Resource Wednesday 2/17/10

This Resource Wednesday I'd like to tell you about a book my friend, Jenny, gave to me a few months ago. I've mentioned it on the blog once or twice, and I think it's worth highlighting again. It's called 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers. It is exactly what the title implies. It is a book of praises to God (1-3 pages each) to be read each day. The pages highlight God's character and nature and how to praise Him for it. At the end of the praise pages, it lists multiple verses to support what was written on the pages. I have been enjoying reading it and looking up the Scriptures as I go. I usually take a few days to work through one day in the book, so I can absorb and comprehend the Scriptures along the way. I highly recommend this book as an addition to your daily Bible reading time.

Reminder

This morning I was reading in Romans 8. I was struck by a passage of Scripture there and reminded of the great gift of salvation we have in Christ and that we only have the ability to live the Christian life because of the Spirit of Christ in us.

Romans 8:6-11 (NKJV)

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

I'm Back

Katrina and Kim on the last day of the biblical counseling conference in Lafayette, Indiana.

I have returned from the biblical counseling conference in Lafayette, Indiana. I brought back with me a pretty intense head cold (the result of the exposure to a lot of germs--600 people together in one room all week and lack of exposure to sleep--long days and late nights), so I canceled Cookie Baking Night for this evening and moved it to next Monday.

The conference was of great benefit. I would recommend it to everyone. It was completely gospel-centered and focused on how to handle life's issues using the Bible as your main source of help. The sufficiency of Scripture was reiterated time and time again throughout the week.

I thoroughly enjoyed being with my friend, Kim, all week. Often, when you hear new information there is the tendency to process it through the filter of your own experiences. Having each other allowed us to process the information out loud and work on any misconceptions we may have come up with in our own minds. I found other conference attendees very helpful in that area as well.

We stayed with a lovely woman named Mildred. Shortly after we arrived there, we realized Mildred is the widow of the pastor who started the counseling center at Faith Baptist Church in Lafayette many years ago now. This conference has grown out of that ministry. Mildred was a joy to be around. She is a godly woman. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her and hearing about her love for the Lord. She was an excellent hostess!

Now that I'm home, I will start reviewing the pages and pages of information I gathered over the course of last week. I may write more posts on what I learned from the biblical counseling conference as I process that information in the weeks to come.

Evangelism Video 2/13/10

The video I'm sharing with you today is more of an audio recording with a slide show than it is a video. I shared this once before but I think it's worth repeating.

This is a pastor telling a story of a man in Australia who spent his life passing out tracts.

I have this story on my iPod and listen to it often. Two things stand out to me in the telling of this story:

1. The simple witness of passing out gospel tracts and asking two questions, (Are you saved? If you died tonight, are you going to heaven?")

2. The number of people in this story who were asked "How did you become a Christian?" (or asked in some way to explain their testimony of salvation). I often overlook the value of that inquiry.

Frightening Friday 02/12/10

This Friday I am in Lafayette, Indiana, at the Biblical Counseling conference. We are finishing up the conference this morning and heading back home tomorrow.

So, today I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite blogs that are dedicated to evangelism. I follow these blogs on a regular basis, and I'm very encouraged by them. These are all just regular people seeking to proclaim the gospel to a lost and dying world. Each one looks slightly different in practice, but they all have the same message. Check it out.

www.fishwithtrish.com

www.thelawmanchronicles.blogspot.com

www.thewordstreetjournal.blogspot.com

www.everydayclub.blogspot.com

www.proclaimingthetruth.blogspot.com

www.carrolltonforchrist.blogspot.com

Thursday Night Bible Study 2/11/10

Today I'm going to share another sermon with you from my church. Our pastor is working through a series (during our Thursday night Bible study and prayer meeting) called "Basic Christian Doctrines". I think it's excellent and want to share it with everyone. In this post I've included a link to the message on the the church part 2. Enjoy!

Checking In

Just checking in from the Biblical Counseling Conference in Lafayette. We are having a fabulous time! Kim and I are staying with a lovely woman named Mildred. She has been a most gracious hostess. Beyond the conference, we are learning much about being a godly woman through Mildred's example in the short time we've known her.

It has been long days and late nights. We are learning much about the Word of God. As we learn it, we are able to discuss and process it with those around us. We have met so many wonderful people!

We left last Saturday morning. Kim's mother-in-law, Val, rode with us. We dropped her off at her daughter's house (about 2 hours from the conference site) before heading to the conference. The conference will end on Friday, late morning. We will head back to pick up Val and then start our journey back home early Saturday morning.

We are excited to return home and be used of God with this new information He has allowed us to take part in.