Quotable

"Missions is real. Missions is more than pictures displayed on a wall. Missions is about people making decisions that affect them for all eternity. I am here today because someone understood the reality of missions."
- Neil Arias, Chilean national pastor and church planter

When missionaries report, we all love to see the pictures of the folks being impacted by our prayers and pocketbooks. Were we to travel to visit these missionaries (ooh, foreign travel under the guise of 'humble discipleship') we would come back with several memory cards full of photos of all that was taking place on that field of service.

But what if during your visit to the foreign field you were asked to show your photos. What pictures would you show THEM - what photos exist of the people YOU and I are reaching with the gospel? Who are you reaching? It all goes back to Pastor Neil's quote. Missions is REAL. It impacts REAL people. It takes place in the REAL world ... the world you and I move in and around every day.

...and the beat goes on

Work continues to progress on our church roof. For the past several weeks, we have been repairing the roof and having new shingles / gutters put on the sanctuary. God has been demonstrating His glory in all that has been taking place. The weather has been very cooperative. The workers have been extremely professional. The details have been ... interesting.
Due to dry rot, we have had to replace 6 feet along the eave - for the entire length of the building. Add to this the interesting fact that roofing materials today are 1/4" narrower than what is on our current roof, and you see how the costs could escalate to procure custom sized material. As God would have it, the lumber was not only easily obtained, but able to be delivered in under a week.
Tomorrow, the new boards are installed and next week the shingles will be nailed onto the new roof. Then, as the Lord sends rain, we will be prepared to praise His name in a Providentially provided dry place!

Time for a little payback!

This weekend, I will enjoy the privilege of partially repaying a long-time debt of gratitude. My pastor during my 8 years of college, grad school and seminary will be in town for a visit. I have the great pleasure of asking HIM to preach in my normal place, instead of the other way around! I know that our people will be just as blessed as I have been every time he has opened the Word from behind the sacred desk.

I can't wait for Sunday!

Safety and Bridges

Many are following the events in Minneapolis surrounding the collapse of the I-35 bridge. What lessons can or should be learned from this? John Piper wrote a very compelling article addressing that very topic. I could try to recreate it and pass it off as my own; but I will do one better and point you directly to the article.

Click here for the link, read it, and respond in a way that pleases God.

Blowing off the cobwebs

Dear friends of Know~Be~Do:

I have not forgotten how to type, post or communicate. The hiatus of our integrity series is getting to the point of embarrassment. Please rest assured that there is more to come, though it may take a while.

To update you on the series and the need for a hiatus, let me back-track slightly. The integrity series is the overflow of a book I am co-authoring with a dear friend and ministry partner. We have been pouring the last 3 years or so into the research and development of a Bible study for men on the theme of Integrity.

That has all taken an interesting turn lately. Saturday night, July 14, my office was broken into and numerous items were taken. As I have been going through my inventory, the missing items include (to my knowledge so far) a 35 mm camera and telephoto lens, a new 32-channel mixing console for our church audio department (locked in my office for safe keeping prior to installation), a DVD / VCR device, and a 1 GB Flash Drive. The Flash Drive was the sole repository of my research and writings for the Integrity book and web series.

The Hayward Police Department has done a great job in helping me and our church process this event. Only now am I starting to realize the loss of that data. The research is gone (but can be redone), but there are / were also pictures on the drive that cannot be recovered as well as other data that cannot be recreated.

Stay tuned. As events develop, I will try my best to communicate them to you. Pray for whoever now has possession of our missing property. May God bring those people to Himself in a way that brings Him ultimate glory.

Integrity: Part 6 - Truth

Truth today is seen as optional, random, and relative. Long-gone are the days of ‘situational ethics’; today’s culture is not even concerned with the ethics of the situation – only on personal ethics. “What does this mean to me?” is the question asked by many. It is the wrong question! Your interpretation of a matter is irrelevant. “What is TRUE?” in this situation is far more relevant and important than any personal reaction or interaction.

Society needs truths to progress. The absence of truth leads to anarchy, when all seek to “do what is right in their own eyes.” Societal anarchy is horrendous; but personal anarchy is seen far more frequently and is even more destructive. Years ago, it was said that the person who acts as their own lawyer has a fool for a client. A modern corollary might state: The person who acts as their own moral compass has a fool for a guide.

Truth is not elusive. Truth is unchanging. Truth is vital if your life is to be one of integrity. The great unchanging truths are found in the Bible, the written record of the One Who does not change! Notice what God’s Word says about truth and its application to life.

