Hanging out with friends
You probably know this already, but we like hanging out with friends. And, for the last week or so, I have been struggling with a bad cold, cough, stuff and haven’t been able to hang out with anyone.
So, now that I’m feeling a little better, we’re planning to spend time with our friends all weekend long.
Tonight, a couple has invited us to their house for dinner. We helped them move into their first house several weeks ago, and we’re looking forward to enjoying their hospitality again!
Then, tomorrow – Saturday, we’ll be spending all afternoon and evening with another friend from out of town. But, I’ll tell you more about that tomorrow.
And, Sunday, we’ll be meeting together with alot of friends in our weekly scheduled church meeting. I wasn’t able to join them last Sunday because of my cold/cough. My friend Jim will lead the teaching time as we continue to study through James. We’ll be in James 4 this Sunday.
So, this will be a weekend spent with friends. It should be great fun and very edifying! Are you spending time with any friends this weekend?
BibleWorks Software Information Meeting at SEBTS
There will be an informational meeting concerning BibleWorks software on the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary on Monday, February 7, 2011 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. The meeting will be held in Patterson Hall room 119. Everyone is invited to attend.
You can find the announcement here on the SEBTS website.
You can find more information about BibleWorks on their website here.
I’m currently using BibleWorks 7. I usually upgrade every other release, and since they are currently on BibleWorks 8, I hope to upgrade on the next release.
However, I recently started using a Mac, and BibleWorks is only available on Windows based systems. So, soon, I will need to decided if I’m going to change to a Mac based software, or run BibleWorks in a Windows partition or a virtual machine on the Mac.
Top 10 Because of You!
Or, to put it in proper English, “Top 10 Because of Y’all!”
What am I talking about? My friend Dan at “The Ekklesia in Southern Maine” has named this blog one of his top 10. See his post “Top 10 of 2010: The Assembling of the Church.”
I am very appreciative that Dan would honor my blog like this. But, if you click on the link and read between the lines, you’ll see that my articles are not the only reason that Dan praises this blog.
Nope. In fact, several times Dan mentions the community here at “The Assembling of the Church.” That would be you guys and gals!
As I’ve said many, many times, the best thing about this blog is the fact that my readers interact with my articles and add their own “2 cents” to whatever I write.
I learn so much from all of you. (Yes, even you, Dan!)
So, thank you for being part of this blog and for being part of my life!
Going back to Ethiopia?
Friday, Dave Black told me a little more about their Ethiopia planning meeting that they held Thursday evening at his home. (See his blog post on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 11:34 p.m.) From what I understand, he and BeckyLynn are very excited about the directions that the plans are taking. (See the picture to the left of some of the men, women, and children who are part of the planning team.)
I’m not going to write too much about the plans. Instead, I will leave that up to him. He says that he will write more later.
But, for now, I need to begin praying. Should I return to Ethiopia? Does God have another trip to Alaba in my near future?
I can tell you that I’m very concerned about my friends there, especially Nigussie. He is currently being chased (yes, literally chased) by some people who want to harm him physically, perhaps even kill him. I would also like to spend more time with some of the church leaders that I taught last Summer. I think there is more that I can help them with, and I think that I can still learn much from them.
This is a picture of me with Nigussie, who served as my primary translator and who gave up his home for Danny and me while we were in Alaba, Ethiopia last July.
So, will I go back to Ethiopia? I don’t know. But, I’m praying. Please pray with me.
Examiner.com article: Food banks provide more than food
My first Examiner.com article is posted here: Food banks provide more than food.
I’m writing as the “Raleigh Practical Christianity Examiner,” so my goal is to help Jesus’ followers to live out what they say that they believe.
My article begins like this:
Jesus told his disciples that they should be recognized both for their love for one another and for their care for “the least,” that is, for those who are hungry, sick, imprisoned, or homeless. In today’s struggling economy, more and more people find themselves among those needing help.
Since this is a new medium for me, I would appreciate any feedback.
Writing for Examiner.com
Last week, I was invited to write for Examiner.com as the Raleigh Practical Christianity Examiner.
I’ve submitted my first article. However, first articles must be approved before they are published. I will let my readers here know when it is published.
I’ll also provide links here to any future Examiner.com articles. I hope you decide to read and interact with my articles there as well.
Twenty-Second Anniversary
This post is scheduled to be published on January 14, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time. Twenty-two years before this post was published (i.e., January 14, 1989 at 2:00 p.m. Central time), Margaret walked down the aisle and married me.
I still don’t understand why she said, “Yes,” when I asked her to marry me. But, I’m so glad that she did.
I pray continuously that our children will one day find a spouse who is as kind, loving, gracious, and giving as their mother.
She has walked through so much with me and because of me. Perhaps the biggest thing that she has given up for me is being close to her family. I appreciate her so much for that and for so many other things.
So, Margaret, if you read this, please know that I love you, I’m proud to be your husband, and I’m still amazed that you decided to marry me.
