one pilgrims' progress

2009-07-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

Yes, I do love Meredith but this blog is about a book calledCrazy Love by a pastor in Simi Valley, CA and graduate of the Master's College and Seminary, Francis Chan. Over the years I have been greatly challenged when this man has presented the Word of God as it is--radical, awesome, gripping...

I am right now enjoying listening to it as an audio book, which I got for free and thought others might want to know how. Christianaudio.com is a website that sells audio books. Having an account on file (creating a login) comes with the perk of a free download every month. Crazy Love is this month's offer. Previous downloads have included titles such as The Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyan, The Rare Jewel of Christian Conentment by Burroughs, The Life and Diary of David Brainerd edited by Edwards to name a few. Briefly, you might find opening an account worth your time. A single email comes once a month to notify you of the free download.

To obtain this current title for free, open an account this month, add Crazy Love to your cart, and enter JUL2009 as the coupon code. Enjoy!

2009-06-20T04:49:00.000-07:00

Name Change!

I've had this blog for a few years now and, although the posts do not show it, have enjoyed writing on it. The name, however, needed some adjustment. It just wasn't right. So I hope you appreciate the new title. If it looks the same, it basically is with one change. Like a grammarian, I attempted to be clever with punctuation. Whereas at one time I wrote about one pilgrim, from now I write about two who progress together by God's grace.

On Friday, I asked Meredith to marry me! We are so excited as we look forward to this December. As Meredith is from Florida and I am a Californian, attempting to keep this a surprise has taken significant planning. She expected to be going to the mountains of North Carolina with her parents this weekend, but her parents and I had other plans. The schedule she anticipated was to have professional family photographs taken Friday on the beach and then to leave for the mountains the next morning. The beach photography was correct in that her parents would be taking the pictures and there she would find me waiting for her.

Her dad and I scoped out "the spot" the night before. On the secluded beach wood decking (approach) leading down to the beach, she found a rose and a poem I wrote for her. At the bottom of the ramp, I was waiting at the end of two rows of chinese lanterns. She was so surprised (shocked really at how she did not suspect anything) and happy!

I'm thankful to family and friends who have encouraged me in my life in waiting for God to bring that unique woman for me. He certainly does amaze me with His incomparable goodness. Below is the poem I wrote for Meredith, which she said I could share:

Who could have known, how this bud would have grown? Since sown, she was loved and cared for, the strength of that affection revealed by the length of her stem, all that she required for breadth and character, cultivated by a gardner's hands and good earth. Yes, there were dangers along the way, but a thick bramble was ready, pruning threats toward dismay. And in this home, with this support, the bud rose, tip tose to meet the sun's rays, standing strong in its gaze.

And God brought the bloom, crowned her life with beauty. Painted her person with vibrant colors and intricate details with fine brushstrokes to make all things beautiful in His time.

As this flower was appointed for more than one season, a day for plucking found a reason in an admirer's heart, when beauty was defined for him, cast in floral art. Turning his face to her, he presents himself as a vase to her. A reservoir in his base for her, she drinks her fill, basking in the sun, incubated by his love. Displayed in her windowed home, she is protected from all but the light of what's right as her beauty transcends transparent walls. And though she cannot dig deep to stand alone on her own, the welcome of her lean is never outgrown.

Though absent to wonder, when you were younger, now at the crest of an ocean of dreams, he waits for you in the plucking field.

2008-04-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

Strength and Dignity are Her Clothing

Below, I have copied the eulogy I gave at the memorial service for my Mom.
___________________________________
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her; (Prov 31:25-29a)

Because Jeanne was the kind of woman this Scripture in Proverbs speaks about, I am provoked also to be one of the children it describes. As you can imagine with the loss so near, this is very difficult and I do not know that my heart will sustain me through what I have prepared to say, yet my Mom raised a son who would try. My aim, then, in these brief moments is to bless my Mom, recounting her uniqueness from a son’s perspective.

She was a woman who was dedicated to her home. She refused to believe the world’s lies that homemakers are somehow second class citizens and parenting is among the hobbies a modern woman can entertain. I bless her for being there and for loving it. She loved her family and raising her children. She understood that making an excellent home required a full-time investment. So… when we wanted be superheroes, she made capes so we could fly. When we were struggling in school, she became our patient tutor. When we were misbehaving, she administered correction. When it was raining outside, she taught us to make cookies inside. When we wanted to compete, she became our biggest fan and supported us with early morning rides to practice. When we grew older, she also became a close friend and counselor, one to confide in with perfect trust.

She was a woman who was dedicated to work. She was among this world’s hardest workers. I know that when she was very young, she worked by ironing the clothes of her neighbors. She also worked as a bank teller. She worked as a homemaker as well as a day care provider from our home for 25 years. In most recent years and until a couple months ago, she worked as a customer service agent for Grace to You. In fact, I knew that her condition was becoming more critical when she stopped working (because if she could have she would have). And she worked with conviction: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Eccl 9:10), the Scripture says; and in another place, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Col 3:23-24). She told me a story once. While she was working at Grace to You she processed a letter from a group of children. On the letter, there were quarters, nickels and dimes taped. The children explained that these coins were their allowance and they wanted to give it as a donation to Grace to You. My Mom worked each day with that sacrifice in mind. She worked, worked, worked. In this way, she was also a great helpmeet to my Dad. She could put on gloves and be a construction worker in our yard, and then put on a dress and be such a beautiful lady. Perhaps, her work ethic is best seen through the garden she kept for so many years. To keep a garden demands patience, hard work, and care as a matter of one’s character.

Last, She was a woman who was dedicated to her God. She walked with God, since her early life. I can remember even as a little boy how she would put us to bed. She would tuck me in, then kneel at my bed and invite me to pray. Then she would go to my brother’s bed and repeat, and then to each sister. And she did this every night. By this, I learned that we are to turn to God in everything. Watching over the children committed to her in her day care business, she taught them two things primarily: their ABC’s and about Jesus. It was her pattern to have the children sit down. Then she would hold up flashcards with different names and ask, “Whose name is this?” Or with letters on them, “What letter is this?” But then she would tell them a Bible story. She walked with God through her cancer and gave testimony of His grace in the midst of suffering. On the Thursday night before her home-going, she gave testimony that she knew God was walking with her, each step reminded her of His presence. She said, “I don’t know how anyone could go through this without the Lord.” As a family a few days before her home-going, with some of her last words, she communicated her greatest desire for her children was that they would walk with God and that she would see us with Jesus too.

Jeanne was all these things to me as a son, and I rise up and bless her and miss her.

___________________________________

2008-03-26T11:42:00.001-07:00

Jeanne Clutterham Memorial Service

Friends, my family is trying to contact people about the memorial service for my Mom. I'm hoping that this post will help spread the word.

Jeanne Clutterham Memorial Service
Saturday, March 29, 2008
11 am
Grace Community Church
13248 Roscoe Blvd.,
Sun Valley, California 91352
Directions

Thanks.

2008-03-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

A Greater Cloud of Witnesses

We do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thess 4:13-18)

God appoints a time to die and He does so in His infinite care, and wisdom. There are many things that I know to be true and at the same time beg the Spirit to convince me of them in the way I trust, think, speak, and do. The Lord brought my Mom to heaven at 4:40 this afternoon. We rejoice in her heavenly experience and joy. I know this is true but still wait on the Spirit to make me to know it.

My Mom was a wonderful lady. She was the most kind and compassionate lady I knew. I remember kisses at elementary school drop-off, hot cocoa on rainy days. I remember finding her in the crowd of parents when getting a school award. I remember meeting her (tear-filled) with hugs when coming home from long trips. I remember family vacations, family bike rides, and waterskiing.... I loved my Mom so much.

More mercies of God to me:
6. 27 years with Jeanne Clutterham as mother. No one chooses their family and some are placed in the most difficult of environments. I have known a mother's love my entire life.

7. Jenna Guillory, RaeAnna Seaton, and Nate Scroggins who served us this last week (and are still serving) by turning people's desires to help into action. I am so thankful for them and those who have been cooking for us.

8. Encouraging emails, blog comments, facebook grafitti, phone calls from friends. These helped balance the sorrow with truth-telling, hope proclaiming.

9. John MacArthur's visit to our home this afternoon to encourage us and pray for my Mom and our family.

Now brothers and sisters, my Mom joins a long list of faithful saints who have gone before us, proclaiming that Jesus is trustworthy in all that He promised and that the race of faith can be run to the finish. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Heb 12:1).

A memorial service for my Mom is being arranged for this Saturday at Grace Community Church. I will give more details as they become available. I would like to extend an invitation to all who knew my Mom or have a connection to someone who knew my Mom or our family.

2008-03-24T13:22:00.000-07:00

The Home Stretch

Friends, It appears that my Mom is heading down the home stretch of her life and battle with cancer. When hearing the news from Dr. Hugh last Tuesday, I considered that God was bringing my Mom's condition to a point of decision, rejoicing that either way would result in divine healing (whether through the restoration of her tumor-damaged organs or through leaving that earthly tent behind, 2 Cor 5:1-8; Ps 103:3). Her hospice nurse was here this morning. After taking her blood pressure, it seemed likely to her that she would go today.

I have seen that it takes great courage to die of cancer...and my Mom has been heroic. Thursday night (last week) with a full room of visitors, she gave testimony of the joy of walking with God. She told us of how she knew that God was walking with her each step of the way and then led us in singing a hymn: Blessed assurance.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.

This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

More mercies of God to me:
4. Mike and Christina Roe who twice made and brought homemade ice cream to my Mom in the last week. In the midst of her suffering, it brought us joy to hear her say, "That's good."

5. A father who kept his vow to the end: "To have and to hold...in sickness and in health."

Please pray for my Mom, that this will be a sprint of faith to Jesus--and for my Dad that he will hold onto the promise ("neither death...will separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord," Rom 8:38-39).

2008-03-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

Days or Weeks

We sat in the noisy hospital room waiting for news. The procedure the previous day had failed to remove the waste fluids that were accumulating in my Mom's legs and abdomen. Dr. Hugh was sent to level with us. He, in the most gracious but straightforward way available, presented my parents with the option: days or weeks. Her tumor on her liver (despite the surgery) had grown steadily to the point of making it inoperable. This then contributed to the breaking down of the function of her kidneys (which work to remove waste from the body). In Dr. Hugh's estimation this signaled the beginning of the breakdown of her body's essential organic system. Poking and prodding, taking blood and giving pills would mean a painful extension of life for a few weeks. Days are shorter than weeks but presented the alternative of being more comfortable, in the place where she has called home for almost 35 years, surrounded by an unbroken chain of family and friends to tell her that they love her. Believing that there is a life to begin in the presence of Jesus on the other side of death, my parents decided days at home would be more precious than weeks in the hospital.

My Mom (Jeanne) is resting now. With great courage, she made it through the night. She asked my aunt Karen this morning (who has worked as a nurse for many years), "Karen, is this what happens?" It breaks the heart of a son. The days have been exhausting. Physical energy can be spent as much in tears as in laying bricks. But our faith and hope are in Jesus who promised us, "he who believes in Me will live even if he dies."

