It is a Friday afternoon and in most of Canada, today begins a long weekend! In Alberta, the holiday is called Heritage Day. In my reading the other day, I was reflecting on Psalm 16 and it seems to be a good fit for a blog entry as the Heritage Day weekend commences. So here are some of my reflections:
Psalm 16:5-6
Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
Next Friday, we take possession of our new home here in Three Hills. Sarah has been packing diligently for the past two weeks and I have done a couple things this week. It will be busy next weekend, but we are soooo blessed to be able to purchase this home. However, as blessed as we are with this home, the past few weeks have been even more amazing as we have seen God answer prayer in related matters:
a) the mobile home we currently live in was rented within hours of us putting out word it would be available;
b) Sarah enjoys having homestay students and so we applied and have already been accepted. One young lady has already been "assigned" to our home and we are open to another. Yes, this provides a bit of supplementary income without being an income (covers R&B), but more importantly, it means our home (space) can be a blessing to others.
c) My current employment position is being cut from full-time to half-time and yet no other "income options" were opening... until this week when a chance to teach a couple courses for PBI/PCAAT in the fall semester were available. Even more amazing... except to God who is in control of it all... both classes fit the schedule and do not conflict with the key components of my role, even being half-time.
However, this is simply a small part of the truth of Psalm 16 in my life. I could talk for hours/pages about how this Psalm plays out in my life... from the amazing wife God has blessed me with in Sarah, to our amazing two children, Caleb and Rachel, to the incredible extended family we have on both sides, to various friends near and far, the opportunities to impact lives here in Three Hills and around the world, I could go on and on. Indeed, "apart from you (Lord), I have no good thing."
So as this Heritage Day weekend begins, I trust reading this blog entry will encourage your heart that God IS watching out for you and will guard/protect/watch over you... especially when the future seems uncertain. To Him be honour and glory!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Two Book Reviews (long overdue)
A couple books provided by Graf-Martin for which the blog reviews below are long overdue.
The Gospel Commission by Michael Horton (Baker, 2011)
I believe this will be an excellent book… however I have only gotten through the first 50 pages because it is densely packed and you do not want to skip over the depth contained therein. Horton chooses his words carefully and they cause one (at least this reader) to read slowly… not great if you are supposed to write a blog review within 30 days of a 300+ page hardcover book. It is not that the reading is difficult, it is simply full of good theological argument/discussion and one should not read over it hastily.
One example: "We often speak of 'making Jesus our personal Lord and Savior," but this obscures two important points. First, we do not make Jesus anything, especially Lord and Savior. It is because he already is Lord and Savior that we are freed from death and hell. All authority belongs to him already." (second point follows in the next paragraph). If I really grasp this concept, it will (and has) changed the way I pray for my children. Yes, I have prayed they will "accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour" but actually I should pray that they "will recognize Jesus as the Lord and Savior of all people, and of them individually."
My regrets this review is so short, yet I believe its strengths and weakness are accurately depicted.
Small Groups with Purpose by Steve Gladen (Baker, 2011)
My wife and I lead and host a small group in our home and I have done so for many years as single man with a variety of groups (ie. college students, congregation members). I’m also looking at the possibility of serving as a small groups coach in the near future and so this book seemed to be a good choice for a blog review. Written by Saddleback’s Pastor of Small Group Community, Steve Gladen very clearly says at the beginning that the advice in this book is for you to go out and in most ways replicate because it is based on biblical principles. Personally, I liked that because I have encountered many books where an author says, “don’t try to do this strategy in your church but here’s how it works and why it works well.” If it works so well, why wouldn’t I use the strategy?
Gladen does a good job of giving a variety of options in each chapter so that the book is not an overly prescriptive manual, but a small group’s guidebook based on biblical principles with a selection of ways that might look in different settings. Easy-to-read and highly practical, each chapter also includes “study questions” at the end for discussion or planning.
I would highly recommend this book to small group coaches as well as leaders.
The Gospel Commission by Michael Horton (Baker, 2011)
I believe this will be an excellent book… however I have only gotten through the first 50 pages because it is densely packed and you do not want to skip over the depth contained therein. Horton chooses his words carefully and they cause one (at least this reader) to read slowly… not great if you are supposed to write a blog review within 30 days of a 300+ page hardcover book. It is not that the reading is difficult, it is simply full of good theological argument/discussion and one should not read over it hastily.
