The day I've been studying for the last 4 years will be here tomorrow. The day where I stand in front of 20 or so pastors and ministry leaders and field questions as they try to determine that I am called and prepared for the ministry. My brain feels full of information, and yet doesn't feel full enough. But I also know that it's not mainly about knowing information, but it's about being confident of the call that God has made on my life, and trusting Him enough to follow Him where He leads. I am excited for it to finally be here, and I'm also anxious that I'll forget things, not know things, or just answer poorly. I am so grateful to God for this opportunity and pray that He is glorified through it.
Please pray for me if you have the chance. The exam is Thursday April 3rd at 3:30pm Pacific Time. Thanks so much!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
The hope of the resurrection
"We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." 1 Thessalonians 4:14
Celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus was much more poignant for us this year. On Wednesday of last week we found out that one of the guys who had been coming to our young adult fellowship since the fall had passed away suddenly at work. He was in his twenties and worked at Pixar as a storyboard artist. He had a heart transplant when he was 12, but had been doing great and no one saw it coming. He brought an amazing amount of joy and life to our community, we were so blessed to have him around for the time he was here. I personally wish I had gotten to know him better and enjoy the amazing person God created him to be.
So it was with this at the forefront of our minds that we came to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord. It brought comfort to us knowing that Justin is now with Christ, which is better by far (Phil. 1:23), and that the hope of the resurrection awaits him, and us, when Christ returns. We are still sad and miss him dearly, but thankfully we can mourn as those who have hope of better things to come.
I hope and pray that the reality of Jesus' death and resurrection and the hope of our own resurrection has hit home for you this Easter season as well! May we learn to put our lives in perspective as David did in this psalm:
"Show me, O LORD, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.
Selah
Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.
But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you."
Psalm 39:4-7
Celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus was much more poignant for us this year. On Wednesday of last week we found out that one of the guys who had been coming to our young adult fellowship since the fall had passed away suddenly at work. He was in his twenties and worked at Pixar as a storyboard artist. He had a heart transplant when he was 12, but had been doing great and no one saw it coming. He brought an amazing amount of joy and life to our community, we were so blessed to have him around for the time he was here. I personally wish I had gotten to know him better and enjoy the amazing person God created him to be.
So it was with this at the forefront of our minds that we came to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord. It brought comfort to us knowing that Justin is now with Christ, which is better by far (Phil. 1:23), and that the hope of the resurrection awaits him, and us, when Christ returns. We are still sad and miss him dearly, but thankfully we can mourn as those who have hope of better things to come.
I hope and pray that the reality of Jesus' death and resurrection and the hope of our own resurrection has hit home for you this Easter season as well! May we learn to put our lives in perspective as David did in this psalm:
"Show me, O LORD, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.
Selah
Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.
But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you."
Psalm 39:4-7
Friday, March 14, 2008
Has worship lost its luster?
"The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."
I was reminded tonight of the joy of just being in God's presence singing praises to Him along with brothers and sisters in the Lord. I remember during my college days at Cal soaking in every opportunity to worship, even creating them with "Dorm Praise," a weekly gathering of any interested parties at the Clark Kerr dormitory to just sing worship songs until we felt like stopping. I remember a church in Sacramento that used to have huge Sunday evening worship times for college students, several hundred would attend. Perhaps they still go on, I just haven't been around. At Cal, Interpraise used to overflow the capacity of First Pres., and if you didn't get there a half hour ahead of time you had to sit in the balcony or outside. Now most people seem to show up a half hour late, and the pews are sparsely populated.
I really am in no position to judge whether things are going up or going down as a whole. These are just observations I've made in my minute corner of the universe, and it's caused me to wonder, can worship lose its luster? And it's brought me first to ask myself if I have made it my chief aim lately to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. I think I try to consider how I am serving the Lord each day, and of course always come up short. But it seems a more difficult thing to really stop and delight myself in the Lord simply for who He is. But surely a life lived in service to Him must start with a heart enamored with Him.
May my heart be such a one, and may more and more hearts turn to Him, and overflow in worship.
Steve
I was reminded tonight of the joy of just being in God's presence singing praises to Him along with brothers and sisters in the Lord. I remember during my college days at Cal soaking in every opportunity to worship, even creating them with "Dorm Praise," a weekly gathering of any interested parties at the Clark Kerr dormitory to just sing worship songs until we felt like stopping. I remember a church in Sacramento that used to have huge Sunday evening worship times for college students, several hundred would attend. Perhaps they still go on, I just haven't been around. At Cal, Interpraise used to overflow the capacity of First Pres., and if you didn't get there a half hour ahead of time you had to sit in the balcony or outside. Now most people seem to show up a half hour late, and the pews are sparsely populated.
I really am in no position to judge whether things are going up or going down as a whole. These are just observations I've made in my minute corner of the universe, and it's caused me to wonder, can worship lose its luster? And it's brought me first to ask myself if I have made it my chief aim lately to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. I think I try to consider how I am serving the Lord each day, and of course always come up short. But it seems a more difficult thing to really stop and delight myself in the Lord simply for who He is. But surely a life lived in service to Him must start with a heart enamored with Him.
May my heart be such a one, and may more and more hearts turn to Him, and overflow in worship.
Steve
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Studying like mad
Ordo Salutis, expiation, Immutability, antinomianism, hypernomianism, verbal plenary inspiration, define God.
