For those of you scattered about the US and World who are wondering if I am safe and sound after the news you've seen... Well, I am. Welcomed to Southern California with my first OFFICIAL earthquake. No worries, all is fine. It was quite interesting yet somewhat unnerving. :) I was in my office on the 4th floor at work so the building swayed a good bit but all is well. Just wanted you to know... Much love.
Rev J
Here's an entry I wrote while still in Germany but have yet to post until now...
I had desired all week long to take some time for myself and go for a run along the Rheine River, which ran just near the hostel where I stayed for the week in Dusseldorf. Not because I like to run per se. Mainly because I like cities situated on or around a river. In fact, I’m quite out of shape as I realized the day prior playing soccer for three hours with some students at a YMCAish program just outside of Dusseldorf. It was fun. For about 90 minutes. Those kids are freakish when it comes to soccer. Literally, it was all I (and the others with me) had to keep up with little 12 and 13 year old kids. One kid, his name was Max. I loved Max. I wanted to break his arm, but I loved him. He was by far the outstanding player of the bunch. And every time I scored a goal in the one v one v one…format he would yell something that sounded like VIP. So I assume either it was a Deutsche phrase that sounded like VIP or he was taunting the fact that I scored, and in turn, probably attempting to (and clearly) communicating to me that they were letting me score out of the goodness of their respect for my “VIP” status. All that to say, my run along the Rheine didn’t last long. Which is frustrating. Because I feel like, when you run, you should run. Not walk. But my legs hurt and the scenery was, in fact, why I had ventured out in the first place.
The run/walk quickly turned into a sitting spell on a bench along the walkway that winds along the course of the Rheine. The city was quite stunning. The alstadt or “old city” area runs along the Rheine situated just across from where I was sitting and the current of the river ran very swiftly from my right to left. My heart was stirred by the Spirit as I watched a large (some 200 or so) flock of sheep graze just along the banks of the river. The only thing separating me from the sheep were men playing soccer and others flying kites and some even “kite surfing” in the open field. I thought about the care of Christ as the Good Shepherd. I was scheduled to give a “word of exhortation” to the students in a few hours and so I began to think about what I might say and began to reflect on the past week that I had been around some of them. I had spent the day listening to their stories; experiencing vicariously the heartache and pain many of them faced as a fieldworker lost her bout with cancer as they departed. I laughed with others as they recounted the stories of bad hostels and crappy transportation and interesting food. I fellowshipped in Christ with my newfound friends and colleagues. It was a great week. And I began to think on the reality of going home. For many of the students, going home having experienced a life changing transformation. The reality of jumping back into the current of mainstream, in many places, complacent Christianity. A visual picture certainly sat before me with the roaring current of the Rheine River. I noticed the large barges and how easily they maneuvered the river going down stream. There were none seeking to go against the current in the opposite direction. Just as that thought occurred this massive barge came roaring down the river with the current and mid-stream, it seemed like on a dime, turned the ship around so effortlessly and began heading upstream. It was like he had forgotten something at the dock and hurriedly turned around to go back. As he began the trek back upstream the journey became increasingly more difficult than it had been before. Now instead of being pushed along he was being pushed against. The waves kicked up and began to even crest over the bow of the barge.
I thought about my new friends. Many of them 16 and 17 years old. I thought about myself. Preparing to re-engage a culture that will not be able to fully comprehend what God has done in our lives over the past week. Many of them will go to homes and schools where people will not care or be interested in the journey they’ve been on. The easiest thing might be to just jump back in where we left. Going with the current allowing it to whisk us away wherever it may, comfortable and in many instances complacent with our lives as Christ’s followers. And my heart was then stirred and reminded of Paul’s word to the Ephesians. In Chapter 4 Paul writes, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes…Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not how you have learned Christ! —assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him.
