Hymns

Considering "What is Love"

When you think about the topic of Love what first comes to your mind. This morning for me it was several songs. "Whats love got to do with it" ; " What is love, baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me no more". These were the first words that came to my mind this morning when I got into a conversation on the topic of Love.
How do you explain love?

This morning while on a training run, I got into a conversation with two girls on "what is love". One of the girls made a statement that she thinks of love as having three parts, especially when thinking in terms of romantic love. The three parts were choice, commitment, and affection/feelings. I thought that this was a well balanced idea and are all three connected. Upon further consideration I think that we could explain it with the illustration of a three legged stool. The three legs would be Commitment, Choice, Trust, and the seat would be feelings/affection.

I am pondering now, how balanced is my view of love and how am I practicing this.

"Radical" by David Platt

I recently read this summer the book "Radical" by David Platt.
I whole heartily recommend that people should read and consider the thoughts and teachings presented. It is certainly a challenge laid down to the American Church.

I would also point anyone who has read this book to a blog response by Kevin Deyoung. One of my pastors, Doug Phillips, recommended this blog post of Kevin's. I respect Doug, Kevin, and David for their faithful handling and teaching of the Word of God.
Thank you Doug for leading me to this post.
Thank you Kevin for your helpful insights and thoughts regarding "Radical".
Thank you David for your passionate plea laid out in "Radical".

By far my favorite chapter in the book was chapter seven " There is no plan B". This was a great reminder of the gospel and the ministry that we as people touched and transformed by the gospel have.

Update 8.3.10

I just returned to Chicago last week and have been able to continue working for Moody in their facilities department. I wanted to write and share with you how my time in Japan went. It is hard to imagine that I was actually able to spend seven weeks in Japan. Of course the time flew by, especially when your weeks are full of responsibilities and appointments.

During the seven weeks that I was there in Japan five of those weeks I was responsible for the running of the Lighthouse ministry. Many of you know that this is the same ministry that I was able to do an internship at last year. Of course the responsibilities that I had this time were different than when I was an intern. Running things while Jim and Martha Bowden were gone was a big responsibility. It was a great blessing that my mom was able to come out for three of the weeks to help with the kitchen and cooking responsibilities. I was blessed to have the opportunity to preach five times. This was a great opportunity and responsibility that I am so grateful for. Recognizing the great responsibility that preaching is; it was great to see how God used it in my life and in the life of the community to encourage and challenge growth.

One of the other opportunities that I had involved teaching a Bible study at a Japanese prison where American sailors are incarcerated. Three different times I was able to go and lead a Bible study with 10-12 guys. During one of these visits I had the opportunity to meet one on one with one of the men named Jeff. During this meeting I had the joy of seeing the Holy Spirit work in his life and lead him to Christ. Praise God for the salvation of Jeff and the work that He is doing in many of the inmate’s lives.

Overall my time in Japan served to encourage and remind me of all the ways that God has been working in my life. There is no reason that I should be known as a child of God, that I should have the opportunity to study at Moody Bible Institute, or that I should have opportunities to minister to people, like I did in Japan. I have two more years of schooling to do at Moody. I am looking forward to see how God is going to continue to grow and challenge me through the teaching and instruction that I will receive here. I am also looking forward to the continued opportunity to invest into the lives of younger men and women at the school. Pray that this year I will be able to influence and impact the guys on my dorm floor in a positive manner. My desire is to minister, mentor, and mobilize men while here at Moody. I thank God for the opportunities that he has already given me to do this.

This upcoming year, as part of my schooling I have to be involved in a ministry on a weekly basis. This year I will be given the opportunity to go to Great Lakes Training Center. This is the Navy’s boot camp and training location which is 45min north of Chicago. I will be going there every Sunday and will have the opportunity to teach in a Sunday school class at the recruit’s chapel. This ministry will be with Campus Crusades Military Ministry. This will give me a new exposure to military men and women, and will help me understand more what it is like for them at their boot camp. Doing this on Sunday mornings means I am having to find a new church in Chicago. I am planning on finding a church that offers a Sunday evening service which I can attend. Please pray that God would lead me to the congregation that he would have me commit to.

