Well I've gone and done it. Yes I felt pressured to do it and I really didn't want to do it but I caved in to peer pressure and well now I'm glad I did it. What did I do you ask? I opened a facebook page. So what is the big deal about that? Well for a tech challenged guy like me it's pretty traumatic, but I'm surviving and beginning to enjoy it. You see, I've been able to keep up with lots of folks and they can keep up with me. But the really great thing is some dear friends from our younger days that we had lost touch with found us and now were back together again and that's great!
Life is like that you know. Sometimes we need to step out and just do it. Once its done the joys and rewards make the difficulty worth it. That's true in most things in life. Of course I'm not talking about stupid, hurtful or immoral things - just things that we might be unsure of or afraid of like making a new friend,getting married, looking for a better job, or going to a new church. There is some risk but I can tell you it is worth it. I never dreamed that tackling a new technology would have turned out to be such a blessing. So go give it a try. I am - look out Twitter, here I come.
Bruce
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Back From Cold Country
I've just returned from the Desiring God pastors conference in Minneapolis. The weather was cold!!! The conference was great. I believe I was there by God's providence. I had planned to attend a preaching conference in Florida in April. When I went online to sign up they had canceled it. In looking around for something else I happened to find this one. The theme was evangelism. I surely need some help in that area so, well the rest is history. My heart was stirred. Here are some thoughts I jotted down:
passion - that's what I feel, pure passion for the glory of God. 1500 men singing with joy and gusto, many with hands raised, tears in their eyes, one dear young man dancing, singing, kneeling because he loves the Lord. Awesome!
prayer - never have I heard anyone pray like John Piper. He knows God! He would often quote verses of scripture as part of his praying. I kept my eyes open once to watch him. His whole body was alive with love for God. We were on Holy Ground.
Faith - the thing that I keep hearing in my heart in reference to sharing the gospel is trust God to work - in His own time and what often seems strange ways. Believe in the power of the gospel. The story of Luke Short is an example. Not a church going man yet at 100 years of age he came under conviction about his lostness from a sermon he heard when he was 15 years old and was gloriously converted.
courage - we have suffered a noticeable loss in our willingness to offend people with the gospel. We must never be offensive in our witness but we need realize that the gospel offends people. There is no painless way to tell someone that they are under the wrath of God.
ministry - I get to do the greatest work in the world - pastor God's people - the saints of the Most High - those for whom the Lord Jesus Christ shed his blood. How blessed I am.
Yes it was a great conference. I am still processing it and will be for months to come. God was good to redirect me to the cold north country to stoke the flame of love for Him in my heart.
Praise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name!
Bruce
passion - that's what I feel, pure passion for the glory of God. 1500 men singing with joy and gusto, many with hands raised, tears in their eyes, one dear young man dancing, singing, kneeling because he loves the Lord. Awesome!
prayer - never have I heard anyone pray like John Piper. He knows God! He would often quote verses of scripture as part of his praying. I kept my eyes open once to watch him. His whole body was alive with love for God. We were on Holy Ground.
Faith - the thing that I keep hearing in my heart in reference to sharing the gospel is trust God to work - in His own time and what often seems strange ways. Believe in the power of the gospel. The story of Luke Short is an example. Not a church going man yet at 100 years of age he came under conviction about his lostness from a sermon he heard when he was 15 years old and was gloriously converted.
courage - we have suffered a noticeable loss in our willingness to offend people with the gospel. We must never be offensive in our witness but we need realize that the gospel offends people. There is no painless way to tell someone that they are under the wrath of God.
ministry - I get to do the greatest work in the world - pastor God's people - the saints of the Most High - those for whom the Lord Jesus Christ shed his blood. How blessed I am.
Yes it was a great conference. I am still processing it and will be for months to come. God was good to redirect me to the cold north country to stoke the flame of love for Him in my heart.
Praise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name!
Bruce
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