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Moving Day!

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Today, in 1 hour, we will sign papers on the sale of our home and then, in 2 hours, we will sign papers on a new home. We plan to start moving stuff around 1PM and any help anyone can give would be much appreciated. The big day has come.

I remember sipping coffee with a couple of the elders a few weeks back lamenting some anxieties associated with buying a home and one of them wisely counseled me that “In 6 months, these things won’t even matter and what can you change by worrying.” Good counsel indeed!

Thanks for all who have helped already and for those who will help. We are amazed by God’s kindness to us.

My “Marriage” To Starbucks…

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Something old (usually I prefer cream in my coffee)…
Something new (I try to get the flavor they rotate every week)…
Something “borrowed” (the Splenda packets)…
Something brewed (self-explanatory)…

Yes, I am in love with coffee…

Current Reading List

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It’s been a while since I’ve updated everyone on what I’m currently reading, so here goes:

I still use D.A. Carson’s For the Love of God, Volume 2 for my morning devotions (I also use an ESV Study Bible).

Speaking of devotions, I am reading Global Prayer Digest this month (they sent me a free sample issue) and it is helpful in enlarging my view of the world.

I read a prayer from Water of the Word, which helps me remember my spiritual responsibilities toward Meghan.

During devotions I’m also reading A Praying Life by Paul Miller. I kept reading blog after blog comment and post snippets from this book. It really is helpful. We are all busy. Miller helps demonstrate what a life devoted to prayer looks like.

Besides devotions, I’m also reading The Heart of Anger by Lou Priolo. This has really been helpful in calming me down in addressing my 3 and 1 year old boys. I noticed I was starting to demonstrate my authority through voice inflection. This is just one of the many benefits of this book and what it shows.

I’m enjoying Feelings and Faith by Brian Borgman. This book was written to encourage the “cultivation of godly emotions in the Christian life” and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. I’m in a culture in which emotions are subdued. This book has helped me see Biblical use of emotions. Very helpful stuff (and very biblically grounded).

I am still plodding through The Mission of God by Christopher Wright. Moving slowly through this has reminded me of God’s mission for His church and how we need to be involved in it.

Other books on the docket:
Gospel Powered Parenting comes highly recommended and will continue my being equipped in parenting.
The End of the Law is a theological discussion on the relationship between the law and grace. As Piper has said about this book: “For the last forty years of my ministry no biblical issue ahs proved more recurrent or more vexing than the nature of the Mosaic law as it relates to the gospel and the new covenant. The pastoral implications for how you preach the gospel, aim at sanctification, comfort strugglers, give assurance, and admit people to membership in the church are huge. Jason Meyer is a good guide. I found myself writing ‘YES!’ in the margins repeatedly. And there were enough ‘Aha’ moments of fresh discovery to make me want to keep going. I thank God for this young scholar. His book is a precious gift to the church.”
Words From The Fire is Al Mohler’s latest book on the 10 Commandments.
Crossway’s latest edition of The Pilgrim’s Progress, a classic tale with some amazing edits for readability and enjoyment.
Our Boys is my next book to check out of the public library, which highlights a season of high school football here in KS by a team that has won 5 consecutive state titles.

That’s the currently happenings, in terms of my bibliophilic tendencies. Hope it helps.

1000!

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Yes, this is post #1000, and a good lesson in perseverance.

When I first began posting many moons ago, I hoped to be able to put some good resources into people’s hands. Really, I kept noticing that there were so many amazing resources available online and I wanted a place to keep them all together. This blog has served that purpose for me. I’ve also done series of posts on marriage and family, sought to recap and preview weekends at Crestview, which have helped me to actively apply what I am speaking on, wrestled with theological things and also had personal moments, like honoring my mom, my wife, and writing an open letter to Andrew on his most recent birthday. It’s really been enjoyable and I’m anxious to see how God will use this in the future.

Happy Anniversary Baby…

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Today, I am in North Carolina, visiting one of our missionaries and, in so doing, missing an opportunity to celebrate my 5th Anniversary with the dearest gift God has ever given me: my wife.

5 years ago today, I made this vow before God and the witnesses present, and I happily confess it again today before all who will hear:

My Dearest Meg,

I kneel before you today a frail man in this holy and happy moment. As I make this vow, I realize the seriousness of it. First of all, I am making this vow before our God. God knows our hearts and vowing before Him is a serious thing. Secondly, I am vowing these things to you. You are the only woman I’ll ever say these things to. You know me well and love me in spite of my weaknesses, so this makes it a serious vow. Finally, I am making this vow before all our family and friends. They will be witnesses to make this serious, so I do not make this vow lightly.

Meg, it seems like yesterday God brought us together. I was a whining single person trying to find contentment and you were that chipper little Sonic employee. I remember walking into Sonic and seeing you, knowing that something was different. I remember the great foundation we had in this relationship—diving into the Scriptures, understanding God’s love and praying together. In those moments, God set us on a path to make us one. You are my greatest supporter, my biggest encourager, my best friend, and my devotion. I vow to you today to seek to love you as Christ loved the church. This selfless, sacrificial model will be what I seek to imitate. Not just loving you, but leading you in humble service will be my aim all my days. I want you to increase through my decreasing. I promise to cling to you alone all the days of my life and, someday, when this life ends, may I have led and loved you in such a way that you declare – the body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.

My God, I make this vow before You, knowing it is Your love and headship that makes it possible. Before the foundation of the world, You set Your affection on me, when I was an unworthy, unlovely sinner. You sent Your Son to die on the cross and rise from the dead to demonstrate Your love. May Your grace enable me to be a man worthy of such a woman. May You continually teach me what loving leadership looks like, so that when my life on this earth is over, I may be able to say – the body they may kill, Your truth abideth still, Your kingdom is forever.

I pledge to be all this I am so that Meghan is all she can be. God, will you make us one, as the fellowship the Godhead enjoys is one? I promise all these things before my God, you Meghan, and all these witnesses, this 28th day of August, 2004, that God may be greatly glorified in us, as we pursue glorifying and enjoying Him, forever. AMEN.

As a token of my love to you — promising to love you as Christ loved the church — and promising to lead you in humble service — I give you this ring. — May it remind you of the God who set His love on you — and a husband seeking to imitate that love. — May God perfect this marriage to His glory — in the name of the Father — and of the Son — and of the Holy Spirit. — Amen.

I love you, princess, and hope that God gives you a great day pondering His work in us.

A Pastor’s Prayer (On Sun AM)…

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Father,

You have brought me out of darkness into Your light,
And called me to tell those in darkness of Your light.

You have sent me as salt into the earth,
And use my stewarding of Your Word
to call others as salt into the earth.

You found me when I was lost,
And have set me apart to find the lost,
And equip the saints to find the lost.

Give grace, I pray, to me in this hour,
To manifest Your Word in humbled pow’r.

In my words may You be praised,
Your people injured and then graciously raised.

I bow before You in desperate need,
For Your sweet mercies I insatiably plead.

Allow this to happen because of Your Son,
In His name I pray…may Your will be done.

Amen.