Consider the two forms by which truth can be presented: objective and subjective. Objective truth is that which does not change in any circumstance (a good example would be the orbit of the earth, from any vantage point, it always behaves the same). Subjective truth is that which is free from error in the given circumstance (a good example here would be gravity – on the earth it behaves in one manner, but in space or a different plant, quite another). Both of these aspects are found in Scripture.

• Luke 4:25 (subjective; Jesus is referring to all the widows in Israel)
• John 1:14, 17 (objective; the truth Jesus brings and is filled with does not change in any circumstance)
• John 17:17 (objective; the truth of God’s Word does not change)
• Acts 10:34 (objective & subjective; Peter refers to a timeless truth that is applicable to his immediate situation)

What qualifies a statement, quality, character as “truth”? Truth is presented as that which is reliable, certain, provable, and settled. These are the non-negotiable aspects of life.

• Ruth 3:12 (Boaz’s relationship to Ruth was established and confirmable)
• Job 12:2 (Job sarcastically points out the difference between his friends subjective truth and the objective truth they claimed it to be. This is an interesting point to consider: because you believe a truth to be objective does not make it so!)
• Psalm 25:5 (David pleads for God to impart knowledge of that which will not change)
• Proverbs 29:14 (The king that adheres to truth in his judgments is rewarded. Legislation from the bench is not a wise course of action)
• Daniel 6:12 (The law of the Medes was true: it could not be broken or contradicted)
• John 8:32 (Truth is a freeing and liberating agent)
• Philippians 4:8 (Our mind is to focus on that which is true and truthful)

Truth is the bedrock upon which a life of integrity is built. Examine your life; upon what unchanging truths is it based? Do those truths align with the truths of God’s Word? His unchanging foundation must become the pattern and source of your life’s foundation. To do otherwise is not safe, right, true or stable.

Integrity: Part 5 - Belief and Hope

Last time we discussed integrity, trust was a verb, this time we discuss it as a noun. We will refer to the noun aspect of trust as belief. Beliefs are what you know to be true intrinsically or by experience. How many times have you ordered a pizza from a national chain? You are able to get the same pizza in Dallas, Des Moines, Denver, Dover and Daytona because the chain has established a set of instructions for the way their pizzas are made. You always get the same amount of cheese, sauce and toppings. Your confidence (what you know; the noun-aspect of trust) is based on the integrity of the company (the verb-aspect of trust; the way they act).

We began with a discussion of how knowledge directs character which dictates action. Does action now precede character? No. If all you did was correct your actions, you would still not be a man of integrity. However, knowing what the actions of a man of integrity are to be, you will now discover the kind of life that will motivate such actions.

The Bible describes a man of trust as one who faithfully follows commands or fulfills their responsibilities. Such a one can be easily relied upon for greater tasks. This type of man is also described as one who has a firm belief in God and His Son as the only Savior of mankind. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14 – 30), the faithful servants shouldered their responsibilities and executed their expected duties with very little accountability. Faithfulness, 1 Corinthians 4:2 tells us, is required in stewards – not an optional quality. Paul continues to instruct the Corinthian believers (1 Corinthians 10:13) by reminding them that in times of trial God demonstrates His faithfulness to us. In fact, God’s faithfulness is demonstrated (1 John 1:9) in terms of His forgiveness.

Last time, the confidence-inspiring activities of the man of integrity was discussed. The Bible uses words like ‘confidence’, ‘hope’, and ‘trust’ to define this individual’s character. This confidence is not produced by gold (Job 31:24) or national armament (Isaiah 36:4). Instead Genesis 1:10 uses a word translated elsewhere as “hope” to describe the gathering together of waters. Hope is a rallying point for those without hope. God Himself is the rallying point in Jeremiah 50:7. Earlier in his prophecy, Jeremiah (29:11) discusses the assured end [hope in some translations] and plan that God has for His people.

Jeremiah 29:11 is a crucial text as you consider this aspect of integrity. God has plans to bring you to ‘an expected end’. You can have confidence in His plan being accomplished in your life. At the same time, God is expecting you to live in a way that demonstrates the same type of expectancy to others. Are you proving yourself to be as reliable to others as God is to you? He calls you to mirror Him. Check your reflection and adjust yourself as needed.

