Ben Beck Comes to Kentucky

What a wonderful surprise! Ben Beck stopped by for a visit yesterday on his way to Indianapolis. For those who don't know, Ben is a Grad-Student at Georgia Tech with aspirations for a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. I first met Ben when I was the Youth Director at St Luke Church in Columbus, GA. He had moved with his siblings (Katy, Anna, and Paul) from Eufala, AL. He was in the 9th grade when he first came and the first event that he was involved in was St Luke Summer Camp. (Oh, how I miss the days of St Luke Summer Camp!)

He has definitely grown into a mature and intelligent young man. I know that his parents are extremely proud of him.

Thanks, Ben, for stopping by and we wish you God's richest blessings in the future. Also, if you are in the area, we would be honored if you'd stop by and say hello.

Blessings to All-

John and Lisa

Sky Blast in Pittsburgh

What an amazing site! After the Pirates game this past Friday, John Arthur and I went with my brother and his family to see "Sky Blast" in downtown Pittsburgh. The fireworks are set off from barges in the Allegheny, bridges, and the tops of the buildings. It literally filled the sky. Pittsburgh may not be that good at baseball, but they sure know how to set off fireworks!

Blessings -

John

First Day of School

The summer has just flown by and now it is time for the kids and teachers to go back to school. It is no different for us in Kentucky. Today is the first day of school and our children are excited about it. Here's a picture of the two of them outside their school this morning.

As I asked them to pose for this picture, Anna wanted me to make sure that we got her new book bag in the picture. Look at that beautiful book bag! :-)

Well, our prayers are with you, your students, and your teachers.

Blessings -

John & Lisa

Definition of Calling...

When God calls us, what does this mean? Os Guinness in his book The Call writes, "Calling is the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a respond to his summons and service."[1]

Here's the "nuts and bolts" of this--as I see it. First, there's a distinct difference between calling and vocation. The lines have been muddied, but the truth is that there's a difference between these two. (I will explain more later.) Second, every Christian is called by God. We must never forget that we are not called to a specific activity, rather, we are called to obedience to Christ. Third, the response to God's calling upon our life is our service. Whatever our vocation--whatever we do in life, should be a direct response to the call of God.

So, there's a primary calling and a secondary calling. [2] The primary calling is that all should follow Christ, that we should love God with everything we have and everything we do. The secondary calling is how we live in our lives in response to this primary calling. In other words, our every day lives should be a clear response to God's primary call upon our lives to follow Christ. Guinness writes, "The truth of calling means that for followers of Christ, 'everyone, everywhere, and in everything' lives the whole of life as a response to God’s call." [3]


It seems today that many have separated what they do--their vocation--from their faith. It's not too late to allow God's call in your life to infiltrate your every day life.

Blessings -

John

[1] Os Guinness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life (Thomas Nelson, 2003), 29
[2] Ibid., p. 31
[3] Ibid., p. 31

God Keeps that which He Loves.

I have found a new author that I absolutely love. His name is A.W. Tozer and the book that I have been reading lately is entitled The Attributes of God, Volume 1: A Jouney into the Father's Heart (Camp Hill, PA: WingSpread, 2003). He writes, "A fellow recently brought me a painting that he’d been working on quite a while, and showed it to me to see if I liked it. It’s inconceivable that he didn’t like his own picture. I liked it too, but it was because he liked it that he showed it to me. We like that which we make. And God loves that which He made. And because He made it, He loves it, and because He loves it, He keeps it."[1]

In error, I sometimes impose upon God human characteristics. Sometimes I think that God acts like me (Thank heavens he doesn't!) or even has the same reactions and emotions as me. But this is not the case! My emotions are broken. My reactions are broken, too. God's love is perfect. It is impossible for me to understand it--it's too mind-boggling! Even the love I have for my wife and children does not even come close to the love that God has for us. Why does he love us so much? Because He made us and we are His creation.

So, here is what I am trying to share with you. First, know that God loves us more than our minds can understand it. Just when you think you can grasp it, it is so much bigger. Second, remember that God loves you and He will hold and keep those He loves.

Blessings -

John

[1] A. W. Tozer and David E. Fessenden, The Attributes of God, Volume 1: A Jouney into the Father's Heart (Camp Hill, PA: WingSpread, 2003), 27.