One example: "We often speak of 'making Jesus our personal Lord and Savior," but this obscures two important points. First, we do not make Jesus anything, especially Lord and Savior. It is because he already is Lord and Savior that we are freed from death and hell. All authority belongs to him already." (second point follows in the next paragraph). If I really grasp this concept, it will (and has) changed the way I pray for my children. Yes, I have prayed they will "accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour" but actually I should pray that they "will recognize Jesus as the Lord and Savior of all people, and of them individually."
My regrets this review is so short, yet I believe its strengths and weakness are accurately depicted.
Small Groups with Purpose by Steve Gladen (Baker, 2011)
My wife and I lead and host a small group in our home and I have done so for many years as single man with a variety of groups (ie. college students, congregation members). I’m also looking at the possibility of serving as a small groups coach in the near future and so this book seemed to be a good choice for a blog review. Written by Saddleback’s Pastor of Small Group Community, Steve Gladen very clearly says at the beginning that the advice in this book is for you to go out and in most ways replicate because it is based on biblical principles. Personally, I liked that because I have encountered many books where an author says, “don’t try to do this strategy in your church but here’s how it works and why it works well.” If it works so well, why wouldn’t I use the strategy?
Gladen does a good job of giving a variety of options in each chapter so that the book is not an overly prescriptive manual, but a small group’s guidebook based on biblical principles with a selection of ways that might look in different settings. Easy-to-read and highly practical, each chapter also includes “study questions” at the end for discussion or planning.
I would highly recommend this book to small group coaches as well as leaders.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Letter to a teenager from John Piper
Just back in the office after a week of holiday camping with the family at Old McDonald Resort (just outside Erskine, AB). Came across this nice piece by pastor John Piper through Tim Challies blog.
Also, a good article on Perry Noble's blog, Control is the Greatest Illusion in the Universe.
Also, a good article on Perry Noble's blog, Control is the Greatest Illusion in the Universe.
Friday, July 08, 2011
Interesting Articles on this blog's topic
Three interesting articles that fit the topic of this blog quite well.
Survivor: Leadership edition by Roger Parrott
CJ Mahaney's Leave of Absence by CJ Mahaney
Ten Questions Leaders should be asking by Perry Noble
Survivor: Leadership edition by Roger Parrott
CJ Mahaney's Leave of Absence by CJ Mahaney
Ten Questions Leaders should be asking by Perry Noble
Monday, July 04, 2011
Are they enjoying themselves?
As my wife and I have been watching the news the past three nights and seeing the reports on Prince William and Kate's travel around Canada, she has commented a few times, "I hope they are enjoying themselves?" Whether it was the day 1 update on how each of the three outfits worn by Kate were made by Canadian designers or yesterday's updates on how they made out pretty well public relations wise in Quebec, despite the protests, I'm glad my wife has a thoughtfulness and compassion that many, including myself, probably don't really have for this royal couple.
I'm of the perspective that Kate knew what she was marrying into - or at least as much as anyone can know until you really live it - and so "c'est la vie," this is the life you chose. Kate knew she was going to always been in the spotlight the minute she started dating Prince William. In a sense, she had to weigh the "can I live in the constant spotlight?" question against the "do I want to be Prince William's wife?" (or do I love Will that much?) Admittedly, there are a multiple of lifelong benefits for such perpetual privacy invasions - global travel, gifts galore, lavish banquets with the political elite (and eventually other "stars), constant 5-star hotels and vacations, etc.
However, you might suspect that one Diana Spencer wondered these very same thoughts 25+ years ago and felt she could handle these pressures too! And you can bet her eldest son has these questions weighing in his young mind as he tries to live up to the expectations of being the prince while also being a newly married man, trying to understand what it means to care for his wife. That's some load to carry for a leader!
I'm of the perspective that Kate knew what she was marrying into - or at least as much as anyone can know until you really live it - and so "c'est la vie," this is the life you chose. Kate knew she was going to always been in the spotlight the minute she started dating Prince William. In a sense, she had to weigh the "can I live in the constant spotlight?" question against the "do I want to be Prince William's wife?" (or do I love Will that much?) Admittedly, there are a multiple of lifelong benefits for such perpetual privacy invasions - global travel, gifts galore, lavish banquets with the political elite (and eventually other "stars), constant 5-star hotels and vacations, etc.
However, you might suspect that one Diana Spencer wondered these very same thoughts 25+ years ago and felt she could handle these pressures too! And you can bet her eldest son has these questions weighing in his young mind as he tries to live up to the expectations of being the prince while also being a newly married man, trying to understand what it means to care for his wife. That's some load to carry for a leader!
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