Girls for Truth

This poem is one of several poems written by a talented young man that I met at AU, Robbie Ballew. I was so amazed when I read his poetry, that I asked his permission to share them with you to encourage you (thanks Robbie!).

The Girl I’ve Never Met
By Robbie Ballew

Where is the girl who’ll stand beside me

Who won’t give out her love so lightly

Angels guard her at her feet

She’s the one I long to meet

She studies the Bible everyday

And pleases God in every way

Her beauty is like countless fields of flowers

Being watered by mid-spring showers

Yet she does not flirt or flaunt or tease

Because she’s saving it all, just for me

All of her problems, I will mend

And to our love there will be no end

Her every movement shines with glory from above

And her very presence brings peace like a dove

My commitment to her will be forever

And every day we will pray together

No matter if we hunger or thirst

In everything we will put God first

The least I can give her is all of my life

And I’ll have no greater joy than to call her my wife

I’ll give her my love without regret

She is the girl I’ve never met

I’m back from Apologetics University and ready to get back to blogging! It has been an amazing week of traveling with my mom and sister, meeting other Christians, learning about World Religions, and growing in my faith!

I was blessed to personally meet, face to face, with a new friend that I had recently been introduced to, Kim Davidson. Kim has the awesome job of being Randy Stinson’s administrative assistant! She prepared a picnic lunch for us that was absolutely delicious! Thank you Kim! You have encouraged me not only as a young woman living for Christ, but to also be as hospitable as you were to me! After my lunch with Kim, I interviewed her for a post to share with you later this week.

Thank you to Dan Dewitt, our camp pastor, for all of your hard work and edifying preaching! Also, thank you to our keynote speakers, Dr. Chad Brand, and Travis Kerns (soon to be Dr. Kerns!). You two are a wealth of knowledge and thank you for teaching us so diligently!

The fellowship was as amazing as the teaching. The relationships that we have begun with one another will only blossom as we serve Christ in our lives despite the many directions we may go. I love every one of you and thank God for you!

To all you gentlemen at AU~~ I’ve never had so many doors opened for me, chairs pulled out for me, or had so much respect shown towards me, as by you! As one of the many girls that were a recipient of your chivalry, I thank you!

This is Alli’s dad. Alli is off to Louisville, Ky for Apologetics University. She will be back, manning her blog, Sunday night.

This morning my mother received a call from a friend requesting prayer for her little sister. For sake of privacy, I will use the name “Jane” in describing her situation.

“Jane” is currently 19 weeks pregnant and just told her family for the first time today. She has received no medical care and is being urged by parts of her family to have an abortion for several reasons. She has an abortion scheduled for tomorrow, but her brother-in-law and my student pastor will be going to visit her tonight. I urge you to please pray for God to intervene, stop this abortion, and save this precious baby. Also, please pray for “Jane” and her family.

Psalm 139:13-16
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

As Christians, we need to love these girls who are facing these trials and making decisions based on worldly ideology, by reaching out to them. It is easy to “preach” against abortion, but it is another thing to get out there and do something about it.

Below are some resources to help you make a difference:

Eternal Perspective Ministries Resources: ProLife/Abortion
Eternal Perspective Ministries Links to ProLife Websites

“Proving that guys and girls committed to purity of heart, mind, and body…STILL EXIST. Members are able to connect with each other, read articles, post in the forums, participate in contests, and more!”-Puritypeople.com

Hey everyone! I just added several new books to my Book Recommendations. Check them out!

To help me through my prayer time tonight, my parents printed this prayer for me from John Piper, and suggested that I search my own heart for areas that I am failing. To personalize this prayer to me, I highlighted all the points that I needed to change in myself (and let me tell you, I highlighted A LOT). May you read this prayer and be as convicted as I was and equally encouraged.

A Prayer For Our Church by John Piper

O Lord, by the truth of your Word, and the power of your Spirit and the ministry of your body, build men and women at Bethlehem . . .

* Who don’t love the world more than God,
* who don’t care if they make much money,
* who don’t care if they own a house,
* who don’t care if they have a new car or two cars,
* who don’t need recent styles,
* who don’t care if they get famous,
* who don’t miss steak or fancy fare,
* who don’t expect that life should be comfortable and easy,
* who don’t feed their minds on TV each night,
* who don’t measure truth with their finger in the wind,
* who don’t get paralyzed by others’ disapproval,
* who don’t return evil for evil,
* who don’t hold grudges,
* who don’t gossip,
* who don’t twist the truth,
* who don’t brag or boast,
* who don’t whine or use body language to get pity,
* who don’t criticize more than praise,
* who don’t hang out in cliques,
* who don’t eat too much or exercise too little;