I will share more in the coming days as I give updates. But, with the example of Paul (Phil 2:27) and a dear friend (here) who acknowledged the mercies of God in the midst of trial, I would like to start a list of of noticed mercies of God to me and my family.

1. God's provision of a caring, believing doctor for the five years of my Mom's battle with cancer. I bless Dr. Lee for her personal care of my Mom for all these years. It was a precious sight for me to be there when she came to visit last Tuesday. Being so exposed to death, she was overwhelmed with sorrow to acknowledge that death was near.

2. God's gift of salvation to my Mom as a young 5th grader. He saved her and worked to sanctify her for so many years (about 44 years). The difference between my Mom and the other patients in that room was so evident. God has caused her to become like His Son with a gracious and kind Spirit.

3. God's provision of many friends who love my Mom. Their visits in these last days have been so precious as she is reminded of how she has blessed so many. Their expressions of love have been an unending song, the same melody of love with new verses of blessing and faithfulness, these last few days.

I will stop there for now. There are many more which are evident for me but I want to keep the coming posts manageable.

2008-03-04T21:50:00.000-08:00

Why I love my blog banner

I was telling a friend about the picture I use for the banner of this blog and why I love it. The picture was taken on my second trip to Croatia (Aug 2005) outside the town of Krapina. To me it is the picture of contrast. A sign indicating the course of the railroad track and the railroad track itself, which appears entirely different than the sign indicates. My friend and I were talking about how many temptations to get off the track of trusting God present themselves everyday. We were reminding ourselves of the proverb that speaks God's wisdom concerning these temptations:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge HIm, and He will make your paths straight. (Prov 3:5-6)

My banner illustrates this instruction to me. The future may hold a million different curves, sharp turns, and go in unexpected directions, but to the man who trusts the Lord the future is straight. The principle begs the action of always trusting the Lord. Life's test may offer other options in multiple choice fashion, but the right answer is always A: Trust the Lord (all down the scantron, answer TTL no matter how attractive B or C look).

A good friend of mine (and roommate in college) serves as an example of someone who did this characteristically. I watched how time and time again he exercised faith in trusting God's wisdom. God used him as an RA at the master's college, brought him to Israel for a semester of study, brought him to the Master's Seminary, and then onto missions in Scotland. As God was doing these things I was struck by how straight his life appeared. I know that there were curves along the way, but God made them straight.

2008-02-06T07:07:00.000-08:00

400 Years of Silence

Well not exactly but, in the world of blogs it is close. I have not posted anything to this blog since last April! When I was posting regularly I really enjoyed writing so I am picking it back up again.

I believe that God wants me to learn a lesson on the brevity of life in 2008. This has been a common theme at least in the first month. I began the new year very sick, then was in a serious car accident, and after visiting my great uncle on a Sunday (a week ago), he died the next Tuesday (he is with Jesus now). James' words in his epistle have caught my attention:

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. (James 4:13-14)

Below, I have copied my email to some friends and family the night of the car accident.

____________________________________
Dear Friends,

A few hours ago, I was in a serious car accident. A friend from the seminary and I were traveling north on the 5, returning to Santa Clarita after attending a missions meeting at Grace Community. A drunk motorist quickly coming from behind us and driving erratically careened across 3 lanes into the rear passenger side quarter panel of my car. The impact caused my car to fish-tail and roll-over, continuing down the freeway. I remember grasping the steering wheel with my left hand and ducking toward the console, waiting for the car to stop rolling. When we finally stopped momentum, the car had rolled 2-300 feet from the point of impact. Dennis and I crawled out of the car, amazed that we were still alive. We praised God in prayer together for His care and protection. Our injuries were mostly cuts and some scratches from the debris and glass, although Dennis does have pain on his right side. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to the hospital, although a witness reported that his injuries did not seem life threatening. We were later treated at a nearby hospital with shots and dressings for our cuts.

I am amazed by the sovereign control of God over events and thoughts. I just imagined a million different details and decisions, which took place to put us at that place at that exact point of time. Why did the meeting end when it did? Why did I speak to such a number of people after and not less or more? Why did we choose not to stop and get something to eat as we had planned? or Why was I driving in the lane I was? And there is a million different scenarios with different outcomes to consider: If we were 7 feet behind, the outcome would have been different for my passenger. If we had rolled two more times, we would have gone over the guardrail, falling down to the 405 underpass. A million different questions and scenarios all point to a sovereign God who does things for His glory, and in this case chose to be magnified in the continued life of a couple expendable people.

I am thankful too for how He put a marker on the night. Our conversation on the way there was so sweet with how we wanted God to be glorified in the semester and how we wanted to grow in our relationship with Christ and to do it as we lived by faith, making day to day choices of trusting Him when another alternative presents itself. And the meeting at Grace was so great as well with getting to hear from faithful missionaries, and getting to see Todd Dick, a close friend and missionary to Croatia—to hear his heart for his ministry and gratitude to God and to get to pray with him. And then good fellowship again with Dennis on the way back as we were talking about something I was looking forward to later in the week when suddenly all that is interrupted by a huge lifted truck making a screeching noise and turning toward you as you look to your right just in time to realize what is happening. I am amazed by the fragility of it all and how your reality can change in an instant. It is so good to know an unchanging God and to live this life in relationship with Him.

God may continue to teach me lessons from what He did tonight but I wanted to share some of these things while they were fresh in my mind.

The car is beyond totaled (a bit ironic after another conversation I had today). I plan to be at work tomorrow but probably will be a bit late.

--
joshua

"I need all your prayers." ~ Hudson Taylor

____________________________________

2007-04-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

A Tribute to My Grandpa

I returned home to California last Tuesday. Before leaving for Israel in January, I visited with my grandpa who had been in bed the previous few days, not feeling well. His cancer had progressed to bone cancer and we expected he would soon go to be with Jesus. He had talked about it for so long. I remember him telling my family about his soon departure when I was still in high school. In February, I learned in Israel that his conditioned had seriously worsened and his dying was imminent. On Saturday afternoon (4/7/2007), Bill Clutterham, my grandpa, began to live in the presence of Jesus.

In this life, he was a hero...not just to me but to this country (as a pilot of a B-17 flying fortress in the Pacific campaign of WWII and as captain and chaplain of the Los Angeles County Fire Department for over 30 years) and to all who knew him. He is a hero to me mostly because of his example of living by faith and proclamation of the gospel to everyone he knew. He wasn't privileged to become a Christian as young person but when he did, he followed Jesus closely to the end.

I will keep this brief because I am returning to Israel later tonight and there is much to do. In recent weeks, the Antelope Valley Press has published articles on my grandpa which can be found with the following links: 1, 2.

Here are a few pictures of my grandpa:

2007-03-14T22:07:00.000-07:00

Sunrise Over Jerusalem

Some friends and I spent the night on the roof of Petra Youth Hostel the other night. We didn't get much sleep with all the crazy singing people down below, the muslim call to prayer at 4:30 am and the procession of church bells from alternating churches at sunrise. But I did have a chance to watch the sunrise over the mount of olives. I also experimented with my camera, taking incrementatl shots of the sunrise over the city and then piecing them together so you can see the motion of the sunrise. One disclaimer: I know that I totally missed the sun. It's so sad. I set my tripod in the direction I thought the sun would appear and then slowly watched it arise slightly out of view :( So please don't make fun of me. I think it still has value. To view, click on the picture below.

2007-03-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

No One Is Writing About Them...

For the last three years I have been impacted by missionary biography (more on this later). This has had a heavy impact on my life and the way I think. Many of the biographies that I have read focus on missionaries who died many years ago. And concerning this point it seems to characterize the genre...but this ought not be in my opinion. The great men and women of the faith have not all died, the work of missionaries in this world is not simply historical, there are faithful believers alive today, living to proclaim the salvation that is through Christ alone...but no one is writing about them. I think this is sad. Missionary testimony, by God's grace, leads to more missionaries.

I want to write about faithful missionaries to Scotland here: Mikey and Emily Luehrmann. The following is a copied description from Grace Community church's missionary adoption page: Michael and Emily Luehrmann are serving at Carrubbers Christian Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland. They have been here since August of 2004. Michael is a 2004 graduate of The Master's Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree and Emily is a 2004 graduate from The Master's College with a Master of Biblical Counseling degree. Michael was ordained and commissioned at Grace Community in June of 2004. They have been married for 5 years and Michael will be serving as an assistant pastor at Carrubbers Christian Centre with a primary role of overseeing and giving leadership to the University Student Ministry. You can access Carrubbers Christian Centre website at: Carrubers.org. Our personal homepage is: Click Here!

I knew Mikey and Emily while we were all college students at the Master's College in California. Mikey was my first college RA and roomate for a year and a half at the California campus and then for a semester in Israel. Emily sang on chapel band. Mikey probably had the biggest impact on me during my years in college both through his example and challenge as a friend caring for my sanctification. I was able to observe the life of a spiritual man who made being pleasing to Jesus the priority of his life (2 Cor. 5:9). While we were seminary students together, I witnessed his growth in love for the land of Scotland, its history and ministry there. Mikey is the one who influenced me in the reading of puritan works and biography. Today he stands in a long history of witnesses for Jesus who with Knox pray "Give me Scotland or I die."

Now he labors to lead others to a saving knowledge of Jesus, to influence the church toward greater faithfulness to Christ through accurately teaching God's word, being a living example, faithful husband and father, and currently learning German and completing a Th.M degree. These people, of whom the world is not worthy, are worth writing and reading about.

2007-03-11T22:48:00.000-07:00

Trip to Southern Israel

I was talking with a friend about our blogs and realized that I'm not doing a very good job of keeping up with it...but it's important to me to share what is going on in my life with those who care...so please expect regular posts from now on. I'm thinking that at least once a week. Last week I went with IBEX to Southern Israel (known in modern vernacular as the Negev although communicating a broader region than the biblical term Negev suggests). It was a great trip and Todd Bolen did an excellent job of leading us around and teaching. I went places that I have never been in Israel and saw some amazing sights. Here are some picutres from the trip.

We hiked through Nahal Zin, from which the wilderness of Zin gets its name (Num 13:21; 20:1; 27:14; 33:36; 34:3; Deut 32:51; Josh 15:1-3). It served as the Southern border of the land promised to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob.

We stopped the bus along the road in the regions of the Wilderness of Zin and Paran to meditate upon God's purposes for leading the people of Israel without a physical destination but with a spiritual destination according to His will. Being here again after my thesis work was meaningful since God says that He lead the people in the wilderness so as to discipline them (Deut 8:4-5).

We stopped at an overview point in which four countries are visible: Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. This is a picture of me and my friend Austin scoping out Egypt.

In the Timna Valley, near Eilat, there are remnants of copper mines and impressive geological formations. This is a picutre of a rock formation known as Solomon's pillars (not having a connection with Solomon but once believed to be the area of his mining operations).

I took a series of time metered shots of the sunrise on top of Masada. We left the hostel at 5:00 am to get up the mountain in time to see it. Here is one picture from the series of shots.

