iSonto #27

This week we are thankful for the . . .

* Plums Dave preserved single handedly, without my help!

* Two walking people, two hands to hold

* Bonjela for lots of hard days and nights of teething

Elnathan made us happy showing creativity in his duplo constructions. He also taught me several songs from Play School.

Natey's memory verse was "You shall not covet".


Mercy was happy to chew on corn, and had great success in clearing a cob with her six teeth.

From garden to tummies . . .

We had lots of vegetables to have with tortillas including tomatoes with basil, radishes, lettuce, and carrot.

A book we enjoyed together was "The Friday Nights of Nanna", a story about preparing the house for a Jewish Sabbath and then the family coming for a meal. We have been known to read this more than three times in one day. When we had our lifegroup for dinner and a study on Friday and they left Nate said "Our family are leaving now". This was both a good reminder to us that church is family and a reflection of what we have been reading about preparing dinners for guests!

Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp again. I read the chapter about serving and cleaning being for God not people on just the right messy, frustrating day!

One funny moment occured because Nate wanted a car made out of an old beer can that Dave purchased on a trip to Madagascar, wihch is an ornament and not a toy. All this was explained, along with the fact that the car is for grown ups. These things are hard for a small boy to understand and he kept wanting to play with it. He said to me: "One day Gascar will come and he will give me the car as a treat. Gascar is a grown up." . . . We have been trying to explain that Madagascar is a country, not a person, but that is also hard for a small boy to understand!

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The Centrality of the Home in Evangelism and Discipleship

I highly recommend Voddie Baucham's message "The Centrality of the Home in Evangelism and Discipleship". I have listened to it once on my own, and once with Dave.




Voddie Baucham is an African American who was saved out of a very troubled background. It is worth buying the CD just to hear his testimony of a transformed life! One of his major passions is apologetics. He also recognises the absolute necessity of training up generations to follow God. As a Southern Baptist, he challenges the church to consider the fact that current models of discipling young people are not effective and we need to return to biblical priorities.

One of the most striking facts from his talk is that conversions of young people have dropped since youth ministries have been extended. He rightly points out that a young people are meant to be discipled by their parents, and church programs can never take the place of this. He argues that they often aim to substitute for effective parenting. Unless the church returns to a biblical focus, their efforts will continue to produce little fruit. Parents need to be challenged to take up their responsibilities, and the church should not be attempting to fulfill those for them.

Another stiking impression that I gained from this CD is that in God's eyes disobedience to parents is as serious as sins such as homosexuality, and is just as much a sign of a depraved generation. Often Christians express horror at some sins, but ignore those that are rampant in the church. This must be repented of.

You can purchase this CD from vision forum, at this link. Vision Forum provides excellent service to Australia. Even though I always ask for standard shipment, the books and CDs I order usually arrive within a week or two via courier. I have never had any problems at all with receiving what I order, and the staff are always happy to assist and reply to email queries.

Voddie Baucham has recently released a new book, which you can read about in Crystal's post on her week in reading. It is called Family Driven Faith and I am sure if would be an excellent way to extend the understandings gained from the CD "The Centrality of the Home in Evangelism and Discipleship". Crystal is living out the truths in this CD through reading the Bible to her very young children.

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Marriage ceremony

Dave and I have been working on the form we would like our marriage ceremony to take. We have decided to use most of this Christian Reformed Church marriage ceremony with additions from the Presbyterian service. We really like the prayer at the end, and have added to it a bit. We also like the description of the purposes of marriage and roles within it. I really like the role differences in the vows, as I am uncomfortable with identical vows like those in the sample Presbyterian service we were given. We have also added to the vows. We want the traditional "for richer, for poorer" etc. included, and we also want to promise to raise any children God gives us to love and serve our Saviour. We will probably make more additions and deletions in the three weeks before our wedding day.

We chose our hymns about two months ago. We are planning to have "Holy, Holy, Holy", "Amazing Grace", "Oh Perfect Love" and another title I can't quite remember right now - something like "Happy the Home". I think we need to practise all these before hand so we can sing with great enthusiasm :).

