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Camp – Day 3

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Another day wrapped up and in the books. Had a good day and finished a bulk of our physical labor, which was helpful.

In the AM Celebration, Billy and Cindy brought us usual God-centered songs and Neil opened God’s Word to Psalm 12:6 and spoke on the importance of God’s Word in our lives. God’s Word reveals who we really are.

In the PM Worship Neil spoke on the 129 Words That Changed the World (Romans 3:21-25). He presented 4 things we must believe and respond to:
1) All have sinned.
2) Grace is real (It’s Power, a Gift, and Transformational)
3) Redemption is only in Christ…
4) and it … has to be received by faith.

One more full day and then we’re done.

Camp, Day 2

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We had another great day at camp today.

Our morning began with Celebration. Neil opened up God’s Word to Nehemiah 8:1-11 and urged us to greatly rejoice in God’s Word. He spoke of how Christianity is not a feeling we strive to maintain, but a reality we were created to enjoy. Then he gave this simple outline: 1) most of the difficult things in life require more joy than discipline and 2) the Bible has more confidence in joy than you do. He ended by directing us to Hebrews 12:1-2 and how Jesus lived out of joy.

Our afternoon service project was a good success. We got 3 rooms completed and 2 more to finish tomorrow. We also moved some things for the organization we get to serve.

Tonight, worship helped with theme of the day — enter. Neil’s message was on the Fruit of Conversion from Acts 16:16-34. There were 4 points:
1) Consistency
2) Endurance
3) Worship
4) Conversion

Was a great day and we anticipate more from the Lord tomorrow.

Camp – Day 1

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Well, we arrived safely around Noon. We grabbed some lunch and got registered, then, after orientation, got ready for the evening.

Evening worship included Billy and Cindy Foote leading music from their latest EP Wonder Working One (where you can read my review under customer reviews). Their exact set began with Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Sing to the King, Knees Are Bowing, Set Free, You Are My King, Nothing But the Blood, All Praise To God, and How Great Is Our God.

Neil McClendon came and preached on “The Patient God That Crushes People” from Luke 20:9-18. His outline revealed 4 things out of the text about God…
1) God is Patient
2) God Speaks
3) God is Just
4) God is Direct
I was struck by application to use this week to listen to all that God has ordained to show me. He is patiently calling me to Himself. I need to avail myself to this grace.

We finished the day with church group time. We had a great day. Everyone’s doing well and we look forward to a busy day tomorrow, serving so that God is glorified.

Camp Is Near!

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Tomorrow, Monday, July 20, we leave for Student Life Missions Camp.

Our Camp Pastor is Neil McClendon.
Music will be led by Billy & Cindy Foote.

You can visit the Student Life website, to listen into worship services, check up on camp happenings, email members of our group and countless other activities. (If you go to check us out, we are at a Missions Camp, July 20-24, 2009 at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK.)

Or use this direct link.

Only 3 Weeks?

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…Yes. Only three weeks until I leave with students and adults from our church for Student Life Missions Camp. It looks like we will have a great week, with Neil McClendon as Camp Pastor and Billy & Cindy Foote leading our music. The theme is Flip! There’s also some great promotional videos available. We have been assigned an amazing missions opportunity. We get to work with a local community service organization that assists women. We will be painting and serving them.

Pray for this week as details come together. Pray for the staff at the camp. They have been doing this for weeks now and we want to refresh the spirits of all we encounter. Pray for our group to minister and reach out. Pray for God’s glory to be seen in all we do.

Matt Chandler Video…

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At the recent Desiring God Pastor’s Conference, John Piper sat down with Matt Chandler to discuss life and ministry. This interview is broken into 4 segments:

Part 1 – Chandler’s early life
Part 2 – More on the story including how Chandler became a pastor
Part 3 – Thoughts on being a pastor, Calvinist and Complementarian
Part 4 – Chandler and Piper with practical advice for pastors

I love Matt Chandler and I’m sure these links will show you why.

Update…

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Thought I would post something since there hasn’t been much happening on here lately and let you know what’s up.

This week is flying by. I have most of the administrative stuff done, but need to finish Sunday AM’s sermon on Jesus’ Greatness from Mark 14:12-21 and the PM message on God Acts from Hosea 2:2-23.

Friday night is HomeWord, and that sermon is complete. It is on Staying Together from 1 Corinthians 7:10-11.

Other things happening include…

Our Church’s Missions Festival (Eyes Open Weekend) with my good friend Freddy T coming to town March 27-29.

A Men’s Retreat looks like it will take place on April 24-25 and our guest speaker will be Mike Hubbard from Genesis Church, Eureka, MO (a burb of STL).

There are also things in the works for the fall with our former pastor Rick Cornish (currently serving as one of our church’s missionaries, doing international teaching) and his family coming to join us September 19-21.

Not to mention that a Good Friday service with Union Valley Bible Church and our church’s Easter celebration is just around the corner.

April 21-23 I travel to The Gospel Coalition.

My Wednesday night study is working through David Martyn Lloyd-Jones Studies in the Sermon on the Mount. Tonight we are in chapter 23 on “The Tree and Its Fruit”.

So, I say all this to say, there are many things on my mind. Oh, one other thing, we put our house on the market to look for something a little bigger. So, on top of all these things, we are praying and thinking about what God would like to do in that situation.

In all these things we have but one firm confidence: God is in control. Knowing that He is full of mercy and grace–having expressed that so vividly with Christ’s work on the cross–means these activities and considerations are merely part of the joy we get to experience in seeking to glorify and enjoy Him. Pray that we would remain faithful to Him in these things.

Back In The Saddle…

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Yes, I’m back in the office today. Hoping to finish sermons on Mark 13:28-37 and Hosea 1:1-2:1. Then, tonight’s class on Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, considers the narrow way we live in the Christian life, based on Matthew 7:13-14. Have phone calls to return, emails to work on, business to attend too. Ah, it’s good to be back.

Study Day…

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Yeah, it’s a Tuesday. There are some things hopping in life and I feel like I needed to get away for a study day. I do these occasionally. Sometimes I just read, sometimes I’m quiet, sometimes I’m listening or watching something, but they are always productive.

Today, my big task is prepping for a new sermon series I’m starting this coming Sunday evening through the book of Hosea. Mark in the mornings, Hosea in the evenings — this is my habit now. Needed to get away, though, to wrap my mind around the argument of the book.

Also finished reading (again) Tedd Tripp’s excellent book on parenting, Shepherding a Child’s Heart. After reading I’ve noticed how I settled into some bad habits of just addressing Andrew’s behavior and not his heart. This was a welcome and needed reminder. We are planning on working through this material and the DVD seminar to go with it during the summer.

Anyway, if you read this blog, could you please pray for me today. Spiritual focus is needed and God can provide it. Hope the Lord’s blessing is extended to you as well.