On another note, things are really busy here with projects and studying but I am thurally enjoying it. Back at home, my grandpa appears to be approaching his last days before going to be with the Lord. I am inspired by his life and faith in Jesus. It is a difficult time because he means so much to our family. Also, my mom is scheduled for today to have a surgery today to kill cancer cells in her liver.

2007-02-13T00:28:00.000-08:00

The Weekend

I went on a trip with a group to the wilderness of Judah on Yom Rishon (Sunday). I was struck by the awesome views of nahalim, the simplicity of the bedouin life and shepherd life, and the kindness of the arab people we met. We traveled along the Ascent of Ziz until the modern route departed this ancient route. We overlooked the Nahal Arugot and hiked to the Bar Kochba caves in the Nahal Dargah. We also saw many wild gamelim (camels).

We stopped along side the road to take some pictures of a herd of sheep and goats mixed together. I was struck this experience at two points. 1) I was reminded of Jesus' teaching about his second coming: Matt. 25:31-34 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Anyone can see that sheep and goats do not look the same and that they can be separated by the untrained eye. It is a caution to us, some who say that they have the Spirit of Christ within them and they don't. Jesus will not be fooled on that day. The difference is plain to Him. 2) The Arab shepherd we met showed us great kindness. Todd was asking him a question "wein ha bir" (something like that...where the spring is?) and the man either didn't understand or just wanted us to meet his family. But he brought out all his children and his wife and their new baby. I was struck by this because I don't come from a culture that honors guests like this. We weren't invited or expected but we were honored as if we were. For Christ's sake, I want to be like this shepherd.

Throughout the day I was amazed by grass on the hill sides of the wilderness. This may not seem like such a big deal but it was to me...I've never seen it because I have never come in the rainy season. For the majority of the year there is no such growth in these desolate places. Because the sun comes up and there is no moisture to protect the grass...it withers. I was reminded of Isaiah's word (Isaiah 40:6-8):

6 A voice says, “Call out.”
Then he answered, “What shall I call out?”
All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
When the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.

Todd challenged us to think about our fraility and the fraility of what we put our trust in other than God and His Word. I don't think I will ever read this passage again without thinking about the sites from this trip.

2007-01-29T12:13:00.000-08:00

So the last few weeks have been really busy preparing to return to Israel, where I have been for the past week. It has been great to be back. This week I attended several lectures and Jerusalem walks. This is a picture of me on the roof of Jerusalem University College (formerly called the Institue of Holy Land Studies).
Yesterday, I went to parts of the city I have never been before including Ein Rogel and in the Hinnom Valley (stopping at the region Charles Warren believed to be the location of aceldama).

2007-01-21T07:29:00.000-08:00

Day in London

Yesterday I was in London, on my way to Israel. I worked it out to have an extended layover so I would have a few hours before my connecting flight. I had to objectives: visit the Metropolitan Tabernacle and see Codex Sainaiticus and Codex Alexdrinus. I did both. It was great.

The Metropolitan Tabernacle is well known for one of its pastors who served there (1854-1892), Charles Haddon Spurgeon. During his ministry, revival occurred and lead to the relocation to the Metropolitan tabernalce (shown in picture). The church had previous met at Park Street Chapel near the tower bridge. Spurgeon is said to have preached to tens of thousands with his natural voice (no electronic amplification). I was exposed to a great resource on the life of C.H. Spurgeon recently. Phil Johnson gave a series of talks about his life and preaching. I don't know if this resource can still be obtained. If you're interested you might want to research his blog or attempt to contact him to ask.

I wasn't able to take pictures of Codex Sainaiticus or Alexdrinus because photography was not permitted in the exhibit (which itself was dimly lit to help preserve the texts...not exactly ideal for displaying books) in the British Library. These are 2 of 3 of the most notable early copies of the entire Bible: CS in the 4th century and CA in the 5th century.

2007-01-12T21:18:00.000-08:00

Mario, Ovo je video za brat Miško. Možete li pokazivanje na njemu? Ja mislim video je dobro. Ja htijenje poslati kopiraj na Hrvatski skoro za njega.
This blog is for some friends in Croatia but if you want to hear from a Croatian pastor, here is a video.

This is the first video I have put on my blog and it was so easy to do thanks to Ryanne and Michael Verdi who set up a website to help people (freevlog.org). They seem like really fun people too.

2007-01-05T17:46:00.000-08:00

A Prayer Request

This was just passed along to me and I thought others should know.

Dr. Mohler's health has sustained a setback. Over the past 36 hours Dr. Mohler has suffered from unrelenting pain. This unusual degree of pain signaled concern for the attending physicians and prompted additional tests this afternoon. In the past hour these tests have revealed that Dr. Mohler is suffering from pulmonary emboli in both lungs. His condition is quite serious and he has been moved to the intensive care unit of Baptist East Hospital in Louisville, KY for immediate treatment.

Please make this a matter of urgent prayer. Thank you once again for your concern and support during these days.

2006-12-26T06:05:00.000-08:00

I received this email from Apple this morning.

Notice the subject line. It goes along with my post yesterday. Wasn't it horrible to give all those gifts and do all that shopping for others. But rest assured, now things can get back to normal.

2006-12-25T05:44:00.000-08:00

Christmas Giving

I tried to stay away from stores and the mall this week. Most of my shopping or gift making was done a month ago so I was able to avoid the traffic, crowds, and angry consumers. Being back in the states has been a bit strange. It definitely is a comercial culture. One example, there will be a huge shopping boom tomorrow. Wait a minute....why would they need to shop tomorrow?--Christmas is today. The difference is today (or yesterday) they shopped for others. Tomorrow, most people will shop for themselves. It's true there might be some great deals tomorrow. But I think that it is interesting that yesterday we bought for others while there was an expectation that others were buying for us. But tomorrow there is no expectation of others buying for us so we will buy for ourselves. Maybe you were planning ahead. There is something that you need and you waited so that you can buy at a reduced price....good thinking. But maybe for others, there really wasn't a time of the season that your attention was really not on yourself. You bought for others because they are buying for you and tomorrow you will buy for yourself to compensate for their failure. And maybe that is me. There are some things that I have been researching to buy but I'm trying to think through whether I really need them or if I am just trying to appease a decieved heart, looking for happiness in stuff.

I pulled some verses which display Jesus as Giver, maybe tomorrow you will continue to buy for others, to use your money to edify another or meet needs.

Luke 7:21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.

Matt. 14:16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!”

Matt. 16:19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Luke 14:12 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

John 6:27 “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”

John 13:15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Acts 20:35 “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

2Cor. 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Rev. 2:17 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

Rev. 21:6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

2006-12-18T00:15:00.000-08:00

Classes are completed
My students took their final exams last week. They have a few more to take before the winter break. The semester was very profitable for giving me great experience in teaching a course. I was able to see all the work that goes into preparation and gained a deeper understanding of New Testament Survey.

I was able to take a hike up to the old city of Krapina last week with a friend from TBA. From its height, there were great views of the new city. The site was impressive with huge caves and remnant ruins and abandoned excavations.

A week ago, I woke up to horrible sound. The squeals of a pig about to be butchered. It is common here for a few neighbors to hire a butcher to slaughter their pigs all at once.

It is getting really cold here. It was 4 the other day. But tomorrow I'll be in California!

2006-12-03T23:56:00.000-08:00

The Last Croatian Supper

Recently, the students in my New Testament class hosted the professors and other students from Teoloska Biblijska Akademija (TBA) to a reenactment of the last supper of the disciples with Jesus before his crucifixion, as part of their Last Supper Project. Here is the promo banner:
Students greatly anticipated the meal and some came with costumes. Since our focus was on the narrative of the gospel accounts, the meal resembled a middle eastern meal. We basically served soup for dipping, bread, and lamb (well...chicken).

We did mention some of the customs of modern passover seders but mostly our focus was on the dialogue and discourse taking place. The dialogue was derived solely from the gospel accounts, viewed harmonistically, and given in 6 parts with breaks in between for further explanation, reflection on Jesus' teaching, personal examination and conversation on current topics.

We were impacted by Jesus as servant, humbling Himself before men preoccupied with their exaltation, and how He left us an example to follow.

"After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives" (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26). To conclude the meal, we sang a song reflecting the words of Psalm 118 (which most likely is the hymn referred to): Ovo je dan (this is the day). I gave instruction concerning this song because it is very popular in Croatian church life and in American as well. We often sing the song (This is the day that the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.) and refer to each day as a day the LORD has made. The words certainly are true. God has made each day and we are to rejoice in His creation. But the New Testament often refers to Jesus as the fulfillment of this Psalm. To more appreciate the song, we ought to think of it in its context. Namely that the day of Christ's crucifixion (when Jesus sang it with his disciples) was the day that the LORD made. It is that day in history the Psalm is referring to. Maybe we ought to sing..."That was the day, That was the day that the LORD made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it." It is significant that Jesus invited His disciples to rejoice and be glad in it with Him. And perhaps, this is echoed in Hebrews 12:2 (For the joy that was set before Him...). On that day, the stone which the builders rejected became our chief corner stone (cf. 1 Peter 2)

2006-12-02T03:21:00.000-08:00

Album Invitation

Derek Webb is actually giving away his latest album: Mockingbird. He explains why here. I've listened to the album. The songs are definitely message oriented. I'm a bit leary of some of things Derek has said in concert. But I found these songs to be definitely challenging (to my profit) and thought-provoking. As far as musicianship, he is very talented.

The album is free if you sell 5 of your friends (at least their emails) and the invitation is only good for another week. If you're wondering, I haven't recieved any spam mail as a result of soming referring my email to get the album...so in this case I believe that the only email that your friends will get is the one telling them about freederekwebb.com.

2006-12-02T02:50:00.000-08:00

Deleting for a Testimony

A confession: This morning I had 2gb of music files on my computer that I hadn't paid for but accumulated through various means: napster type internet programs, "borrowing" a cd from a friend... I just deleted them. I made many excuses for having them before: "If they didn't want people sharing them, they should have made it more difficult to do", musicians charge too much for their music, its cultural--everyone does it. But no matter how many justifying reasons I could come up with, it's still not right. A testimony is worth more to me than music and I want to answer "yes" to "Are you really different?", "Are Christians really different?"

2006-11-21T09:38:00.000-08:00

Israel in Croatia

This weekend, the students from Teoloska Biblija Academija and I ministered to several churches around Croatia. I was able to see parts of the country where I had never been, learn about their histories, challenge the Christians who live there, and also receive a blessing from visiting with them. I was able to teach seminars on the historical geography of Israel at two churches in Croatia. This is the promo which the church used to advertise the seminar:

Saturday's lecture was given to the church in Cackovec. I challenged the believers to be careful students of their Bibles, to consider each part as given by God and important (even names of cities or regions or lands), and to consider the lives of the people contained therein.

I was encouraged by the turnout and response. We focused our attention on a general orientation with the major features of the land of Israel, then a geographical study of Joshua 1:1-8:29, and finally a geographical study of the last week of Jesus' life before crucifixion.

But you know, some may ask? Why would you teach a group of believers who will live and die on a farm in the same village they were born about Israel when there are so many other things to teach? Don't you think you should focus on more important things? Isn't that seminar more fit for a seminary?