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Good traditions

Carmon has written a post about Traditions, pointing out that "For many Christians, “tradition” is a four-letter word". Carmon goes onto note that everyone has traditions, whether they acknowledge it or not. Pentecostal or contemporary churches have their own rituals. Carmon also has some sweet thoughts about wedding traditions.

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Around the Internet

My friend Felicity has a new blog, In God's Strength. Her goal of cultivating thankfulness through her blogging is a good one, and her recent posts reflect this aim.

I haven't been able to visit Kimi's blog for a long time, and when I visited today I was sorry to read that she is still enduring a lot of sickness. In her most recent post, Humility through illness, Kimi shares this about her illness: "It has been a constant reminder of my own weaknesses and how much I need God and other's help. If I had the perfect picture home, kept up on everything all the time, and was able to meet everyone's needs constantly, I could feel like I had "made it" and get prideful about myself. Sometimes you see this tendency in some of our Christian leaders-the desire to paint the picture perfect family. This is dangerous ground to be on and will more tend to discourage instead of encourage others. I personally find that I am most meaningfully encouraged by leaders who share God's grace and abundance to them through their own weaknesses". I recommend reading the whole post.

My friend Mike is aiming focus on encouragement through his blog. I appreciated his recent post on our pastor Mike and his wife Nikki . He explains the encouragement they have brought to his life. I have also been encouraged by their lives, especially Mike's humility in admitting where things have gone wrong in the past.

Susan has written a response to an article that was negative about marriage. "Silly Me" explores the self centeredness of many reasons why people avoid marriage, and offers "10 fascinating benefits to being married" as a response. I have noticed that many reasons Christians give for why they are happy to remain single are also self centered. So are most of the things Christians say to people who are not happy about being single. For example, "you have so much more time and you don't have to take care of others". Yay! What a great time in my life to value my individual freedom and autonomy so I can become more and more selfish and less willing to adjust to the serving that is necessary in marriage! [Read sarcasm, please!]. Of course, Christians can always bring out 1 Corinthians 7 . . . but I think most of us know that the reason we are not married is not because we are serving God better that way! I hope to elaborate further on this topic in future.

Finally, please drop over to Feminists for Life. These ladies are the type of feminists that I like.

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The choice

Keziah has a new post on the ministry, titled He Commanded our Fathers to Teach. Keziah discusses further the benefits of being a ministry family. In the comments section she mentioned that she wonders if an unmarried woman can feel "called" to be a minister's wife. I think this issue may have come from my post on the pressures of ministry where I wrote that "it would be important to consider the particular pressures of ministry and whether you are called to that role before marrying someone who is headed in that direction."

The use of the word "called" in this context was a poor choice. "Called" is a term liable to be misunderstood. It is often used in the context of people who feel that God has spoken to them directly with regard to a particular life path. I did not mean this in the context in which I used the word. What I meant was simply that a woman should consider her God-given personality, gifts, and inclinations. God has not given all of us the gifts and internal resources it takes to fulfill particular roles. A woman considering a lifetime of marriage to a minister needs to count the cost of her decision beforehand.

The fact that Satan puts many perils in the paths of those who devote themselves to full time Christian service should not deter anyone from following this path, as long as they have seriously considered those perils and believe that God has gifted them with the maturity to withstand the trials and temptations that come with the job. To enter full time ministry without considering these difficulties could be a sign of pride and immaturity.

It could also be a sign of immaturity to want to avoid the job solely on the basis that it is difficult. I have been guilty of this type of immaturity at times. Our goal in life should be to have God's word shape our thinking in every area. God's vision for ministry is very different to the situations we often see around us. Knowledge about the challenges minister's face should be used as a tool to help them avoid pitfalls, and achieve what God wants, not as a reason to avoid the difficulties of ministry. As Phil has noted, where there is suffering for Christ there is also joy.

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The joy of being a minister's family

I appreciated Phil's comment in relation to my recent post about the difficulties of being in ministry and how this can impact on families. As a minister's son who is now studying at Bible College, Phil provides a more positive perspective. I am convinced that Phil's position is a Biblical one. We need to focus on what God's vision for families in ministry is, rather than the negative stories that abound. Achieving a healthy family life while in full time ministry may be challenging, but God is more than able to work in the lives of his people in order to achieve it.

thanks for raising that topic & providing that link sherrin.

just to balance the arguement, there are also many many positive things about being in ministry, and raising a family while in ministry!

