My Life in Louavull.

Park Street Church

2010-03-14T20:33:00.000-07:00

This is an older post from this past summer that is on Facebook, but I wanted to put it here also. So great. :)

As I was on vacation in Boston, and on the Freedom Walk, I came across Park Street Church. It looked interesting so I went on inside to find a full blown up display of the church's original statement of faith. It was so great that I took some shots of the blown up doc and typed it out.

Read on for a treat. :)

__________

Articles of Christian Faith and of Church Government adopted by the members of Park Street Church.

We the subscribers having agreed to unite in the establishment of a new Congregational Church in Boston, by the name of Park Street Church, think it proper to make a declaration of that faith, which is the bond of our ecclesiastical union, and which we shall expect to find in all those, who shall hereafter participate in our religious privileges and communion.

First - We believe that the scriptures of the old and new testament are the word of God and the only perfect rule of Christian faith and practice.

Second - We profess our decided attachment to that system of the Christian religion, which is distinguishingly denominated Evangelical; more particularly to those doctrines, which, in a proper sense, are [titled?] the doctrines of grace. Viz. That there is one, and but one living and true God, subsisting in three persons, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost; and that these three are the one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; that God from all eternity, according to the council of his own will, and for his own glory, foreordained whatsoever comes to pass; that God in his most holy, wise and powerful providence preserves and governs all his creatures and all their actions; that by the fall, all mankind lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of Hell forever; that God out of his here good pleasure from all eternity elected some to everlasting life, enters into a covenant of grace, to deliver them from a state of sin and misery, and introduce them into a state of salvation by a Redeemer; that this Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, who became man, and continues to be, God and man in two distinct natures and one person forever; that the effectual calling of Sinners is the work of God’s spirit, that their justification is only for the sake of Christ’s righteousness by faith. And though we deem no man, or body of men infallible, yet we believe that those divines, that were eminently distinguished in the time of the reformation, professed the spirit, and maintained in great purity the peculiar doctrines of our holy religion, and that these doctrines are, in general, clearly and happily expressed in the Westminster Assembly’s Shorter Catechism, and in the confession of faith owned and consented unto by the elders and messingers [sic] of the Churches assembled at Boston/N.C./May 12th AD 1680.

Third - In regard to our ecclesiastical government and discipline, with our Sister Churches in this Commonwealth, we adopt the Congregational form, as contained in the platform of Church discipline gathered out of the word of God, and agreed upon by the elders and messingers [sic] of the Church assembled in the Synod at Cambridge(N.C.) AD 1648.

Fourth - In order to admission to membership in this Church, it is understood that every candidate shall be previously examined, and give creditable evidence of a ground of the comfortable hope of a personal condition of grace, through the renovation of the soul, by the special influences of the holy spirit, implying repentance for sin and faith in Jesus Christ, the redeemer.

Finally, we hereby covenant and engage, as fellow christians of one faith, and partakers of the same hope and joy, to give ourselves unto the Lord, for the observing the ordinances of Christ together in the same society, and to unite together into one body, for the public worship of God, and the mutual edification one of another, in the fellowship of the Lord Jesus; exhorting, reproving, comforting and watching over each other, for the mutual edification, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God, even our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Boston - February 27th - Anno Domini - 1809

Males - William Thurston, Jnoe[?] Tyler, Caleb Bingham, Josiah Bumstead, William Ladd, Daniel Baxter, Joseph W. Jenkins, Andrew Colhoun, John Holbrook, Henry Holmes, Aaron Hardy, Slew Parker, Asa Ward, George L. Homer

Females - Elizabeth Thurston, Hannah B. Tyler, Hannah Bingham, Mary G. Bumstead, Mary Ladd, Sarah Baxter, Abigail Jenkins, Martha Colhoun, Hannah Haskins, Elizabeth Haskins, Fanny Haskins, Mary Truman

26.Total.

Members who united, and were admitted into the Church at its formation, by the Council.

Guess what tomorrow is...?!?!?!

2010-03-12T08:35:00.001-08:00

THE Cincy Girl Day Trip! The most fabulous Saturday yet of 2010! The IT event of the year! Ok, well, it's just going to be super fun. :)
At 8AM, we will depart Bayly Ave. with some of the coolest girls in town in tow, pick up some hot java and mornin' vittles on 71, then onto Ikea (Mainly to dream, not shop...we are poor college students ya know...), some downtown Cincy action, and (Da da-da DA!!!!) Trader Joes. The day will end at our beloved Chipotle (that sadly doesn't exist in Louavull.).
Pictures soon to come.
A day a grand as this must be remembered for quite some time. ;)

In The Twenty-Sixth Year Of My Life..

