Getting Uncomfortable...

Joshua Harris is the guy popularly known for his book I Kissed Dating Goodbye. About 3 years ago he came out with a book entitled Stop Dating the Church. Judging from a recent Interview
by Outreach Magazine Harris offers some great biblical insight on the struggle with outreach that the Church faces today.

As someone in ministry, I can relate to Harris when he speaks about his own struggles with personal evangelism and the importance of stepping out of the typically squeaky clean comfort zone of the Christian life:


"...but I’d rather preach in front of 10,000 people than sit down across from one person and try to share the Gospel with her! I tend to do the wimpy style of evangelism that doesn’t require any challenging confrontations. That’s why I’m seeking to exert myself in forming friendships and finding natural ways to get involved in the lives of those who don’t know the Lord. It’s kind of silly, but I’ve done this by preparing my messages at the café in a local Whole Foods store. I’ve gotten to know all kinds of people who work there and formed some great friendships."

It Has Arrived....

The new ESV Journaling Bible was released by Crossway on August 15th.

A Page is Turned...

This is my first time blogging as a married man. I'm sitting in an incredibly nice condo in peaceful Seaside, FL with my beautiful new wife. As I begin this new chapter of my life I am being constantly reminded of the grace of God... how undeserving I am of it, how desperately I need it, and how generously He gives it.
Here is a Puritans point of view from The Valley of Vision:

Blessings

Thou Great Three-One,

Author of all blessings I enjoy,
of all I hope for,
thou hast taught me
that neither of the experience of present evils,
nor the remembrances of former sins,
nor the remonstrances if friends
will or can affect a sinner's heart,
except thou vouchsafe to reveal thy grace
and quicken the dead in sin
by the effectual working of thy Spirit's power.
Thou hast shown me
that the sensible effusions of divine love
in the soul are superior to and distinct from
bodily health,
and that oft-times spiritual comforts are
at their highest when physical well-being is
at its lowest.
Thou hast given me the ordinance of song as a means of grace;
Fit me to bear my part in that music ever new,
which elect angels and saints made perfect
now sing before thy throne and before the Lamb.
I bless thee for tempering every distress with joy;
too much of the former might weigh me down,
too much of the latter might puff me up;
Thou art wise to give me a taste of both.
I love thee
for giving me clusters of grapes
in the wilderness,
and drops of heavenly wine
that set me longing to have my fill.
Apart from thee I quickly die,
bereft of thee I starve,
far from thee I thirst and droop;
But thou art all I need.
Let me continually grasp the promise,
'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.'