The Faithless Follower

Providence

2008-08-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

Our God is a great big God and He holds us in His hands. Does that sound familiar? It should, it is a song the children sing at Camp Cornerstone. I have sang it with them the last several years. What is funny is that I recently stopped to think about what it is saying. Think about our God. How great and mighty is He. He spoke creation into existence and sent His Son to reconcile His relationship with us while we were yet sinners. I look at how sinful I am and how I do not desire to do good. I see that I constantly struggle with my selfish ambition and vanity. What is so crazy and scary is that I can't even begin to see the depth of my sin. I continually struggle with the idea of my will be done, not my Heavenly Fathers. With that in mind there comes the call to missions.

God through Christ is taking this depraved sinful individual and making me into a vessel of the Gospel. What is wild is that that means humility and brokenness. Both of which hurt when you are prideful. I look at the fact that we are raising money to go to England and I see more and more that God's providence is beautiful. He is the Great I AM. As a faint hearted sojourner, I would rather lay in bed than face the idea of raising money. Actually I would rather face an on coming car. I am not gifted in fund raising. I know that money raised is not for me or done by me. The money is for the Kingdom and is done by God. Ginger and I have also found that it is more rewarding to simplify your life. You are able to give of your time, money, and gifts so much easier if you are not caught up in the rat race of materialism. God is showing us that we are rich beyond measure and loved more than we can imagine. He is also teaching us that peace in Christ and contentment in Him is more splendid than Gold.

Desiring Him,
Trace

What a Trip

2008-08-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

We are finally home. We have spent the last 8 days along the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama. The first 4 days were in Destin and the last 4 were mostly in the town of Silverhill, AL. Silverhill is between Fairhope and Robertsdale. It is a great little town because it is where our friends the Keenans live. We had the opportunity to stay with my parents in Destin as they were on vacation. They bought most of the food and even took us to Big Kahunas water park. That was great family fun that we all needed. That visit ended on Sunday morning, from there we went to speak at Safe Harbor Pres in Destin. After lunch we traveled to Silverhill. Scotty and Lisa Keenan hosted us from Sunday night until we left on Thurs. around lunch. They were such a blessing and it really was great to visit with them. Scotty was a soccer player on the JV team I helped coach at Fairhope High. We later began to meet in a Bible study and have continued to grow in our relationship. It is so awesome to see him as a young married man that is leading his new family in pursuing Christ. On Wednesday night we spoke at Fairfield Pres. in Pensacola. We are so happy to be home so we can worship with our church family. The lord has truly blessed our congregation. Community is a church that is in the midst of great things. God is working in the hearts of our church's leadership. My desire is that all those who love to be critical will stop and ask the Lord to show them grace and how to be involved more. I am still processing this last week and will blog soon on what the Lord has taught me.

A Weary Weak Disciple
Trace

Funny Mascots

2008-07-25T06:43:00.000-07:00

I love to find out what each school nickname or mascot is. As we traveled down to Destin on Weds. I saw a ton of high schools. I know this sounds crazy but if anyone has heard of a crazy school name let me know. I'm talking middle school, high school, college, or pro. The other day we saw your typical bulldogs, eagles, and tigers. One that caught my eye was in the little town of Laurel Hill, FL. They are the Hobos. The fighting Hobos- imagine that. I am creating a list of the craziest mascot names. Examples: Long Beach St.- Dirt Bags and the Sidney Lanier High School Fighting Poets. I would love some help compiling this list if anyone is interested, it will be the top 15 craziest mascots. One last one, which I can't remember the school name, it was a high school in the Northeast, they were the Polka Dots. The fighting Polka Dots. That is great locker room bulletin board material.

Search is on,
TD

Need to Speak

2008-07-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

I have decided to blog again. It is really so I can clear my thoughts. I need to share what I am thinking at times to be able to process what is happening in my life. We have been traveling a good bit lately and have not been at our home church in several Sundays. We are actually leaving again on Weds. to go down to the Gulf Coast through next Thursday. God has given us opportunities to speak to a couple of churches. I am truly missing corporate worship with my church family. It is truly interesting to experience the theological beliefs of different denominations. At times I wonder why we must raise support and actually feel discouraged. My desire is to be in England but the Lord has us in a place that constantly has me torn between Moody and Culcheth. My flesh tends to ask why the house want sell and why is the economy so bad right when we are raising support. The Waldecker family in England is having to come home due to the lack of funds. They were a family we would be working with in Manchester, it looks like they will come home for at least a year. I know the Kunars are a little discouraged. I know that this will probably allow someone else to step up and it will strengthen the church there. I am amazed at Gods faithfulness to his people and learning that his way of doing things never really happens the way I expect. BUT, it happens in such a way that He is most glorified. Even if I am desiring to go to England to see the Gospel transform a people. Which you would think is a very good thing. Which it is. God is about Himself, not me getting to where I want to be when I want to get there. All we are to be about is Christ. He is sufficient- nothing else is. Everything we see will not last. I wonder if we truly realize how much we have and really don't need. I am convicted of my selfishness and covetousness as I read of Paul and the people who traveled with him and those brothers and sisters who are struggling to make ends meet around the world. My heart is broken as the American church tends to spend money frivolously on themselves or on things that have nothing at all to do with the Gospel. My prayer is for a new reformation. Not because it sounds cute and trendy in reformed circles. But for the purpose of glorifying God through lives being transformed, which is not cute but very uncomfortable.