These, and other such fun terms and questions make up my review for my ordination exam coming up on April 3rd. The topics vary from Bible Knowledge and Application to Theology of God, Christ, Salvation, etc. to Church History, and practical ministry like counseling and evangelism. Not only do I need to know the stuff, but I have to be able to say it clearly and succinctly in front of a group of 20 or so in response to their questions, which I'm not totally sure what they are going to be.
Definitely great fun! But seriously I am enjoying this review and solidification of my foundation for entering ministry. Although I have to say I am a bit anxious about how it will go, so I would appreciate your prayers. Audrey will be grilling me on my flash cards over the next 3 weeks so pray for her too that I don't get too annoyed with her. :)
I'll keep you updated on how it's going. And see a post about our honeymoon below!
Steve
These, and other such fun terms and questions make up my review for my ordination exam coming up on April 3rd. The topics vary from Bible Knowledge and Application to Theology of God, Christ, Salvation, etc. to Church History, and practical ministry like counseling and evangelism. Not only do I need to know the stuff, but I have to be able to say it clearly and succinctly in front of a group of 20 or so in response to their questions, which I'm not totally sure what they are going to be.
Definitely great fun! But seriously I am enjoying this review and solidification of my foundation for entering ministry. Although I have to say I am a bit anxious about how it will go, so I would appreciate your prayers. Audrey will be grilling me on my flash cards over the next 3 weeks so pray for her too that I don't get too annoyed with her. :)
I'll keep you updated on how it's going. And see a post about our honeymoon below!
Steve
Monday, March 3, 2008
Honeymoon in New Zealand!
"The land of the long white cloud" In the native Maori language that is the name they gave to New Zealand when they discovered it. Audrey and I spent two and a half amazing weeks flying, driving, hiking, kayaking, caving, and boating through this, the most beautiful country I've ever been to.
It was the ultimate vacation as we were able to leave all our worries behind and just relax and enjoy ourselves. I can't remember the last time I was able to really leave everything behind and just chill out. It was awesome! *And* we got to share it with each other, of course the best part!
A couple of our most memorable days were back to back days where we hiked for 10 miles along gorgeous sounds the first day and then kayaked 10 miles along the coast with amazing coves and islands the second day. After exploring some caves the next day we took a few days off and rested, it wasn't that crazy of a honeymoon!
We couldn't have imagined a better beginning to our marriage, and we only hope and pray it is a sign of things to come!
Here's a couple of our favorite pictures from the trip, and a link to many more:
It was the ultimate vacation as we were able to leave all our worries behind and just relax and enjoy ourselves. I can't remember the last time I was able to really leave everything behind and just chill out. It was awesome! *And* we got to share it with each other, of course the best part!
A couple of our most memorable days were back to back days where we hiked for 10 miles along gorgeous sounds the first day and then kayaked 10 miles along the coast with amazing coves and islands the second day. After exploring some caves the next day we took a few days off and rested, it wasn't that crazy of a honeymoon!
We couldn't have imagined a better beginning to our marriage, and we only hope and pray it is a sign of things to come!
Here's a couple of our favorite pictures from the trip, and a link to many more:
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| Honeymoon |
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Great Conversations
Sometimes you forget why you're doing what you're doing, you get lost in the details, in the every day things that need to happen. And being in full-time ministry is no different. Then there are those wonderful times that come along once in a while that reminds you so clearly why you've been persevering.
It was a simple conversation that I had yesterday with a student who I just met on Sunday. He was introduced to me by another student who attends New Church, and the two have talked off and on about faith, and this guy has a lot of questions. So we sat at Cafe Strada yesterday for about an hour and talked about the heart of the gospel, who Jesus was, why He had to die, what His resurrection means, and what God is calling us to do in response.
He had to go to class, but said he'd be back next week, and at church on Sunday. It is really amazing to be able to be a part of what God is doing in Berkeley. And I know this isn't the only conversation like this being had, so I praise God for His work in people's lives. And I look forward to being able to see more clearly all that He has done!
It was a simple conversation that I had yesterday with a student who I just met on Sunday. He was introduced to me by another student who attends New Church, and the two have talked off and on about faith, and this guy has a lot of questions. So we sat at Cafe Strada yesterday for about an hour and talked about the heart of the gospel, who Jesus was, why He had to die, what His resurrection means, and what God is calling us to do in response.
He had to go to class, but said he'd be back next week, and at church on Sunday. It is really amazing to be able to be a part of what God is doing in Berkeley. And I know this isn't the only conversation like this being had, so I praise God for His work in people's lives. And I look forward to being able to see more clearly all that He has done!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
College Life Fall Retreat 2007
Thanks to all of you who prayed for our Fall Retreat this past weekend: October 5-7th up at Clear Lake (apparently the largest fresh water lake completely contained in California!). We had an awesome time of rest and reflection away from Berkeley. Almost 30 of us drove up on Friday and came back early early Sunday morning in time for church.
One of the best parts was to watch people bond with one another and come away with a sense of belonging to the community, belonging to one another. I am excited to see how that will translate into deeper relationships here, and a greater impact on the people we interact with on a daily basis.
It was also great to spend some time in the word, Psalm 27 was the main passage I talked about on Saturday night. We were encouraged to be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord. Many things may come along that may cause us to fear, but like David did when he was pursued by his enemies, we should not run around anxious and try to fix it ourselves, but rather turn and seek the Lord's face and wait for Him. He will work things out on our behalf for our good, as we delight ourselves in Him.
Here are a couple pictures from the retreat. You can also see more by going here: http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.r.childs/CollegeLifeFallRetreat2007?authkey=o3Pqxh_45kA
