An Amazing Blessing about Ministry

Of late I have been taking an assessment of the time which God has graciously granted to serve him since 1993 until the present. From 1993 to 2008 I was blessed to serve in youth ministry in one form or fashion. In looking at that time Jill and I were discouraged at where many of those we served are at in their lives now in relation to serving the Lord. Yet in the midst of this God reminded us of the blessing of pouring our lives into others by seeing of late some those who are serving the Lord and making an impact for HIS Glory. It is amazing that each are serving right here in the Kershaw, SC area!

In our church I get to serve with Lonnie Smith. We met Lonnie while serving in Conway, SC and God has blessed us to have had a presence in his life since that time. He is quite gifted and he loves and serve our youth quite well at Oak Ridge. God has blessed Lonnie with a graciousness by which he carries himself and serves others. This gracious spirit comes from his love for his Savior. He is a challenge and an encouragement to both Jill and I along with being a blessing to our children. My goal is to love and serve him well while challenging him to continually mine the depths of the Gospel and to apply it well as he seeks to glorify HIM in all he does.

I have just recently re-connected with another of our former youth from our time in Conway as well. Hunter Frye is now a teacher at a local middle school here in the Kershaw area. We had watched him from afar on Facebook (some call this creepin' on Facebook, of which Jill is a master - lol) since our time in Conway and we had seen that he had been active in his faith and serving his Savior. I did not know that he was so close to us until I went to an Eighth Grade football game to support one of our youth and looked out at the field and my jaw dropped to see him coaching! We then talked after the game and then I was invited to a FCA meeting that he was leading at the middle school a few weeks later. I look forward to serving him in any way possible to foster more growth so that he can continue to impact students for HIS Glory.

It is so humbling to see these two men of God serving HIM! I must add that during this time God has also aloud us to see others that are serving the LORD and this has been humbling. What an honor we have been given to serve our amazing God and King. Jill and I have done so since we started dating in 1998 and I have been doing so since 1993. My prayer is that we can continue to love and serve well and always seek to find ways in which to pour ourselves out for HIS Glory!

Quote from Joe Thorn's great book "Note to Self"

I have been reading a great book by Joe Thorn entitled "Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself". I have been reading through this with our Youth Minister at Oak Ridge, Lonnie Smith. It has been quite good for my soul and challenging. God has blessed me through this and I highly encourage anyone to get this book. Here is a great quote:

"Seeking God means that you are continually aiming and working at knowing him more deeply, depending on him more thoroughly, and experiencing his grace more richly...It is unfortunate that you forget your need to seek God, for though you are right that God is enough, you forget that he is only found to be enough by those who seek him. Seeking God means that in all you do, you keep his honor in your mind, his Word in your heart, and his glory as your goal - so you are seeking to actually know him and make him known." (from Chapter 12 "Seek God")

Jerry Rankin Quote and News

"We need to recognize that, in God's providence, all He allows us to experience is to result in a testimony to the nations." (from the chapter Dr. Rankin wrote in the new book "The Great Commission Resurgence

Dr. Rankin served with the IMB (International Mission Board) of the Southern Baptist Convention for 40 years. HE was the president of the IMB for 17 of those years. He is joining forces with Columbia International University (CIU). I started seminary at CIU (before finally finishing at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) and the school has a special place in my heart, here's the article:

Dr. Jerry Rankin to Head Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies at CIU

May 10, 2011

Dr. Jerry Rankin has been named the new director of The Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies at Columbia International University effective May 6. Rankin recently retired after 40 years of service with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board (IMB), the last 17 years as president. Prior to becoming president of the IMB, Dr. Rankin and his wife Bobbye served for 23 years in Asia, initially as missionaries in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world.

The Zwemer Center offers a curriculum on Muslim Studies, including a master’s degree, and sponsors research, seminars, dialogues and training conferences.

While continuing to live at his home in Mississippi, Rankin will give direction to planning, administration and implementation of the growing Muslim Studies program at CIU under the auspices of the Zwemer Center.

Dr. Mike Barnett, the associate dean of the College of Intercultural Studies at CIU says Rankin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the area of Muslim Studies.

“Dr. Rankin’s decades of service with the IMB are invaluable as we look to the future at the Zwemer Center and consider new venues for Muslim studies both inside CIU’s College of Intercultural Studies, and assisting the church outside the university,” Barnett said.

Rankin replaces Dr. Warren Larson who will retire in 2012. Larson will continue to serve The Zwemer Center and CIU through his teaching, writing, and blogging.

