The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:1-14 ESV)
Category Archives: seeking understanding
freaking out from all the news? keep calm and read this…
Filed under disciple making, seeking understanding
Budapest
A couple of quick days, far too quick to see everyone I’d wish, ends this morning as I head home.
As I was reading this morning I was struck by these words.
“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15 ESV)
Filed under photos along the way, seeking understanding, travel notes
Some reflections on 6 years full time today #thankful
As I was getting my gear together this morning to catch the 0745 from Szeged to Budapest my friend Gabor congratulated me on my work anniversary. Seems he noted it on LinkedIn.
Once on the train I began to reflect on the idea that it’s appropriate that Gabor made that early congratulation since he was the first Hungarian I ever met when I first arrived in 1997. Back then I had come to Hungary to check on a student exchange program between Deak Ferenc Gimnazium in Szeged and The Covenant School in Charlottesville (which I served as Chaplain and ‘everything else that neither Copeland nor Collmus wanted to do’).
That visit to Szeged and Budapest in March of 1997 would be the seed God would use to behind the vision for the founding of CEO 3 years later in April of 2000.
Then, in late 2008, the idea to leave the security and safety of the paycheck from the school began to grow. Months later, and 6 years ago today, I walked out of Covenant after leading a prayer in a closing ceremony for the last time as an employee. Later that day I got on a plane to Hungary with a team for a short term trip.
Teams are now part of CEO’s history but my travels continue. I’m writing this post from a train, just finished a coffee and am getting picked up by a couple of pastors who I will ask some questions on a quick retreat.
I’m thankful to God. For I know that the development of our network of partners has been His hand at work.
So, yes, it is very appropriate that this anniversary fall on my first full day in Hungary after 4 weeks of travel to D. R. Congo, South Africa, Croatia, Palestine, Israel, Serbia and Bosnia i Hertzigovina.
It’s also timely that during an impromptu meeting ‘as I’m going’ with a ‘fellow disciple’ that he encouraged me that ministry progress (that I didn’t even know about) was fruit of our disciple making conversations. God is great! Thanks be to God!
See, it’s God’s deal, it’s God’s fruit. Our job, according to Jesus, is to make disciples as we go.
As you travel behind Jesus, point people to Him and learn from Him together.
Dubrovnik
Scripture reminder and breakfast on a quick stopover to catch a flight to Beograd.
Filed under disciple making, photos along the way, seeking understanding
thinkers on “the state”
Perica (p. 211) introduces his conclusion with quotes from Hegel, Nietzsche, Machiavelli, and Orwell on the state.
Those to look to the state or think their state “good” or “Christian” would do well to reflect on these words.
Don’t freak out, I’m not endorsing these four, but I do endorse thought.
Loving the Bible
This was reportedly said by Charles Spurgeon: “By this the elect of God are known—that they love the Word of God”
I have been a student of the Bible for 35 years now. I try to read it every day and to one degree or another I am successful. It is my source of certainty about the knowledge of God. Yes, I said certainty.
When I was in seminary a while back I was struck to discover that textual criticism had failed as a tool to disprove the Bible, but rather, thanks to the work of textual critics, I can have more trust in the Bible.
Recently I’ve been studying about Islam for a program I’m in. I’m not studying Islam, I’m studying about Islam. As I have read about its early history, I have been struck by the apparent weakness of its core document. It is a document that, according to what I am learning, can not stand the test of textual criticism as the Bible has.
If you are a disciple of Jesus, you are a learner (that’s what the word means), you should cultivate a love of the Bible, what Spurgeon called the Word of God.
Tragically, studies show many Christians, and, sadly even their pastors, do not share this love of the Word of God. Too bad more Christians aren’t disciples.
Don’t study about God, study God. Be a learner. Be disciplined. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you cultivate a love of the Word He breathed into existence.
kingdom travelin' 