It will be interesting to see where and how God works over the next two years. I don’t yet know for sure what direction specifically that God is moving me in, but this I know, that my time back in Japan this summer has helped to confirm my direction towards fulltime pastoral ministry. Whether this takes place in a local church or on the mission field I am uncertain, but I am excited to be moving in that direction. Thanks for all your prayers and support over the years and this past summer.

Sola Die Gloria



“He is no fool who gains what he cannot lose to lose what he cannot gain.” Jim Elliott

Obedience to Christ

This is a poem that was given as a reflection on Rom. 13:11-14.


When I stand at the judgment seat of Christ,
And He shows me His plan for me,
The plan of my life as it might have been,
and I see how I blocked Him here
And checked Him there,
And would not yield my will.

Will there be grief in my Savior’s eyes,
Grief though He loves me still?
He would have me rich,
But I stand here poor,
Stripped of all but His grace,
While memory runs like a hunted thing
Down a path I can’t retrace;
Then my desolate heart
Will well nigh break
With tears I cannot shed.

I will cover my face with my empty hands,
I will bow my uncrowned head.
O Lord, of the years that are left to me,
I give them to Thy hand.
Take me and break me and mold me
To the pattern Thou hast planned.


(MacArthur Commentary Romans 13 p.269-270)

Quote on Marriage

"Marriage is to make us holy, not happy."
Mark Driscoll

List of books for people of all ages

.....Great resources for summer reading

I found this link to these resources on my pastors blog.
Pastor Doug is faithfully posting resources to help us grow up in our sanctification, developing lives which are kingdom focused. Thank you pastor for your faithfulness in kingdom work.
You can check out his blog here:

This was my response to the great reading resources, which was the first link.

"Just think about the amount of time we use in entertaining ourselves. Our time spent learning and growing in our knowledge and understanding of God is minimal in comparison. Paul's prayer for the church in Colossi seems so fitting for us in the church today. "We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God".(Col. 1: 9-10)

Tues. June 29, 2010

A lot happened today.
Praise God for the opportunity to lead someone to Christ. I am praying that the seed of the gospel has found good soil. This guy is in a Japaneess prison, this isn't the first time and he is only 22, drug issues will destroy you. Praise God for His work in peoples lives. We never know when or where the Spirit is at work; so we must be faithful to herald the truth at all times.
The Bible study at the prison today was great as well. We talk about forgiveness, Eph 4:31-32, and Matt.18:23-35. When we think about Romans 12:9-21, oh how important it is that we seek to forgive and not harbor bitterness, anger, resentment. Which will lead to a inner turmoil, fits of rage, burst of anger, poor relationships... "so far as it depends on you live at peaceably with all people".(Rom. 12:18)

We owe it to one another to support when you see one struggling and to remind them of truth when it is so easy to lose sight of it. I think far to often we stand idly by and don't get involved in the struggle or in the relationship.

Think about it, does God ever say that community is going to be easy? What about individual relationships are they supposed to be easy? We are told to "outdo one another in showing honor", we are told to love one another. I know from my own life that relationships are tough, and you can get hurt. However we were made for relationships and God has design his church to be centered on our relationship with Christ which then ties us together with His body, the church.

What needs to change in my life Lord to make me more sensitive to the people in my life. Lord help me to demonstrate honor and genuine love to the people around me in and through my words and actions. I am willing to suffer hurts and disappointments, because of trying to live intentionally in community. Lord give me the grace to persevere in this, that I may grow in my sanctification and that I might help others to grow in their sanctification.

Thoughts on Idolatry

I found these quotes on my Pastors blog this morning. It is ironic, last night during Bible study I was referencing this book as we were studying through Romans 6 and we got to talking about the topic of Idolatry.