I laughed at the irony of my given situation, too tired to run so I found myself walking along, thinking about life and ministry and what I was about to say to a group of teenagers who had no clue what they were about to get in to when they returned home. Too tired to run, just walk. So that’s what I said. To myself and to them. It doesn’t say run in a manner worthy of the calling to which you’ve been called. Certainly Paul says run the race well elsewhere. But this text exhorts us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling of Christ. But what does that mean? Well, it’s certainly an answer worthy of more space than a blog, but at the most basic and fundamental level I would say it means this: So live and order your life on a daily basis that you find yourself making much of Christ and not yourself. Ultimately that is the calling to which we who are followers of Christ have been called. Live in a way that shows you value Christ above all of the things that you might otherwise value. You value Him more than your car, your house, your family (yes family), your job, your sports, etc. BECAUSE, when that happens, when you value and treasure Christ more than the rest of those things, THEN you are freed up to rightly enjoy and love the things that He has given you. Like you family. Valuing Christ more than your family doesn’t mean that you honor them less or love them less. In fact, it means you love them more. When you value Christ supremely in all aspects of live you are free to enjoy the finer things in life in their appropriate context. Meaning, Christ has blessed us with family and children and grandchildren so that in them we would value Him as the creative agent behind all of the good gifts He’s given. We’re satisfied in Him and find joy in the things He has given. But not vice versa. Vice versa is deadly. You value your car or job or house or sports more than you value Christ, and I’m not so sure you have biblical Christianity any longer.
I think that’s ONE aspect of walking in a manner worthy of the calling of Christ. And as we do others will see the joy we find in knowing Christ and making Him known and will, through the Holy Spirit’s prompting, long to know Him. They will long to know Him by the way we value and treasure Him. Not by the way we value, treasure and esteem all of our stuff. We are to treasure and value Him.
Walking on by grace...
Rev J
MS: “Pam did you see Oprah yesterday? I am going to be a father.”
PB: “What was Oprah about?”
MS: “Angelina Jolie was on and she adopted a baby from Asia and she said that it changed her life. And that really inspired me so I want you to look in to see how much a little Chinese baby would cost.”
PB: “That’s a really big decision.”
MS: “I know…”
PB: “Maybe you should wait before you adopt… Or not adopt.”
MS: “Just do it ok?”
PB: “Roy’s sister looked into it and the application alone costs a thousand dollars.”
MS: “Hmm. Mmm woah. Find out if there is a cheaper, less expensive baby out there ok?”
PB: “You know, she also said the waiting list is like 8 months.”
MS: “8 months? I don’t even know if I want a baby in 8 months.”
I couldn’t resist. What can I say, I’m a huge fan of The Office. Mainly Steve Carell. It’s true, I have a man crush on Steve Carell. That’s neither here nor there however. It’s a classic Michael Scott moment. Michael is inspired by Oprah and Angelina Jolie to adopted a little baby from China. This has little or nothing to do with what I am about to share, but makes me chuckle nonetheless.
