Praises, and some thoughts

25 z Knowing their thoughts, a he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. Matthew 12:25; ESV

This past week, my wife and I have been attempting to move into an apartment in Dallas. We were blessed to "run" into this apt. which had some move in specials, that were great, but left us with a month still due in Fort Worth. Living in two houses has made me think of the verse above. Definitely, I could not get online as much because when we were in Dallas (there was no internet) and so I felt that part of our life was still in Fort Worth. God does not want us to be divided in our love and loyalty (allegiance) to him. And practically, any team divided will find it difficult to win. (I remember the Bulls, post MJ. The coach wanted to use the star as a decoy...but he got mad and made a scene because he wanted the ball in the end.) That team was divided. We can't be divided in our personal walk with God, with our families, and our church family.

I have to share this. I was so stressed. I had scheduled our power to be out in Fort Worth for this past Friday. I called to get an extension, and found out that it was posted as April 20...what a breather, now there was no pressure to get packed, and moved out. This "extension" also allowed me to focus on what I was to teach to the youth. Praise God!

Family Worship

11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. (Matthew 2:11a; ESV)

For the past year, I have been trying to sitdown with my wife and pray together. And at least once a week have a family worship. It is actually not very elaborate. We pray, sometimes sing, and read the Bible. We are going through Matthew. And you can tell we have only just started(in that we are still in the beginning of Matthew.)

One thing for my non-married friends is that you start with personal devotions. And influence your parents to have a time of worship-together as a family. One resource out there can be found at Heart Connex. They have sheets for parents and students to use for family devotions. But you can simply go through the Bible together and pray together.

-edit-
One of my professors at SWBTS, writes on the recent church shooting. He has some insight in that his church was the sight of a shooting almost 10 years ago. He wrote a book on that incident.

30 Hour Famine

When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; Psalms 69:10

So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. Ezra 8: 23.

Recently about 1/2 of the Youths from church attended a local 30 Hour Famine observance. The time has made me want to reflect on why are we doing this? A professor at school lectured on fasting, and I dug up those notes. He mentioned that a fast is not starving. We fast for several reasons, and taking two, for us to reflect on. 1. A fast is done for personal sanctity. (Psalms 69:10). (thats all I wrote) but as I reread the verse I think, "When God works in us regarding our sin, we weep." And when we seek to be holy-people will ridicule (scorn) you. 2. We fast to be heard on high. Which raises up an issue? What happens when the answer is one that we don't like?

Speaking of dislikes. Recently listening to some testimonies, some "red flags" came up...and in this sharing there were some ideas that would be contrary to Christian beliefs. A youth minister asked me, and I downplayed it at the time, but "my spidey senses were tingling". The issue in regard concerned ecumenism. There are times that we need to stand our ground*. If a known predator was in our midst, we would be on guard...churches need to love the world, but God also gave us a mind to reason. And he gave us instructions concerning his church. (Titus 1:9, esp. the latter part of the verse). I think this person wasn't intending to do harm but their sharing raised some issues.

*I am thinking about how we express love. There are times when hugs, and a soft-voice is not appropriate. I remember a friend's child almost ran into the street, and was caught at the last minute (he was a cute 3 year old; now he is in college). I winced when I heard him get scolded, but I knew that his mother loved him.

Please email me or contact me if you have any questions.