I believe it was important (not just a theoretical question). Here are a few reasons for why believers should understand geographically the contents of their Bibles:

1.It reminds them that their Bibles are true. The Bible is not a big book of fables, nice stories to teach children. The Bible contains God given accounts of historical events. These events actually occurred.

2.It reminds them that the Bible talks about real people, many of whom lived very ordinary lives (they lived, they worked, ate and slept) and experienced trials (they had family members get sick or die, lossed children or couldn't have children); but some of these people lived with an amazing faith in a real God.

3.It reminds them that God works among them in time and place. He causes nations to rise and fall. He gives rulers authorities and takes it away whenever He wants. He gives jobs and keeps families from becoming ill.

4.It causes believers to read their Bibles more carefully. Do you read your Bible like an airplane passenger looks out of his window. A bunch of buildings, some cars, some little people...I wonder when they are going to bring the peanuts. Studying this geography causes one to ask questions: What are those places? Why are they important? Where are those people going? Why are they going there? Who are those people? What are their concerns today? Are they examples to follow? Or are they fools? And am I like them?

5.Because they came. This study interested many people who came for the simple purpose of knowing their Bibles better.

6.It challenges believers with whether they really know their Bibles. I have seen this study bring such insight and thoughtfulness to the Biblical account.

7.It brings believers to further realize the preciousness of the Bible in their hands. And on this point, there is an exclamation point when you are outside America. If you are reading this and you just came from a library where there are 20+ thousand volumes of books related to the Bible, and you think that is no big deal. You're wrong. It seems that many places of the world will never know a library such as that in a language available to common people. This study focuses believers more on the one book they have (which is really the most important book).

So I believe that this study was and is important for these believers (which I have come to see that many of whom are more engaged in the Christian life than some seminarians).

2006-11-21T07:17:00.000-08:00

God's Grace to Me at 26

About a week ago, I celebrated my 26th birthday--the second time of my life in which I celebrated my birthday out of the states and away from my family (although both of these times, I was with very dear brothers and sisters). A few years ago, I began to be so impressed with the grace of God on these annual occasions. To think, "Why did God let me live another year?" To be filled with thanksgiving for His faithfulness, goodness, and testing throughout the year. And also to examine myself, asking, "What did I do with those 365 days?" Did I waste them or did I improve them in the most profitable way I possibly could?

It is an activity of polar opposites--to see the depths of my sinfulness and to see the heights of God's working in me. The examination brings seriousness to my ambitions, earnestness to my repentance, and a greater desire for personal sanctification on this earth. I believe that God used this year in my life most to make me anxious about pursuing His purposes for me. How is it that I can most bring Him glory? Brainerd and M`Cheyne each died at 29 and this makes me even more anxious. Don’t get me wrong. My perspective is balanced with the knowledge of the sovereignty of God and the knowledge of His eternal love for His children. My thinking, however, is that I just don’t want to be the servant who comes to His Lord with one mina, having just dug it up. Saying to myself, “29 is 3 years away” is profitable and so I believe that it will be a theme for this year (should God give me another year).

I had a great birthday here in Croatia, hearing the Bible taught by a faithful pastor from Jacksonville, Florida.

2006-11-15T11:32:00.000-08:00

It's 1938 and Iran is Germany.

This is the statement Benjamin Netanyahu recently made at a conference in Los Angeles concerning the current threat in the Middle East. A video containing excerpts of the speech is available through this link to Jerusalemonline.com. He comments on some of the similarities between the rise of the Jewish Holocaust and the present. The video is about 10 minutes long and worth watching.

2006-11-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

First Snow...

It's getting really cold here...really fast. The first snow of the autumn came last week. Next week will be very full. I will be teaching four days on New Testament Survey. On Thursday, we will reenact the events and discourses of the last supper during our meal in order to understand better Jesus' life and minstry.

I started painting the fence at the missionaries house as well. It turned out to be a larger project than expected. The paint that I am using is as thin as water and is taking about 8 coats to treat the wood.

Here is a picture of a cemetery decorated with candles for the all saints day holiday. The cemeteries here are immaculate. The people really believe in maintaining the gravesite for the sake of the dead.

Here is a picture of my study desk at Todd and Lynn Dick's house (the missionaries that I am staying with).

Wrap it up! Can you believe this. This is a display at the IKEA in Gratz, Austria.

2006-11-02T11:16:00.000-08:00

Actually Posting...

So my access to internet is a little more difficult right now. I'm working on it so I think soon I'll be able to post more pictures and updates about how things are going out here. A friend told me about a website for getting a quick daily news report from Israel. It's presented in video format, usually about 2 minutes long, just the facts, and reports news about life in Israel as well as news about conflicts. The site is connected with Jerusalem Post, an Israeli newspaper in English. The website is Jerusalemonline.com.

2006-10-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

Getting into Israel

I've had a few discussions with a friend about why Israel restricts/hassles some people (who only bring good to Israel) with residency or visa issues but then grants others (who bring bad to Israel) access. If you can understand Hebrew (even if you can't, you can still get the gist), you will enjoy this video called "Welcome to Israel!"

2006-10-14T00:26:00.000-07:00

End of Week One...

Yesterday I completed the first week of teaching at Teoloska Bibljiska Akademija (TBA) here in Krapina, Croatia. I am teaching two courses: The Geography of the Holy Land, and New Testament Survey I (The Gospels and Acts). It was exciting to see students exposed to how understanding the land of the Bible (the geography and topography) upon which God worked in history to accomplish His will and make Himself known as the God who is unlike the gods of the nations, impacts their own sudy of the Bible and personal walk with the Lord. This week we covered the major geographical locations, basic topography of the land, important routes of travel, the city of Jerusalem throughout the Biblical era and also the routes people used to approach Jerusalem, and also showed some pictures of Jerusalem's progress over the last century including modern views (taken this summer). I was able to use many of of the pictures I took this summer to illustrate and also exposed the students to the Pictoral Library of Bible Lands (produced by Todd Bolen, cf. BiblePlaces.com) which the school has in its library but which the students had never personally seen the wealth of its resource.

Here is a picture of the Geogrpahy of the Holy Land class (left to right: Elizabeta (married to Mario), Mario, Momir, Abel, Joshua, Marko, Daniel):

I also have the opportunity to teach the first year students a course on New Testament survey. We are currently using the gospel of Luke as a platform for a study of the life of Jesus Christ, which we will follow with the other gospel accounts and a study of the book of Acts (also including a focus on the life of the apostles and life and ministry of Paul). On Friday, I gave my students their first quiz. Here is a picture (left to right: Sasha, Trojko):

Personally, I am enjoying the time of study for the courses and time to read as well. Teaching the courses has also given me insight into the life of a professor including some of the challenges (for example, your voice is not the same after teaching for 5 hours as it was when you started).

2006-10-03T02:04:00.000-07:00

Croatia

I arrived safely back in Croatia on Saturday morning. The last couple weeks have been especially challenging. The Lord used them to teach me about Himself and His working. Perhaps I will share some details in a later post but maybe a good verse for you to meditate on is found in Psalm 40:4, "How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood."

In the next few days, I will be finishing preparations for teaching next week at the Teoloska Bibljiska Akademija, a Biblical/ministererial training school in Krapina, Croatia. Next week will be challenging with 24 hours of scheduled teaching. I am looking forward to seeing how God may use me in this opportunity.

Please pray for His strengthening me and giving guidance for this task and for much fruit the lives and ministries of the students.

Here is a picture of class.

2Tim. 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2006-09-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

Today...

I went out on a field trip with the IBEX group today visitng different sites which allowed us to picture the different routes taken by people in the Bible to approach Jerusalem. At one point, we visited the Israel museum, where the 1st century model of Jerusalem now is. While we were there, I was able to meet Michael Card (a great musician) who writes many songs founded on specific Biblical passages. He told me that he is working on a new project, putting lament passages to song.

2006-09-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

Things I have been doing lately...

The last few weeks have been very full and this time has really flown by. Some things I have let fall by the wayside because of this. This blog is one, email has been another (i'm sorry and i'm working on this if i haven't got back to you yet). A few weeks are left here in Israel before I return to Croatia to share all that God has taught me. So, I don't really think life will slow down, rather go more quickly. I thought I would just attach some pictures and list things I have been up to as a attempt to summarize the last couple weeks.

1. Sifted through material removed from the Temple Mount (by Muslims making more room for an underground mosque) which were dumped into the Kidron Valley at Emek Tsurim under the supervision of a well known archaeologist.
2. Attended IBEX classes!
3. Met some awesome Christians.
4. Walked through Hezekiah's Tunnel
5. Hiked the Mount of Olives
6. Found the gravesite of Horatio Spafford (author of the well known hymn "It is Well with my Soul") in the Protestant cemetery atop Mt. Zion.
7. Taking class from Dr. Gabriel Barkay at Jerusalem University College
8. Went on a day trip with Todd Bolen and Jen Kintner to Biblical Dor, Ramot HaNadiv, and Anapolia
9. Gave Rachel Schlegel guitar lessons
10. Shared in IBEX chapel
11. Attended Jerusalem Assembly
12. Developed a love for Archaeology and reading about Archaeology

I was going to attach some pictures but it is really sssllllooowwww so this will have to do. It is a picture of me lying between the graves of Matthew William Flinders Petrie and Clarence Stanley Fischer (famous archaeologists) in the Protestant cemetery on Mt. Zion, south of the Old City of Jerusalem, overlooking the Hinnom Valley.

2006-08-16T03:21:00.000-07:00

The Mount of Olives

I have been working with a new program to produce panoramic pictures. I still need some practice. The program has been so useful. There are so many places in Israel which just can't be properly represented on a normal size photo. The actual panorama is even wider than what is shown here. I had to resize it so that blogger would accept the picture. This picture was taken from the Eastern wall of the
Temple Mount.

2006-08-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

Lessons To Me From The Pilgrim’s Progress

I recently finished reading The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. It’s a book that I have begun many times but because of the pressures of school deadlines never finished until this week. Four items impacted me in particular.

1.

The blessing of Evangelist’s periodic company. It was Evangelist who directed Christian to flee from the wrath-for-sin which is to come, by way of the wicket gate and toward the celestial city. But, the reader finds that Evangelist visits Christian throughout his progress. I think this is significant. Jesus’ instruction to go and make disciples included a responsibility to teach them also what He commanded. I have found that there is great benefit (and Biblical precedent in Paul’s life) in cold-turkey evangelism. But, in all evangelism, there ought to be a willingness to be a lifetime resource to any fruit, and even a pursuant resource. During Christian’s journey, Evangelist finds him doing well. Christian greets Evangelist at one time, “Welcome, welcome, my good Evangelist, the sight of thy countenance brings to my remembrance thy ancient kindness and unwearied labouring for my eternal good.” And at other times, Evangelist’s presence is a reproof: “And now he[Christian] began to be sorry that he had taken Mr. Worldly Wiseman's counsel. And with that he saw Evangelist coming to meet him; at the sight also of whom he began to blush for shame.” In both circumstances, there is opportunity for ministry. In the first case, to thank God for His working and in the second to exhort (Evan. What dost thou here[off the narrow path], Christian?). The character of Evangelist was a lesson to me:

“Evan. Then said Evangelist, How hath it fared with you, my friends, since the time of our last parting? What have you met with, and how have you behaved yourselves?”