So with a new job out here on the left coast comes a bit of financial freedom. For the first time in my life actually. I’m so thankful to my parents who have supported me for SOOOOOO long in life as I’ve journeyed through seemingly endless years of school. Now however, the cord is cut and I’m having the chance to make my own decisions, particularly in regards to how I am going to make much of Christ with the money He has given me to be a steward of. Fortunately, I sat under the watch care of a man of God who was and still is faithful to the Word of God, championing the magnification of Christ in all areas of life and finances are a huge part of it. So there wasn’t really any question as to whether or not I would be faithful to give back to the ongoing ministry of the church. However, for whatever reason, since I arrived here there has been a stirring in my heart to do more with the means that He has entrusted me with. I don’t say that to sound haughty or pompous, it is what it is. Christ has stirred my heart and the way is obedience. So I’m reading through James over the past couple weeks and James writes in chapter 1 verse 27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Now certainly “religion” takes on a different connotation in our day, particularly because it is tainted in light of all of the atrocities that have been committed in the name of religion, but also because it has become mere routine and ritual for many. I think the thing to dwell on first is to be undefiled by the world, which only comes through a life transforming indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God through a relationship with Christ. Once that occurs, the natural outworking is to take care of the widows and orphans who are in distress. You can’t separate the two or you get a works centered salvation. Life transformation has to occur and the outcome is naturally works. All of that said, for one reason or another, God has been stirring my heart over the past couple of weeks to take part in the visiting orphans and taking care of orphans and widows, not out of obligation, but out of joy. But I began to think about what that looks like for me, living in Southern California. Certainly there are orphans and widows who need care here locally, and by His grace I’ll be a part of that as well. But my heart was stirred for those who are living in the most remote and untouched parts of the world. How would I make a difference in the lives of those children. Well, I began to research. I looked into sponsoring a child. Adopting one (Michael Scott might say). Partnering with a ministry who seeks to better the lives of orphans and widows while seeking to exalt Christ at the same time. Let me admit. I have been EXTREMELY ify on many of these organizations, and, to be honest, this time as in the past I almost refrained from getting on board because I’m so skeptical that the money goes to what it is intended for. So I had a real crisis for a week or so. To give or not to give. And then of course the Lord intervened and reminded me that those in leadership will be held accountable for their actions. So my conscious was off the hook. Give. Champion Christ and support a child. So I did. And I challenge you to.
Allow me to introduce to you Akalebo Charles.
Akalebo lives in Uganda! He just turned 8 years old in April. Akalebo likes rolling a hoop (if you’ve been to Africa you’ll understand), cars, running, singing, ball games, and story telling. While searching through different children with Compassion International I came across Akalebo and the Spirit just stirred my heart with love for him in Christ. So, I’m now sponsoring Akalebo! I’ll write him and he’ll write me, and HOPEFULLY, I’ll get to go and visit him next year!
Again, I write all of this, not to say look at me. This is just my way of exalting Christ with what He has blessed me with. Your way may not look the same. In fact, for some time, your way may simply be praying for Akalebo and all of the other boys and girls that are orphaned by HIV/AIDS or other circumstances. However, one thing I am learning is that often, in our fast paced modern American Christianity, I, yes I, lose sight of the wholistic Gospel. That is, the Gospel so transforming our lives that we champion causes of justice and those in need. We must take care in not landing on either end of the spectrum, namely, being so caught up in justice that we fail to herald Christ as King and Redeemer, or the other end, that we become so caught up in doctrine and theology that we fail to live out our theology and doctrine among those who are in need and afflicted.
I laugh at Michael Scott’s comment about Oprah and Angelina Jolie. But I often laugh in shame, realizing that those who would not even name the name of Christ are doing more in the way of social justice than the Church, which should be the flagship that is sailing for the glory of Christ in the lives of those hurting and afflicted…
When you are fortunate enough to travel the world as often as I do you find yourself visiting many places where it seems as if all hope is lost. I often land in cities that are renowned for their deep commitment to sin and unrighteousness. You might say a modern day Sodom or Gomorrah. I’ve walked the streets of Bangkok, interacted with those of Pataya, strolled down the temple-lined streets of Kathmandu and visited some of the “holiest” Hindu temples of India.
They got nothing on Amsterdam.
Sunday the 6th of July myself and two other college leaders from CBU and seven high school students loaded up with the field workers stationed here in Dusseldorf and made the two-hour journey into The Netherlands. In my estimation the crowned jewel of the post-modern world is Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I had heard stories and certainly read news articles about the infatuation with self and hedonism that exists there, the high rate of abortion, legal prostitution, the red-light district, and legal drugs to name a few. I had never experienced it. That changed Sunday.