“What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything that you seek to give you what only God can give.


“A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would hardly feel worth living. An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought. It can be family and children, or career and making money, or achievement and critical acclaim, or saving ‘face’ and social standing. It can be a romantic relationship, peer approval, competence and skill, secure and comfortable circumstances, your beauty or your brains, a great political or social cause, your morality and virtue, or even success in the Christian ministry. When your meaning in life is to fix someone else’s life, we may call it ‘co-dependency’ but it is really idolatry.


“An idol is whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, ‘If I have that, then I’ll feel my life has meaning, then I’ll know I have value, then I’ll feel significant and secure.’ There are many ways to describe that kind of relationship to something, but perhaps the best one is worship.”


-- Tim Keller, “Counterfeit Gods” (Dutton) p.xviii

The first few days back in Japan

Some may be wondering what Japanees food I had been craving the most. If you guessed CoCo's Curry than you are a winner. I went to CoCo's on Monday and had lunch there with a friend. I had the tankatsu curry, level 2, 200 grams with a non-bread.

Well in some ways it feels like I was only gone on a short vacation and now I am right back into the mix at the Lighthouse. On the other hand there has been many people who are new to the community and many who have left, this brings about a change in atmosphere.

Was talking today with a friend and were talking about how much things can change in a year. She remarked how much she and her husband were able to see a change over the years time of knowing me. A change that was a good change one of growth and maturing in Christ. I can say the same for her, it is amazing to see how Christ works in our life and uses events and people and places to spur on growth in our life.

There are many events and things that are taking place over the next weeks. There are also many things happen in the lives of the people here at the Lighthouse. Both good and bad, pray that Jim and Maratha would have the wisdom and insight in counseling and that they would be energized and encouraged in the ministry. Pray for Yuki as she works towards doing an internship with Cadence. Pray for relationships in the community here, that there would be reconciliation, forgiveness, love and peace.

Pray for me as I seek to keep things running smoothly starting next week. That I will have wisdom in studying for Friday night teaching and that I would be a source of encouragement and a catalyst in the spiritual walks of the men and women here.

Back in Japan

A brief update and more will come soon.

I arrived in Japan yesterday June 6th. I had an uneventful flight on the way to JFK airport as well as to Narita airport. I followed up my plane ride with a bus ride to Yokohama and then a train ride from there to Yokosuka. Ending my travels with a walk up the hill to the Lighthouse.

I was anticipating finding an empty house and would unpack and head to bed. However on the porch I found some friends who were waiting to welcome me. As soon as I had hugged them and unlocked the door the phone rings and it is some more folks down on base who were wanting to welcome me back. Of course their welcome was come bowling with us. So off to base we headed and ended up bowling two games with the gang. I went to bed at 11 and got up at 7.

Please pray for me that I would remain in the vine and that God would fill me with his Spirit. These next six weeks are going to fly by and there will be many conversations and many tasks required of me. Pray that God would give me the wisdom for conversations. Finally pray that God would lead me in His word as I study and prepare for teaching on Friday night in the coming weeks.

What is my aim in following Jesus

When we think about it, what in my mind and life drives my following Jesus?
Do I subconsciously think that I can obediently follow Jesus in my own way and strength?
What does God's Law require of us?
Can you live up to all this perfectly?

"Many people, well meaning church leaders included, are eager to boil down Christianity to the great commandments, or the Sermon on the Mount, or the Beatitudes, or Micah 6:8, or some other powerful summary of God's ethical intentions. But if all I have are God's ethical intentions for my life, I am in a worse fix....My own efforts to be a good person are, in comparison to what God requires of me, positively miserable. I'll be damned, discouraged, and dismayed if being a follower of Jesus means nothing but a new set of things I'm supposed to do for Him. Instead, my following Jesus should be, first of all, a declaration of all that He has done for me."