2.

The assistance of Hopeful’s companionship. Throughout reading the first half of the story, I kept wondering, “Where would Christian be without Hopeful?” I think Hopeful’s presence provides two lessons. First, the Christian life is filled with struggles and is come through better with Christian fellowship (by fellowship I mean “spurring-on, together burdern-bearing” not “Christians-coffee-crackers-card playing”). This is a great purpose of the Church (Heb. 10:24-25) and worth pursuing (Psa. 133:1), and a Christian marriage the arena for the greatest expression of this type of companionship.
Second, that the character of this Hopeful is meant to be the Christian’s companion. The Christian life is meant to be assisted by ever-present hope [a hope that does not disappoint (Rom. 5:5); a hope that is unseen but real (Rom. 8:25)}. This hope is provided through God’s promises in Scripture (Rom. 15:4) and in the person of Christ himself (Rom. 15:12).

“Hopeful added this word, Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole; and with that Christian brake out with a loud voice, Oh, I see him again! and he tells me, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.”

3.

The support provided by the testimony of Christian to Christiana, Mercy, the children, Honest, and those who joined them. Throughout their journey they were met by other pilgrims who found encouragement to carry on by thinking about Christian’s coming through trial. This is also seen in Mr. Great-Heart’s bringing to their memory the events of Christian’s pilgrimage as they themselves came to the places of their happening. How they were encouraged by his victories and warned by his chastenings.
I have found in recent years some of the greatest help in living the Christian life can be found in the biographies and diaries of those in the past. Recently, I was given a C.D. with John Piper’s messages on the lives of men whom the world was not worthy—How I was impacted by his account of the life of John Paton. I have listened to it over and over again since finishing the rest of the messages. Concerning this lesson, I think of a song from my growing up and the line “May all who come behind us find us faithful.”

4.

The representation of the discipline of the Lord in the book. Many of you know that I have spent significant time seeking to understand that discipline in the Scripture, accompanied with many griefs, which the Lord employs to keep the believer unto his final salvation. My work on this subject, I believe, may be life-long but an introductory paper (introductory, not exactly brief, 130 pages at present) is nearing final completion. How Christian was disciplined by Evangelist’s question, “What dost thou here, Christian?”; by his necessary return to the arbor to retrieve his scroll, lost during his sleep, and the confrontation of coming to the path surrounded by lions in the dark instead of day; etc.

Perhaps, a short note on the discipline of Christian’s stay in Doubting Castle may be a good representation of to what I speak. It happened as Hopeful and Christian traveled that they were discouraged by the sharpness of the ground. Seeing the softness of a parallel (as they perceived) path, they reasoned it would be little harm to walk the alternate path a little way. However, seeing that at the appropriate time, they could not transcend between the paths when they desired and at that time being caught in storm, they took shelter for the night off the path. In the morning, they were discovered by the Giant Despair, master of Doubting Castle who locked them up, beat them daily, and brought suggestion that they ought to kill themselves. But remembering the gift of a key, called Promise, which would unlock any door in Doubting Castle (the account of which is quite humorous in context, particularly Hopeful’s words: “Now, a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half amazed, brake out in this passionate speech: -- What a fool, quoth he, am I, thus to lie in a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I have a key in my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubting Castle. Then said Hopeful, That is good news, good brother; pluck it out of thy bosom, and try.”), they were delivered from the coming doom, being more resolved to stick to the path regardless of its discomforts.

It was through this nearness to death that Hopeful and Christian saw clearly their fault of character, which brought them out of the way. How they were chided with their exchange of small temporary discomfort for extreme necessity to exercise faith.

The Scripture also has much to say about the Christian’s response to discipline. One aspect, I believe can be seen in Bunyan’s story in this situation:
“Then I saw that they had them to the top of another mountain, and the name of that is Caution, and bid them look afar off; which, when they did, they perceived, as they thought, several men walking up and down among the tombs that were there; and they perceived that the men were blind, because they stumbled sometimes upon the tombs, and because they could not get out from among them. Then said Christian, What means this? The Shepherds then answered, Did you not see a little below these mountains a stile, that led into a meadow, on the left hand of this way? They answered, Yes. Then said the Shepherds, From that stile there goes a path that leads directly to Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair, and these, pointing to them among the tombs, came once on pilgrimage, as you do now, even till they came to that same stile; and because the right way was rough in that place, they chose to go out of it into that meadow, and there were taken by Giant Despair, and cast into Doubting Castle; where, after they had been a while kept in the dungeon, he at last did put out their eyes, and led them among those tombs, where he has left them to wander to this very day, that the saying of the wise man might be fulfilled, He that wandereth out of the way of understanding, shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

"Then Christian and Hopeful looked upon one another, with tears gushing out, but yet said nothing to the Shepherds."

The discipline of the Lord is to be returned by thankfulness to the Lord. First, that He chose to discipline the sinner, the occasion of which is only for the believer, and gives evidence that he is the son of a heavenly Father. Second, that He was not more severe in the means He chose to apply the discipline. In the making of men to share His holiness, throughout redemption history, God has cast from paradise, removed eyes, removed temporarily from the fellowship of His church, made some paraplegics, and brought some to death. Upon my study, I have learned to be thankful when He chooses to discipline me with a hard word from a friend or small discomfort, which efficaciously brought me to exercise faith and repentance. See how God’s choice discipline of prison stay (and not blind-tomb-wandering) caused Hopeful and Christian to gush tears, being overwhelmed with the merciful choice of a loving Master.

I would highly recommend the book, believing that there may be different lessons gained by each reader. It has been widely published and can be found for purchase almost anywhere. A free version can be found easily at CCEL.org or from a Google search, just make sure you are getting the whole version, not abridged, containing both parts (parts 1 and 2) of the work.

2006-08-12T11:12:00.000-07:00

Walking About the City

I went to the Old City on Monday to meet some friends and explore.
I arrived early in the day so the city was relatively empty. Jaffa Road (Yafo, one of the main streets of the new city of Jerusalem and so named because it connect the Old City toward the direction of the port city of Joppa) is usually very crowded with car traffic and pedestrians.
I decided it would be safe to go through Damascus gate (one of the 10 gates to the Old City--depending on who's counting, since half of them no longer serve as entrances to the city--on the North side of the Old city). and walk around in the empty muslim quarter.
This sign is above the entrance to what is held to be the palace of Pilate where Jesus was tried before His crucifixion. Maybe you can make out the reference to John 19:16 and look it up. This location is the second stop along the Via Dolorosa, path to the cross.
U.N. car parked in Eastern Jerusalem.
El-Wad Rd. (most of the street signs in the Old City look like this...the trouble is most of them are covered up by 10 shekel t-shirts, or Israel sandals). El-Wad road runs North and South, connecting Damascus gate, on the North end, with the Western Wall Kotel on the south end. El-Wad is Arabic for "The Valley" and also marks the position of the Tyropean Valley (Valley of the Cheesemakers) which divided the 1st century city into upper and lower city (The west being significantly elevated over the Eastern side of the city).
I took this picture from the ramped entrance to the temple mount. By about 9:00, the Western Wall was packed with visitors.
This tunnel, accessed from the men's side of the partition to the Western Wall, is the visible remanants of Wilson's arch (named after Captain Charles Wilson, who excavated Jerusalem over a hundred years ago). The arch was once a support for a causeway entrance to the temple mount.
Absalom's Pillar. Located in the Kidron Valley where are many tombs.
Near the excavations of the New Testament pool of Siloam, they have uncovered an ancient road as well.
This is the largest visible stone used in the temple mount structure. I am standing at the beginning of it and my friend Ben (in the red shirt) stands at the end. They approximate that the stone ways nearly 600 tons.
Inside Mount Moriah.

2006-08-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

New Life

Introducing Caden William Phillips.

My sister Sarah and her husband Rick had their first child last week (July 27th at 5:30am). He weighed in at 8 pounds 15ounces and was 22 inches long.
That also means that I am an uncle for the first time in my life. I wish I could be out there but it will be another thing to look forward to when I return to the states in December.

2006-08-03T10:58:00.000-07:00

With psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

I thought I would post some favorite hymns--those which I most often find that I think about or humm or sing when no one else is around.

More Love to Thee, O Christ
More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best.
This all my prayer shall be: More love, O Christ to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Let sorrow do its work, come grief or pain;
Sweet are Thy messengers, sweet their refrain,
When they can sing with me: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise;
This be the parting cry my heart shall raise;
This still its prayer shall be: More love, O Christ to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

I love this hymn because I see the great chasm between me and likeness to Jesus Christ. As Paul prayed for the Philippians (Phil. 1:9), I want to pray for my own growth. That I would increase in love for Jesus and that it would show in love for others.

Be Still My Soul
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

I love this hymn because it often comes to my mind in times of trial. Considering that the God of the universe is ordaining the circumstances; bringing about my good; and on my side, assisting by His unique care.

On Christ the Solid Rock
1. My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
(Refrain)

3. His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
(Refrain)

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
(Refrain)

I love this hymn because it speaks of the good news of the forgivness for sin that comes through believing in Jesus' death in my place--that is sure, being built on a real foundation.

2006-08-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

One month passed...

This past weekend was final exam time for my Hebrew course. On yom rishon (Sunday), we had an oral exam. Yom sheni (Monday), I took the comprehensive written test. I have learned a lot of Hebrew in one month. It is exciting! In the next two months, I will be spending much time independently studying. I will not be doing the second ulpan so that I will be free to explore more of life in Israel. But, I will continue to study Hebrew on my own. Thus far, I have been spending four hours daily in study. The course was a blast and I met people from all of the world. My teachers were great too. They made the class a lot of fun and challenging at the same time.

My two teachers were Adi (her name means jewel in Hebrew) is on the left and Rachel (in Hebrew it sounds more like Raquel) is on the right.

2006-07-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

To Chephirah...

I went on a hike last night with some friends from Moody Bible Institute. We set out to have a view of Chephirah, a biblical site that is in hiking distance from Kiriath Jearim (near where I am living) at least it looks like it in the student map manual (SMM). This city was one of the three cities of the Gibeonites who fooled Joshua and Israel into believing that they were from a distant country (Josh 9:17). It was also later given to the tribe of Benjamin as part of their inheritance in the land (Josh 18:26). It ended up getting too dark and too far to walk in the dark. We found out that all of Israel goes on walks on erev shabbat (evening of the sabbath day)--not really everyone but it seemed like it.

So...we turned around and found another place to make a fire with a good view of the shephelah and Tel Aviv in the distance. It was a great to spend time with other believers just singing praise choruses and hymns.

2006-07-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

"...and the waters of the sea become fresh"

Not a news flash. The quote concerning the Dead Sea (Yam HaMelach) comes from Ezekiel's prophecy of the millenial kingdom. The Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, is receding rapidly. Due to the irragation diversion of its source, the Jordan River, and natural evaporation of the existing water in the sea, the water level of the sea drops steadily, leaving an accumulation of minerals. The density of the water contributes to the name of the sea. Nothing lives in the Dead Sea but this some day will change. Ezekiel describes the sea in Ezekiel 47:8-10:

"Then he said to me, 'These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and the waters of the sea become fresh. It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. And it will come about that fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many.'"