A resource for Gospel-Centered Living

Tullian Tchvidjian posted the following article on his blog with a list of 15 books for Christians to have more Biblical understanding of the Gospel:

As I’ve said before, I once assumed (along with the vast majority of professing Christians) that the gospel was simply what non-Christians must believe in order to be saved, while afterward we advance to deeper theological waters. But I’ve come to realize that once God rescues sinners, his plan isn’t to steer them beyond the gospel, but to move them more deeply into it. The gospel, in other words, isn’t just the power of God to save you, it’s the power of God to grow you once you’re saved. After all, the only antidote to sin is the gospel—and since Christians remain sinners even after they’re converted, the gospel must be the medicine a Christian takes every day.

This idea that the gospel is just as much for Christians as it is for non-Christians may seem like a new idea to many but, in fact, it is really a very old idea.

Well, I’ve had some great help along the way as I’ve wrestled with this “new idea.” There have been some books (beneath the Bible) which have helped me better understand how God intends the reality of the gospel to mold and shape and liberate us at every point and in every way. The following list of books (not in any particular order) is not exhaustive, but if you read them you will be moving in the right direction toward a better, more Biblical understanding of the Christian’s need for the gospel.

1. Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges

2. The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges

3. The Gospel-Driven Life by Micheal Horton

4. In Christ Alone by Sinclair Ferguson

5. Scandalous Freedom by Steve Brown

6. When Being Good Isn’t Good Enough by Steve Brown

7. Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick

8. Christ Formed In You by Brian Hedges

9. Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller

10. The Prodigal God by Tim Keller

11. The Reign of Grace by Scotty Smith

12. Holiness by Grace by Bryan Chapell

13. From Fear to Freedom by Rose Marie Miller

14. Counsel From the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Dennis Johnson

15. The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification by Walter Marshall

Are there any others that you would suggest?

At the very least, begin with the list above. It will do your soul good. I promise.

My prayer for you (and for the whole church) is that as you come to a better understanding of the length and breadth of the gospel you will be recaptured everyday by the “God of great expenditure” who gave everything that we might possess all.

This is soooo me!

I found this blog post by Kevin DeYoung so descriptive of me (he titled this post Parenting 001):

Does it seem like parenting has gotten more complicated? I mean, as far as I can tell, back in the day parents basically tried to feed their kids, clothe them, and keep them away from explosives. Now our kids have to sleep on their backs (no wait, their tummies; no never mind, their backs), while listening to Baby Mozart surrounded by scenes of Starry, Starry Night. They have to be in piano lessons before they are five and can’t leave the car seat until they’re about five foot six.

It’s all so involved. There are so many rules and expectations. Kids can’t even eat sugar anymore. My parents were solid as a rock but we still had a cupboard populated with cereal royalty like Captain Crunch and Count Chocula. In our house the pebbles were fruity and the charms were lucky. The breakfast bowl was a place for marshmallows, not dried camping fruit. Our milk was 2%. And sometimes, if we needed to take the edge off a rough morning, we’d tempt fate and chug a little Vitamin D.

Trial by Error

I don’t consider myself a particularly good parent. I was asked to speak a few years ago at some church’s conference. They wanted me to talk about parenting. I said I didn’t have much to say so they should ask someone else (which they did). My kids are probably not as crazy as they seem to me (at least that’s what I keep telling myself anyway), but if I ever write a book on parenting I’m going to call it The Inmates Are Running the Asylum.

There are already scores of books on parenting, many of them quite good. I’ve read several of them and have learned much. I really do believe in gospel-powered parenting and shepherding my child’s heart. I want conversations like this:

Me: What’s the matter son?
Child: I want that toy and he won’t give it to me!
Me: Why do you want the toy?
Child: Because it will be fun to play with.
Me: Do you think he is having fun playing with the toy right now?
Child: Yes.
Me: Would it make him sad to take the toy away?
Child: I guess so.
Me: And do you like to make your brother sad?
Child: No.
Me: You know, Jesus tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves. That means loving your brother the way he would want to be loved. Since Jesus loves us so much, we have every reason to love others–even your brother. Would you like to love him by letting him play with the toy for awhile?
Child: Yes I would daddy.

