It was [God] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Ephesians 4:11-12 There’s a trick question that I’ve used for years when I help facilitate the Discover ODBC class at our church. Discover ODBC (soon to be “Discover GLCC!”) is the several week introductory class that we encourage…
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 Many of you have asked, “What is it like to communicate with a 7 year old child who grew up in another culture & speaks another language?” Have you ever played the game “Charades”? We’re getting pretty good at it!…
I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 1 Peter 5:12 The Golden Gate Bridge over San Francisco Bay was constructed from January 5, 1933 to May 28, 1937. It’s towers stand 746 feet off the surface of the water. At one point construction fell badly behind schedule because several workers had accidentally fallen off the bridge to their deaths. The tentativeness of the workers slowed…
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7 This past Monday Pam and I took the whole family down to the Prince William Forest Park. Being country folk at heart, we’d been wanting to get down there for several years, but never found the time. Monday was a picture perfect day. The park is…
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow… you are God’s field. 1 Corinthians 3:7 & 9 This past Saturday Josh, Justin and I (the boys) cleaned up our yard and gardens at our house. We went at it with gusto and what a beautiful day it was- warm gentle breezes, a deep blue sky with cotton ball clouds. Never too early to start working on that base tan! But…
A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite… but a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him….
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 De•ter•mi•na•tion\…
Dear ODBC Family and Friends How is it possible to be exhausted and energized in the same? My sincere apologies for not communicating more faithfully. I’ve been analyzing what is different about this trip. I’m still dropping into bed by midnight and rising at 5:45, but have not had an uninterrupted block of time to collect my thoughts (always a painful process) and write a report. The work here in Jamaica has been incredibly rewarding. Every facet of ministry has been…
Saturday/Sunday report Dear ODBC family and friends, We have safely arrived on the island of Jamaica! Our travel was uneventful but exhausting. When I say uneventful, I mean that everything went as well as can be expected for the transport of 15 people with personal luggage and 1000 pounds of ministry supplies. I was particularly worried about the350 precious care packages for the school students at Cornwall Mountain All Age School, the little pre-school further up the mountain and JSD-…
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 It always amazes me to consider the kinds of people Jesus chose to be the apostles of the early church. With the exception of Paul, they were mostly fishermen- blue collar, never graduated from high school, stubborn, hard living, low wage laborers- quite literally the salt of…