I was able to take a trip to the Dead Sea with a group from Hebrew University last Friday. We left at 2:30 (that's right b'boker, "in the morning") to be able to be at Masada by sunrise. The day was a lot of fun and I learned a lot from the tour guide that I didn't know before about Masada. He described how Herod the Great designed the cisterns (water storage rooms) surrounding Masada to fill up naturally from the run off of wadis (dry river beds) that receive huge amounts of water when it rains even miles away. For those of you at Master's, you might think about the wash near north campus. This wash is a river even days after the rain has stopped at school because the water from the nearby mountains drains through this wash. Herod used this system to feed cisterns in the middle of the desert so that Masada had enough water to sustain life upon the rock for years, even to sustain crops growing upon the summit.

2006-07-24T00:25:00.000-07:00

Back Home...

Here is another update from my dad on my mom's recovery:

"Good news, mom was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon. She is still uncomfortable from the surgery but glad to be home. Next week we will take her back to the hospital to have the metal staples removed. We thank God for his faithfulness during this trial. We are so blessed and are rejoicing in His goodness."

2006-07-22T23:10:00.000-07:00

Prayer Update

I wanted to send a quick update on how my mom was doing. I thought it might just be best to copy the last email from my Dad.

"Hi Joshua,
We pray that you are well and enjoying your studies in Israel. I am sorry that I have not written sooner but I have been spending most of my time at the hospital with Mom. Mom is doing okay. She had the surgery on Wednesday as planned. She was in surgery for 4 1/2 hours which was longer that they expected but the tumor was a lot larger than they had thought. It was about the size of a small orange. They were able to take it all out but it required taking out the whole right lobe of the liver. She is in a lot of pain but was well enough yesterday to be moved out of ICU into a regular room. We thank God for all that he has done in sustaining her during this time. He has provided a very gifted doctor and wonderful nurses to care for her. Her nurse yesterday was a Christian so we thank God for the fellowship that we had with her has she provided care for Mom. God is so good!!

Well, I am off again to the hospital to spend the day with Mom. Thanks for all your prayers and all those that have joined us in praying for Mom. It has been a real blessing for us.

Keep safe,I love you,Dad"

Thank you for your prayers for my mom. If anyone would like to visit, send a card of encouragment or give a call, you can email me and I give you more information. I know that just knowing that you are praying is a huge encouragment to my mom and dad because they tell me often.

2006-07-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

Update on My Mom's Condition

I wanted to send an update on my mom and ask for continued prayer. After hearing that the known tumors could not be found any longer, we were told that the cancer had spread to the liver. My parents have been meeting with specialists and surgeons for almost two months to discuss the next action to take. I am attaching part of their recent email to me so you can pray.

"We missed your calls today (Friday) because we were at Sunset Kaiser doing pre-op stuff. On Wednesday I have to have surgery on my liver. The CT scan showed the tumor could not be dealt with safely with the RFA procedure so I am having to do the full liver surgery after all. It will be major surgery so will be in the hospital for 5 days. Dad will write you and let you know how things went. I have the best of the best of surgeons but still pray for him and his team."

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. (Romans 12:10-13)

2006-07-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

Am I Safe?

I think the question is always relative when you are living here. There is great potential for harm...but that could be said in parts of Los Angeles in which many of you who are reading are within the proximity of a half hours drive. I can say that as far as my surroundings, nothing has changed over the last couple weeks. I am living on a moshav (community) about 10 miles west of Jerusalem which is just far enough to seem like the most peaceful place on earth with the sun setting slowly over the Judean hill country and shephelah with no sounds of bombs exploding or anything like this.

However, the news of the North does provide much tension in the minds of people in Jerusalem (where I am attending class). On Sunday, we had a special briefing to speak to the issue of how the conflict in the North relates to the operation of the school and if we need to start thinking about alternate plans. A journalist, and former Israeli general, came to give some internal perspective on the operation. In his mind, Jerusalem is one of the safest places on earth right now--We laughed at this outrageous statement--he asserted that he believed Hezbollah would never dream to target Jerusalem. So this is kind of a mixed answer to the question at the heading.

Right now the region of Israel affected by the conflict is still about 3 hours North of where I am. Here is a picture to get a better idea of what this looks like. Where I am is marked by the green dot. The red dots mark those areas that have seen damage from Ketyushah rockets.

Psalm 122:6-8 may have special application at this time: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.' For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, 'May peace be within you.'"

2006-07-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

“O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.”

On thursday (yom hamishi), I went on a camping trip with Todd Bolen and his boys (Luke and Mark). Three young boys (about the same age as Todd's boys) came with us. Their father died earlier this year. It was a blessing for me to spend some time talking with and learning from Todd and to see his example of one who practices pure religion (James 1:27) in ministering to a widow by taking her boys camping. We actually set up camp on Tell Aijalon. We arrived just a few hours before dawn so we quickly set up camp and cooked some hot dogs. We climbed up to the top of the tell and got a good view of the valley. There were some caves in a nearby hill so we hiked up to them to check them out (not very exciting up close though).

When we returned to camp, we read the biblical account of the battle that occurred in the place at which we were looking.

So the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they with all their armies, and camped by Gibeon and fought against it.
Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the hill country have assembled against us.” So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him and all the valiant warriors. The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you.” So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal. And the LORD confounded them before Israel, and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword. Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“O sun, stand still at Gibeon,
And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.”
So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. There was no day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel. Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp to Gilgal. (Joshua 10:5-15)

I was impacted by the implications of the account. Israel's relationship with Gibeon was the result of trickery. The Gibeonites were among the Canaanite people whom God had commanded Israel to kill because of their wickedness. Gibeon, knowing of Israel's desimation of Egypt, the nations in transjordan, and the defeat of Jericho and Ai, was afraid. They sent a delegation to Joshua, with moldy bread and worn out sandals. They claimed that they had come from a long distance. Without consulting the LORD, Joshua made a treaty with these people not to harm them. But they had tricked him and put Joshua in a situation of disobedience because he could not now destroy them as God had commanded.

Consider the news coming to Joshua...that five Canaanite kingdoms are going to destroy Gibeon. I think there is something significant for us in Joshua's response, something I think that is significant for the college student particularly. It would have been easy for Joshua to think, "Well, I'm glad that worked out after all. I made a bad but if I ignore this news, everything will be back to normal." This was not Joshua's response. He woke his men, marched all night, defeated the armies and saved Gibeon. Why? Because, he had made a commitment to protect Gibeon, even though it meant that by keeping his commitment he would experience loss (Gibeon's existence preserved the results of Joshua's disobedience).

Many times this is the nature of commitment. There is a trade off. By saying yes to one thing, you give up all other options. Perhaps, this is one of the great emerging follies of the college student in America (and I am speaking from the perspective of the Christian community). Why give a "yes" or "no" answer when you can give a "maybe." Then you can evaluate all options on the basis of what is best for self. What will be most advantageous for self? What will provide the most enjoyment and cancel out most discomfort? The situation may vary...a dinner, an outreach vbs, a visitation ministry, an evangelistic outing, a winter camp. Spontaneity is praised at the expense of biblical virtues of trustworthiness, humility, and love. There is more at stake than spoiling plans. I believe character is at stake.

2006-07-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

Ani B'Yisrael Acshav! (I am now in Israel!)

I have been in Israel for just over a week now. I am attending an ulpan (Hebrew Language program) through the Rothberg International School of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. We began class on Sunday (in Israel the assembly of believers meets on Saturday mornings). Class is about 5-6 hours a day and about an hour of homework so far each day and a test at the end of each week.

I have been to the Old City 3 times so far since I have been here. But actually, coming back to the moshav is a highlight of my day. I am staying at Moshav Yad HaShmonah for the first month of my stay here. This is the community where the IBEX campus is located and where I lived for 4 months as a 19 year old college student at the Master's College. It is so much more peaceful than being in the city. This is true for many reasons. First, it is located somewhat remotely from the beaen path. Just off highway 1 (the highway from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem) but not traveled by unless you are headed there or the small Arab village adjacent to it--So, no noisy traffic and such. It is located in the Judean Hill Country with great views to the coast (on a clear day) and rocky tree-filled hills surrounding it. Additionally, the moshav is unique as being one of the few communities began and sustained by believers in Yeshua as the Messiah. I think this is one of the biggest parts of the peace here...being with others who know the Prince of Peace Himself.

I'll end this post with sharing some pictures:

I take the bus to and from school every day.

Hebrew University is located on Mount Scopus, just north of the Mount of Olives. This picture was taken from New Gate (an entrance into the Old City of Jerusalem on the North side).

There are some great views of the city from Mt. Scopus.

2006-07-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

After Croatia...

Our team completed our in-country ministry to Croatia almost two weeks ago. The Lord blessed our time together, with the missionaries and Croatian nationals. This year I didn't travel back to the states with the team. It was kind of strange saying goodbye to my teamates as they left for the airport. I had been preparing myself for this but it was still strange.
Instead I am traveling on to Israel for a 3 month intensive Hebrew language study program and then returning to Croatia for about another 3 months of ministry. The harvest certainly is plentiful in the country but the workers are even fewer. The population of this Eastern European country is estimated at 4.5 million people among whom only about 1,000 are believers. That is about .0002% of the population. Many of the 1000 believers are still so young in their faith and understanding of the Scriptures.

This provokes me to pray and to want to serve there..."for the love of Christ compels us" (2 Cor 5), believing that their will be Croatians singing "Dostojan ti svi" (worhy are You) in that heavenly scene (Rev 5:9).

2006-06-25T23:09:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine told me about this animated

music video

...kind of fun.

2006-06-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

Na Kampu!

Bog je dobro (God is good). He blessed our youth Bible camp at the sea. Last Friday, we left for Krk, a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea. Croatia is a beautiful country and we were surrounded by His creative workmanship as we studied God's written revelation.

The first day, we traveled and set up camp. The drive was just a few hours. Chris and I rode with two of the students from TBA (Theological Bible Academy in Krapina, Croatia). It was a profitable time. We also listened to Steve Lawson's message from the recent Grace Community Church Shepherd's conference. He spoke on the life of George Whitefield. It is an excellent message. If I could share a few things that stuck with me...Whitefield was the example of a minister to many. Spurgeon said that his example in the ministry was George Whitefield. He is said to be the greatest preacher Britain has ever known (including consideration of John Owen, C.H. Spurgeon and others). He is remarked to commonly have begun his messages with the statement "I am here to talk to you about your souls." He is said to have preached to 30,000 people at one time without the help of a microphone. It is evident that the life of Whitefield has had an impact on Lawson's life. I have heard him speak about Whitefield at other times. The subject often brings him close to tears. Lawson's love for the Scriptures and the glory of God lead him to want to be a better preacher (among preachers from my perspective, Pastor Lawson is one of the finest). He said in this message that studying the life of Whitefield makes you want to get on a horse and go preach the gospel. Needless to say, the message pumped up 4 men, eager to preach the word, in a small hatchback car on the way to a camp mininstry (we actually listened to the message again on the way back).