Integrity: Part 4 - The Role of Trust in Faith

Remember, this study of Integrity is based on the premise that integrity is comprised of faith, honor and discipline. Continuing the study of faith, attention is now turned to the role of trust in faith.

Trust is a large component of faith. Frequently, “trust” and “faith” are used interchangeably. There are some differences, however. Faith is often a confidence in that which is unseen, while trust often describes confidence in that which can be perceived by the senses.

Trust is crucial to the life of integrity. Rare indeed is the one who possesses integrity without inspiring trust. God’s Word has much to say about trust: how it is gained, how it is maintained, where it is rightly put, as well as where and how it can be lost or destroyed.

Trust is often described as that which can be supported, confirmed or verified. Genesis 15:6 implies that Abraham’s belief came through the confirmation of Sarah’s pregnancy. God spoke to Moses (Exodus 19:9), not for Moses’ benefit, but to confirm the relationship they shared to the Israelites satisfaction. In 1 Samuel 3:20, trust in Samuel was gained by his actions. Even God’s word produces trust in itself. Psalm 19:7 speaks of the verifiable aspect of Holy Scripture. The book of Proverbs (11:13) tells us that trustworthiness validates a man’s integrity. Jonah, the prophet to Nineveh, gave a message that was able to be verified – a message that changed attitudes and actions (Jonah 3:5). 1 Corinthians 13:7 speaks to the vital role that trust plays in love. True love trusts what is told to it.

Trust also inspires confidence. When a matter can be verified, a level of confidence is gained. The man of integrity must develop not only a character that can be verified, but also a character that inspires confidence. Scripture outlines this aspect of trust in various ways. Deuteronomy 28:52 speaks of the confidence inspired by city walls. Psalm 9:10 tells of the confidence inspired by God’s name. A person’s name reveals much about their character. How much confidence is inspired in others at the mention of your name? Psalm 44:6 reminds of the fleeting security found in weapons – not very confidence-inspiring. But Psalm 115:9, 10, 11 extol the merits of the LORD as the true source of all confidence. A friend’s hurtful yet helpful words are more confidence building than the traitorous flattery of an enemy, according to Proverbs 27:6. In fact, trust yourself is an indication of foolishness, says Proverbs 28:26. The apostle Paul, in Philippians 3:3, 4 tells in what he places confidence – and it wasn’t what everyone else would have chosen!

The confidence trust inspires is described as a shelter, a safe place for others to occupy. The man of integrity protects others by being a man of his word, one in whom they can trust. This is the security found in a rock (Deuteronomy 32:37), an armor-bearer (Psalm 18:30), as well as a tower and shield (Psalm 144:2).

The life of integrity is one of faith and trust. As you place your trust in the Lord and His plans for you, reliance on the flesh weakens. A man of integrity is one who inspires confidence, not because has all the answers or knows all the solutions; but because He has learned the proper place for trust. The man of integrity inspires others to trust him because he is trusting God.

What are you doing to inspire others’ trust in God? Their appreciation for your directing them to God is what builds your character of integrity.

Integrity: Part 3 – The Mindset of Faith

Today’s study assumes you are dealing with the sin causing your lack of integrity. (For more on this, see here) Notice the verb tense “are dealing” because this will never be a completed issue this side of eternity. Sin will always threaten your integrity. You also know the only source of hope is found in God alone; and He is willing to provide all that is needed for your success in this area.

The life of integrity possesses faith, honor and discipline. Faith begins as an idea that is verified repeatedly and widely until it grows into a conviction. This conviction is placed in context of life and given the status of “that which can be questioned, but from which I cannot be dissuaded.” When an idea reaches this stage, it has become faith. Faith guides our decisions, aids in our activities and dictates our values. This is what faith does, but how does it do that?

Faith provides a steadying influence to life. In this regard, Proverbs 13:17 speaks of a faithful representative providing a stable picture of his homeland to other nations. Proverbs 20:6 informs us that this influence is difficult to find among mankind; not everyone is a person of integrity. In Psalm 36:5, the psalmist tells us that the sky is the limit when it comes to testing (verifying) God’s influence in life. Isaiah (33:6) would have us know that this stability of faith comes via knowledge (the accumulation of facts) and wisdom (the correct application of knowledge). In fact, our stability allows others to place trust in us as well, according to Titus 2:10.

