Sunday Morning

One of the many things we're praying about in this transition to Louisville is church. This morning, we loaded up and visited Highview Baptist Church's East Campus. Their facility is beautiful -- one of Highview's six locations. Pretty impressive. Bible study was good, music was good (even if a little polished for me), message was good (the youth pastor from the original Fegenbush campus preached today).

One thing you ought to check out is Highview's new website. I think they've done a great job providing an entry for visitors and one for members. The visitors site -- the one I checked out -- answers the questions we were asking.

More later about our praying -- do we attend a strong established church or a smaller struggling church? Do we try to start a new church, a simple church, or a network? Oh la la...

A Little Exercise Listening...

I have mentioned several times what a privilege it is to be working with the guys in my doctoral "cohort." There are now seven of us, and these guys really are the cream of the crop. I've subscribed to some of their preaching podcasts for my "exercise listening." Here are three:

Calvin Carr at North Central Baptist Church, Gainesville, FL (Podcast link at bottom of page)

Mike Tatem at Parkview Baptist Church, Lake City, FL (This one's not updated recently, but I'm catching up)

Lyle Larson at FBC, Goodlettsville, TN

I'll try and find podcasts/sermons for the other guys and post them later.

What I'll Miss the Most

I was going to wait a couple of days to write this entry, but the impending termination of our internet service dictates otherwise. Tomorrow night is the last meeting of our partage biblique (Bible study) for the year, and our last before our long stateside assignment. This group, this gathering, is what I will miss the most while we are in the U.S.

For 1 1/2 years, this group of 17-22 adults and children have gathered once a month for fellowship in the classic French fashion. Everyone brings one or two or three dishes, puts them in the middle of a table, and we pass them around and eat for three hours. This group is where I really learned the bisou, and where I really learned what it means to love French people. And to be loved by them. I will miss this fellowship of young and old, American and French.

For 1 1/2 years, this group has gathered for worship. One of our men -- a true Frenchman from a Catholic background he can't quite part with -- plays the piano while we sing songs from old French hymnbooks and new translated choruses. Some raise their hands and sing, some just listen. Either way, it's worship, and I love it. I will miss Robert singing and playing the guitar, seeing N. raise her aged hands in praise, and French songs that now mean as much to me as "Amazing Grace" and "Victory in Jesus."

For 1 1/2 years, this group has gathered to read and share from God's Word. Most of the group are non-believers. Some got their first Bible at this study and started reading it as a result of hearing their friends share the power of the Scripture. They found that the Bible was much more than an antique book of stories, but is rather a powerful and applicable source of Truth. We go around the circle every month (again, in classic French fashion) and everyone shares their insights or thoughts on the passage we studied. Sometimes, it's some strange stuff, but most of the time I am touched by the way the Holy Spirit teaches from inspired Scripture. I will miss the way the Bible (especially Acts!) comes alive every month when we gather.

For 1 1/2 years, this group has grown together. J. and G. and E. are all closer to recognizing Christ than they were a year ago. Every month, we see them draw nearer to the cross. L. has all kinds of philosophical arguments, but he also has found the comfort of the Scriptures and the Body in the midst of troubles. I have grown, too. God has humbled me over and over, reminding me that it's probably not the missionary who has the most to say. The Father has taught me what the church really is. I am going to miss seeing the Holy Spirit gather the Father's sheep into His fold.

I have shared in other places how hard it has been to plant a church in France. This group is not yet a church, but it's close. As close as any of us has been to starting a church in a long time. Now, we're headed back for the States for a season, leaving them to continue without us. Continue they will, because the group is not us. We are part of the group, the group is part of us, but it will go on without us. These folks laugh and cry, they are patient with my terrible French mistakes and still care about what I have to say.

I've been studying 1 Thessalonians for a message I'll preach this Sunday. Paul loved that church. In chapter 2, he says, "having been taken away from you for a short while -- in person, not in spirit -- were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. For we wanted to be with you..." (v. 17-18, NASB). He missed that church.

I think I'm getting ready to know how he felt.

Good Wine

As for the formality of religious service, however, the hypocrite often outdoes the sincere Christian. Of all people he may be called a "master of ceremonies" because he tries to entertain God with his tongue and knee, with only words and outward ceremony. Yet God looks on the heart. If the wine is good a man can drink it from a plain wooden cup. But if a goblet is wonderfully gilded, but has no wine in it, the host mocks his guest by offering it to him.

-William Gurnall (The Christian in Complete Armour: Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare, ed. James S. Bell, Jr.)

A Sabbath Day

Today, I had a sabbath.

Not that I intended it that way. This morning was worship with the church at Rosny-sous-Bois. After a quick lunch, Jeffrey had a fencing tournament, then another hour of praise at the church. Any other Sunday, we would have worshiped together with others in our home. Sunday is a busy day.

On the way home from church, though, I had a flat tire. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal because we have a full-size spare. But the spare was already on because of the flat tire I had yesterday on the way to the grocery store. So, two flat tires on Sunday means no car. So, we stayed home.

I tried to do a little work -- just emails and such. But there haven't been any emails all weekend. I tried to read some of my seminar reading, but just couldn't get my mind on it. So, I piddled a little here and a little there. I watched a bloopers show with the boys. I took a half-hour nap. I studied up a little on the new nutrition guidelines from the French government then fixed mushroom omelets with extra butter. This blog post is the first "work" I've done all day, and you can tell I'm not working too hard on that.

Jesus was walking through some grain fields one day with his friends. For a snack, they began to pluck the heads of grain from their stalks. Some pharisees saw them and questioned their devotion and commitment. Jesus told them a story about how David went into God's house and took the bread there, ate it, and even shared it with his friends. Then Jesus (I imagine) looked over the fields, then at his friends, and said, "the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath" (Mark 2:23-28).

Today, I had a day of rest. God made it just for me, whether I meant for it to be that way or not. And I'm thankful.

The Praise on our Lips

My Jesus, My Savior,

Lord, there is none like You...

It seems like years ago (in fact, it has been almost ten). We were at Ridgecrest Conference Center, worshiping alongside others who had taken part in a week of conferences and studies during the Jericho missions week. The invitation had begun...

All of my days, I want to praise,
the wonders of Your mighty love...

I will never forget how it felt to stand with Randy Sprinkle, then director of prayer ministries for our organization, who had just prayed with and for us. All around us were people who had given their lives to spread the gospel to the nations. Their hands and their eyes and their voices were raised toward the Father. I thought I would never again hear anything so beautiful.

My comfort, my shelter,
Tower of refuge and strength...

A few years later, I was standing with our church's choir during the closing worship service of our missions emphasis week. We had just sung the same song, this time with lyrics in the languages where our church had worked. I thought I would never again hear anything so beautiful.

Let every breath, all that I am,
Never cease to worship You.

This morning, we were at a church in Paris, worshiping the Father. We sang. I'm not sure I'll ever hear anything more beautiful...

O Jésus, mon Sauveur,
Seigneur, nul n'est comme toi.
Jour après jour, je louerai,
car ton amour est merveilleux...


Through him then let us continually offer up
a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Hebrews 13:15