What a testimony to your children that you have devoted your life to Christian ministry even though you could have lived more comfortably!

What other children have the opportunity to hear their father's thoughts on the big issues of life in a carefully prepared monologue each week?In what other kind of family are you as constantly exposed to the gospel, mission, missionaries and thier stories (we had a constant stream of them come through our house as I was growing up)?

It true that ministry is costly. Israel killed most of its prophets, they killed Jesus, stoned Stephen, put Paul in prison... But that's part of being a Christian and following Christ and it seems to me that Paul would not have traded his future "crown of rejoicing" for anything less (I Thess 2:19-20). Jeremiah couldn't help himself - he had to preach - even though he wished he had never been born (Jeremiah 20). That paradox of ministry - great suffering, great joy!

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The pressures of ministry

I appreciated Keziah's recent post Rest for your Soul. Keziah quotes statistics about the problems many pastors face. I am not sure if things are as bad as these quotes make them out to be, but I am certain that pastors do face many unique pressures. They are often faced with unrealistic expectations from their congregations. I have been known to say that I don't want to marry a minister, because of the pressures their families face. I realised later that my thoughts were coming from selfish motives. However, I still think that it would be important to consider the particular pressures of ministry and whether you are called to that role before marrying someone who is headed in that direction. Thankfully I am going out with a scientist so it is not something I need to think about!

One of my friends pointed out to me that the Bible teaches that we are all ministers in one way or another. If we were all ministering to one another in the way the Bible teaches us to, those who are called to devote themselves to full time ministry would not find themselves so pressured.

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Loving the church

Today I enjoyed reading two posts that are an encouragement to love God's people more.

In last week's Thursday of Thankfulness post, Lydia wrote about being grateful for church leaders and praying for them often.

Susan wrote about putting on grace tinted spectacles as we look at other Christians.

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Testimonies

This Thursday I'd like to give thanks for testimonies. Since last Wednesday, I have been blessed to hear four testimonies of God's work.

On Wednesday last week a lady who had taken Bibles to China came to the school where I work to share her experiences with the primary aged children. Her enthusiasm for the people of China and her passionate expression of her experiences held their attention for nearly an hour and a half! On that day I was struggling with worry about the outcome of my compensation case (the outcome ended up being another cause for thanks). It was a blessing to be re-focused on God and upon those in more difficult circumstances than myself, and it helped me to realise anew how much I have been given. I especially enjoyed her account of her visit to a Chinese woman who lived in poor conditions with a dirt floor. This woman welcomed her with great joy and affection, attempting to communicate although she did not know english. She shared her few possessions with her, including three apples from her winter store. Such examples of generosity are always an inspiration!

A few days later I heard the testimonies of two Chinese women at a World Prayer Night. It was good to hear first hand from those who have experienced Chinese rule. One woman shared how her parents and other close relatives were ardent communists. She also shared about devoted Christian women in Malaysia helped her to come to know Christ. This was an inspiration to love people in a self sacrificing way. Both woman shared struggles in their Christian lives which were a reminder that we can all face similar struggles no matter which country we come from!

At church on Sunday a woman was baptised. She shared her life experiences, which included many traumatic events such as rape, divorce, prostitution and having to place her children in foster care. She had even conceived as a result of rape and given the child up for adoption. It was a blessing that she was willing to be so open about her life. It is good for Christians to be reminded of what we are saved from through God's grace, and that God's kingdom is open to all who repent and believe. It was a reminder of God's power to save.

I appreciate it that God moved these women's hearts to share about his work in their lives. Their testimonies were a challenge to me to be more open about what God has done in my life, so that others can be encouraged. I don't like to go around talking to much about past events, or to give unnecessary details, yet I also need to be open to God leading me to share. We all need to be willing to share the power of God in our lives, both in conversion and afterwards, so that others can give thanks with us.

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Brother, let me be your servant

I enjoy singing this at my church, Crossroads Presbyterian. I know I do not live up to the words of the song, but they are an expression of what we are called to as the church.