2010-02-17T21:48:00.000-08:00

...I had a birthday party. With lotsa friends, lotsa food, some mafia, and a dash of a spontaneous girl-only dance party. The menu included (all homemade...) cream puffs, cinnamon fudge, iced sugar cookies, white chocolate cranberry oatmeal cookies (a personal fav...), best ever cheesecake (quickly becoming a staple of mine, thanks to my friend Rachel's recipe...), a seven layer chocolate torte, cold mocha java punch, sweet pumpkin dip with gingersnaps, and white chocolate popcorn with cashews, peanuts, and cranberries. Ruth and Adam Young, along with their three, crazy cute kidlets, generously opened up their home for 8+ hours of good times. Here are the photos to prove it...

So, I wasn't hungry by the time 7PM rolled around...too much sampling...but that's one of the best parts of cooking!

Ruth made the sugar cookies. They tasted even better than they looked!

Anna came over before hand to hang and help make food. And then Mark came over to help make sure all the food was fine for everyone else to eat. ;)

And then Laura showed up...it was a Shelby Park bash even before nightfall...

So, Ruth and I made WAY too much food...

...but all that meant was more leftovers for us!

Ah! Abbey and Danielle are missing from this shot! Where were you girls?

Mark was Mafia moderator..."...spelled Chris with a K...c-h-r-i-s-k..." Hilarious.

Attempting to do the man's part in swing...wasn't working so hot. Now, Jai Ho dancing was a different story. We decided not to document those moves...no matter how crazy good they were... ;)

And of course, the eve was not complete until I spilled something. All over myself in fact. :)

In Yet Not Of

2010-02-05T11:22:00.000-08:00

Reader, take 5 minutes and understand the following text very carefully:

The Christians in the World

"Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. Their teaching is not based upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they champion no purely human doctrine. With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.

And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose[kill] them. They share their meals, but not their wives.

They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law. Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again. They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything. They suffer dishonor, but that is their glory. They are defamed, but vindicated. A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult. For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then they, rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life. They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred.

To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body. As the soul is present in every part of the body, while remaining distinct from it, so Christians are found in all the cities of the world, but cannot be identified with the world. As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their religious life remains unseen. The body hates the soul and wars against it, not because of any injury the soul has done it, but because of the restriction the soul places on its pleasures. Similarly, the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but because they are opposed to its enjoyments.

Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body's hatred. It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together. The soul, though immortal, has a mortal dwelling place; and Christians also live for a time amidst perishable things, while awaiting the freedom from change and decay that will be theirs in heaven. As the soul benefits from the deprivation of food and drink, so Christians flourish under persecution. Such is the Christian’s lofty and divinely appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse himself."

From a letter to Diognetus. (Chapters 5-6. AD130 or 200)
(http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/diognetus.html)

This was read last Sunday by Pastor Ryan Fullerton at my church, Immanuel Baptist. It is by an unknown author to a man named Diognetus. This letter cut to my heart rather hard. Could these things said of Christians in the second century, be said of Christians today? I don’t think, on average, they could. The Church has seemingly lost the ability to embrace culture and live with in it and enhance it. Either, we’re too afraid of it and don’t know how to act within the culture we live in. We then therefore make our own. Or, we are consumed by the culture and appear no different in regards to children, marriage, generosity, and morals.

I’ve had these issues on my mind for at least a month now attempting to work through the theological and practical issues surrounding ‘remaining unstained by the world’ but also the practical application of what it really is to live life in this world and be salt and light for Christ. How do I live in the culture I am within, and how do I love the people in it? I think these ramblings here have only started me on my way of working these issues out.

Like, what does it mean to live in the world and yet be not of it? Jesus prayed that we not be taken out of it, only that we are protected as we are in it. (John 17:15) We also know that God loves the world. (John 3:16) But that we are also to keep ourselves unstained from it. (James 1:27) There are two ways that the word ‘world’ is used in these passages I think. One refers to mankind (as in John 3:16) and the other, I believe, could be described as the fallen environment in which fallen mankind responds to one another and to his Creator in sinful ways. (I’m open for a better definition there, but that’s the best I could come up with for right now.)