Not only does faith provide a steadying influence to life; it also builds confidence into a life. Note how the man in Matthew 8:10 is described: a man of GREAT faith; the level of confidence found in him was unparalleled. Luke 17:6 reminds us that confidence need not be great in magnitude to be great in effect. In the next chapter (Luke 18:8), Luke tells us that like stability, confidence is also often lacking. So how is confidence gained or maintained? Romans 10:17 instructs us that confidence is born out of repeated exposure to God’s Word; a process that breeds patience in times of trial (James 1:3) that motivates actions (Hebrews 11:1, 3, 4).

Confidence is closely related to expectation. Since I am confident that my birthday will be celebrated, I expect (have faith) that I will receive presents. Faith is described in terms of confidence in passages such as Acts 16:19, when the Philippians expected to receive profit from their psychic girl. Paul expresses an expectation to receive what God had promised him in Acts 26:6. Even society operates under the principle of expecting a harvest (1 Corinthians 9:10) from invested labors. 1 Peter 3:15 informs the believer that his confidence and the expectation that breeds it should be readily evident to all – and be succinctly explained. Yes, confidence breeds expectation; but expectation also influences and further solidifies our confidence.

A final aspect of faith is its ability to withstand in any situation. People were once commonly referred to as “men of their word” referring to their unquestionable character of truthfulness. Notice that aspect of faith in Psalm 100:5 (God’s truth is stable throughout time); Acts 14:22 (The confidence that resulted in expectation was able to sustain these believers for their entire life!); Romans 1:17 (The character of reliability is what separates ‘the just’ from the rest) and Ephesians 6:16 (Our faith is to be trustworthy; what soldier would take an unreliable shield into battle?)

With the following definitions of faith in place, the faith mentioned in Acts 6:5 is the life of faith! Stephen was not only a man of firmness and fidelity, he lived in light of the hopes and expectations he possessed. His was a life lived by conviction. His character was one of reliability. Stephen is seen at the culmination of the process of faith. You must not assume he was always a man of such character. In fact, he was a sinner, saved by grace, like every follower of Jesus Christ. His journey from sinner to model of faith is not chronicled; but he undertook the journey and arrived successfully – as can you!

Integrity: Part Two

Psalm 51 offers an unparalleled glimpse into the life of Israel’s most popular leader to date. King David – the darling of the nation, the slayer of ten thousands, the giant killer, the singing shepherd, the humble hero – had a problem of integrity. He had a problem no amount of ‘spin’ could remedy. To make matters worse, others knew of his failures. His spiritual advisor made it quite clear that not everyone had been fooled by his boyish charms, devastating good looks and position of power. David’s problem was sin, namely pride, covetousness, adultery, lying, murder, and selfishness to name just a few. Brought face to face with the reality of his sin, David cries out to God. You are provided the opportunity of reading the transcript of his prayers. In them are principles to guide your own search for integrity.

David describes his process of repentance in the first 9 verses. This involved a detailed record of what had transpired. David did not confess generally, but very specifically. He then pleads for mercy to be the overriding principle in his correction. He requests a thorough clearing of his record, asking for his offenses to be expunged from the official records. He does this with a simple, yet profound acknowledgment of his guilt, a unvarnished representationof his depravity, and a heart-wrenching cry for some solution to be reached. Reading these verses one walks away with the picture that David is truly sick of his sin. One need look no further than verse 4, in which David states that his offense is only committed against God. Remember, at this point in the game, Uriah is dead, Bathsheba is pregnant, other wives and mothers are mourning the loss of their dead - and David states that God is the only offended party? How can he make such a claim? I would submit that David was addressing the heart of the issue. By denying God the right to govern his actions, David had begun traveling a path that could only lead to destruction. Sins against others do not break one's relationship with God; rather, one's broken relationship with God results in sinful actions towards others. Ponder that thought for a moment. You may try to excuse your actions toward others as shortcomings, lifestyle choices, character weaknesses, personality flaws, or social acceptability; but these attempts only serve to highlight the depth of one's depravity. Boil it all down, our sinful actions toward others are the results of our broken relationship with God. No wonder we must beg for His mercy and forgiveness!

But what hope is there that God will hear and act on your behalf? The hope lies in God Himself! He has promised those who confess that their sin will be forgiven (1 John 1:9). He has promised to remove our sins as far as the east is removed from the west. He has promised to remember them no more; to no longer use them as evidence against us. He has promised to lovingly correct those who are legitimately His children.

