Christians Persecuted In England

Will I face criminal charges in my lifetime, here in America, for clearly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ publicly?

 

more about “Christians Persecuted In England! – p…“, posted with vodpod

HT: Tim Challies

 

Real HOPE…

more about “Real HOPE…“, posted with vodpod

Write to (& for) Your Children

From the beginning, I’ve journaled.

People who know me don’t find it surprising to picture me with a few extra words to express.

I think God took hold of my verbility (I just made that word up) the moment he saved me and began turning it for His purposes.  The Bible has a lot to say on the subject of talking and listening.

James 3 has some sobering words, as do “a few” Proverbs (1:8, 33; 4:1,10,20; 5:1; 7:24; 8:6, 32-34; 10:19; 12:15, 18; 13:1; 15:31; 17:28; 18:13; 19:20, 27; 22:17; 23:12, 19, 22; 25:12).

Amazingly, by God’s grace, I think He has made me a better listener over these past 12 years.  But that doesn’t necessarily mean I talk less!  I just (hopefully) don’t dominate as much air space in conversation with people as I used to…that is, until somebody hands me a microphone (what can I say?).  Surprise, surprise God made me a preacher, right?

Well, needless to say, much (some) of my talking moved into the realm of solitude…in written form.  In journals.  To God.  That was before the days of “blogging”.  Shoot, I actually made it through high school without an email address…but the rate of technological advancement is an entirely different post.

So I have a stack of journals, mostly filled with prayers and petitions, ramblings of a desperate redeemed sinner who was wrecked by God and His mercy and given an insatiable hunger for God, still with major ups and downs, sometimes all over the map, figuring this life of “following Christ” “living for God” out.  Or, trying anyway.  Or, figuring myself out maybe?  There are lots of benefits to journaling.  I’ll write more on that in the future.

As of late, my journaling has slowed (hear screeching tires)…in a world of high-tech social networking tools, etc…I wonder why?  But, I’m determined and I recognize the need for it in my life.  So, I’m sure, it will continue at some rate throughout my lifetime.  With peaks and slow times.

Now that I’m a dad of three…I’ve really been thinking about “legacy” and “passing on the faith” and “discipling/mentoring the next generation” and all the other biblical ways to say it.  At 31, knocking on 32, I’m feeling really cramped for time even if the Lord were to give me 50-60 more years.  There’s simply not enough time to learn everything I want to learn, read everything I want to read, teach everything I want to teach, etc…

So I journaled this question the other night:

If I (you) were to write a book to my (your) kids, stressing the important things in life, the essentials, what would the chapter topics/headings be?

And if you were to give a couple sentence synopsis of each chapter – what would it say?

Seven pages and 28 topics later I could finally set my pen down.

For now.

AJ

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If you’re interested…here’s a recommended resource on spiritual disciplines (includes a chapter on journaling):

Donald Whitney’s “Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life“

6 Ways to Keep A Slow Blog

1. Pursue your master’s degree via distance

2. Tackle multiple significant home projects

3. Help out with a growing church plant

4. Use facebook, twitter, and The City(church) to spread your message instead

5. Invest quality face-to-face time with your wife and 3 children

6. Be humble & don’t give up

Life & The World’s Greatest Husband

These are quick videos I created at a fun website to play around with.  www.extranormal.com

Here’s an exaggerated mock-up of life at the James house during a couple of the busy summer months…

At the end of the day, with the endless list of “to-do’s” and the constant need to be adjusting and amending to keep balance and perspective…I’m grateful for the hope of the Gospel in our marriage: LOVE WINS!

Also, a commitment as a husband to serve your wife and know what she appreciates and needs, doesn’t hurt.  If only I were more consistent…like this guy – “The World’s Greatest Husband”!

I laughed during and after making them, enjoy!

To My Best Friend on 09-09-09

No, I didn’t miss it or forget it.  I just never felt like this post was complete…I wanted it to be “just right”.  I wanted to honor my incredible wife and my best friend.  And I finally realized, two weeks after the actual day, that I should just go ahead and post the blog I wrote on 09-08-09 for my wife, who celebrated her birthday on 09-09-09, which was kinda neat.

Here is what I wrote two weeks ago:

Erin – means “peace”.  And since the day I met her, she has a way of ministering peace to my soul.  I have seen it with each of our 3 children, and any other children she has held, rocked, blessed.

Here are four more ways I would describe my wife of 10 years:

E – Exciting: Says a  happy husband and friend.

R – Respect-worthy: On the path toward Proverbs 31.

I – Intelligent: It shows up in so many ways, quick wit, humor, wisdom, ideas, teaching…

N – Natural: Her beauty and her presence.

Erin, you’re my best friend and I love you.

Give Me Jesus

I came across this video last week and completely wept like a baby…in a good way.  I shared it with my family that night and wept some more.  If my kids don’t hear or get anything else, I want them to know this was the cry of their Daddy’s heart – “Give me Jesus!”

Ruth Graham

This is also cool because of the connection with Billy and Ruth Graham and their grandson Tullian, who I mentioned in my last post.  Ruth, who passed away in 2007, has actually had a genuine impact on my life, since her death.  Just the stories I’ve heard and the poetry she wrote and the influence she clearly had on her family…it’s inspiring to me.

