Archive for March, 2006
Isn’t Technology Awesome?
March 7th, 2006 | Comments Off | Posted in » My Life / Family
Just thought I’d state the obvious… modern technology is awesome. I’m sitting here over a thousand miles away from my wife and kids… but I just got done talking with them and seeing them thanks to a mobile phone, wireless internet, laptop, webcam, and instant messenger package.
Isn’t modern technology great? Not quite like being at home… but pretty close. Sure makes travelling a bit more palatable!
Hello from Sin City…
March 7th, 2006 | Comments Off | Posted in » My Life / Family
Well… I’m in Sin City this week… Las Vegas… attending a class that will (hopefully) help hone a few job skills. I’d be lying if I said that I’m writing because of the class, though.
This town… these people… such a lack of hope! It’s weighing most heavily on my soul. I wish I knew what to do to help… how to reach them with the hope that faith in Jesus brings.
Anyway… in my weariness from all of the worldliness here, I took some time to read through Psalms a bit last night, and found the 63rd Psalm particularly appropriate (and spiritually nourishing!). David must have felt similar to the way I do now….
1O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.2I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.3Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.4I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.5My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.6On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.7Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.8My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.9They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.10They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.11But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God’s name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
This town seems such a godless place… casinos… alcohol… strip clubs… just being around it wears on my soul. I am definitely ready to come home. But there is SUCH a need for the gospel here… I pray God will show me how to plant a couple seeds of life while I’m here.
If you would, pray for me, this place, and these people.
Another Trustee Enters the Blogosphere
March 3rd, 2006 | Comments Off | Posted in » Baptist Issues
Well, we have another IMB trustee in the blogosphere now… Jerry Corbaley.
Looks like his blog will soon be a VERY busy place.
(Jerry, if you happen to stumble across this… two things: welcome to the blogosphere, and PLEASE shed some light on this trustee issue — we’re tired of secrecy!)
A GREAT Summary from Marty…
March 3rd, 2006 | Comments Off | Posted in » Baptist Issues
WOW. What a great summary of the IMB trustee mess…
Check it out at SBC Outpost.
Marty… awesome post!
Why I’m Going…
March 1st, 2006 | Comments Off | Posted in » Baptist Issues
I’ve been blogging about Baptist issues quite a bit in recent weeks, and as many of you may know, I’m planning on attending the SBC Annual Meeting in Greensboro this June (my first convention meeting). I’ll also be attending the Young Leaders conference on June 12th.
But why bother, you ask? What’s at stake at the convention this year that’s so important that I’d want to attend for the first time? Well… Wade Burleson blogged on that very subject last night, and it captures some of the “stakes” quite well (here’s the link: What Is At Stake In The Southern Baptist Convention).
Yes… part of the reason I’m going is the issues. Maybe I should be embarrassed to admit it (it took eight years since coming to Christ… eight years of worshipping and serving as a Southern Baptist), but in the past few months, I’ve finally realized the importance of our convention and the programs it enables to provide for the spread of the gospel through our cooperation. The more I’ve learned, the more concerned I’ve become about the narrowing of the bounds by which we cooperate. As such, I feel obligated to participate in convention processes to help keep those bounds where I (and many others) believe they belong… to do my part to ensure that we, as Southern Baptists, don’t put the clamps on what I believe to be the greatest missionary program in existence on earth right now.
As for my other reason? Maybe it’s a bit selfish, and if so… so be it. Fellowship. I’m thrilled at the thought of worshipping with and getting to know other like-minded Baptists better… at making connections with others on fire for Christ and talking with them about what we’re all doing in our local churches and in our personal lives. I’m hopeful that we’ll have opportunities to learn from and encourage each other… and in that process, become more effective servants of our risen King.
Anyway, I’m going, and now you know why. Maybe I’m expecting too much from the convention, but I can’t see there being too much harm in high hopes, especially high hopes placed in God. After all… that’s why we have it… to do His work.
I pray it’s everything we can dream of and so much more.