This is from "Lord's Day 2" which is found in Kevin DeYoung's new book
The Good News We Almost Forgot

A prayer in response

A prayer in response to a devotional reading by D.A. Carson.

Father "Praise awaits you O God... O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins you forgave our transgressions. Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!"(Ps. 65:1-4) You have called us to be unified in you. Just as you, your son, and your spirit are one so art we to be likewise with fellow brothers and sisters. May our unity be in love that is formed within us as your Spirit works to mold and shape us in response to your Word. May our platform for unity among believers be grounded in your truth. May the centrality of the gospel be ever present on our minds. I praise you for your Son and the provision of His death and resurrection. Giving to us everything we need for life in godliness. For you call us to be holy just as you are. Oh the idolatry that rises in my heart, a continual root of pride that seeks to look after myself and not others. Father I long to grow in my understanding and application of your Word. That I would live in such a way as to sacrificially put others before myself motivated by your love for me and for others.

How to finish well

This poem was shared by a pastor today in chapel. In his sermon he was addressing the staggering statistics about people in ministry who burn out and quite. Obviously recognizing the reality that ministry is hard How do we deal with and work through the difficult situations and be people who finish well? The speaker presented 2 Peter 1:3-8 with emphasis on verse 6 as an answer. He focused on self-control and steadfastness; showing the necessity for both of these in the life of a believer and even more so in one who is involved in full time ministry. I know that it is not scripture but the speaker also referred to this poem as a source of encouragement and motivation in his own life.

I found the thoughts in this poem to be inspiring.

IF.....


IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

- Rudyard Kipling

Sin and its detrimental effect

I went to "The Orchard" Evangelical Free Church up in Arlington Heights today.
Their pastor had this quote today as he taught from Mark 1:40-45.

"Leprosy does to the body what sin does to the soul. Leprosy causes loss of feeling and then loss of function on our body.Sin also causes loss of feeling and loss of function on our souls."

~Colin Smith

Impoverished Christian Walk

I was reading tonight in Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest".
Today's section had this quote in it:

"The reason some of us are such poor specimens of Christianity is because we have no Almighty Christ. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment to Jesus Christ."

120 hrs finished

Praise God for His great grace, His incredible goodness, His amazing love. I finished my five day fast on Friday night. It was interesting week altogether, some great highs and some lows. One thing for sure I really was relying on God to give me the energy for each day because by Tuesday I felt like I had zero.
I really missed the fellowship around meals. I even went twice to dinner just to talk. This of course was not easy because you are sitting around food but it was a good time of conversation.

Thank you to you who were praying for me this last week.

Fast 86 hrs

Praise God, last night after I got done studying. I was able to join the Student Missionary Fellowship group for a time of prayer and singing. Oh how it was a joy to be able to focus on Christ last night. It was such a God send; his timing is perfect. He knew that in the middle of this week what I needed was to be encouraged and challenged to gaze upon the greatness of King Jesus. "For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him." Col.1:19-22

Fasting 72hr mark

Well so far it has been an interesting experience. Have had hardly no hunger pains, even the first day. Have found that I lack energy, and I cannot believe how cold my hands are. There have been some difficult times of concentrating.
Tonight I felt a real need for community so I went down to the dinning hall and sat at my floors table. I can't say that it was difficult sitting and talking with everyone eating, but being honest I will have to say that I definitely had food going through my mind more than once.
I am missing being able to work out. Since I don't have enough energy to say go swim or run.

On the spiritual side of things. I am still focusing on those five areas, but I have also added to making a list of people that come to my mind while I am praying for other things. I was able from memory to record all 30 of the names of the guys on my floor in order of their room and roommate.

Additional Requests:
Seeking a more intimate community to engage in.
Deciding on a church.
Searching for a job in Chicago.
Relationships

I have had some great times in the word over the last few days. Reading in Exodus concerning Israel Egypt and the Plagues. Also have spent some great times in the Psalms. I went through Ps 119- oh how I long to have my view of God's Word be the same as the psalmist.

