We started VBS Monday and are having a great week. This picture shows what our auditorium looks like. We have some women with amazing creative abilities who have really made the room look great. If you are a reader, please take a moment and pray for our VBS. Ask God to give teachers the ability to clearly articulate the Gospel and ask God to open the hearts of children to receive this amazing message. Thanks.
In a timely post in light of this weekend, John Piper provides some questions to ask when preparing for marriage. Enjoy!
Theology
* What do you believe about…everything?
* Perhaps read through the Desiring God Affirmation of Faith to see where each other is on various biblical doctrines.
* Discover how you form your views. What is the reasoning-believing process? How do you handle the Bible?
Worship and Devotion
* How important is corporate worship? Other participation in church life?
* How important is it to be part of a small accountability/support group?
* What is the importance of music in life and worship?
* What are your daily personal devotional practices? Prayer, reading, meditation, memorization.
* What would our family devotions look like? Who leads out in this?
* Are we doing this now in an appropriate way: praying together about our lives and future, reading the Bible together?
Husband and Wife
* What is the meaning of headship and submission in the Bible and in our marriage?
* What are expectations about situations where one of you might be alone with someone of the opposite sex?
* How are tasks shared in the home: cleaning, cooking, washing dishes, yard work, car upkeep, repairs, shopping for food, and household stuff?
* What are the expectations for togetherness?
* What is an ideal non-special evening?
* How do you understand who and how often sex is initiated?
* Who does the checkbook—or are there two?
Children
* If and when, should we have children? Why?
* How many?
* How far apart?
* Would we consider adoption?
* What are the standards of behavior?
* What are the appropriate ways to discipline them? How many strikes before they’re…whatever?
* What are the expectations of time spent with them and when they go to bed?
* What signs of affection will you show them?
* What about school? Home school? Christian school? Public school?
Lifestyle
* Own a home or not? Why?
* What kind of neighborhood? Why?
* How many cars? New? Used?
* View of money in general. How much to the church?
* How do you make money decisions?
* Where will you buy clothes: Department store? Thrift store? In between? Why?
Entertainment
* How much money should we spend on entertainment?
* How often should we eat out? Where?
* What kind of vacations are appropriate and helpful for us?
* How many toys? Snowmobile, boat, cabin?
* Should we have a television? Where? What is fitting to watch? How much?
* What are the criteria for movies and theater? What will our guidelines be for the kids?
Conflict
* What makes you angry?
* How do you handle your frustration or anger?
* Who should bring up an issue that is bothersome?
* What if we disagree both about what should be done, and whether it is serious?
* Will we go to bed angry at each other?
* What is our view of getting help from friends or counselors?
Work
* Who is the main breadwinner?
* Should the wife work outside the home? Before kids? With kids at home? After kids?
* What are your views of daycare for children?
* What determines where you will locate? Job? Whose job? Church? Family?
Friends
* Is it good to do things with friends but without spouse?
* What will you do if one of you really likes to hang out with so and so and the other doesn’t?
Health and Sickness
* Do you have, or have you had any, sicknesses or physical problems that could affect our relationship? (Allergies, cancer, eating disorders, venereal disease, etc.)
* Do you believe in divine healing and how would prayer relate to medical attention?
* How do you think about exercise and healthy eating?
* Do you have any habits that adversely affect health?
…snow business…
18 inches: the biggest snow of my life…
Here’s a pic
Mark Dever is finally back in the pulpit at Capitol Hill Baptist (after a sabbatical) and has preached a couple of helpful messages on the Pastor and His People.
Here’s the series: The Pastor and The Church
Feb 22, 2009 – The Pastor
March 1, 2009 – The Church
In July, continued preaching through Ruth. PM messages focused on God’s Word and its impact in our lives. Heard from a friend of mine that he was leaving a comfortable ministry and going to help with church planting in New York City. Pretty encouraging story. Watched church softball games. Continued with Elders Meetings and meetings with men. Celebrated Meg’s bday. Read Disciplines of a Godly Man by Kent Hughes. Read Dallimore’s Volume 2 on Whitefield. Went to Student Life Camp in Shawnee, OK. Ben Stuart was camp pastor and Addison Road led music. Headed out for some R & R at my Mom’s and got the privilege of building a deck with a friend. Ended up being a pretty exhausting trip.
My wife tipped me off to this group: Straight No Chaser.
They are an accapella group from Indiana University who recently performed at the Christmas in Washington Spectacular. Here’s the video of their take on the song 12 Days (with over 9 million hits). Enjoy.
Read the ads for the biggest shopping day of the year.
This weekend at our Crestview, we will be exploring the nature of true religion that honors God. In the morning service, we will be seeing Jesus indictment of the scribes in Mark 12:38-40. In the evening service, we will be looking at the true fast of Isaiah 58 as a model for movement into social action. After this PM message, we will hear a presentation from YouthFriends, encouraging us to be involved in the lives of children and students in mentoring/tutoring relationships.
The thing about empty religion is that it is so easy to deceive others. But we can’t shake the reality of what is in our hearts. I hope that God accomplishes heart change in us this weekend and the result is a deeper love for God and our neighbor.