Wednesday, July 22, 2009

My wife's @ 23 weeks!

Our little girl (and yes it's a GIRL!) is growing phenomenally. I'm so excited about our child's progress, and Praise God for the blessing of a child! Many do not even experience the blessings of children, and others take them for granted. Thank you God that you have opened my eyes to your word!

So there were a lot of exclamation points in that last paragraph, but I hope you could tell I am excited. Rachel and I have been moving this past week and are continuing the move throughout this week by patching holes in the old apt and painting over the same holes. I also have to repair the door frame that I dismantled and shim out the door again so that it opens and closes.

As my friend Ryan Sullivan said the other day, with enthusiasm, "It is abundantly about Jesus!" I have dwelt on this phrase and I want it to be my lifelong thought and cry. There is nothing that should separate those that are in Christ because just the thought that Christ has died for my sin as well as your sin should give us so much joy and peace and enthusiasm. If we could only learn to dwell in that thought, we would all be better Christians.

I am closing up some projects at work which have been fun to work on, but I am looking forward to my new life in Jackson. I talked with a friend of mine about one day going into business together (a design-build partnership), and he was enthusiastic about it. If the Lord wills it (James 4:15), I would love to do this one day (probably not to soon, but in a few years). I spoke with a very wise man last night about nothing in particular, but one thing that he said stuck out to me. We should work and if God's blesses our work, then we should know that God has blessed our work (we do have to remember if your work compromises the commandments of God and any convictions you have from the Holy spirit, then God has not blessed your work even if you prosper in wealth). I guess I am just starting to understand how God views our work and what we do to provide for our families.

Things I'm praying for (and you can to!):
  • Piper Ruth Purser
  • Rachel's health and preparation for Labor
  • That the Lord would give me a spirit to exercise and get in shape
  • That I might be able to speak the truth of the word to people in my Class in Architecture School
Remember that Christ has died for your sins before you even knew what was sin! He has walked this earth, died on this earth, and rose on this earth. And if you believe on Christ, that he has died for your sins, then He will Justify you at the end of your life before God Almighty (Yahweh). He is faithful, and there is no deceit in his mouth (2 Timothy 2:13; 1 Peter 2:22), so you can trust that he will fulfill his promise!

Monday, July 13, 2009

The Church

God has really been teaching me about his church, it’s purpose and it’s people, through his word (2 timothy 3:16), unbeknown to me of course. I am quite dense when it comes to understanding the word, but 1 John 2:27 tells me that I do not require teaching, but God himself will teach me (us) all things.


So anyways, the story is that I became interested in (well if you read my last post you’ll see that I mentioned this) 1 Corinthians 1:17-19, seeing that I should make my focus the gospel, and not any other theology or aspect of God. I like listening to M Driscoll when I get the chance (even though I disagree with him on some readings of the word – he confesses Christ’s death and resurrection 1 john 4:1-2) to see what he thinks on different matters, so I found a sermon of his on 1 Corinthians. I have since been listening to his series on the church in Corinth, and at the same time it has been brought to my attention from others (in the body of Christ) readings from the word on what and who the church is.


I see that the church is to be unified in thought, of the same mind (1 Cor 1:10). We are here to encourage each other closer to Christ (1 The 5:11). I had never considered before that the people who are in Christ and understand his justification, my brothers and sisters, should be of one mind. I have never thought of sharing the word of Christ was anything other than trying to bring someone to the Lord. But it’s not! It’s that and more.


The word of Christ is a reasoned explanation of God’s connection to us!

  • It’s an encouragement to those who believe on Christ.
  • It separates those who do not believe on Christ from those who do.
  • It tells of people who have walked this earth before.
  • It tells of what is to come.
  • It is exclusive and inclusive.
  • The word of the bible is for all people’s salvation!

To follow God’s word is to please God. It gives us the opportunity to not shrink away in shame at Christ 2nd coming (1 John 1:28). It gives us peace in time of trouble and in times of joy. It keeps us on our feet and lifts us up with Christ (both to heaven and to sacrifice)!


We are not to give up on each other (Hebrews 10:25), but we are to be of one mind. There can be disagreement in the church, but it must be resolved by the word of Christ. There is no private interpretation of the word (2 peter 1:20).


Thank God that he sent his only son that we might be saved from our sins (Eph 2:8). Thank God that he has given us a new spirit (romans 8:13) that we might be changed from our sinful ways! I say thank God that he gives me a heart for the poor, the widowed, the hurt, the tired, those without hope, those who are lonely, those who are hungry, those who need a ride, those who are frustrated with life, people without peace, people craving more from life, and anyone with whom I may come in contact!


Praise be to God!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

The Gospel preached on nothing else!

I have been intrigued. Creationism... where does evolution leave us when it comes to the word? I have watched some videos by Kent Hovind on creationism, and what I have taken from them is that we should question what we are being taught. 1 John 2:27 says, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."

I believe that this means that we have no need to believe what we are taught, but we are to "test the spirits" as it is said in 1 John 4:1. I have found evolution wanting. I may read more on it, but I have found holes in many arguments put out by evolutionist as well as creationist.

But there is one truth that I have seen in the word through all this:
1 Corinthians 1:17-19
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

My concern should not be what some other person believes by there own logic, but it should be by who they submit there selves to. Are they following themselves? Are they following other people who have come out with some 'new way' of believing? Or do they choose to follow that which has been understood throughout time? What is there God? Most people's God today is themselves. But how can a finite human being be God? How could we even begin to think that our logic, accumulated over the last 50+- years could withstand the test of time? It is pride that tells us to believe in our own logic, and it is foolishness to believe in new logic? My case for Christ comes with the fact that Christianity has survived for 2000+- years. Why would some backwoods religion began in Galilee make it to today?

I have a strong pull towards those in Jackson now that I moving there. I hope that I might impact the lives around me for the glory of God, the God of the scripture, the God of the last 6000 years.

Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

Having met a couple of guys today, and not sharing the gospel with them, has been bugging me. I pray to be my open with Christ in the future.

Change my heart Oh God!

I look forward to sleeping next to my wife tonight as well. Thank you God for a woman who does follow you!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

It's the 2nd of July, and Mississippi is the 5th most obese state for five years running! So hot outside, and yet so cold in my office... I'm ready for the weekend and spending a long and relaxing day with my wife tomorrow! We're gonna lunch-n-bowl and hopefully go swimming.

Pryor-Morrow Architects just came together in fine form. We had bbq, provided by P&M, and everyone else brought food (kinda like pot-luck). I made some potato salad for the event. The recipe came from my kitchen cabinet, meaning whatever spices I had in there, they went into the side dish! It actually turned out really good. One of the older women brought some key lime cheese cake with fruit on top. It was amazing! I'm so stuffed I think I might take a nap right at my computer.

Things I'm planning on doing in the next week:
  • finish a picture book that I started, finished, deleted off my computer, and am re-doing now
  • tend to garden outside and hopefully see some cantaloupe come up that I just planted
  • get a tan
  • share the word with my friends
  • go see my peeps @ tibee
  • have a few good runs with my pups
  • play lots of guitar, i miss it!
  • pray for several friends who are struggling with some things right now
I hope I will always take time to stop, throwing away my list and reinventing it to follow what Christ would have of me: feed the poor, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, teach those younger, pray for those in need, etc.

Deuteronomy 17:19-20:
And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, [to] the right hand, or [to] the left: to the end that he may prolong [his] days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

This reminds me also that I need to be in word (remembering 2 timothy 3:16).

I hope you all have a good fourth of July!