Fasting

This week I am going to be fasting. This is sure to be a very challenging thing but I hope that through it I will learn more about my Savior. I am committing to this after a challenging message was given during founders week here at moody. Mark Jobe spoke on having a holy hunger for God. I am seeking the heart of God this week in these areas:
More of a hunger for God and His Word and an increased devotion in prayer
God's provision for this summer trip to Japan
Praise and Thankfulness in remember all that He has done for me
A fuller awareness of who I am in Christ
For His wisdom and discernment

This is my outline for the week. Starting at sundown tonight I plan, Lord willing, to fast until Friday at sundown. This is a complete food fast, so I will only be consuming water and some juice if necessary. Please pray that I would remain strong and focused this week. Pray that Satan would not use this time to increase temptation in my life and pray that in these five areas I would grow in my understanding and the application of in my life.

Random quote

Think Theologically
Engage Globally
Live Biblically

I saw this today on an advertisement for Gordon Conwell Seminary.

It made me think how this is not just a call for our pastors and theologians.
This really is the Biblical call for all of us.

Excerpt from " For the Love of God"

This is an excerpt from Feb. 10th's reading from D.A. Carson's " The Love or God"

Written on Mark 13.
"Those who are impressed by mighty buildings and spectacular human accomplishments could profitably think through the account of the tower of Babel (Gen. 11). Doubtless there were some then who were impressed by the edifice. But God, looking at the human heart and the reasons for the building, saw it as one more evidence of insufferable hubris.
In much the same way, we too are called to understand and evaluate our culture from God’s perspective. Because human beings are made in the image of God, there is much that we can do that is worthy and admirable. Theologically speaking, this is the product of “common grace.”But it is possible to be far too impressed by wealth, power, architecture, fame, learning, physical prowess, and technology, with the result that we do not think through the moral and spiritual dimensions of the world around us. We may see the glory, and overlook the shame; we may detect human accomplishments, and neglect the undergirding idolatry; in short, we may be impressed by all that impresses God’s fallen image-bearers, but fail to assess these realities in the light of the cross and in the light of eternity. We would do far better to follow the examples of Jesus and Paul."

Bold emphasis is mine.

Lord give me eyes to see and a heart to feel the way you do. Amen

I know the plans I have for you

For I know the plans that I have for you
And you've got to trust me to see them through
All I ask is that you would keep seeking my heart
All I ask is that you would keep seeking my heart
You will find me, when you seek me with all your heart
You will find me, when you seek me with all your heart


This was a song that was written by a Moody student for Founders Week.
It is really catchy and it sticks in your mind. I love the fact that it reminds
me almost of a lulaby. I pray that in the future days when I am struggling with
remember God's providential plan, when it is hard to see the next step, I will be reminded of this song and it's truth will penetrate deep into my heart reminding me of the wonderful providential plan that God has for my life.
May I be found faithful in seeking after the heart of God.

Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer

We sang this song several times this last week during Founders Week.
The words rang out so powerfully that I could not help but be moved to tears.
Oh may this be song be true in my life,
" And at the end of my heart's testing
With Your likeness let me wake"








Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer (Keith Getty and Margaret Becker)

This song was written in 2001 with Margaret Becker, when she agreed to be part of my New Irish Hymns series. I had written a folk melody in the Irish-bluegrass style and had always wanted a hymn that speaks to the subject of suffering. So many of the greatest hymns were written through such experiences, and I felt it was important to make this a key part of our work. Rather than being clichéd or self–obsessed, I wanted to write with a Psalmist-like honesty that clings to the promises of Scripture, that Christ is with us, refining us through our troubles, promising heaven as a real hope to fix our eyes on. —Keith

Chorus:
May this journey bring a blessing
May I rise on wings of faith
And at the end of my heart's testing
With Your likeness let me wake

Verse 1:
Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labor thro' the storm
You have called me to this passage
And I'll follow tho' I'm worn

Verse 2:
Jesus guide me thro' the tempest
Keep my spirit staid and sure
When the midnight meets the morning
Let me love You even more

Verse 3:
Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go
And at the end of this long passage
Let me leave them at Your throne

Super Bowl

How come many of us this weekend have put more time into our plans for the Super Bowl than we did on attending the Lord's Day. I remember even as little as three years ago longing to watch the super bowl commercials. But God has been doing a work in my life and transforming the way that I think about media and my gluttonous consumption of it.