The plan for the day was to head over to Amsterdam and sightsee with an emphasis on prayer walking. Visiting the Anne Frank house was also on the agenda. As we traveled the stories and experiences others had shared from their time in Amsterdam echoed in my head as I anticipated taking in all of the sights and sounds of the city. Nothing could have prepared me for what I was to experience. I do not believe it is a stretch to consider Amsterdam a modern day Sodom or Gomorrah. It is difficult to walk the streets of that city and feel there is any hope. I found myself reaching for some sign or semblance of light. As we continued to walk and attempted to pray it became even more difficult. The streets are lined with pornographic images and the scent of drugs literally penetrates the air. Men and women often line the streets waiting for and anticipating their next high. The churches are all but abandoned and those that aren’t have been converted into large mosques. The eyes of the people are weary and tired and void of anything that might resemble life. I just kept thinking of how it once wasn’t this way. How Europe had thrived in former years as the likes of Luther and Calvin roamed the landscape. Amsterdam today is a far cry from those days of yesteryear.
As we began our day I was struck by the welcomed acceptance of post-modern thought and philosophy that pervaded the city. The slogan that (I suppose) the tourist department adopted was plastered all over the place. I AMSTERDAM. I was struck at the irony and somewhat chuckled at the flamboyant embrace of the heart of postmodernism. It’s all about me. I am it. I. A self-centered all about me mentality at the very least. My cynical and accusatory mindset continued to grow as I walked the streets and took in the open and flaunting nature of immorality and hedonism that pervaded the streets as I attempted to pray. I cannot describe in words the overwhelming demonic presence I felt as I passed many places. Some houses, some brothels, some pubs. I was often stopped cold in my tracks and found myself peering through the window to the occasional apartment because the enormity of the demonic presence was overwhelming. I found myself wondering what exactly went on there or was going on presently or would go on in the future. It was an emotionally and spiritually draining day. All along I found myself questioning whether there was, in fact, any hope for Amsterdam. Everything around me seemed to point to the contrary. All day long looking for a glimmer of hope and finding none. In fact, I found the anger of man rising up within my heart and even, sadly, at times wondering why God would continue to show mercy in not wiping the entire city off of the planet. To be honest and real, I think I found myself questioning if God had altogether removed His hand.
At almost that very instant the breakthrough came. It was near the time when we were making preparations to leave. I caught a last glimpse of the city theme. I AMSTERDAM. And in that moment it could not have been any more clear or apparent that God had not in fact removed His hand from the city of Amsterdam. That He had not in fact given up hope for revival and awakening. That He had not in fact thrown His hands up in frustration and discouragement as I had. The Spirit moved on my heart the following: “Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM Who I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” (Exodus 3:13-15) And further: “So the Jews said to him [Jesus], ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:57-58) And in that instant sorrow turned to joy, frustration turned to expectation, discouragement turned to hope, and the Light shined in the darkness. The despair poor attitude I had been lugging around the streets of Amsterdam was gone. The faithfulness of The Faithful One tried and proven again. I was struck by the glory of Christ in a city where people are by and in large completely blind to His presence. But they herald Him daily. From the buildings, from the trains, from the bumper stickers and t-shirts. I AM is the phrase that stands out. I AM. He is at work. In the most dark and hopeless of circumstances, in the midst unrepentant adulterous hearts who search for satisfaction in things that never satisfy. The truth of Scripture is that I AM has sent people to the city of Amsterdam. People to champion the glory of Christ in the midst of the darkness. I was moved to pray for them. To pray for a stirring in the hearts of believers who live in Amsterdam. And I was moved to pray for an awakening to occur in the city of Amsterdam. A city that would no longer be known for it’s open embrace of the pursuit of pleasure in worldly passions, but a city that would be known for a hedonistic pursuit of God. That they would pursue the glory of God in Christ as their joy and pleasure and treasure and lasting prize and that their lives would find the fullness that we were created for in the presence of the King of Kings, The Great I Am. He IS there, and He IS NOT Silent.
Here’s to you Amsterdam. Praying for an awakening coming your way.
I AMSTERDAM.
