Oct 30
Justin Hartzell plays the guitar. He’s in a band called “Sticks and Stones.”
This time-lapse was shot in Dr. Wilkes’ ‘Church Growth’ class last week. Justin led us in a song before class began. Dr. Wilkes usually does this, but he asked Justin to do it on this day.
Oct 29
I learned something about the way people are. About myself.
I read these four lines in Deuteronomy.
But [my people] became fat and unruly;
the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed!
Then they abandoned the God who had made them;
they made light of the Rock of their salvation.
Comfort preceded abandonment. Fatness came before being unruly. Being stuffed resulted in making light of God.
A few months ago something huge happened to us. It was scary. Never have I felt so inadequate. Never have I looked to God with such desperation.
Things got better.
And, it became a difficult thing to look to God as the one who is really taking care of my family. Being in the valley pretty much stinks from our point of view. However, maybe it’s something God uses to draw us close to him. Maybe he uses those times to teach us to be more dependent upon him. So that we don’t become fat and unruly when times are good.
Oct 28
Dr. Gordon Fort of the International Mission Board spent some time with us at MABTS last week for Missionary Day.
One of the toughest things he talked about was the fact that the IMB is having to draw back it’s international force from 5,600 to 5,000 over the coming year.
Clay was there.
Oct 26
Sophia digs the carmel apple. Then again, don’t we all? Actually, Sophia digs the community. Really. She loves to be with her Mama and Daddy. She loves a party. She loves togetherness. The carmel apples are just the icing on the cake. Or, the carmel on the apple.
You can watch the action here.
Oct 23
Sophia has a digital camera. Gingy (her grandma) bought it for her when she turned 3.
Sophia’s indomitable joy for life comes out in what she says. Now, I can see it coming out in what she sees.
How she frames life.
She takes pictures of things that make her happy . . . me dancing . . . riding bikes . . . her playroom . . . a craft she and her mama made . . . her brother.
Oct 22
I am currently in a class called ‘Global Church Growth and Church Planting’ taught by Dr. Wilkes.
We had a little shindig to celebrate being halfway through the semester. I brought the coffee stuff. Jack (bottom right) brought Chic-Fil-A. Kathy (top right) brought donuts. Brad Savage brought those yummy muffins that his wife made. Dr. Wilkes brought the tunes.
Oct 22
God delivered the people of Israel, his people, out of Egypt. Powerfully. Convincingly. Miraculously.
Now, they were about to enter a New Land. Yahweh was giving them a new home.
Moses, anticipating their fear, told them,
Perhaps you will think to yourselves, ‘How can we ever conquer these nations that are so much more powerful than we are?’ But don’t be afraid of them! Just remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all the land of Egypt. Remember the great terrors the Lord your God sent against them. You saw it all with your own eyes! And remember the miraculous signs and wonders, and the strong hand and powerful arm with which he brought you out of Egypt. The Lord your God will use this same power against all the people you fear . . . No, do not be afraid of those nations, for the Lord your God is among you, and he is a great and awesome God.
Simple. Just remember. He didn’t tell them to get in shape to fight better.
Just remember.
He didn’t warn them to make sure they had an effective strategy.
Just remember.
Remember that Yahweh has never left you. He has never forsaken you. He is a great and awesome God.
Oct 21
Dodge. Ball.
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to participate in a dodgeball tournament hosted by Bellevue Baptist Church.
Here are some phrases I would use to describe the experience: high velocity, intensity, former Yankees pitcher, competition, head shot, head ache, cat-like reflexes.
Oct 12
Brad Savage and Sarah Byrd presented in “Global Church Growth” taught by Dr. Steve Wilkes. They put the power in PowerPoint.
Presentation from Ryan Bush on Vimeo.