More Than Meals
My wife, Margaret, and one of our close friends helps the local chapter of an organization that delivers meals to senior citizens and other shut-ins. In fact, our friend is the volunteer coordinator for our area.
Each week, they pick up meals for a county agency that helps senior citizens. Then, they deliver the meals to several houses around our city.
I’m very excited about what they’re doing, because they do not see delivering meals as the goal of their service. It would be easy to hand over the meals and walk away, feeling that they’ve done something good for people. But, they see delivering meals as the beginning of their service. What do I mean?
Well, when they deliver meals, they also talk to and get to know the shut-ins. They’re learning about each person’s family and medical problems and background, etc. They pray with them, and give the senior citizens a way to contact them if necessary. Plus, they are looking for more opportunities to serve these people, and they are looking for opportunities to include others in this service.
A couple of months ago, I wrote a post about one such opportunity. When Margaret and our friend learned that the organization did not provide meals around the Thanksgiving holiday, they decided to cook and deliver the meals themselves. Then, they invited some of our friends to help. (See my post “More Meals” for more information.)
They also take our children along when delivering meals, and they invite other people to go with them as well. Our children are learning the names of the shut-in elderly people, and they are often asking for prayer and help. In fact, it was our friend’s daughter who suggested that we all leave our church gathering one Sunday afternoon in order to rake leaves for one of the shut-in couples. (See my post “Taking the Next Step.”)
Recently, one of the elderly ladies called my wife. She needed someone to stay with her husband – who is bed-ridden – while she went to the store. Margaret and our friend took care of this lady’s husband for several hours.
Later, when the lady was talking with Margaret, she said that she had joined one of the larger churches in our area. (They recently moved into this area.) Sometimes, when she needs help, she calls the church office. But, no one ever returns her calls, and no one ever comes to help her.
Then, she told my wife, “But, when I call you, someone always comes to help me. There’s something different about you two. You not only talk the talk; you walk the walk.”
Yes, my wife and our friend talk to these elderly people about God – about his love and mercy and grace. But, they also demonstrate the love and mercy and grace of God by their lives.
And, more importantly to this post, they don’t stop at delivering meals. Instead, they use this service as an opportunity for even more service in Jesus’ name. And, they work to include others in these opportunities of service as a way to disciple others.
Have you ever had an opportunity to serve that you’ve turned into even more opportunities to serve and as opportunities to disciple others?
On your mark… get set… go!
Well, 2011 is here, whether we’re ready or not. I don’t do new years’ resolutions, and I don’t set goals. Resolutions are too easy to break, and important goals usually don’t depend on me, but on God. So, instead, I let God do whatever he wants to do in my life.
However, I can look back over the last few weeks, months, and even years, and I can see how God has been working in my life. Plus, I can sense certain desires and convictions that I think are from God. If these all work together – that is, if I don’t get in God’s way – then I can see a certain direction in my life.
For example, for the last couple of months, I’ve been working on eating more healthy. I realize that much of my unhealthy eating patters are associated with contentment. In 2010, I was not content with several things, including my job situation. I’m learning contentment in several areas, and this is leading to contentment when it comes to food. I want that to continue in the new year.
I’ve been learning what it means to follow Jesus, and I’ve found that it often has little to do with what I’ve been taught it means to be a “good Christian.” It’s often very clear where Jesus is going and what Jesus is doing. Following him, though, is not usually easy. It always means giving up something that’s precious to me. I want to follow him even more in 2011.
I’m continuing what it means that the church is the people of God, and not just a particular people – an exclusive group – but any brothers or sisters that God brings into my life. I want to be ready to and willing to build up any believers that I’m with. Many times, this means that I also need to keep learning to listen. I have a tendency to talk to others instead of listen to others. I hope God continues to work in my life in this area in 2011.
I’ve been recognized as a leader among the church. But, I’m not sure I’m recognized for the right reasons. I think sometimes I’m recognized because of my knowledge or education. Instead, I want to lead people to serve others. Service is the mark of leadership to God. I want to be known more as a servant in 2011.
So, those are some of the areas in my life where God is working. What’s going to happen in 2011? I don’t know. God hasn’t given me a vision into the future. I do, however, have a clearer view of what God expects from all of his children, and I hope my life looks more like that in 2011. I’m willing to take up my cross (sometimes) and follow him. Just being honest…
What about you? What do you think God is doing in your life now that will carry over into 2011?
Church Gatherings – History of Interpretation
I’m about to begin an exciting aspect of my dissertation research: history of interpretation. For those who are new to my blog, I’m currently writing a dissertation (for a PhD) on the topic of the gathering of the church in the New Testament. One chapter of that dissertation will cover the history of interpretation and understanding of the meeting of the church.
The chapter will cover five broad historical eras: post-apostolic age, medieval age, Reformation age, and modern age.
I’ve already completed some research for this chapter, but I have much more to research. So, don’t be surprised if you find some quotes and snippets showing up on my blog.
Which historical era do you think will be the most interesting when it comes to studying church gatherings?