Saturday, May 31, 2008

32 Weeks

Two years ago my wife Anne was 32 weeks and 2 days pregnant with our son Asher when she went into pre-term labor and had to be put on bed rest.

Now two years later we were reflecting on that time. Yesterday Anne was 32 weeks and 2 days pregnant and the day passed pretty uneventfully.

We went to bed and I feel asleep. Anne woke me up at about 12:30 am and informed me that she had had about 5 contractions in the last 1/2 hour. Here we go again.

We called the doctor and made our way to the hospital. At 4:30 am I brought Asher home and we went to sleep leaving mommy at the hospital for monitoring.

I woke up at 8:oo am to cancel some appointments and to make some calls. Now I wait to hear from Anne to find out what the next two months of our lives will be like.

Church planting is a crazy life and pregnancy adds a whole new realm to the adventure. Please pray that Anne would carry our baby to full term.

With Asher Anne ended up going overdue and had to be induced at 41 1/2 weeks. I am convinced that our little Asher was in the womb that long because of prayer.

Please pray hard that our little one would do the same. We are eager to meet her, but not for another 6-8 weeks.

Friday, May 30, 2008

The Prophets of 1967

 

A Quote to Make You Think

All heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, all hell terribly afraid of it, while men are the only beings who more or less ignore its meaning.
~Oswald Chambers

A Theme is Developing

I continue to be amazed at the way Jesus Christ is building Pointway Church. We had a young man join one of our community groups last night. As he shared his life with us I was struck with the similarities he has with others in our church. 

God is bringing together a group of broken and hurting people who are longing for the love and grace of God to be poured out in their lives. The reality is that we are all damaged in some way shape or form. 

There have been things in our lives that have wounded us deeply. In seeing the people that the LORD is bringing together I once again reflected on a very important truth.

The Gospel is for everyday living. Many misunderstand the gospel to be something that merely allows us to enter into the Christian life, but the truth is that the gospel is much bigger than that. The gospel not only brings us into the Christian life, but also allows us to live the Christian life.

We must continually strive to understand the grace of the gospel so that we can live a truly Gospel-Driven Life.

"Never be content with your current grasp of the gospel. The gospel is life-permeating, world-altering, universe-changing truth. It has more facets than any diamond. We will never exhaust it's depths."
~C.J. Mahaney

Ouch

Yesterday morning I had the unfortunate experience of have to fill the gas tanks in both of my automobiles. The total came to $120!!! 

That really does damage to the family budget.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

An Old Friend

There is a great coffee shop in Brainerd called  Coco Moon. I really am thrilled that they serve one of my all time favorite coffees. Highlander Grogg! Sometimes you have to pause and enjoy the simple things in life. Grogg brings a smile to my face.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

A Quote to Make You Think

...all day long, at the moment you become aware of burdensome cares, cast them upon the Lord, who cares for you. Where there is worry and anxiety; there is the pride of self-reliance. The humble man, though he may be responsible for many things, is free of care -- he is care free. His life is characterized by joy and peace, for it is impossible to be worried while trusting the Sovereign One.

~C.J. Mahaney

Monday, May 26, 2008

Asher's Adventures


We have had some challenges transitioning Asher both from his old bedroom to his new one and from his crib to his big boy bed. His numerous stuffed animals have brought him much comfort in a truly difficult time for him.

Asher and daddy taking a snooze together on the couch.


Train up a child in the way he should go. Asher loves reading fishing magazines with daddy. He has added 'magazine' and 'fish' to his rapidly expanding vocabulary.


Friday, May 23, 2008

Reason for Rejoicing

I am going fishing tomorrow for the first time in Brainerd. I am so psyched!!!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

You will receive power


Having power at its fingertips, the church often finds “guiding the course of history” a more alluring goal than following the crucified Christ.
- Shane Claiborne & Chris Haw "Jesus for President"

Saturday, May 17, 2008

The Kingdom of God is at Hand

For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
~1 Corinthians 9:16

What are we to do in a day and age that is so troubling? Many are concerned with things that simply matter very little. Political issues seem to get Christian's undies in a bundle and they get all worked up about things such as abortion, same-sex marriages, prayer in schools, etc... the list goes on and on.

My heart longs for the day when Christians would live for the Kingdom of God and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with the same passion and energy as they do complaining about the government. O that they would spend half the energy the expel on political issues on the preaching of salvation by grace, through faith in Jesus, the Christ, the King, the LORD of all creation.

I myself find myself getting caught up in things that mean very little in light of eternity. I have family, friends and neighbors who do not know Jesus Christ. O that my attention would be focused on the Kingdom of God!

There is no shortage of whiners and complainers out there pointing out the obvious. I pray to the LORD of the harvest to raise up workers. How easy it is to smell a rotten egg and how difficult to lay a good one.