Well week one has been put to rest and tomorrow morning starts week two on the job at CBU. The first week was full of lots of orientation and information. I will say at times the information side of it was overwhelming, but such is the case with any job. My heart is deeply stirred at the opportunity to work with this university and the people that comprise it. There truly is one single heartbeat at this university. People knowing Christ. Certainly there will be those who are not on board but by and in large this is a place that is committed to seeing the nations praise Christ. For that reason alone He has brought me here. Certainly there have been and will be times where the distance from home of the foreign surrounds seem more foreign. But there is a call. It's not a call to a city or a university. It's a call that is much higher and more satisfying. It's a call to be about seeing God's glory further displayed and embraced by all peoples. For now that has brought me to sunny (hot) Southern California. And I truly could not be more excited and happy. If I allow myself to slip into the flesh and dwell on circumstances out of my control thoughts of loved ones and familiar people begin to flood. My task and challenge is to turn those into worship. Thankfulness for those people and places and deep trust in His sovereign hand. He's charged me to bleed a passion for His glory among the students at California Baptist University and among the people of Riverside and greater southern California. I'm still learning how to do that. He is faithful. He calls and He equips.
The sign says Welcome to Riverside, California. Population 288,000. Correction… 288,001. After all of the travel, hotel beds, fuel stops and fast food, I have arrived and am quite comfortably settled into my new home on the left coast. Much thanks and many props to my father. Happy Father’s Day Dad. My dad and I spent a good solid week together which came to a close today. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and if it were not for him I would still be sitting in a living room full of boxes with barren walls and nothing to eat. So thanks dad. I love you.
The adrenaline from the move is still going. I feel so curious as to my new surroundings. Like a cat. Curious like a cat. Everything is so new and fresh and interesting. I realize the honeymoon I am on with Riverside and Southern California wont last forever. Reality is coming fast. I’m realizing how jaded and naïve I am when it comes to life. I’ve had the great privilege to travel the world. See the places. Touch the faces. Smell the smells. Walk the streets. But those have been mere flings. Southern California and I are in it for the long haul. Wherever she goes I will go. Literally. The earth loves to move here.
I’m constantly hearing the Spirit prompt me to deeper depths with the Father. I’m sensing the realities of ministry. I’m not saying Auburn wasn’t real ministry. Absolutely it is. But for me it was a place to live comfortably without pushing the limits or status quo. And it quenched the Spirit and hindered my ministry there. People are looking for something authentic and genuine. Especially here. And it doesn’t happen in a home visit or survey. It happens in real, raw, and edgy everyday life. The Lord is breaking my heart for these people. Already.
Sorry for the randomness of the moment. I am settled in Apartment 434. But yet unsettled and longing for more of Him.
The motto for the State of Oklahoma slips my mind at present but nonetheless it has laid out the welcome mat for my trip cross country to my new home in sunny Southern California. So far today dad and I have received a warm welcome from Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and most recently and currently, Oklahoma. Still to come are Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and of course, lastly, California. Should be fun.
Travelling across the country thus far has afforded me ample opportunity to take in some not so familiar scenes of our beautiful nation. Also, some interesting place names and signs. A favorite so far is Toad Suck, Arkansas. So a big shout out to my friends in Toad Suck. I’m sure you are busy hating toads.
On another note, I’ve tried to make it a point to take in as much of the landscape as I can. When of course, I am not distracted by the signs. I’ll be honest, we’ve passed some places that look as if they’re just run down and had enough. Hello Mississippi. Also kudos to the polluted suburbs of Memphis and West Memphis. (pollution will certainly be a daily dietary supplement for me very soon)
As I’ve taken in the sites, the wildlife refuges and the polluted and dilapidated countrysides alike, my heart and mind were drawn back to Scripture. Two passages in fact. From the most prolific man outside of Christ. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 1:20, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Paul’s argument here is that creation is in constant declaration of the glory of God, even to those who have yet to hear of His name. Creation declares that there is a Creator and it declares that He is eternally powerful and divine, among other things. So when I look at creation, the smog filled skies and the rolling hills of Oklahoma are both proclaiming the glories of God. But there is another, more profound statement Paul makes that I was reminded of. In Romans 8:19 and following Paul states, “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” I was sitting and looking and thinking, ok the smog, pollution, tearing down and wasting away of creation is due to the fact that as Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God their disobedience wrought chaos in the Garden and warranted subjection and futility until a latter point in time when the plan of God would be fully revealed. So the smog and pollution and dryness and wear and tear are due to sin and rebellion. Before sin there was none of it. All perfect.
