be made out to the Southwest Baptist Association of Pennsylvania, designated in the memo line for "Doxa Church".
UPDATE #5: Some very close friends, who have requested to stay anonymous, have very graciously gifted me with a new guitar. Not just any guitar, but the guitar of my dreams. A top-of-the-line Ovation with a Spalted-Maple Top. I think the sound of it makes God cry. It has been ordered and received...at my parents house in Lancaster. So I have not actually beheld it yet, but I look forward to meeting my new child. Thank you anonymous people! I hope this gift will help a whole new community of people draw close to God in worship.
UPDATE #4: Two "thank you"s to dole out. First to Stewartstown Baptist Church, which voted 82-2 to support Becky and I financially with a support package of three months salary. This will be enough for us to keep our heads above water for the rest of 2008, and is a huge blessing as well as a vote of confidence. Many blessing to all in Stewartstown as we partner together to share the gospel for years to come! Second thank you goes to Kay Anders, who very kindly sent us a gift to help pay for some of the moving expenses. It was very touching to read you card and accept that gift.
UPDATE #3: The Johnston Family (David, Laura, Chris, Brooke & Ashley) has donated enough funds to pay for our moving truck and the diesel fuel to Pittsburgh...assuming that fuel does not rise another $14 a gallon by next Wednesday (which it might - sheesh.) Thank you so much for your love and support for us in the transition.
UPDATE #2: Many thanks to the Benge Family, who will be paying for our telecommunications for the year while I am in school. It is a gracious gift, and one that will be incredibly helpful not only financially, but relationally as well. Thank You!
UPDATE: Thanks to my parents, who bought me two books off my amazon.com wishlist for my birthday! I will be getting "Christ & Culture" and "Christ & Culture Revisited" in a week or so... With the removal of two books from the list, I have added a few more, including a much needed new study bible...ESV of course.
Doxa Mailbox: $150 for One Year
Having no physical location for the beginning of the church plant, we will be renting a box at the UPS Store on Forbes Avenue. This will give us a physical address separate from our homes which we can use for all manner of application for 501c(3) status, EIN numbers, etc....
Panther Bucks: $320/semester
Being a commuting college student, I will end up eating many a meal on campus, and there is a special dining plan which allows you to buy flexible dining dollars that can be spent anywhere on campus, and even a a dozen or so off-campus restaurants. It saves a little money to buy a semesters worth, and since eating is something I like to do 2-3 times a day, This would be a great help.
Car Insurance: $550 in November
Yeah, the state kinda likes it when you insure your cars. And we like to be able to drive places and meet people. I put this one up because I haven't quite figured out how we will pay this lump sum when the time comes without breaking the tight budget.
Health Insurance: $70/mo
We have been blessed to be covered by the Adult Basic program for the last 3 years, which has saved Stewartstown Baptist Church an incredible amount of money. For low-income families, it offers full coverage for only $35 per person (with a LONG waiting list). Now that I will be making significantly less (nothing), this will be an even bigger blessing to have health insurance at this cost. what would be even better would be a Good Samaritan covering this expense for us to keep us healthy and safe on the field.
Tires: $600
One situation we are running into right now is that BOTH of our cars need ALL new tires. That gets expensive fast, even for cheap tires. We could use some help here.
Two final things here, this is a link to my amazon.com wishlist, of all the books I would like to read. Being a church planter and missional leader means LOTS of reading. These are the books that would be benefical to me right now in preparing and plantings. I will keep the list updated. This is a wonderful and simple way to support us with equipping material at $10-$20 at a time.
And since this is all personal, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that the church plant itself will need support. Right now all gifts to the church plant can be made out to the Southwest Baptist Association of Pennsylvania, designated in the memo line for "Doxa Church".
UPDATE #5: Some very close friends, who have requested to stay anonymous, have very graciously gifted me with a new guitar. Not just any guitar, but the guitar of my dreams. A top-of-the-line Ovation with a Spalted-Maple Top. I think the sound of it makes God cry. It has been ordered and received...at my parents house in Lancaster. So I have not actually beheld it yet, but I look forward to meeting my new child. Thank you anonymous people! I hope this gift will help a whole new community of people draw close to God in worship.
UPDATE #4: Two "thank you"s to dole out. First to Stewartstown Baptist Church, which voted 82-2 to support Becky and I financially with a support package of three months salary. This will be enough for us to keep our heads above water for the rest of 2008, and is a huge blessing as well as a vote of confidence. Many blessing to all in Stewartstown as we partner together to share the gospel for years to come! Second thank you goes to Kay Anders, who very kindly sent us a gift to help pay for some of the moving expenses. It was very touching to read you card and accept that gift.
UPDATE #3: The Johnston Family (David, Laura, Chris, Brooke & Ashley) has donated enough funds to pay for our moving truck and the diesel fuel to Pittsburgh...assuming that fuel does not rise another $14 a gallon by next Wednesday (which it might - sheesh.) Thank you so much for your love and support for us in the transition.