Learning through discomfort
Trace

Christmas! Is it worth fighting for?

2007-12-20T16:35:00.000-08:00

I have heard and seen a constant battle over the words Christmas being used this time of year. I think it is ridiculous that Christians are so rapped up in a word. In stead we should be rapped up in the WORD. We should be proclaiming the Gospel to ourselves and others. The day we observe the birth of Christ has more of a pagan tradition then a accurate date of birth. Also, I continue to hear that our rights as Christians in America are being taken away. The America of today is not the America of our forefathers. The America of our forefathers was one that had religious freedom- if you believed the way the area you lived in believed- ask Roger Williams. Of the three early English American colonies, only one was founded for religious purposes and that was Plymouth where the Puritans settled, but they were far from tolerant. Georgia was a debtors colony and Virginia was a economic experiment which eventually brought about the cash crop tabacco. The America today is not an English only America- it is a people of so many cultures which encompass different religions and languages. How do we as Christians deal with these multiple issues? I think that is the question. We are to look at it as a people whose home is not here and whose kingdom is not of this world. The U.S. will pass away but the Kingdom of God will never pass away. The word Christmas will pass away as we experience a home in heaven that will to most peoples surprise not speak English. The Word will not pass away. As we constantly fight over education practices, movies like Harry Potter, Golden Compass, and DiVinci Code, and the use of the word Christmas we forget that we are commissioned to proclaim the Gospel. If we focus our efforts on training up laborers for the harvest field and going into the world to evangelize then we will not look at the things which matter not and will pass away. Atheists and Agnostics don't need the right words for the Holidays they need the words of salvation. They need to see the Grace, Mercy, and Love of the Father because if the don't get that the will experience the Wrath, Justice, and Destruction of God. We bring the Word which in itself is a stumbling block, we don't have to add to it by our self righteousness and ignorance. Let us come together and show and share Jesus with our neighbors and friends. Penetrate your culture and love others and love the brothers and sisters. If you love one another then they will know you are my disciples. May all believers have a Merry Christmas and may the common grace of God allow nonbelievers to have a great Christmas even though they do not know the price that was paid for them to have that wonderful morning.

8 YEARS

2007-12-13T19:03:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday Dec. 18th Ginger and I will be married 8 years. As I look back on those 8 years I praise the Lord for His provision. He has provided me a wonderful wife and teammate. I am so excited about working with her in ministry in England like we did in Fairhope and Decatur. I have had the priviledge of watching her grow in her relationship with Christ and enjoy seeing her minister in a variety of ways to me and those in the church. When we first met she was not inclined to desire a life of service in another country. God has truly worked in her heart and it is exciting to see her compassion for the people of England continue to grow. As we begin the support raising season of our ministry and life (which will probably continue until we see Jesus) it is encouraging to have Ginger there with me. As we embark on the rest of our lives together I am persuaded that they will be just as satisfying because our focus is on the Lord and not our on agendas in this relationship. May I be the leader that Ginger needs, one who points her to Christ continually. He will be her strength and portion forever. I thank the Lord for the women he has given for me to spend my life with.

Blog Title Change

2007-12-10T18:46:00.000-08:00

I have began to blog again. It has been awhile and a great deal has been going own. I have changed the name of my blog because I am continually being shown that I have a lack of faith. You might ask, faith in what? I resemble the man in the book of Mark in the Holy Scriptures when he tells Christ that he believes but "help me with my unbelief." As my family continues along this journey into missions and begin raising support I see that our God is large. I also see my wife and children growing in their understanding of God and the gift he so freely gave. I marvel at the fact that we serve a God that works through us as broken vessels. The Lord has shown me that every thing that I am, love, possess, and desire is His. This process is ongoing and I continually see Him stripping away my idols. I look at my children- they are God's. That has been something that has truly been tough. I see how I desire to protect them from the world and all it has to offer. In reality my attempt to protect is hindering their opportunity to see God work through things in their lives just as He did and continues to do in my life. I look back at my life growing up and see the hand of God all over the place. I can look back and say "God you were in control of my life from birth." How can I say He want be in control of my kids lives. I can and do because I don't believe. It is the constant struggle. It is what I continually war with. The same goes for my wife. She desires stability, so we live a life of transition. Go Figure!