But
* who are ablaze for God,
* who are utterly God-besotted,
* who are filled with the Holy Spirit,
* who strive to know the height and depth of Christ’s love,
* who are crucified to the world and dead to sin,
* who are purified by the Word and addicted to righteousness,
* who are mighty in memorizing and using the Scriptures,
* who keep the Lord’s Day holy and refreshing,
* who are broken by the consciousness of sin,
* who are thrilled by the wonder of free grace,
* who are stunned into humble silence by the riches of God’s glory,
* who are persevering constantly in prayer,
* who are ruthless in self-denial,
* who are fearless in public witness to Christ’s Lordship,
* who are able to unmask error and blow away doctrinal haze,
* who are tough in standing for the truth,
* who are tender in touching hurting people,
* who are passionate about reaching the peoples who have no church,
* who are pro-life for the sake of babies and moms and dads and the glory of God,
* who are keepers of all their promises, including marriage vows,
* who are content with what they have and trusting the promises of God,
* who are patient and kind and meek when life is hard.

Pressing for all there is in Christ,

Pastor John

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: www.desiringgod.com

I hope that you have had a nice Memorial Day. Even though we love having our families together for a long weekend, we can’t forget the reason why. This is the time for us to reflect on the men and women that have died fighting for our country. As we honor the soldiers that have fought and are fighting for our freedom, may we also remember the One who ultimately has allowed us this freedom. Also, I urge you to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in other countries that are fighting for the foundational freedom of the ability to worship God as well as sharing the Gospel that will free these nations from the bondage of sin.

A very dear friend of mine, Jessica Case, recently asked for a specific prayer request for her friends in South Africa. Jessica has recently spent time as a missionary in South Africa, and now, as a recent graduate of Moody Bible Institute, she plans on returning for a longer period of time. I am hoping to join her there for at least a couple of weeks early next year.

Prayer request from Jess:
I just received an e-mail from Ella, and wanted to pass it along so you can be praying.
Currently in the black townships, there is a targeted effort to “weed out” all foreign blacks. These are people who have come from Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Congo (other African countries) We are hurting because they are using violence and as of today 23 people have been killed and thousands are displaced and their homes are being ransacked and burned. I spoke with a pastor from Windmill park and where they stay, the churches are filled with people chased out of their homes. I just got off the phone with James and a dear pastor and friend named Eric (recent graduate of ICBM) is fearing for his life (he is from Mozambique 20 years ago) as thugs are going around his area wanting them gone.

This family will be living with the Embrees until the situation settles down. Pray that the violence stops, peace is restored, and Jesus will be glorified and magnified despite the hardship. And pray that those doing this will be broken and find Jesus!

Thanks!

Jess

Several years ago, my dad began working with the youth group in our church in Michigan. He took on the ministry role because he had a passion for the young people in the church. He had begun to see the trend of the large seeker churches pulling in kids by the hundreds with their social events, giveaways, and other forms of hoopla. Many of these kids were even being lured out of solid, Bible teaching churches like ours. After talking with many different families, he came to the conclusion that the expectation by these parents was that the church and the youth pastor were the ones responsible for their teenagers’ spiritual growth as well as their “Christian” social life. This reality sparked a passion in him that hasn’t died down since-the passion that all ministries to any age group in our church must have God’s Word and God’s Glory as the priority. He immediately turned the focus of his time with the youth to the teaching of Scripture and building relationships with not only the youth, but the families as well. As far as I can remember, he has always believed that being a youth pastor or a youth leader is not just working with teenagers, it is working with families, it is walking beside families, it is developing relationships with families, and it is living out the word of God with others in your church family!

In God’s providence, we now live in Georgia, and my parents are serving as part of the student ministry team alongside Nick Kennicott, Pastor to Students at Ephesus Church, who puts Christ and the teaching Scripture as his priority with the same passion for changing student ministry.
This past weekend, my dad had the privilege of attending the reThink Conference ’08 in Raleigh, NC. It was wonderful seeing my dad come home so encouraged and filled with joy, despite having lost his brakes shortly after leaving his hotel and having to leave his car there!

Here is what my dad had to say about his experience at the conference:

“It was truly a blessing to spend time with like minded individuals and I formed many new, edifying friendships. Also, it was encouraging to hear from so many men of God who came together with the same burden to rethink student ministry in our churches.”

Alex Chediak flew in from California to live blog the event. Check out his thorough conference recap here.

Also, please check out these blogs by Mike Hall, Mike Seaver, Deb Burton, Mike Williams, and Nick Kennicott. Also, be sure to add Lasting Divergence to your must read blog list!

Please pray for the family of Steven Curtis Chapman. Just yesterday, his five year old daughter, Maria Sue, was killed in an accident at their home.