It makes me pray with hope, that in spite of all my sin and shortcomings as a husband and a father and a pastor…maybe the Lord could hide some of that from those I love most and allow a true love for Jesus to leave the bigger imprint.

I’m thinking that’s something to keep praying.

I’ve been singing this little tune in my joke of a singing voice every night since…even tweaking the lyrics to fit the occasion: 

“And when I go to bed…

and when I go to bed…

And when I go to bed…

Give me Jesus…”

Ok, no more rambling.  Enjoy.

[HT: Justin Taylor]

It is Not Death to Die

Here are some amazing words from a hymn I read on Tullian Tchividjian’s blog (the grandson of Billy Graham who pastors Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church)…Tullian’s dad is close to death and his post was moving to me.  I know this day will come for me as well (losing my dad) and I empathize with his words.

For those who are in Christ…

“It is Not Death to Die”

It is not death to die
To leave this weary road
And join the saints who dwell on high
Who’ve found their home with God

It is not death to close
The eyes long dimmed by tears
And wake in joy before Your throne
Delivered from our fears

It is not death to fling
Aside this earthly dust
And rise with strong and noble wing
To live among the just

It is not death to hear
The key unlock the door
That sets us free from mortal years
To praise You evermore

Original words by Henri Malan (1787–1864).

HT: Between Two Worlds

“It goes by so fast.”

Summer time for the James Gang includes LOTS of celebrating.

We’ve got main events of Benjamin’s birthday ( July 23rd), our wedding anniversary (July 31st), and Grace’s birthday (August 2nd)…all within 11 days!

So I last posted as we were approaching these wonderful occasions.  As parents, Erin and I are constantly aware and discussing the reality of what we’ve heard countless parents say who have gone before us…”It goes by so fast.”

And it’s true.

1 year (Noelle) turns to 4 (Ben).  4 turns to 8 (Grace).  8 turns to 10 (years of marriage)…. *blink* *blink*

We are so blessed and grateful for the goodness of our God and the moments He has given us this summer.

Thankfully, time stands still in pictures. 

A little birthday $$ for Ben…*Note: He reacted this way about EACH present he received!

Erin researched and made a beautiful butterfly cake for our growing girl!

We enjoyed a few days on the WA coast for our 10th!

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

p.s. – August has been filled with preaching and school…more on that later!  Blessings!

Amazing…Marriage

Erin came across this letter by John Newton, author of the hymn, Amazing Grace, on one of her favorite blogs – GirlTalk.  Newton wrote the letter to his wife of 35 years, whom he loved very much, when he was 60 years old.  Five years later she passed away, and he lived another 17.  We both enjoyed reading it so much, for a few minutes of your time, we thought we’d share it here.

[HT: GirlTalk]

As for me, I hereby declare again, my desire and intention to follow in John Newton’s good example, and cherish my wife as long as we both shall live.  Erin and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage later this month and I am greatly blessed!  I love you, Er!  By God’s amazing grace I praise Him for an already amazing marriage in the making.

Listen to John Newton…

August 6, 1785

My dear wife,

I long to hear that you had a comfortable journey to Southampton, and that you are now with our dear friends. Nothing has taken place among us that can be properly called new; which is a great mercy. For, though you have been gone but one day, a single day, or a single hour—may produce painful alterations in a family. The Lord has preserved us through a long course of years, and in different situations, from various calamities which have overtaken others. Our obligations to thankfulness are singular and numerous.

When the carriage drove past the corner, my heart seemed to go away with it. It contained what was of more value to me than the cargoes of a whole East India fleet. Tell our niece Eliza that I love her very dearly. She would soon be well–if I could make her so. But she is in better hands than mine! I have a comfortable hope that her illness has been, and will be, sanctified to an end far more desirable than health or life itself. Therefore I leave her to the wise and merciful direction of the Lord, who loves her better than I can.

I cannot write a long letter tonight. What could I, indeed, say, if I had more time, that I have not said a thousand times over? Yet there still is, and will be, something unsaid in my heart, which I have not words to express. May the Lord bless this little separation to quicken us to mutual prayer, and to lead us to a thankful review of the mercy and goodness which have followed us through the many years we have been united.

How many changes have we seen! Under how many trials have we been supported! How many deliverances have we known! How many comforts have we enjoyed! Especially, what great advantages have we possessed, in knowing those things which pertain to our everlasting peace!

The years we have passed together–will return no more. The afflictions are gone, the pleasures likewise are gone, forever. The longer we live, such pleasures as this world can afford, will, more and more, lose their power of pleasing. Only our love, I trust, will exist and flourish to the end of life–yes, beyond it! It will always be a truth, that the Lord, in giving you to me–gave me the best temporal desire of my heart. But the shadows of the evening advance. Old age is creeping in upon us, and the days are approaching when we shall have no pleasure–but what we can derive from the good Word of God, and the consolations of his Holy Spirit. These, if we are favored with them, will sufficiently compensate for the abatement, or the loss, of all the rest. The streams may run dry–but the fountain of living waters will always flow! May His presence be near our hearts–and then all will be well.

I am too fully employed to feel time hang heavy upon my hands in your absence; and, if I am permitted to come to you, the thoughts of the journey’s end will make the journey pleasant.