Lord please continue to work in my life and continue to transform my mind to see and think about the world the way God does.

My pastor pointed me to this helpful blog post by C J Mahaney.

Identity???

Who is ______________________? ( Fill in your name )

If you answered this question with your job title or your occupation or a list of possibilities then...

"If who you are is what you do; who will you be when you don’t do that anymore?"
This question was asked last night by Joe Stowell.

What should our answer be? We need to consider our identity as one who is a follower of Jesus. This identity then should drive every area of our life.

A man after God's own heart

This is the theme of Moody's Founders Week this year. What about a man makes him one who can be know as a man after God's own heart? Last night I had the privilege of hearing the President of Moody teach on this idea of what it looks like to be a man after God's own heart. His text was I Samuel chapter 13. His main point was that the distinguishing difference between Saul and David was obedience. He went on to say, "There is no gray area in life when it comes to holiness."
" It is to easy to get comfortable with partial obedience."
" God seeks those who seek His heart"

Whose heart are you seeking?

He also shared an illustration: a low wattage light built still looks very bright in a world which is getting darker and darker.

Think about that, even in the church we compare ourselves with one another and think that we are doing alright. My bulb is brighter than some or than those. But really if we compare our bulb and its brightness and intensity to Jesus we would find that our bulbs are like a nightlight compared to Jesus' spotlight.
How bright is your bulb shining?

A Man Seeking God's Heart

1> Obeys all of God's Word
2> Does not rationalize sin but repents

How do you boast?

"He is the source of life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord"."
1 Corinthians 1:30-31

God's Providence

Providence is mysterious. It must never be used to justify wrong actions or to mitigate sin: Isaac and his family are more than a little sleazy, Judas is a deceitful wretch, Haman is vile, and the Roman court trying Paul is more than a little corrupt. Yet God sovereignly rules, behind the scenes, bringing glory out of gore and honor out of shame.

See the rest of the article here
This quote comes from - For the Love of God by D A Carson

"Worship " what do we mean?

Here is an interesting article by Dr. Harold Best, he was the former dean of Wheaton Conservatory of Music and Author of "Music through the Eyes of Faith".

Check out this article There are some amazing truths that he reminds us of. I found this to be both convicting and enlightening.

Racial Harmony

This morning a heard John Piper teach on racial harmony. His challenge was to parents that they would strive to raise up their kids in such a way as to honor God in their actions and thoughts about people who are different from them.

Do you struggle with people who are a different ethnicity? Or what about someone who has a handicap? How can parents help their kids develop a worldview that will help them to have a biblical perspective on these topics.

Check out the sermon here.

Check out "NEXT"

I am pondering and looking forward to going to this conference this year.
NEXT

A new phase of life

I am an official student now at Moody Bible Institute. Here I am starting my studies this semester as a transfer student. Bring in some credits, I hope to complete the four year program in three years. Undoubtedly this new phase will bring with it many times of growth and many new experiences. I was challenged even yesterday by one of my pastors to really value and treasure this time at school. I am reminded of the quote from the movie " Saving Private Ryan" where Tom Hanks character says to the Ryan after they have rescued him, " Earn this" So here I am blessed with the opportunity to study the Bible let alone live in an incredible Christian community. What an incredible blessing it is that I must not take for granted. May I be found faithful in my studies and my time at school as God continues to prepare me for what He has in store. I reflect upon 2 Timothy 4:6-16 in times like these.