So, my first area of concern is, exactly how do I go about life in this world remaining unstained by it? What a daunting task. I think that ‘unstained’ here might also be understood as ‘unaffected’ or ‘uninfluenced’. At least that’s what the context would seen to imply. I also don’t believe that the word ‘world’ in this verse = culture. Because culture is not inherently wrong. Most people, believers or not, get married in church buildings. That’s an aspect of culture. So is the fact that we shake hands when greeting someone and not kissing the cheek, as in European cultures. So if we think that going against the grain of culture by avoiding it and trying to be as different from it as possible is an act of ‘remaining unstained by the world’, we’re fooling ourselves. And we may even be participating in an even worse situation than merely misunderstanding scripture. Because often, when you totally remove yourself from culture, you are also totally removing yourself from the position of being able to love people.

Every culture on earth has aspects that can be very glorifying of God (art, music, justice, marriage...), and aspects that blaspheme him. It’s the parts that blaspheme His name which are the ones we are to remain unstained by. Recently, I read the book, Worldliness, by C.J. Mahaney and company. I highly recommend this book. It deals with four areas in which we as believers are easily able to be effected for the worse in the culture we find ourselves in. Tv/movies, music, stuff/possessions, and clothing/modesty are the four areas addressed. And maybe all of these, simultaneously, are not a struggle for any one believer, but I would bet that at least one of these areas is an area of struggle for every believer. Scripture calls Believers to very high standards (And less I become a legalist, I am not called to high standards to save myself in any way. I am called to a high standard because of the cross, not to merit the cross.) of living our lives in the world. Words like ‘unstained’ and ‘not even a hint’ are common words in scripture when speaking of guarding against sin and immorality. Another reason I think Worldliness is invaluable, is that the last chapter in the book is titled, “How To Love The World”. Which helps with my next question...

Exactly how do I go about life in this world by loving it as God loves it and remaining in it as Christ desired and being a light to a twisted and crooked generation (Phil. 2:15)? How do I become all things to all people in order that I might win some (I Cor. 9:22)?

I’ve been thinking of some practical applications of how to allow the two prior questions to influence how I raise and train my children, should the Lord bless me with marriage and children in the future. The more life I live, the more pain I see, the more devastation, the more hurt, the more I want my children to know the world very well. Because in order to love something well, it must be known well. I want to teach my children doctrine and theology very young. I want them to know of the Cross and it’s all invasive implications into each and every tiny crevice of our lives. I also don’t want them to be naive about sin. I want them to see the effects and the consequences. And this not necessarily to scare them (Though it should and will.). But to understand from scripture, how much God hates it and how holy and just He is, but also how kind and merciful He is to allow man to turn from it and to repent. I want my children to know of homosexuality, and murder, and prostitution, and drunkenness, and drugs as early as they can understand God’s hatred of all sin and also of His great and sovereign love for people. I want my children to be able to see the man made in God’s image who is the drunkard, and hate the sin this man commits with the bottle, but to love that man who is in bondage, and desire his freedom. I want my children to love the prostitute as a woman who is made in God’s image, and hate the sin she commits that is enslaving her. I want my children to see their own sin, and know that it is just as terrible and ugly and blasphemous to God, as is the sin of the drunkard, addict, murderer, and prostitute. My desire is that my children not only know and are able to recite the two great commandments (“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself...”) but they are able to live it out with their lives.

How is this going to work? I have no clue. Am I being an idealist? Maybe. I don’t have this all figured out. I’m still learning how to even love people in this way, (and have far to go...) let alone raise children and care for their soul. But should I not start with a ideal that is Biblical and right, merely because it sounds impossible?

“Jesus shed his blood to rescue the creation from the curse of sin. And the cleansing blood of Christ must reach not only into the hearts and lives of individuals, but into every corner of the creation which the curse has affected.”
- Richard J. Mouw, When the Kings Come Marching In

What A Morning

2010-01-30T17:31:00.001-08:00

On Saturday mornings, I try to make it down to the abortion clinic in town. From 7-8:30 girls arrive for their appointments and that's when brothers and sisters from local churches are there doing sidewalk counseling. It's not fun. And can be really disheartening. And you get yelled at and pushed and cussed at. But I love seeing my fellow brothers and sisters fighting for the unborn and trying to love on these girls and women who come in for abortions! And I love defending the weak and the innocent. The unborn are the most defenseless of all people-groups. They have no voice.