May we stop whining and complaining as start laying down our lives for the gospel! Make it true Jesus, make it true of me.

I am compelled! I must proclaim what I know to be true and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

A Life Well Lived

This morning Louise Erickson walked through the door by which we all one day must pass. Death is the door and she walked through it into eternity. Once she passed through the door she entered the presence of the LORD Jesus Christ.

Grandma was a faithful servant of the Most High God all of her days. She lived well. There are many things I could share with you about my Grandma, but what I am most thankful for is her faith and her love for me that lead her to pray for me diligently.

I believe that I am a follower of Jesus Christ today largely because of her prayers for her grandson. I will never forget the day that I told her that I had repented of my sins and trust in Jesus Christ for my salvation. It was while we were having lunch at Applebees.

Tears filled her eyes and she shared her joy with us at the table. I thank God for my Grammy. My heart is filled with sorrow and sadness and at the same time I rejoice because she has heard "well done good and faithful servant". She is in the place I long to be in and I can not wait to see her again.

Thank you Jesus for giving me Louise Erickson as my Grammy. Thank you for the faith she passed on to me. May I finish my course as well as she did.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Happy Mother's Day

Anne got a nice card from Asher and another from our baby girl. They also got her some flowers to celebrate her love and care for them.

For Pastors Only - Prayer of a Minor Prophet

By A. W Tozer

This is the prayer of a man called to be a witness to the nations. This is what he said to his Lord on the day of his ordination. After the elders and ministers had prayed and laid their hands on him he withdrew to meet his Saviour in the secret place and in the silence, farther in than his well-meaning brethren could take him. And he said:

O Lord, I have heard Thy voice and was afraid. Thou hast called me to an awesome task in a grave and perilous hour. Thou are about to shake all nations and the earth and also heaven, that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. O Lord, our Lord, Thou has stopped to honor me to be Thy servant. No man takes this honor upon himself save he that is called of God as was Aaron. Thou has ordained me Thy messenger to them that are stubborn of heart and hard of hearing. They have rejected Thee, the Master, and it is not to be expected that they will receive me, the servant.

My God, I shall not waste time deploring my weakness nor my unfittedness for the work. The responsibility is not mine but Thine. Thou hast said, “I knew thee—I ordained thee—I sanctified thee,” and Thou has also said, “Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” Who am I to argue with Thee or to call into question Thy sovereign choice? The decision is not mine but Thine. So be it, Lord. Thy will, not mine, be done.

Well do I know, Thou God of the prophets and the apostles, that as long as I honor Thee Thou wilt honor me. Help me therefore to take this solemn vow to honor Thee in all my future life and labors, whether by gain or by loss, by life or by death, and then to keep that vow unbroken while I live.

It is time, O God, for Thee to work, for the enemy has entered into Thy pastures and the sheep are torn and scattered. And false shepherds abound who deny the danger and laugh at the perils which surround Thy flock. The sheep are deceived by these hirelings and follow them with touching loyalty while the wolf closes in to kill and destroy. I beseech Thee, give me sharp eyes to detect the presence of the enemy; give me understanding to distinguish the false friend from the true. Give me vision to see and courage to report what I see faithfully. Make my voice so like Thine own that even the sick sheep will recognize it and follow Thee.

Lord Jesus, I come to Thee for spiritual preparation. Lay Thy hand upon me. Anoint me with the oil of the New Testament prophet. Forbid that I should become a religious scribe and thus lose my prophetic calling. Save me from the curse that lies dark across the face of the modern clergy, the curse of compromise, of imitation, of professionalism. Save me from the error of judging a church by its size, its popularity or the amount of its yearly offering. Help me to remember that I am a prophet; not a promoter, not a religious manager—but a prophet. Let me never become a slave to crowds. Heal my soul of carnal ambitions and deliver me from the itch for publicity. Save me from the bondage to things. Let me not waste my days puttering around the house. Lay Thy terror upon me, O God, and drive me to the place of prayer where I may wrestle with principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world. Deliver me from overeating and late sleeping. Teach me self-discipline that I may be a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

I accept hard work and small rewards in this life. I ask for no easy place. I shall try to be blind to the little ways that I could make my life easier. If others seek the smoother path I shall try to take the hard way without judging them too harshly. I shall expect opposition and try to take it quietly when it comes. Or if, as sometimes it falleth out to Thy servants, I shall have grateful gifts pressed upon me by Thy kindly people, stand by me then and save me from the blight that often follows. Teach me to use whatever I receive in such manner that it will not injure my soul nor diminish my spiritual power. And if in Thy permissive providence honor should come to me from Thy church, let me not forget in that hour that I am unworthy of the least of Thy mercies, and that if men knew me as intimately as I know myself they would withhold their honors or bestow them upon others more worthy to receive them.

