Potent Quotables

I get an online newsletter once a month that includes what they call "Potent Quotables." I thought I'd pass these two along:

"Of two evils choose neither."
- Charles Spurgeon

"To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it."
- G.K. Chesterton

Reading - Madam Jeanne Guyon

Recently I was reminded of an author that I had read several years ago - Madam Jeanne Guyon. She was an 18th century (I believe) French nun who apparently had a remarkable walk with God. I picked up her book again this week, Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ. It's an amazingly practical book on prayer. It is very different from most books you will read on prayer. And I'm not sure what the theology of Madam Guyon truly is, but I recommend this book as a practical tool for pursuing greater depth of relationship with God through prayer. Some of my more theologically astute readers can let me know if I am recommending a heretic. A quick quote from Madam Guyon:

"By waiting on the Lord in this way, you will demonstarte to Him that it is He alone whom you are seeking. You see, you will be demonstrating that it is not the selfish enjoyment which you receive from being in His presence that causes you to love Him. You will be showing that it is not the pleasure which you experience, but your love that motivates you."

Steve Fee

I got exposed to a new Christian artist by the name of Steve Fee at the Catalyst Conference earlier this month. You need to check this guy out. Go to http://www.myspace.com/stevefee to hear free samples of of his music.

Rain

Praise God it has and is raining. We are in such a drought and I'm so grateful for the rain. I use to complain about rain when it inconvenienced me. But, several years ago, we had a drought similar to this one and I promised God to NEVER complain about rain again. We need water to live! Let it rain! Let it ruin my plans!

Also, the rain gives me a chance to use an expression that I don't often get to use and simply think is funny - "Man, it's a frog strangler out there." I think the saying comes from a movie - maybe from "Outlaw Josie Wales" or something like that. Simply means that it's raining really hard. And, indeed...it's a frog strangler out there today.

Yes I'm Alive!

Greetings to you who do check out my blog and wonder where I've been for about a month. I've moments of inspiration about writing blog entries, but never make it to the computer with the idea intacted in my mind.

Anyway...I'm still living.

This month has been a month of anniversaries for me. Well, not for me, but for churches I'm connected to. My home church, Creedmoor Road Baptist Church, celebrated its 200th anniversary on October 6th. It was great to celebrate with them and to see a lot of people who pray for me regularly but whom I don't see very often.

This coming weekend, Ephesus Baptist Church, celebrates its 150th anniversary! I was previously the Minister of Youth and Discipleship at EBC prior to starting The Bridge. EBC is sponsor church of The Bridge and has faithfully supported and prayed for us. I dearly love the staff there and all the people of Ephesus. They are like family to me.

Anyway...I'm back. Only time will tell how faithful I'll be!

Bridge Family Fun Day

I just wanted to take a second to way "Wow" and "thanks" to everyone who made our Bridge Family Fun Day such a great day this past Saturday. Inevitably, as I make the list below, I will forget someone, so please forgive me! You are loved and God sees your service and sacrifice! God bless all the amazing people at our church with amazing servant hearts!

Tim - Thanks for "maning" the grill. The food was great!
Joe - Thanks for helping me retrieve and return the grill. I love hanging out with you!
Courtney - Thank you for organizing the food. You did a fantastic job!
Dana and Russ and Carter - thanks for running to the store and getting the trash bags we needed! We would have been up to our ears in trash without those bags!
Brooks and Brad - thanks for being the first to "man" (or "woman") the inflatable games!
Jason - thanks for seeing a need and filling it by jumping in with the kids and helping the little ones climb the wall inside the inflatable
Joe, Joe, Stephen and Matt - thanks for relieving Jason and helping the kids
Dee - thanks for buying all the paper products!
Matt, Cheri, Cary, and Amanda - thanks for coming early and helping us get set-up and staying late to help clean up!
Everyone - thanks for helping clean up! Clean up can often be the worst part on an event and I was amazed at how quickly and well clean up went!
Anna - thanks for organizing the desserts and for everyone else who donated the desserts
Everyone who "manned" the inflatables - thanks for being available to help direct the kids and keep them safe! Can you believe how much fun they had???
William and Sarah - thanks for going out of your way to meet up with me and get me the check to pay for the inflatables!

Again - so many people were serving in so many ways on Saturday! Thank you all so much! Praise God for all the wonderful people we were able to serve and connect with! Pray for our community as God longs to bring hope and healing into lives!