I try that. Really I do. But here’s what actually happens:

Me: What’s the matter son?
Child: I want that toy and he won’t give it to me!
Me: Why do you want the toy?
Child: I don’t know.
Me: What’s going on in your heart when you desire that toy?
Child: I don’t know.
Me: Think about it son. Use your brain. Don’t you know something?
Child: I guess I just want the toy.
Me: Obviously. But why?
Child: I don’t know.
Me: Fine. [Mental note: abandon "why" questions and skip straight to leading questions.] Do you think he is having fun playing with the toy right now?
Child: No.
Me: Really?! He’s not having fun? Then why does he want that toy in the first place?
Child: Because he’s mean.
Me: Have you ever considered that maybe you are being mean by trying to rip the toy from his quivering little hands?
Child: I don’t know.
Me: What do you know?
Child: I don’t know!
Me: Nevermind. [I wonder how my brilliant child can know absolutely nothing at this moment.] Well, I think taking the toy from him will make your brother sad. Do you like to make him sad?
Child: I don’t know.
Me: [Audible sigh.]
Child: He makes me sad all the time!
Me: Well, I’m getting sad right now with your attitude! [Pause, think, what would Paul Tripp do? Thinking . . . .thinking . . . .man, I can't stop thinking of that mustache. This isn't working. Let's just go right to the Jesus part.] You know, Jesus wants us to love each other.
Child: I don’t know.
Me: I didn’t ask you a question!
Child: [Pause.] Can I have some fruit snacks?
Me: No, you can’t have fruit snacks. We are talking about the gospel. Jesus loves us and died for us. He wants you to love your brother too.
Child: So?
Me: So give him the toy back!

Then I lunge for the toy and the child runs away. I tell him to come back here this instant and threaten to throw the toy in the trash. I recommit myself to turning down speaking engagements on parenting.

Growing What You Can

I want to grow as a parent–in patience and wisdom and consistency. But I also know that I can’t change my kids’ hearts. I am responsible for my heart and must be responsible to teach them the way of the Lord. But nothin’ guarantees nothin’. I’m just trying to be faithful, and then repent for all the times I’m not.

I have four kids and besides the Lord’s grace, I’m banking on the fact that there really are just a few non-negotiables in parenting. There are plenty of ways to screw up our kids, but whether they color during church, for example, is not one of them. There is not a straight line from doodling in the service as a toddler to doing meth as a teenager. Could it be that beyond the basics of godly parenting, that most of the other techniques and convictions are nibbling around the edges? Certainly, there are lots of ways that good parents make parenting a saner, more enjoyable experience, but even the kid addicted to Angry Birds who just downed a pack of Fun Dip and is now watching his third Pixar movie of the week (day?) still has a decent shot at not being a sociopath.

I remember years ago hearing a line from Alistair Begg, quoting another man, that went like this: “When I was young I had six theories and no kids. Now I have six kids and no theories.” I must be smart. It only took me four kids to run out of theories.

Getting a Few Things Right

I look back at my childhood and think, “What did my parents do right?” I watched too many Growing Pains reruns and played a lot of Super Techmo Bowl (LT could block every extra point and Christian Okoye was a stud). I never learned to like granola or my vegetables (kids, stop reading this post immediately!). But yet, I always knew they loved me. They made me go to church every Wednesday and twice on every Sunday. They made us do our homework. They laid down obvious rules–the kinds that keep kids from killing each other. They wouldn’t accept any bad language, and I didn’t hear any from them. Mom took care of us when we were sick. Dad told us he loved us. I never found porn around the house or booze or dirty secrets. We read the Bible. We got in trouble when we broke the rules. I don’t remember a lot of powerful heart-to-heart conversations. But we knew who we were, where we stood, and what to expect. I’d be thrilled to give my kids the same.

I worry that many young parents are a) too adamant about the particulars of their parenting or b) too sure that every decision will set their kids on an unalterable trajectory to heaven or hell. It’s like my secretary at the church once told me: “Most moms and dads think they are either the best or the worst parents in the world, and both are wrong.” Could it be we’ve made parenting too complicated? Isn’t the most important thing not what we do but who we are as parents? They will see our character before they remember our exact rules regarding television and twinkies.

I could be wrong. My kids are still young. Maybe this no-theory is a theory of its own. I just know that the longer I parent the more I want to focus on doing a few things really well, and not get too passionate about all the rest. I want to spend time with my kids, teach them the Bible, take them to church, laugh with them, cry with them, discipline them when they disobey, say sorry when I mess up, and pray like crazy. I want them to look back and think, “I’m not sure what my parents were doing or if they even knew what they’re were doing. But I always knew my parents loved me and I knew they loved Jesus.” Maybe it’s not that complicated after all.