The outlook may be bleak with a good chance of increased gloominess at this point. Do not despair! There is hope, not in your ability to perform better or in your skill at mastering new concepts. The hope is found in God being exactly what He promised Himself to be: God, the Unchanging Holy One. Integrity is only forged on the anvil of His righteousness and perfection. Allow Him full discretion at how He molds and shapes your life. The process of building integrity has begun!

Integrity - part one

A Starting Point

Integrity. A multitude of concepts are wrapped up in this significant word. We use integrated circuits (at least we used to) to keep appliances working; without them it was just an odd-sized weight on the kitchen counter. People are described as an ‘integral part’ of a team – a key to their success. At the heart is the meaning ‘unbroken’ – a solidity that cannot be disintegrated, dissolved or dissuaded. The last thing in the world you would expect to find broken is something with integrity.

Unfortunately, that has been proven over and over to NOT be the case. Politicians, corporate executives, televangelists, lay workers and even pastors have been found in recent days to be anything but people of integrity. The easy road is too often taken, the foundations eroded, the principles crumbled, the sins hidden, the truth disfigured; and the destructive wake of shattered faith, ruined lives and broken trust all point to the desperate need for men of integrity.

Becoming a person of integrity does not happen overnight. No potion exists to transform a liar’s lips into those of an honest man. No incantation is capable of making a faithful husband out of a lecherous louse. Those seeking quick fixes are better off going to a 30-minute oil changer!

The process found at Quickie Lube is remarkably similar to the one that will build the integrity you desire into your life. The process at the oil changers is simple: remove the old oil, replace the filter, add the new oil. That is the process, outlined in Ephesians 4:22 – 24, we will follow as well. The first step in becoming a person of integrity is to remove that which is destroying your integrity. Secondly, and most importantly, is to replace the filter. Too often we charge ahead and try to force the new oil through a clogged filter. It doesn’t work well for cars, and is even less effective on a person’s life. The significant transformation of integrity takes place in this second step, as it involves a transformation of the mind and thought processes. Finally, new oil can be added. Think of this as the practices of a transformed life.

I have two distinct presuppositions. First, I believe God has given His Word so you can know exactly what He intends you to know, so you can be exactly what He intends you to be, so you can do exactly what He intends you to do. This order is important: to try to do what pleases God before you are being what pleases God does not please God! Transformed lives produce transformed actions, not vice versa. Secondly, I believe integrity is comprised of three inter-related character qualities: faith, honor and discipline. These three themes will be discussed in depth as the study progresses.

Too much seeker sensitivity?

Here is what happens when the church tries to be all things to all people:



or this:

Out Of the Zone

I had the unique opportunity to take part in a youth rally today for the Northern and Central California Regular Baptist Churches. Called "Out Of the Zone", the rally was a day focused on leaving one's comfort zone in order to see God at work in one's life and to motivate young people to serve God more fervently.

The rally has been organized by David Olson, a pastoral intern from Sunnyside Baptist Church in Fresno. David has done a great job, coordinating rallies in Anaheim last week, Walnut Creek this week and Redding next week.

Almost 50 teens attended the event today and enjoyed sessions taught by Pastor Russ Belmont of Concord, Pastor Dave Mulder of Los Gatos, David and yours truly.

I'm not sure how much information the teens carried away, but my heart was truly blessed, challenged and encouraged to see a large number of young people desiring to not only say they loved God but wanting to develop and grow in their service.

My prayer is that the teens in attendance today will remain "Out of the Zone" and not be comfortable being 'status quo'.

"Good enough" never is

Pat Robertson, host of the 700 Club, recently 'predicted' what God had told him would happen in 2007. This is nothing out of the ordinary for Mr. Robertson, who has made similar predictions in the past.

There is only one problem: not all of his 'prophecies' were fulfilled; a record that seems to be of no concern to Mr. Robertson. After all, he was close on the ones that he missed; isn't that good enough?

The simple answer is "NO." In fact, the longer answer is "Not on your life!" The longer answer brings longevity into the picture because God takes seriously the placement of His Name alongside the words of man. Deuteronomy 18:20 - 22 makes it quite clear how those claiming to speak on God's behalf about events yet to occur are to be treated if what is predicted does not come to pass. The way to evaluate such situations is to ask "Did it happen the way the prophet said it would?"

Flooding in Fishkill, NY, is a far cry from a tsunami. God takes His word seriously enough to fulfill it 100% of the time in 100% of the details He outlines. As in the rest of life, anything that does not meet God's standard is not worthy of consideration and is, in fact, sin.