I haven't been to the clinic in about a month and a half due to holidays and travel, but I decided to start getting into the early routine again this Saturday. But today was a first for me. I witnessed a fellow brother arrested because he was speaking out for the unborn. He was arrested for the sake of Christ. I praise the Lord for this brother!

I'll have to say though, that this has given me a new perspective and understanding for the reality of what goes on, down at the abortion clinic. This friend of mine was arrested, because he was trying to love some women and children. He was trying to prevent murders. But HE was the one arrested. Because he is 'intolerant of others choices' and 'insensitive to a woman's rights'. In reality, what my friend is guilty of doing is being intolerant of murder and trying to save the lives of 27 men and women who were killed today. This should cause society to grieve.

But they do not.

They rejoice.

Today I heard an escort remark, "Yeah! We could just eat them! They are just protein after all!" in regards to an unborn child. Pray for the escorts. They need Christ.

Today we experienced a couple pregnant girls laughing and mocking us as we tried to tell them of the life inside of them and of our love for them because of Christ, as we plead with them not to kill their baby. Pray for these girls. They need Christ.

Today I saw a woman walking in, by herself, who looked broken. Desperate. And desiring of someone to love her and just talk with her. She looked my friend and I straight in the eyes the whole time we were talking to her as she was walking in. She took my friends pro-life literature. Pray for this woman. She needs Christ.

Today was one of those days that just makes you want Jesus to come back really bad.

But God is so merciful and loving; He is forbearing with men, because He desires that all people "be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." But soon, He will come to judge. And justice will be had. But, as Believers we can know that "Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love."

If You Will Only Let God Guide You

2010-01-25T08:43:00.000-08:00

During service yesterday, we sang this hymn. I've never heard it before, but in about 10 minutes, it became one of my all-time favorites. Pastor Ryan said, "This is a hymn that Job could sing." True, true.

Read on and enjoy. Let the words sink in.

If You Will Only Let God Guide You

If you will only let God guide you,
And hope in Him through all your ways,
Whatever comes, He’ll stand beside you,
To bear you through the evil days;
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the Rock that cannot move.

Only be still, and wait His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whatever the Father’s pleasure
And all discerning love have sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him Who chose us for His own.

Sing, pray, and swerve not from His ways,
But do your part in conscience true;
Trust His rich promises of grace,
So shall they be fulfilled in you;
God hears the call of those in need,
The souls that trust in Him indeed.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/f/ifyouwil.htm

Morning and Evening - Spurgeon

2010-01-25T08:39:00.000-08:00

January 25

Morning

“I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us.”
- Isaiah 63:7

And canst thou not do this? Are there no mercies which thou hast experienced? What though thou art gloomy now, canst thou forget that blessed hour when Jesus met thee, and said, “Come unto me”? Canst thou not remember that rapturous moment when he snapped thy fetters, dashed thy chains to the earth, and said, “I came to break thy bonds and set thee free”? Or if the love of thine espousals be forgotten, there must surely be some precious milestone along the road of life not quite grown over with moss, on which thou canst read a happy memorial of his mercy towards thee? What, didst thou never have a sickness like that which thou art suffering now, and did he not restore thee? Wert thou never poor before, and did he not supply thy wants? Wast thou never in straits before, and did he not deliver thee? Arise, go to the river of thine experience, and pull up a few bulrushes, and plait them into an ark, wherein thine infant- faith may float safely on the stream. Forget not what thy God has done for thee; turn over the book of thy remembrance, and consider the days of old. Canst thou not remember the hill Mizar? Did the Lord never meet with thee at Hermon? Hast thou never climbed the Delectable Mountains? Hast thou never been helped in time of need? Nay, I know thou hast. Go back, then, a little way to the choice mercies of yesterday, and though all may be dark now, light up the lamps of the past, they shall glitter through the darkness, and thou shalt trust in the Lord till the day break and the shadows flee away. “Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses, for they have been ever of old.”

Perfection.

2010-01-23T22:04:00.000-08:00

If He had faltered even once,
In flames of hell would men abide.
Then ponder Christ, and praise at length
The strength of Him there crucified.

Classes

2010-01-21T13:01:00.000-08:00

Well, my first week of 'Spring 2010' is done.