Great Quote from J.C. Ryle

"Weak, feeble and foolish as it may seem to people, the simple story of the Cross is enough for all mankind in every part of the globe."

The story of the Cross is devastatingly simple and yet it changed history! I'm so thankful for HIS story and for the graciousness HE has shown! This graciousness was undeserved in every way and yet bestowed anyway. Because of HIS grace I've been transformed...I shudder every time I consider this!

I love J.C. Ryle and I encourage any and every person to read his material!

Quotes from John Owen

"Be killing sin or it will be killing you."

How true this is! We must daily be seeking out and killing the sin that destroys by means of the gospel!


"Past faithfulness is not a protection against present dangers."

Too often we find ourselves "resting on our laurels" especially when it comes to our faith. Past faithfulness is just that and yet it seems to be what most seem to be content with. This keeps us out of God's will. May our hearts be repentant and may we diligently guard and apply the gospel daily to keep us from such apathetic lives of contentment.

Great Quote

"Sin is the ultimate disease, the grand psychosis. You cannot escape it or defeat it...We deal with much more than suffering, disease, disappointment, and death. Our deepest problem is not experimental, biological, or relational; it is moral, and it alters everything. It distorts our identity, alters our perspective, derails our behavior, and kidnaps our hope."

This quote is from Paul David Tripp when speaking of what sin does to us in "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands" (p.12)

My wife is amazing

Lately my wife has amazed me. There are too many instances to truly name but I wanted to share a few.

We have been trying to reach young couples and singles along with establishing a consistent Children's ministry so that we can invest in the children of our church, especially on Sunday evenings. Jill volunteered to co-teach the class with me because of her heart for young ladies that age and leads our Sunday Night ministry Worship Kidstyle. She works nights and frequently works on weekends. She often works on Saturday Night which means she works 7pm Saturday evening to 7am Sunday morning. She will say up and help to teach Sunday morning and then go to service. She then wakes up and leads Worship Kidstyle. No, I did not ask her to do any of this she does it out of a heart to serve and see people established in their relationship with our Great God and King.

In December, I saw her do something that blew me away! We were going out to eat and I had the kids with me in the party wagon (a.k.a. the minivan) while she was following behind us in the car. She had to work that evening so I decided to "cook" dinner ;). I came over a rise and noticed the truck coming toward me was veering off the road. He then over corrected and flipped! I called 911 (it took forever on the phone, if I would've been in the process of being attacked I would've been dead - but back to he story). Jill then came over the rise and saw the truck. She stopped immediately and by the time I got off the phone she had "army crawled" into the truck which was on its roof through shards of glass and was pulling the man to safety! When the EMT s arrived and took the man we noticed her arm hard been cut up by the glass. Seeing her in "nurse mode" was amazing.

Now all this sounds like the biased opinion of a blessed husband and to a certain extent it is. Yet the amazing thing is that these acts and the heart with which they are graciously lived out are the norm not the extraordinary and for that I'm eternally grateful for HIS placing of Jill into my life. I'm thankful for HIS allowing me to cherish and serve such a gift as Jill.

It's been a while

It's been a while since my last post and there has been much happening. I will put up some posts to catch up over the next week or so. I guess I'll start with my Dad's upcoming surgery. He's been diagnosed with prostate cancer and has surgery this Friday. I will be traveling to West Virginia on Thursday and then return on Saturday so that I can be there with him, Mom, and my sister Amy.

The difficult thing about living so far from family is when issues such as this arise. With our parents getting older there is, at least in my mind, a thought of what to do if health becomes a distinct factor being this far away. The added difficulty is being able to travel or find childcare without having family near us. We have been away from family for almost our entire marriage and all three of our children have been born here in South Carolina so we are used to trusting in HIS provision and we are so thankful for HIS graciousness to us. Yet when times like this arise it is difficult. In the midst of the difficulty we have found that HIS faithfulness is so amazing and this aids us in making trusting HIM our default position rather than seeking to trust in and of ourselves to come up with the needed resources or answers and that is a wonderful expression of HIS grace to us.

As for this trip to West Virginia, Jill was unable to switch a scheduled shift so both her and the kids will be staying here while I travel. We are thankful for a member of the body at Oak Ridge that will be staying with the kids and taking them to school the next morning while Jill is at work that night. This is yet another way in which HIS body is caring for us and by which HE is meeting our needs.

I will post more over the upcoming weeks to catch up on all that HE has been faithful in providing over the past few months. Please be in prayer for my Dad and for us as we will be apart for those two nights.