Gotcha. Ok, now don’t make me out to be a tree hugger. I’m not going psycho environmentalist to the extreme. I’m just sitting watching and thinking and considering the stewardship of what we’ve been entrusted with. The restoration hope of Christ is not limited to the restoration of our bodies and souls only. The full and final plan of God is the restoration of all things. Those who have trusted the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the removal of their sin and guilt will join with Him at the restoration of ALL THINGS. And then, as I continued to mediate on that I began to think again. Paul says that creation is subjected to futility and is in bondage and decay… So, the most glorious display of creation imaginable is but a marred depiction of the more glorious and “whole” creation that is to come. I’ve seen the sun rise over Mount Everest and I’ve watched the sun set over the Taj Mahal. Both were incredible, worship filled experiences. But Paul is asserting that even the most glorious display of God’s grace and mercy in creation is but a marred foretaste of what is to come. The end looks like this… “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” THAT is why creation groans. And it’s why I should as well…
Thank you Lakeview for much needed free time to read at leisure. In doing so, some wise words from one of the most popular and influential books in Christian literature, Knowing God by J.I. Packer. The following is an extended series of quotes dealing with some of the characteristics of God:
"If our God is the same as the God of New Testament believers, how can we justify ourselves in resting content with an experience of communion with him, and a level of Christian conduct, that falls so far below theirs? If God is the same, this is not an issue that any one of us can evade..."
"We are modern people, and modern people, though they cherish great thoughts of themselves, have as a rule small thoughts of God. When the person in the church, let alone the person in the street uses the word God, the thought is rarely of divine majesty... When you start reading Luther, or Edwards, or Whitefield, though your doctrine may be theirs, you soon find yourself wondering whether you have any acquaintance at all with the mighty God whom they knew so intimately..."
And lastly, Packer offers a solution that I find quite effective through the leading of the Spirit...
"How may we form a right idea of God's greatness? The Bible teaches us two steps that we must take. The first is to remove from our thoughts of God limits that would make Him small. The second is to compare him with powers and forces which we regard as great."
Well said.
Some of my leisure reading time has been spent looking over what some of the more "in" authors are writing for our new and modern and emerging generation. I'll be honest, in the words of Matt Chandler, a lot of it is straight up horrible and borderline heresy at best. In particular, when you get in to areas of sin and suffering and the cross. In light of this, I read some timely wisdom from Martyn Lloyd-Jones. In reference to the hour of the cross Lloyd-Jones states:
"He [Jesus] knew it from the beginning. He came to die, specifically to die. We have seen that, apart from that death on the cross, he cannot deliver me; that apart form the death on the cross, I say it again with reverence, even God cannot forgive man. The cross is absolutely essential, the cross was planned before the world was ever created. So the hour that produced the cross is the central, pivotal point, of history and God always knew about it, the Lord came for that hour. So WE MUST NEVER THINK OF THIS HOUR AS TAKING HIM BY SURPRISE, it was an hour that was appointed and determined, it was the crisis of the world itself."
In, The Assurance of Our Salvation
Well said. God is no risk taker.
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Susan Walls said:
My daughter, Katie Walls, sent me a link to your blog about Amsterdam. read more
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Known said:
If you really dig deeper into your phrase "bleed a passion for His glory among . . . ," that's... read more
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I see you trying to be like Rev Run. I know. read more
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