Baby Dedication - July 6, 2008

Last Sunday we had a baby dedication. The video includes some of the worship, communion and the dedication of Mirela Johnson.

Best Gospel Posts of the Week

Below are links to the best blog posts on the gospel that I came across this past week (IMHO). It doesn't mean I agree with everything but I appreciate when someone writes something that makes me think or helps me to see something more clearly from other people's perspective.

I don't think it is wise to only read stuff that you agree with as there is a danger in becoming "in bred". We all have bias based on our culture and what we grew up with. In addition, we have the deceitfulness of sin which deceives all of us from seeing truth clearly.

Oh Lord, give us grace to truly know and live the truth of the gospel!

• A Sense of Christ's Sufficiency
• Final Apostasy, Trying Times, and a Message for the Saints
  
• Looking for Satisfaction?
• Selling Jesus?
  
• The Dangers of The Gospel of Accommodation
• The Gospel: Christ in You
  
• The Gospel Is The Whole Enchilada

At the American Soldiers Memorial on July 4th

Freedom is Not Cheap

Here I am at the Memorial to the 378 American soldiers who died in Romania during World War II. The memorial is located in Cismigiu Park which is the oldest park in Bucharest. On the left side the wording is in English and on the right it is in Romanian. It expresses the deep appreciation of the Romanians for the ultimate sacrifice these Americans made fighting for the freedom of Romania. Until I came across this memorial I never knew that any American soldiers had been in Romania during World War II.

Studying 1 John

On Sundays this summer we are going through 1 John and on Wednesdays we are doing an interactive/inductive Bible study based on what was taught on the Sunday before.

If you are interested you can listen or download the audio of the sermons. We have translation so the sermons are in both Romanian and English. Click here to see the web page in Romanian and here to see the web page in English. Soon we will also add the Word documents for the questions to the study on Wednesdays.

For me what has stood out so far is:

1. The need to walk in the light- to obey the Word and be real, not hiding one's sin or putting on a religious facade to cover up one's weaknesses, to live a life of continual confession and repentance.
2. The importance of staying in constant and continual fellowship with Jesus.
3. To be motivated by the hope of what we will one day become to get rid of sin in our lives.
4. That love is the fruit that shows we are children of God- that is, living a life of sacrifice and denial of self in order to seek God's best for those whom He puts across our path.

Please pray that God will use our study of 1 John to stir in our fellowship a hunger and thirst for righteousness, for more intimacy with Jesus and more love for one another not just in words but with actions and in truth.

I think it is very easy to get discouraged about one's actual practice of "love" and I am sure Satan is always there trying to help along that discouragement. But like the law what should happen when we realize that we don't love like Jesus is that we should go to Him as He is the only one who can help us.

Here are some articles on blogs I have come across this week that talk about love. I really enjoyed reading and thinking about what Craig Johnson wrote on the Cafe Biblia Blog. Sometimes I think I don't have what it takes to really love but that is a lie as Michael Spencer makes clear in his article "Got Everything?".

Enjoy!

Pursuing an Excellent Way of Life, Part 1 - Cafe Biblia Blog

Pursuing an Excellent Way of Life, Part 2 - Cafe Biblia Blog

Studying How Jesus Loved - The Assembling of the Church Blog

Got Everything? - Jesus Shaped Spirituality Blog

The Best Story - A New Gospel Presentation

Here is a presentation of the Gospel I came across the other day that uses the paper napkin technique. What is interesting is that it starts with people's concern for the world and the environment and leads them to understanding why things are such a mess, that being sin against God. I think it does a pretty good job of presenting the Gospel but I would be interested in your thoughts.

The Best Story can be found on the website PleaseConvinceMe.com and you can download video, audio, PDF and PowerPoints of it at the bottom of the page here.

A Look at the Past

During my birthday party I showed everyone some of my photos thru the years so they could have a good laugh, especially about my long hair. As time goes by I look forward more and more to getting my permanent home and getting rid of this temporary tent.

35th Birthday Party?

Actually my 53rd but the ladies of our church switched it since I am young at heart. After church Sunday we had some cake and ice cream to celebrate my birthday and I received two large plants for my apartment as presents.