And now, O Lord of heaven and earth, I consecrate my remaining days to Thee; let them be many or few, as Thou wilt. Let me stand before the great or minister to the poor and lowly; that choice is not mine, and I would not influence it if I could. I am Thy servant to do Thy will, and that will is sweeter to me than position or riches or fame and I choose it above all things on earth or in heaven. Though I am chosen of Thee and honored by a high and holy calling, let me never forget that I am but a man of dust and ashes, a man with all the natural faults and passions that plague the race of men. I pray Thee therefore, my Lord and Redeemer, save me from myself and from all the injuries I may do myself while trying to be a blessing to others. Fill me with thy power by the Holy Spirit, and I will go in Thy strength and tell of Thy righteousness, even Thine only. I will spread abroad the message of redeeming love while my normal powers endure.

Then, dear Lord, when I am old and weary and too tired to go on, have a place ready for me above, and make me to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting. Amen.

-As quote in A Passion For God: The Spiritual Journey of A. W. Tozer by Lyle Dorsett (Chicago, IL; Moody, 2008), pp. 65-68.

Friday, May 9, 2008

The Wilderness Fellowship

I am going into the wilderness for a few days to pray and fast. I really need to hear the voice of God and I have found my quarterly prayer retreats to be immensely valuable in achieving my goal. The Wilderness Fellowship has been a great blessing to me over the past two years. CHECK IT OUT

Please pray for me Mon-Wed as I seek God's ongoing vision for Pointway Church.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Thankful

I am thankful for the people the LORD is bringing into Pointway Church. They are hurting people who have been through a lot. I pray that the LORD gives me the grace, wisdom and love necessary to be their pastor. I pray that I would represent Christ well and that I would be a friend of sinners as he was/is.

29 Weeks

It has been a while since I posted a picture of the world's most beautiful woman (who also happens to be the wife of the world's most blessed husband). Anne is 29 weeks pregnant and we are praying that she will carry full-term. We are now in the third trimester and making our way down the home stretch.


Our baby girl is growing fast and she is very active at 29 weeks old. She is now approximately 15 inches long and weighs about 2.5 pounds. We continue to pray for strength and health for our baby girl.

Ashers 1st Ice Cream Cone

Asher had his first ice cream cone ever at his Granny and Papa's house.

132

Trevor reached a personal best of 51 wings as did an unnamed blogger while our friend reached 30 (he was a rookie)

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Please Pray for me!



I am preaching at two Lutheran churches tomorrow on the doctrine of Hell. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would open people to receive the truth of the gospel and be motivated by the reality of hell to get out and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone who will give them a hearing!

So What...?

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
~Matthew 25:41

Powerful truth!

So what difference does it make today or tomorrow or the day after tomorrow or...?

Living a Gospel-Driven life refuses to let people go to the eternal fire without warning them and pleading with them to flee the wrath to come.

How can I sit back and watch while most of those around me go into the fire?

What will I do about it? What will you do about it?

I want to make it hard for people to go to hell!!!

Friday, May 2, 2008

Thought Bomb

Could it be that our evangelism languishes, our preaching loses authority, and our congregations lose focus because we don't have the doctrine of hell to set our face like a flint toward Jerusalem?

~Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, Why We're Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be

Life is Hard!

Last night we had our Community Group at our house and enjoyed the fellowship of some great brothers and sisters in Christ. After everyone left Anne and I cleaned up a bit and sat down to unwind before going to bed.

Just as I was about to go to bed the LORD opened Anne and I up to him and to each other and we had a nice long discussion about the current state of our life and ministry. We reflected on the past few months and discussed some of our disappoints.

The Holy Spirit was gracious and showed us once again that life is hard!

  • raising children is hard...
  • being pregnant is hard...
  • church planting is hard...
  • loneliness is hard...
  • disappointment is hard...
The Holy Spirit then reminded us that God is good and that we are to consider it all joy when we encounter various trials. We can have great joy in the midst of very difficult and trying times. Indeed we are rejoicing today because of his grace and mercy to us.

Sometimes when we go through trials and walk through the fire we are tempted to ask God to make them go away. NOT US!!! We know that God will use this time to sanctify us and draw us close. We rejoice in this time of difficulty and sorrow because we know that we will experience the grace of God in magnificent ways. Ways that we never would if we had not faced the storm.

Please pray for us:
  • Pray that Anne would not go into preterm labor.
  • Pray that God would strenghten us and empower us to fulfill our calling.
  • Pray that the gospel would go forth from our lips and that God would be glorified in all that we do.
Soli Deo Gloria

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Pointway Website Concept

This is the beginning of the official Pointway Church website.
I am psyched to see how it turns out!!!