Our camp included about 8 tents and a meeting/dining tent area. Each day, we held evangelistic Bible study meetings in the evenings and mornings. Other campers regularly stopped to listen to what we were saying and even to join us on a few occasions. We preached God's word! We declared the character of God as righteous judge, holy, and omniscient King; man and his sinfulness before the Lord and inability to ever be righteous before God on his own; how God can be a righteous judge and still forgive sin (2 Cor. 5:21); and salvation coming by faith and not self-righteous works.

We were encouraged by many campers wrestling through the implications of this message and sincere conversations with many. Also, we were encouraged by the growth in one girl's life and her desire to be baptized and publically proclaim God's work in her life. I was personally challenged to trust the Lord, who alone can save. Please continue to pray that the Word which was sown would take root and produce a crop that bears good fruit, through many coming to trust Christ alone for salvation.

2006-06-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

Here in Croatia!

(From left to right and Top:Doug, Chris, Tom, Rich; Bottom:Bethany, Josh(and a guess top too), Emily)

Hello everyone. We are in Croatia! The picture above in Team Croatia 2006. I'm sorry I haven't been able to update the site. I am staying at a house that doesn't have internet so my time is a little limited.

Today was a full day. We did some landscaping work this morning, a kids club this afternoon, and met with the church this evening. I had the opportunity to preach through Psalm 73. The church was challenged and encouraged. I will be sure to give a fuller explanation soon but please continue to pray. Thanks.

2006-05-11T20:21:00.000-07:00

Greatness...

The world aspires to greatness, to be someone, to stand out, to exercise power, or attain a position. John and James did it long ago and today little has changed. Why? Because greatness is a diamond to the lust of the eyes, and of the flesh and the pride of life.

I recently read a short book by C.J. Mahaney called Humility: True Greatness with some friends. The humble man is the great man to God. The humble man captures His special attention: "But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word" (Isa. 66:2). He loves to look on the humble man, to hear his accurate prayers, to see His trust in Him, to watch as he regards others more important than himself and thinks little of what he can do but thinks much of what God can do through him. We were considering Philippians 2:1-11 at a college Bible study during Wednesday lunch this week. It is shocking that we Christians would strive for greatness by any unbiblical means. First, since even this pursuit is doomed to failure ("I will not share My glory with another"). Second, because it is so empty and a proven deceit. Greatness is manifested by Jesus' life. And the Christian is told to strive toward His likeness. An understanding of Christ's great exaltation is only appreciated by an understanding that we will never fully achieve in our greatest earthly exaltation likeness to the One who took upon HImself the greatness humiliation the world has ever known.

So tomorrow (and tonight), admist all the pomp and circumstance of a graduation ceremony, I am prepared to think accurately about myself. There are many fools with letters after their names. With a humble mindset, the believer should remember some other letters after his name (even without a degreee). Maybe s-a-v-e-d, or c-h-o-s-e-n, or b-o-u-g-h-t, or m-a-d-e a-l-i-v-e.

No believer can be conceited when treasuring the gospel of his salvation.

2006-05-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

Aaahhhhhh.....

Every student knows the feeling of relief after finishing a big paper or test. This Thursday, I turned in the first draft of a thesis paper for the master's degree I am completing this semester--what a relief to meet this goal! I was at Kinkos as they bound my paper and feeling this feeling this sense of relief. I was thanking the LORD for His faithfulness, how He brought me through, sustained me, supplied strength, brought encouragement through others, their calls and prayers, how He gave me an interest in the particular focused subject from His word (increasingly as I studied and saw His mind in Holy Scripture). But this feeling of relief, I believe, has a purpose. And it is intentionally temporary. This sense of relief should bring the Christian to thanksgiving to a good God. It can come after facing temptation and enduring it to see the LORD's faithfulness to provide a way of escape so that the believer may be able to bare it. This sense of relief should engage the believer to pursue new challenges (with the challenge of holiness being primary, "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" 1 Tim. 4:7) and ambitions to accomplish great things for God, in making Him known and giving Him glory. This sense of relief should lead to the believer's praising the LORD to others. "God brought me through... He is amazing. I would have quit but He strengthened me." This sense of relief should cause the believer to proclaim the gospel. "This peace I am experiencing makes me recall the peace that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Do you think a person can have peace in this world when God will bring every act to a judgment in which one sin will merit eternal torment. Would you like to know how you can know this peace..." This sense of relief should lead the believer to encourage another who is in the midst of hardship. "God brought me through and He can bring you through too. Nothing is too difficult for Him. No one is like Him" (2 Cor. 1). This sense of relief for the believer is a glimpse into a heavenly reality and should lead him to think about life in the New Jerusalem, in the presence of the glory of God and reflecting that glory without the presence of sin.

I thought I would attach a small portion from this paper, to capture an interest in its topic.

Imagine that I could transport you to the last day of your life. It is the early morning and this evening you will come to die. Where do your thoughts turn? The future of your life on earth is now minute and the few short hours that remain cannot drastically change the course of your life. It has already been lived and you may now look back at it; observe it objectively. What do you see? Is it pleasant? What do you wish you could have seen? Do you have regrets?

Such thoughts are sobering. These are the reflections of a 19-year-old pastor. He wrote, “I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live if they were to live their lives over again. Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.” How do you wish you will have lived when you come to die? Do you desire a life that has been filled with pleasure; a life that has brought fame, fortune, and luxury; or a life of comfort in which there were no difficulties?

Does holiness come to mind, when thinking of the life you wish you will have lived? Imagine again this transportation, the living of your final day. What does this day mean for you as a believer? At the end of this day, you will leave this earth and enter the presence of your Savior, the One who is called the “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS”, the One who is called a “lamb” and described as “spotless and unblemished.” What will a faithful, obedient life, set apart to the LORD be worth to you on that day? What will it be worth to you to anticipate the welcome, “Well done, good slave?” Will it not be worth all that you have, everything you can borrow, and the largest loan you could take? Would it not be worth your greatest sacrifice? Would you not thoughtfully plan your days past with a consistent drawing near to the LORD, His Word, and His grace; or dream of listening to those who, in your lifetime, sought to direct you away from sin; or wish you had turned to obedience after experiencing correction, or learned spiritual lessons from trials?

God has a design for bringing the believer to this final day; it is through His discipline. Your pursuit of and response to His discipline will determine how you come to this final day. Edwards, again, wrote, “Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness in the other world as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.” And he understood that happiness would be found in holiness.

2006-04-07T19:22:00.000-07:00

A godly lady

After coming home from Bible study last night, my mom let me know that my aunt Doris had passed away a few hours ago. She is actually my mom's aunt but we have always called her aunt Doris. She had struggled with Emphysema throughout her life. She didn't smoke. A fever when she was 5 years old left severe scarring on her lungs. I will remember her best as a godly caring woman--the woman of 1 Peter 3 with a gentle a quiet spirit, adorned on the inside, that the Lord loves. Throughout her life she was faithful in her local church, serving as a church pianist for many years. She was also faithful as a godly wife to my uncle Phil, a godly caring man himself.

Of our times together, I will remember playing Christmas carols on the guitar while she played the piano as our family met together on Christmas Eve to remember the gift of our Savior, the Lord Jesus.

Earlier on Thursday, I had been in a Deuteronomy class at the seminary. My teacher was exhorting us to be Christ's church to people who suffer, even when everyone else has forgotten the tragedy and the loss of someone. I would invite you to pray for my uncle Phil for comfort and for me to serve faithfully, to show Christ's love.

I will try to post a picture of aunt Doris in the next few days.

I thought I would add some more about my Aunt Doris' life...

Doris LaVerne Kemp was born in Burbank on September 19, 1929, and lived in Eagle Rock, California. She had a younger sister Jane and a younger brother Harold. When she was a child she suffered a childhood illness that affected her lungs. At the age of 12, she accepted Jesus as her Savior. Her family owned the Kemp Auto Service business which they sold to purchase an avocado ranch in Escondido. Her father was tragically killed by a tractor accident on Good Friday when Doris was only 13. Her family returned to live in Glendale and lived in an apartment above her grandparents. She attended school in Glendale and rode her bike carrying her trumpet to Glendale High School. Music became an enjoyable part of her life.

After graduation she attended Biola College downtown and played the piano for the Radio Bible Hour. She then attended Whittier College and received her teaching credential. Doris became an elementary school teacher in Glendale and taught 3rd grade. She attended the Glendale Alliance Church and played the piano for their church services. Later she began attending Glendale Presbyterian Church where she met Phillip Jones at the Senior Young Peoples group and was married June 24, 1955.

Soon they moved to Burbank and started a family: Bruce, Brian, and Sharon. They began attending Emmanual Evangelical Free Church and were invovled with the sunday school programs. Doris played the piano and organ there for many years until 1978 when they began attending Grace Community Church. Phil and Doris took many bus tour trips with Grace Community friends. Doris began helping Bruce in his printing business in Burbank. Soon Phil joined in and the business became a family affair.

In 1996, Doris and Phil moved to Santa Clarita where their children and grandchildren lived and began attending Grace Baptist Church. In 2002, Doris fell and had hip replacement surgery. Her health began to decline due to continued problems with her lungs which God employed to bring her to live with Him on April 7, 2006.

2006-03-31T10:35:00.000-08:00

I thought that I had better write something today, seeing that I had not written anything yet in March. I was going to write "Time flies" but I caught myself. Time doesn't really fly, or even go quickly (There are the same amount of minutes in every day). It just gets used and based on how it is used it can be described as wasted or redeemed. I think that is the point of John Piper's book, Don't Waste Your Life. You can use every minute of your life and others can look back at it and say, "What a waste!" Dr. Piper writes about a plaque that hung on the wall of his childhood home which inspired the way he thinks about life. It read, "Only one life, 'Twill soon be past; Only what's done for Christ will last."

One week of this month was used in my bed as I struggled with pneumonia. I had been sick for two weeks prior, with a cold and allergent effects. On a Tuesday morning, I woke up early and went to a ministry meeting and determined that after I would go see a doctor because it was unusual that my cold symptoms were not improving at all. I found upon arrival that I could only make an appointment for the afternoon and would have to wait. In the intermediate hours, my body began to become even more affected with illness and by the time I was to go the doctor, I could barely stand. I made it there, however, and began to be treated for pneumonia.

The next few days, I struggled with the illness. I had been given two antibiotic injections and was taking antibiotic pills. I wasn't seeing any improvement, no relief except for after my body had attempted to throw up from an empty stomach, due to a non-existent appetite. I had time only to think, about my life and about death, considering that the Lord does not need a sick man to make a dead man but can take a healthy 25 year old too. I saw how frail life is, how it is the vapor, how God rules over it. I considered my life and did not see much devotion to Christ on a daily basis, not much picking up of a cross.

I was not able to do much reading but managed to think about the praise of one Psalm, Psalm 145. The Psalmist begins, "I will extol you my God, O King and I will bless Your name forever and ever." His praise extols the unsearchable greatness of God, His goodness, His character as gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and great in lovingkindness, as the One who is good to all, who answers those who call upon Him in truth, who sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down.