Here's what it's looking like by the numbers:

-9 hours of actual counseling/observing/being counseled
-11 papers to write
-18 books to read (already have 1.8 finished)
-84 class periods

Oh snap.

I shouldn't have done that.
I wasn't feeling overwhelmed until about 20 seconds ago.
But I am thinking that this is shaping up to be the best semester yet. How in the world do they keep getting better?

Favorite quote from today by Dr. Kerns (Whom is one crazy cool man. He is a Trekkie just like me!): "Unfortunately, there is no class offered here at Boyce that helps you to stay a Christian while in Bible college. So I'm taking it upon myself to do so." -Before explaining our required once-a-day reading from Spurgeon's daily devo, Morning and Evening. I've always wanted to go through that devotional. How cool is it that it's required for a class?! Stinkin' awesome. ;)

Last semester, Tuesday was my killer day. I hit the ground running at 8AM for class, and didn't hit the sack at home until at least 11PM that night. This semester, that's what my Thursday will be. Class at 9AM, and then on campus all day until 5PM. Tutoring after that and then discussion/study group with care group girls at Quills until whenever-we-feel-like-ending. :)

Michigan

2010-01-18T19:33:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, I made a trip up to the mitten state. It was quite the drive (6 1/2 hours) and a boring one at that (flat Indiana highway for the most part), but so worth the trip. :) Had a really wonderful time seeing friends that I hadn't seen in awhile. God has blessed me with such wonderful ones! Here are some photos from the trip.

All Things

2010-01-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

“We know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“All the afflictions, and all the temptations, and all the oppressions, and all the oppositions, and all the persecutions which befall a godly man, shall work for his good. Every cross, and every loss, and every disease which befall the holy man, shall work for his good. Every device, every snare, every deceit, every stratagem, and every enterprise of Satan against the holy man, shall work for his good. Every prosperity and every adversity; every storm and every calm; every bitter and every sweet; every cross and every comfort—shall work for the holy man’s good.

When God gives a mercy—that shall work for his good. When God takes away a mercy—that shall work for his good....

—Thomas Brooks

Spring Semester

2010-01-12T11:08:00.000-08:00

So, these are my books for the upcoming semester. Or at least some of them. Still have about six more to get. Really looking forward to diving into these. I think this semester is going to be pure gold. :)

The lineup: Advanced Issues in Counseling 1, Counseling Skills Development 1, Hermeneutics, Worldview Analysis (Philosophy/Christian perspectives)

"...the gospel is for Christians just as much as it is for non-Christians..."

2010-01-12T07:31:00.000-08:00

Every morning I receive an e-mail from a blog called, "Of First Importance". The whole point of this blog is to give a small encouragement or observation concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ. So many times I have awoken in the morning, only to have a message to me in my in-box perfectly fitting for the trial or struggle that I am battling that day.

Here is this morning's message.

“From start to finish, the whole Christian life is by grace through faith. A new life in Christ commences with faith, continues by faith, and will be completed through faith. To put this another way, the Gospel is for Christians just as much as it is for non-Christians.

We never advance beyond the good news of the cross and the empty tomb… Therefore, the Christian always looks back to the Gospel and never to the law as the basis for his righteousness before God… There is no such thing as performance-based Christianity… Justification is a doctrine for the whole Christian life from start to finish. It is not simply a doctrine for coming to Christ in the first place… Justification is a doctrine to live by each and every moment.”

- Philip Ryken, Commentary on Galatians, p90-92

I love this: "We never advance beyond the good news of the cross and the empty tomb…" How true this is! What gives comfort in any trial, small or seemingly life-encompassing? It's Christ. His gospel. His sufficiency, His love, His grace. Everything. He is the reason we can have true joy and hope in everyday.

In one sense, this is just the tip of the iceberg; in another sense, it is the foundation of everything I as a Believer rest on.

A New Year, A New Endeavor

2010-01-09T13:44:00.000-08:00

Hello friends and family.

This is my first post.
Exciting, eh?
Not very.
But, I'm going to attempt to keep this blog updated over the next few months. I often receive e-mails from many of you, and as you also know, I'm quite terrible at responding. So I figure this would be a great way to keep my friends and family up to date on what's going on. Facebook is good for some things, but not everyone has been converted yet. ;) Someday. (Hopefully not...)
Anyways, stay tuned y'all! (Yes. My vocabulary is slowly becoming Southernized.)

Amber