Book Recommendation: The Pilgrim's Progress

Kiki and I just finished reading The Pilgrim's Progress again on Saturday night...what an amazing little book! The whole concept of believers being pilgrims or sojourners upon the earth is a powerful one for me, as I've spent a lot of the last year reading and meditating on Exodus and Hebrews.

If you haven't read through this...why not? It is a classic, it is short, it is a fun and quick read, and it is extremely encouraging. In fact, if you really want to enjoy it, read a little and then listen to this series that Derek Thomas did on the book.

So it begins...

A 2 month stretch of being at different churches nearly every weekend...I'm going to miss Redeemer, but there will be some very sweet time with the saints in other churches. Tomorrow we'll be in Crystal Springs, MS...I love this church, a really 'salt of the earth' kind of place. Great people, great cooking, and a love for missions. Also, the elder in charge of missions there lets me call him 'Cricket'.

Adopt a box...

Updated Support Graphic

Still Thailand

I like this photo for several reasons. I like that the colors (which I haven't adjusted) came out almost monochromatic because of the lighting. But I also like that it reminds me of the magical place in which I took it. The King's Park is one of the places I can't wait to go back and explore. I'm sure there will be more pictures of the King's Park in future editions of "Still Thailand."

What is your only comfort in life and death?

That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with His precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him.
Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1

Still Thailand

Trey encouraged me to do some regular posts of some of my photography of Thailand. This will encourage me to take more pictures as well as share some of what we have experienced and will experience again. We also thought about our own blog viewing habits and how much more interesting pictures are than posts.... so this is an unabashed attempt to get more people to look at our blog more often by giving them what they want! MORE PICTURES!

Here is my first installment of "Still Thailand."

This was some sort of cousin to the deer that we saw while on a trip to the mountain park of Khao Yai. It looked like a cross between a deer and a moose and was not quite as graceful as out typical North GA deer, but also not as skittish--as is obvious from the fact that I got a good picture of it.

Support Update...

We just hit 46% of our monthly pledge needs! Keep praying that we'll get to 100% before the summer!

Hero of the Faith

One of my favorite books ever is To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson. Judson was a pioneer missionary to Burma in the early 1800's, and one of the first (if not the very first) missionary from America. His life is a testimony of the worth of the Gospel and the importance of missions in places where the Gospel has not been taken.

If you have an hour in the car, around the house, or at the gymn, download John Piper's biographical sketch of Judson's life. You can get that here.

From the field

So...I'm going to cheat with this post. This is definitely not mine, but I've been wanting to share it for a little while. Here is a snapshot of Thai religion and spirituality and the need for the Gospel in Thailand:

Recently had an opportunity to go to a Buddhist funeral for someone who had died from Mahatthai 3. One part of the ceremony on the last day prior to cremation is a process called “Ban Sakun”. Ban Sakun is when members of the family and loved ones walk up to the coffin and through a ceremony have their merit from their good deeds transferred to the spirit of the one who has died. It is the final step before the cremation of the body and it sets the stage for a lifetime of trying to do good and transfer merit to the spirit of those that have died. As I was sitting at the ceremony talking to some of my Thai team members we reflected on the ultimate transfer of merit. Hebrews 9:26-28 says “He (Jesus) has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that come to judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him”. Please continue to pray for this needy nation. It is a joy to see and hear the testimonies of those who have ceased trusting on the merit making of others for them and their own merit making and have trusted in the merit of Christ alone for their salvation. Pray that we would relentlessly preach, teach, and show the beauty and sufficiency of Christ’s meritorious life, death, resurrection, and reign and that God would continue to draw many to Himself here.

Dave Veldhorst, the MTW Thailand director, wrote that in his last email update. For more, you can go to www.mtwthailand.org and request to stay in touch with the team. Pray with us for this great nation!

Abide with Me

1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
   The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
   When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
   Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
   Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
   Change and decay in all around I see—
   O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
3. I need Thy presence every passing hour;
   What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
   Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
   Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
4. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
   Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
   Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
   I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
5. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
   Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
   Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
   In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

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