We were able to get twenty-one family photos online this week; all taken in 2007. You will notice the photos at the top of the page are from the beginning of the year, while those near the bottom were taken just a few days ago. We hope to continue adding pictures to this section through the end of the year, as well as begin working our way back in time with a 2006, and perhaps 2005 album in the future.
Updates | Chris | 
November 6, 2007 11:23 pm | 
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“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Something that seems so elementary occurred to me as I was reading this passage. Just as Paul had spoken to the husbands and wives directly in previous verses, he was also speaking directly to children here. Paul meant for children to be reading this scripture! It seems so ridiculous to point it out, but I am afraid sometimes that we overlook that fact. Children’s hearts are not changed by Bible stories alone, they are turned toward God by the very words of scripture. Many of our Sunday School materials tell stories, but never actually focus on the text. Read the Bible to your young ones, and get them a Bible of their own. God’s word is profitable to everyone, and is written for all, both young and old. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our children were to grasp the concept of obedience as a result of their own reading, without need for a constant reminder from adults?
Devotions | Chris | 11:19 pm | Comments (0)
Apparently Dr. Kevin Bauder is writing a series of missions-focused articles for the Fundamentalist blog Sharper Iron. I just came across another gem this morning on the topic of church planting. Few writers speak with greater clarity or understanding on the subject. These will certainly find their way into my permanent files.
Tags: Missions
Headlines | Chris | 6:49 am | Comments (0)
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Walking circumspectly and redeeming the time are both hard and constant jobs. As I read this exhortation I thought again of how broad the scope of our Christianity should be. Indeed the entirety of our lives should be (moment by moment) spent for His glory. We do not have time to catch our breath or lay down our armor, as the battle rages twenty four hours every day. It is late at night as I write this devotion, yet I knew I must spend time in God’s word, and in reflection on what it says. I cannot afford one evening of neglect, for tomorrow will bring spiritual struggle I cannot foresee. Though life often makes us weary, we should never fail in vigilance, redeeming every waking moment in this evil age. The morning will come early tomorrow, and some may have argued I need physical rest more the rehash of a few familiar scriptures. I am confident however, that God’s reminder of diligence in His service will profit me spiritually for the day to come.
Tags: Commitment, Ephesians
Devotions | Chris | November 5, 2007 11:23 pm | Comments (0)
“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” Should foolish talking be in the same category with fornication? According to Paul, neither should be once named among Christians. These type of lists in scripture often surprise us. They name what we would consider horrible sins, right along side actions we consider minor. No sin is minor, in fact it is likely the sins we have overlooked that are doing the most damage. The typical believer goes an entire lifetime without getting involved in gross sin. Still, that same average believer may have had a life-long poor witness, because he involved himself in many “well accepted” sins. They include the two mentioned here; foolish talking, and jesting, which refer to a careless way of speaking that focuses on worldly and ungodly things. Let’s be careful not to overlook any sin in our lives, no matter how common it may be.
Devotions | Chris | November 4, 2007 11:32 pm | Comments (0)
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” I wonder how many of us consider whether or not our words minister grace unto the hearers? This type of speech puts the hearer first, and the speaker second. We don’t like to be in second place; that is why we often disobey God’s commands. While our concern ought to be for the welfare of the hearer, we are too often more interested in making our thoughts or feelings heard. We get our point across and let the chips fall where they may, instead of carefully considering whether or not our “point” is even needed. Some of the most corrupt, non-edifying, non-graceful words you will ever say will turn out to have been (in the final analysis) totally unnecessary. In reality, some of the most articulate and Godly communicators around put a high premium on silence. Now I’d better stop talking and let you think about that!
Devotions | Chris | November 3, 2007 4:14 pm | Comments (0)
Dan and Karis Seely were appointed to Cameroon, Africa with Baptist Mid-Missions in 2005. After spending time with them at Candidate Seminar that year, and later while on deputation, we have grown to appreciate them very much. Today we follow their ministry via the internet. Once in a while Dan hits a home run with his blog commentaries, as he did with an October 19 entry on Mike Huckabee.
Tags: Politics
Headlines | Chris | 1:04 pm | Comments (0)
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” Someone asked me the other day how I would describe the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Christ. He said I could go in any direct I wanted, as long as I kept it within five sentences. Well, I think I went longer than five sentences, but in the end I applied the answer by saying we need to be strengthened in the inner man. Now I’ll try to clear up your confusion. I said I was struck most by the fact that God chose to allow His son to be crucified for us, and how Jesus chose to submit. They made these choices based upon their perfect character. This is precisely why we must focus on developing our own character, working from the inner man out. That is the only way we will build enough strength to make the kind of choices Jesus, and His Father made. The point is, God did what He did, because of who He was. In the same way, we act based upon who we are. Therefore we should concentrate on our inner man, realizing internal holiness results in external obedience.
Devotions | Chris | November 2, 2007 10:58 pm | Comments (0)
Those interested in pictures from my UK trip last month will be happy to know I have posted eighteen new shots since my last update. That’s still only ten percent of the total number I kept, but I think I have provided a good enough variety to keep your attention. Visit the Gallery, then select England 2007.
Updates | Chris | 10:28 pm | Comments (0)
“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;” Have you ever considered the fact that Paul thought himself “less than the least”? If this is true of the Apostle, most of us are in serious trouble. Still, we are also granted the grace to preach Christ unto Jews, Gentiles, and indeed all creatures. Why is it that grace is needed in the preaching of this message? First, no man that has failed to accept the grace of God by receiving His son is equipped to present the message. Second, no man that has failed to grasp his incomprehensible need for grace will have the desire to proclaim it. The message of the cross is a strange thing to the unbeliever. They have no experience with grace, outside the meager offering of the world. At the same time, a sinner made clean by the blood of Christ cannot cease to be overwhelmed by it. We are saved by God’s grace, through the faith that He chooses to give us by His grace! It’s no wonder Paul calls the riches of Christ unsearchable.
Devotions | Chris | November 1, 2007 11:35 pm | Comments (0)
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