But what shall be done with Mr. Robertson? Let's be clear: I am not calling for any violence or vigilantism against this man; but I am calling for accountability. I am calling him to cease and desist representing God in a manner that belittles the Almighty, humiliates His Word and embarrasses His people. I hope you would feel similarly.

An online petition has been created to call this false prophet to account for his misrepresentation of God's message. Read it; consider it; sign it if you feel you can do so in good conscience.

Oh yes, in case you were wondering, I expect each and every one of you to hold me to the same level of accountability, too.

Christmas Greetings

As the clock winds its way past noon on the last work-day before Christmas, it is time to pass along some holiday greetings and wishes to you, my family and the three non-related readers of this blog.

This has been quite a year for us. Let me share some of the highlights with you (don't worry, there will be pictures, too!).

The new year began in church. We started the year as a church family, celebrating the Lord's Supper and reminding ourselves of the great sacrifice made on our behalf by the sinless Son of God.

In February, the Awana club held a Parent's Valentine Banquet, which was well-attended and greatly received. Many families took part; and we had the opportunity to meet some parents whose names we only knew from an Awana registration card.

Several work days were held at the church, beginning in the month of March (when the winter rains had ceased). Much was accomplished by these times of energy-exertion. There is still much to do; but the camaraderie and fellowship is a great way to spend the day in laboring.

April was a special month. Easter Sunday arrived with monsoon-like conditions. In spite of the adverse weather, a large number of folks attended the Easter Breakfast and Resurrection Sunday service. Also in April, our missionary representatives to Mongolia, Scott & Kristie Dean, came to report on their work. Their family was a delight to meet; Scott and I 'hit it off' splendidly over lunch at Chevy's. We are blessed to have such energetic folks partnering with us around the globe. The month ended with a jointly held youth rally in conjunction with First Baptist Community Church. The teens had a great time of fun in the gymnasium; and it proved a fruitful time of evangelism for many of our exchange students.

In May, the Ladies' Group underwent a name change. Now styled as W.O.W. (Women Of the Word), they held a Ladies' Brunch and invited the women of Berean Baptist Church in Fremont to join them. Dianne Clemons of First Baptist Community Church, Los Gatos was the special speaker. A Memorial Day luncheon was held at the church - another great time of BBQ'ed food!

June brought with it the Annual Business Meeting. What a joy it was to observe God at work, bringing together those who would serve our church family for the near future. A budget was passed, though we did not know how God would allow us to meet it. Also in June, one of our longest-tenured attenders passed away. We will miss Mr. Ernie Wold greatly; his funeral service was the first military funeral I had attended (much less taken part in) - and it was a poignant reminder of the brevity of life and the sacrifice our uniformed men and women have made.

July was Camp Week. Denise and I took a "working vacation" to Pilot Lake Camp in the Sierras. While she spoke to the girls each morning, I had the joy of preaching each evening to the camp population. We were joined by Rick and Mick Vingeulle who ably provided all the music and laughter associated with summer camp. We returned to the Bay Area to find it in the midst of an incredible heat wave. Our house was 98 degrees on the inside - so we went out for dinner instead! Throughout the summer, Denise led a Children's Summer Bible Adventure Club. This was a summer-long version of Daily Vacation Bible School; and was very well received.

In August, our family took a week-long vacation to Greer, South Carolina, to celebrate my parents' 40th anniversary. A wonderful time was enjoyed by all of us. We did a lot! Golf, train rides, touring, zoos, backyard picnics, you name it - we probably thought about it! It was also a great time to reconnect with some college friends and participate in our 15th Fantasy Football Draft in the same room with our friends. Shortly after returning from the East Coast, we headed West with Denise's family to Hawai'i. August and September seemed further apart when we were planning these trips! We enjoyed the island of Kaua'i immensely; and were thrilled to share it with my father-in-law's cousin, John Stratton. John has now been in every state, except Alaska! A highlight of our trip was playing golf with my 7-year old son; and having him beat me on a par-3 hole! Another highlight was joining in worship at the Kaua'i Baptist Temple in Nawilliwilli - and finding that one of our missionaries in Hayward is also supported by this dear church. What a small world!

Back to California we came; and September brought another opportunity to fellowship with one of our foreign representatives. Missionary David Potter, his wife, Jean and daughter, Ami were a great blessing to our hearts as they shared the incredible opportunities facing them in Pecs, Hungary. They have a wonderful problem: one pulpit and 7 individuals capable of filling it! We are praying that they will see other churches being planted.