"He is no fool who gives up what he can't keep to gain that which he cannot lose." Jim Elliot

Scotland The Brave

2007-08-23T15:06:00.000-07:00

Today we spent the day in the city of Dundee which is the 4th largest city in Scotland. The Scots are a lovely people who are very patriotic towards Scotland. This morning we spent time speaking with the intern at St. Peter's Free Church. His name is Brian and he is from Northern Ireland. It was a joy to talk with him about the history of the Celtic Church and the state of the church and society in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Those two areas have a deep history between them and have a great deal of influence on the American South. From lunch until about 4:30 we walked through the city center of Dundee, it is an old city that has a great deal of church history. We were able to see McCheyne's pulpit and grave. I also received a free book written by David Robertson on the life of Robert Murray McCheyne. They supposively have his Bible in the church locked up. David said that hundreds of people travel to Dundee and St. Peter's Church each year almost like a pilgrimage. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here and the people have been so wonderful. We do miss our babies and look forward to seeing them. My step father Brian has been very sick while we are away and do desire to see him. The Lord is so good, last night we were able to hear Psalms sung in accapella and hear the Gaelic language spoken fluently. We are truly desiring clarity on where God would have us to be. We are thoroughly convinced that God in his infinite wisdom is going to place us in a place where He will be most glorified. The joy of our salvation and the fellowship of the saints is so beautiful. We praise the Lord for the work He is doing in the UK. In the midst of so many dead Presbyterian churches He is raising up a new generation that is strong in the Lord and determined to see Him glorified. To God be the Glory. We are strangers in a strange land, but one day we will be home. Cheers!

IN THE SHIRE-CHESHIRE THAT IS

2007-08-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

We have been in England now 4 days. There are so many things to tell of this beautiful land. We have seen rain and sunshine. We have seen old and new (we went to Chester and walked along the old Roman walls and went into Manchester and enjoyed sometime in the Trafford Center which is one of the largest malls in Europe). But there is something that we have seen that is nothing new- people and there need for Christ. The church here is in complete disarray. The people we have been with are embarking on a journey that will be both tough and rewarding for the Kingdom. We are staying with Roy and Ruth Kunar- they are some of the most wonderful people we have ever met. The church that they have helped start is doing great things, but they need more laborers. The society in England has gone through rapid decay. The family unit is seeing continual trouble. Divorce and teen pregnancy is unbelievable. The light of the Gospel is needed. We have found this place extremely exciting and have a great deal of areas we can fit in on this team. Today is our last full day in Culcheth, tomorrow we will be going to Scotland to visit the believers of St. Peters Free Church. Tonight we are spending some time with a couple in Grace Fellowship, the church in Culcheth, to discuss opportunities to get into the community sports club and discuss the school system. Continue to pray for us as we are away from our young ones and as we process through all the information we have received. We are encouraged by what God is doing here and His faithfulness to His people. The need in the UK is great, we must not forget Europe and the land of our fathers.

Reconciliation

2007-08-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

Cullen turned 5 on July 31st. It was a great day and we had a large amount of people at our house. The highlight of the day, other than Cullen receiving FIFA 2007 soccer for the X-Box, was the fact that for the first time in a very long time I had my grandparents at a family function at the same time as my mother. My parents got a divorce when I was 2 and I would visit my dad and his side of the family a couple times a year. Throughout the years, especially the last 2, a great deal of reconciliation has taken place. Mainly with me and the way I have viewed my dad and my grandparents. It is wonderful to be able to say that I forgive them and love them very much. I am so thankful to the Lord for taking out my bitter and hateful heart. I used to struggle with expectations of how it should have been and should be, but I have learned that it is important to enjoy what you do have and see where it goes. To God be the glory for the redemption of this sinner and of relationships. He is a good King.

He is FAITHFUL

2007-08-08T15:57:00.000-07:00

Our God is so faithful! We have been preparing to go to the U.K. to visit Scotland and England. We are flying out of Atlanta on Fri. Aug. 17th and will spend several days in both places investigating the opportunities at moving there. We have been raising some money to go and God has provided every bit. It is so awesome to see our great God in action. God has continually been faithful through the whole process of pursuing a life of foreign missions. We have had good times and bad times. The most important thing is that through it all God has given us the grace to overcome and handle things as the happen. We continually see how small we are and how large and majestic the glory of God is. A life of service to our Lord is one that personifies humility. My prayer is that He gives my family and I the strength and mercy to continue. He is the author and finisher of our faith, I forget that a lot. I am so apt to be discouraged at what the world throws at us and deal with it through the view of past theology that is wrong. It is wonderful to know that we are a workmanship of the Almighty God of the universe.
We can take great joy in His love for us and His dedication to see His name glorified throughout the world. I know that each day we awake to to new mercies, but we also awake to new faithfulness- at least new to us. May Gods faithfulness be a light to the lost world and a beacon of His glory.