Brother, let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant, too

We are pilgrims on a journey
We are brothers on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load

I will hold the Christlight for you
In the night-time of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you
Speak the peace you long to hear

I will weep when you are weeping
When you laugh I’ll laugh with you
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we’ve seen this journey through

When we sing to God in heaven
We shall find such harmony
Born of all we’ve known together
Of Christ’s love and agony

Brother, let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant, too

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More adventures in Sydney

God has continued to bless me up here in this big city!

I have been learning a lot at work, and seem to have been of some use as well!

On Saturday it was a beautiful sunny day. This was lovely since it was overcast for five days after I arrived, and I did not see the sun once! On Saturday I visited the Art Gallery, and enjoyed seeing several amazing old buildings on the way. At the Art Gallery I enjoyed looking at Australian 19th and early 20th century paintings, and European 15th and 16th century paintings. As usual, I avoided the modern section! After that I went to the zoo. I love animals, and always love to visit zoos. Taronga zoo is especially great since it has amazing views of the harbour.

On Sunday I went to Roseville Presbyterian Church. I appreciated the sermon on reaching the lost, the hymns, the prayers, and even the organ music! It was great to have a good experience of going to a church I did not know. I have had several bad experiences in the past, while on holiday. I also visited the Roseville Anglican Church for the end of their service. It also seems like a good evangelical church. I would have gone back in the evening, but it is 20 mins walk from my aunts and my feet were very sore after walking heaps on Saturday.

Overall, I am praising God for a great visit to Sydney.

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God's Providence - His People

My Local Church
I am blessed to attend a fellowship were the Bible and the gospel are valued, Crossroads Presbyterian Church. I appreciate hearing the Bible preached weekly. I am also grateful that at the end of 2005 we began having more singing. We sing mainly hymns, which I love. We also became a bigger church in 2005, through receiving back two church plants to form the "new Crossroads". At this church I have many friends, and I greatly appreciate God's gift of these relationships. We are a church of mostly twenty-somethings, and we meet in this very, uh, unusual building, with an unusual colour scheme.


It used to be a cinema. There is also another large room with booths, that used to be a bingo hall! This is good for chatting after the service.

God's People Far Away
I am also grateful for relationships with God's people overseas, through letters, email, and phone calls.

Another aspect of God's Providence is people I don't know personally, who bless me so much through their writing and speaking. In 2005 I benifitted from reading many people's contributions on the Internet, which challenged me in new ways. I also benefitted from reading many books, including several commentaries on the Bible. It is wonderful that God's people can be such a blessing even from a long distance. One book I read in mid-2005, Joshua Harris' Stop Dating the Chruch!: Fall in love with the family of God, challenged me to more deeply grasp God's plan for working through his church. I don't think I've ever been a real "church hopper". However, I did not see how important the church is to God and how important he wants it to be to us.

Answers in Genesis Conference
This year I also had the privilege of attending an Answers in Genesis conference, which I loved. I was able to go despite my back problem, because they had inner spring mattresses. I had a wonderful time of fellowship on the Gold Coast. There were very few people my age, but I enjoyed talking to many older people and having the privilege of hearing their stories.

Here I am with some of the ladies I enjoyed meeting:

During 2005 the Answers in Genesis ministry helped me to understand that there are two types of science:

1. Observational science can be measured and observed through repeatable experiments, and enables us to create things like computers.

2. Historical science concerns the past and cannot be observed and tested in the present. The views people come to on historical science depend upon their interpretations and beliefs. Evolutionists and Creationists have the same facts.
Evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould said "Facts do not 'speak for themselves', they are read in the light of theory." Evolutionist educater P. MacInnis said: "The Genesis account of creation may even be the correct one, but there is no way science can prove or disprove that, and the creationists know it."

Many sincere, godly Christians are confused because they believe evolution is "proven", when it is not. They try to fit death and suffering into a "very good" world before the fall of man, which undermines the gospel message. I am deeply grateful for the ministry of God's people at Answers in Genesis, who have helped so many to trust in the truth of God's word and the work of Christ on the cross.

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