October. Homecoming Sunday! This was the highlight of my year. You can read more about it here; but we are still rejoicing in what God was able to provide for our church from His good hand. The luncheon afterwards was a great time of rejoicing and marvelling at the wonderful God we serve.
In November, it was my joy to baptize two young ladies after hearing their profession of faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. In late November, the opportunity to purchase a home became available. We are still reeling at the quickness of the process. We helped a friend move into their home on one Saturday, and less than a month later, we were moving into our own home in the same vicinity. God truly blessed us with this home; and we are enjoying the thrills of discovery as we unpack boxes - some of which were still packed from our initial move to Sonora 8 years ago!

Now we are in December, wondering where the year went! It has been a full year; full of God's blessings that are so greatly undeserved, yet so greatly appreciated. From our family to yours: have a very merry Christmas, and may God bless you richly in 2007 as you bring honor and glory to His name.

Christmas in perspective

The Internet Centuri0n, Frank Turk, has written a thought-provoking series of articles on Christmas. I am giving you the links here so you can wander over his way to read them for yourself.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

On the move again . . .

52 weeks ago, our family moved to Hayward from a wonderful ministry in San Jose. We parted with tears in our eyes, a song in our heart, hope in our Savior, and rain in the skies. With help from two churches (one, our former; the other, our new church), we made the move successfully.

And now, we are doing it again. The church ministry is NOT changing, only the residence of this pastor. God has blessed us so richly; and in His provision, we have been allowed the privilege of home ownership. Eight years ago, when we came to California, I had mentally assented to the fact that I would never own my own home. I am convinced that each time I ran that through my brain, the Lord was shaking His head and saying "O ye of little faith."

I admit it: I am a man of little faith; but I am also a man with a GREAT GOD! This week, as preparations are made for our move (only 3 miles this time), the skies are once again overflowing with rain. But the song in our hearts is still there, too! What a Christmas present: our own home.

Sunday, we sang Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne, a hymn concerning the nature of the Savior's Incarnation. Somehow my joy is tempered by these words:

The foxes found rest
And the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod,
O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.

Lord, let me not forget that Christmas was a time when YOU were moving, too. What a Christmas present!

For unto us a child is born

December brings with it all the nostalgia and yuletide cheer that comes either naturally or forced upon us by Corporate America. But amid the hustle and bustle several moments of clarity have forced their way through the haze and fog of holiday consumerism.

My youngest son is fascinated with Handel's Messiah - especially the song "For unto us a child is born"; he is constantly singing it (with help from the Veggie Tales, of course). I find myself singing along with him quite often, as each of the titles of the Newborn King ring into my consciousness.

With all that playing in the background of my mind, we attended a young church attender's school Christmas chapel. His 3rd grade class was presenting the Christmas story; and hearing a room full of 8 year-olds reciting the Luke 2 passage was thrilling. One phrase jumped out of their recitation: "For unto you is born this day a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

Messiah. From the beginning announcement to the shepherds, the news rang throughout the Judean hillside: Messiah has come! Emmanuel, God with us, is here. No longer will man have to wonder when God will come near - He has come near and now dwells among man. And this Savior is none other than the Messiah, the Promised One.

Christmas is about the Messiah coming to dwell with us. Celebrate the fact that God came near and made His habitation among us. Celebrate the victory He has provided over sin, death, and hell. Celebrate Him!

Our Great High Priest

This video is from the WorshipGod06 Conference Aug. 9-12, 2006. Ryan Ferguson is giving a memorized dramatic recitation of Hebrews 9 and 10 from the ESV Bible.

I pray it might impress upon you the great privilege we enjoy as believers and followers of Jesus Christ.

Have a great Thanksgiving weekend.

ONE; UNO; EINE

As our Sunday morning study in the book of John has progressed, I have been making the repeated point that the focus of the book, in fact the main and only point of the book, is that Jesus is exactly Who He claimed to be; and that this is a life-changing truth.

Can it be said any clearer or with any further emphasis? Frank Turk (the Internet Centuri0n) puts it ever so succinctly in this post. He rings the bell with a clarion tone that John has been sounding in his gospel.

Jesus Christ. The ONLY message we need. Nothing else is more important for the sinner; nothing else is more vital to the believer.

This is the message for our neighborhood; this is the message for our county and state (no matter how today's election falls out); this is the ONLY message worth spending our time, effort, money and life giving.