"My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD" (v. 21).

2006-02-26T22:54:00.000-08:00

We boast in our tribulations

I was thinking upon this declaration from Romans 5:3 as I just had the opportunity to give Dr. Bob Smith, who told me that he is speaking about heaven on Wednesdays at his church in Lafayette, a ride from the airport. I asked him if he had seen the quote from a letter sent from a dear saint to Charles Fuller, upon hearing that he will be speaking about heaven. I will quote it hear because it always serves to give a blessing.
"Charles E. Fuller, a well-known radio evangelist of the mid-twentieth centruy, announced one day that his sermon the following Sunday would be on "Heaven." As he prepared his radio message that week, Fuller recieved a letter from an elderly man who knew that he was soon to die. Here is part of that letter:

Next Sunday you are to talk about "Heaven." I am interested in that land because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over 55 years. I did not buy it. It was given to me without money and without price. But the donor purchased it for me at a tremendous sacrifice. I am not holding it for speculation, since the title is not transferable. It is not a vacant lot....Termites can never undermine its foundations for they rest upon the Rock of Ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it awy. No locks or bolts will ever be placed upon its doors, for no vicious person can ever enter that land where my dwelling stands, now almost completed and ready for me to enter and abide in peace eternally without fear of being ejected. There is a valley of deep shadow between the place where I live in California and that to which I sahll journey in a very short time. I cannot reach my home in the City of God without passing through the dark valley of shadows. But I am not afraid, because the best friend that I ever had went through the same valley alone long, long ago and drove away all the gloom. He has stuck by me through thick and thin since we first became acquainted 55 years ago, and I hold His promise in printed form, never to forsake, nor to leave me alone. He will be with me as I walk through the valley of the shadows, and I shall not lose my way when He is with me. I hope to hear your sermon on Heaven next Sunday from my home but I have no assurance that I shall be able to do so. My ticket to heaven has no date marked for the journey--no return coupon--and no permit for baggage. Yes, I am ready to go and may not be here while you are talking next Sunday, but I shall meet you there someday."

The believer has this hope; at the end, He will be with Christ, reflecting the glory of Christ. This is what makes heaven to be heaven for the believer. It is Paul's striking words that among the things that give the believer a reason to boast in his troubles is this hope: "we boast in our troubles." He continues that the believer does this for 3 reasons. First, he boasts because troubles bring about perseverance in the life of the believer. This is an endurance to continue living by faith. Next, he boasts because troubles give opportunity for a proven character to be evident. This is the continual application of a persevering faith. Finally, the believer boasts because troubles produce a hope in the place and condition when there will be no more troubles, no sorrows, no death: heaven.
I am reminded of these things as I was hit hard by illness this weekend; being reminded that this body I live in is so fraile and capable of failing at any moment should the Lord choose not to sustain it. Yet, in these times of weakness, there is blessing. Time to be caused to rest, to think about God's purposes, to consider sin to be repented of, to desire God's strength, to see lack of faith, to be tested on how to exercise faith.

Quote taken from Living a Life of Hope by Nathan Busenitz, pp. 14-15.

2006-02-18T18:20:00.000-08:00

A Student's Plight

I am in the midst of that infamous time of the semester: paper time. Usually, I will have about two large papers to write each semester. This semester is a little different because I am writing my master's thesis paper, the largest paper I have ever worked on. The goal is to produce a resource for the church in the area of Biblical Counseling concerning a subject perhaps neglected.

Although the goal is worth pursuing, the temptations of paper writing are still present: "just get it done so you can go have fun," "put it off, you'll have more later," and "quantity of pages is more important than quality." But I have chosen to approach this paper by another principle:

Where there is much labor, there is much gain.

Ignatius' Epistle to Polycarp 1.2

I know firsthand that writing a paper forces me to synthesize what I read and is a very instructive experience. But it's hard. It takes work. And for that reason, I often fail to produce good papers (at least in my oppinion). Yet it seems that most valuable things require much work to obtain. This is easily seen in learning a musical instrument or achieving ability in sports. No one appreciates the sound of a violinist who practices occassionally; it is the violinist who through years of disciplined practice produces sweet sounds that we appreciate.

This leaves little room for dabbling. It requires devotion. I use to have a desire to write a lot of books, commentaries on the Scripture and such. As I have become a more experienced reader, this desire has changed. Many books reveal little depth of insight, little thought in their production. I think rather than writing a lot of books that I would like to produce one great work which can be called the definitive or classic work. I'm not as much interested in having the reputation as a writer but of one who worked hard to produce something of value.

2006-02-11T10:41:00.000-08:00

In Luther's Shadow

Martin Luther is best known as a reformer in the history of the church. On October 31, 1517, Luther nailed a list of theological disagreements on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany as an invitation for theological debate. This document is known as the 95 Theses. Because of the development in printing, this theological treatise was translated into the common German and distributed quickly. What began as an academic activity soon exposed the Roman Catholic Church's abuse and usurpation of the authority of the Bible for the Christian's rule of faith and practice. Luther himself was impacted by an in depth study of the book of Romans and the declaration that the righteous will live by faith (Romans 1:17). God used Luther to direct others to examine what the Scripture said and to come to an understanding of salvation by faith in Christ alone, by grace alone.

These facts are not a secret. In fact I just reviewed the information on Wikipedia before writing. But what may be unknown is that this reformation is not a thing of the past. For the past two summers, I have traveled with a small group of believers to Croatia. Croatia is a staunchly Roman Catholic country, to the point that one might have to forfeit their job, friends, contact with their family, and safety if they should choose to come to God by faith, with the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith (Phil. 3:9). Ministering in this country has given me a real picture of what Luther was up against. To them salvation is bound up in the sacraments and attendance at the RC building. This situation seems so familiar especially when picking up a biography of Luther. In a realistic way, the worldwide church needs reformers, not new ideas or new methods or new books to replace the ones already written with the same information.

In my experience, the church in Europe is starving for a trained man to teach the Scriptures. Perhaps, our goals are too small. It seems that the American pastor's assitant's assitant might be used as a church reformer, making plain the way of salvation, by God's grace, to thousands.

Perhaps, I have gone too far. Maybe zeal needs to be tempered with wisdom. Pray for the European church, pray for Croatia, consider your calling.

Note the dominance and centrality of the catholic church in this small Croatian town. And this is just one, there are actually two other catholic churches in this small town although out of view of this picture.

2006-02-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

Chemotherapy and waves of mercy

My mom first learned of her colon cancer in the Spring of 2003 (probably the hardest year of my life). The doctor's gave a prognosis that the development of the cancer was in the late third stage (out of four). She first had a surgery to remove a large portion of her colon; then chemotherapy began. In all, she endured 8 months of very painful weekly treatments. My family supported and served her, encouraged her to hope in the Lord's strength. We grieved and trusted the Lord for His best. That Christmas was special because we did not know what the next year would bring.

Early in January, my mom had a cat scan which would tell us if any progress had been made. By God's mercy, no trace of cancer could be seen in her body. We rejoiced in the Lord for His goodness. I found that, in this time, I learned what it means for God to be sovereign. I believe that I knew He was sovereign but at the same time, I had to learn it. I also looked back and wish I had trusted Him more. There were many times that year that I was tempted to doubt God's goodness and care. At times, I gave in and became bitter...but God did not leave me to this but always brought me back to acknoweldge His goodness in my life, that He would save a sinner and communicate in His word that He acts with infinite knowledge in accordance with what is best, being able also to accomplish it...so that I know without any doubt that my God is all-good, all-knowing, and all-sovereign, at the same time, all of the time.

We experienced the absence of cancer from our family for a little over a year until God in His good purpose chose to bring it back in my mom's body. It is now February and she has been enduring chemotherapy since last June. I see daily what it looks like for the joy of the Lord to be someone's strength (Neh. 8:10). She continues to amaze me with her bravery and softness to the Lord's choice in her life. My dad as well continues to serve and love her. By God's grace we have seen His working in reducing the size of the remaining tumor (now 4cm). Please continue to pray for her endurance in trusting the Lord.

i took this picture this morning.

2006-02-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

In awe...

In January of 2005, I took a trip to Scotland to visit a friend and stayed in London for a couple days on the way back. It was a great opportunity to visit the British Museum, which is world renowned. I prepared myself before the trip with reading up on what was in the museum. I heard it was huge; and I am not interested in everything so I wanted to be able to see items of interest, having limited time. The schematic was impressive a large structure, known as the reading room, actually inside the Museum proper. When I stepped inside the Museum, this room was the first placed I stopped, not as much planned as drawn. I stepped inside the room and saw more books in one place than I think I have seen altogether in my lifetime. I was in awe, three stories of books around the walls of a huge (football field size) oval-shaped room. I'll admit it--I love books. I was overwhelmed with what I was seeing; I just stood there and looked around for about 20 minutes.

My thoughts were directed to the Scripture and John's gospel: "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written" (John 21:25, NASB). This is the closest that I have come to that context: a world full of the account of what Jesus did. Yet, I was standing in one room, so small in comparison to the world. This gave me just a glimpse at the greatness and glory of Jesus Christ.

Also, that beloved hymn of the church, the Love of God, came to my mind: "Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made, were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade, to write the love of God above, would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky. O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall evermore endure the saints' and angels' song."

2006-02-04T18:49:00.000-08:00

Not you too...

That was the first response I recieved when telling a friend I started this blog... I don't mind, I guess it's kind of a fad but I enjoy reading other's blogs so I thought I would join in. Well, I think having a purpose for your blog is an important thing. Not just because it gives direction to what you will say but life should be lived on purpose and that principle trickles down to individual actions.

So...in stating a purpose for my blog, a little background is necessary. The title of this blog is meant to associate itself with John Bunyan's allegorical account of the Christian life. My Christian life began 8 years ago when God saved me from the just penalty for my sin through faith in my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I was anticipating my senior year of high school. Growing up in a Christian home (that is my parents are believers as well), church attendance began in a nursery. I was exposed to the Bible and the person and work of Jesus Christ from an early age. I knew a lot. Yet, the affections of my heart as a child and teenager were not for the God of the Bible. I saved those affections for my own desires and the life that I believed would bring me happiness, the god of my own choosing. During that summer, God changed me. I began to read the Scripture, specifically the book of James. It spoke of a faith that is dead, not a real faith. As I studied that summer I began to see the likness of that faith to my own professed but dead faith in God. I remember the confronting thought of Christ's return and if I would be a part of his calling when He came back. But recalling what I knew of Jesus and the promise of forgivness of sin through faith in Him, I trusted Him, in my best understanding, for the first time. Since then, my life has changed so much. I have been studying the Bible and seeking to live its truth by God's grace and work in me. I have graduated from a Bible college and continue to pursue a life in full-time Christian ministry--a drastic change to the life of an engineer (what i was anticipating before that summer).

So...I have created this blog with a desire to exalt Jesus Christ as He works to set me apart from sin and to holiness and likeness to him; from the things that I learn to the events of my life specifically noticed toward that end.

I don't know who will end up reading this but if you are reading and want to know more about Jesus and how you can know the forgiveness of your sin and the hope of eternity with Him feel free to leave a comment.