UPDATE #2: Many thanks to the Benge Family, who will be paying for our telecommunications for the year while I am in school. It is a gracious gift, and one that will be incredibly helpful not only financially, but relationally as well. Thank You!
UPDATE: Thanks to my parents, who bought me two books off my amazon.com wishlist for my birthday! I will be getting "Christ & Culture" and "Christ & Culture Revisited" in a week or so... With the removal of two books from the list, I have added a few more, including a much needed new study bible...ESV of course.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Kids Say the Truest Things...
Out as dinner last night, during a house showing. (BTW, that was really quick - third day on the market! Hopefully that is a good sign.) We went to one of our favorite Deli's, called Isaac's. My daughter Elana, and my son, who is also named Isaac, were with us. And no, they don't give a discount if you are named Isaac. Bummer...
Anyway, Elana randomly asks this question about why some people don't go to church, even if they are Christians. Very astute question for a 6 year old. My wife fielded that one very gracefully, explaining that some people just don't understand that it is important to go to church, and so they just don't make an effort to be there regularly. That's when my son Isaac (who is 3 years old) pipes up and says, "Yeah, and that makes Jesus mad!"
Along with the pride I felt, I had my Mark Driscoll moment. I thought to myself, "Dude, my 3 year old has a better grasp of church than most church members I know. Maybe he should be our first deacon!" Anyway, listen to Isaac - go to church. You can be a Christian without it, but you can't be a very good one...
Anyway, Elana randomly asks this question about why some people don't go to church, even if they are Christians. Very astute question for a 6 year old. My wife fielded that one very gracefully, explaining that some people just don't understand that it is important to go to church, and so they just don't make an effort to be there regularly. That's when my son Isaac (who is 3 years old) pipes up and says, "Yeah, and that makes Jesus mad!"
Along with the pride I felt, I had my Mark Driscoll moment. I thought to myself, "Dude, my 3 year old has a better grasp of church than most church members I know. Maybe he should be our first deacon!" Anyway, listen to Isaac - go to church. You can be a Christian without it, but you can't be a very good one...
Friday, April 11, 2008
Identification
One topic that is usually the first to come up with people you meet it to identify them with something. Usually it is their job - the "What do you do?" question. In the life of a Christian there are a few moments of identification, and I have been mulling their signficance. I am just going to throw out some ideas and see what sticks.
Baptism = Identification with Christ
Church Membership = Identification with the Body of Christ
Let's discuss...
Baptism = Identification with Christ
Church Membership = Identification with the Body of Christ
Let's discuss...
Shout To The American Idol
In the last few days, I have had several church members e-mail me a link to an American Idol video. Apparently, at the end of the "Idol Gives Back" show, the remaining contestants sang a slightly altered version of Shout to the Lord (The name Jesus was replaced with the less offensive and more inclusive "shepherd"). My reaction to this is not nearly as excited as my Idol-addicted friends. It is a little more muddled. Specifically, I have three reactions:
(1) I am just not that excited about a bunch of people singing "Shout To The Lord" when I know they don't believe it, practice it, or even care. Is there and spiritual validity to that? Is it a sign that people are open to Jesus and Christianity, or was it a hook to go with the benefit proceeds? I don't know, but Jesus was removed form the song - so strike one.
(2) On the other hand, it was a song about worshipping God and, even though the singers may not have been God worshippers, at least part of the gospel was sung (nothing compares to the promise I have in You). OF course, with Jesus removed, it is an incomplete gospel - but is ti a redeemable moment? yeah...
(3) I was struck by the incredible irony of the song. 8 Idol contestants who, by definition are seeking to be their own idol, singing Shout to The Lord. It's interesting because the Bible says that they will sing that song at least once more. In the presence of Jesus Christ at the end of days, everyone will sing at least the first half of the chorus...
"Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing
Power and Majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down, and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your Name."
Only then, they'll really mean it. Me, Idol contestants, Satan Himself, will all make this declaration of the utter sovereignty of God.
(1) I am just not that excited about a bunch of people singing "Shout To The Lord" when I know they don't believe it, practice it, or even care. Is there and spiritual validity to that? Is it a sign that people are open to Jesus and Christianity, or was it a hook to go with the benefit proceeds? I don't know, but Jesus was removed form the song - so strike one.
(2) On the other hand, it was a song about worshipping God and, even though the singers may not have been God worshippers, at least part of the gospel was sung (nothing compares to the promise I have in You). OF course, with Jesus removed, it is an incomplete gospel - but is ti a redeemable moment? yeah...
(3) I was struck by the incredible irony of the song. 8 Idol contestants who, by definition are seeking to be their own idol, singing Shout to The Lord. It's interesting because the Bible says that they will sing that song at least once more. In the presence of Jesus Christ at the end of days, everyone will sing at least the first half of the chorus...
"Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing
Power and Majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down, and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your Name."
Only then, they'll really mean it. Me, Idol contestants, Satan Himself, will all make this declaration of the utter sovereignty of God.
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