david creek

2007-08-28T09:31:00.000-08:00

Family and Friends,

Peace, love, and joy to each of you.

As you can see, I have a new email address. As much as some of us liked it, the time came for "The Creekster" address to be replaced. Truly, this is the end of an era. Quite a run. But the good news is, it’s the start of another! Please update your address books and plan accordingly.
As the case has been, it has taken me far too long to distribute an update. There is much to share, and at this time, I will like to bring you up to date.

Wedding Bells
In case you didn’t hear me when I shouted this from the roof and mountain tops, I am engaged to be married!!

Two years ago, I met Amanda Smith in Lubbock, Texas, where she was beginning the AIM program (Adventures in Missions), and where I was beginning my training at Sunset.
Less than two weeks before our courtship began, I had finally been able to surrender all my worries into God’s hands and trust that whether or not He had a woman in mind for me, that I wasn’t going to seek a wife (1 Cor. 7:27), and that I would praise Him and serve Him in the ministry fields regardless.

Amanda is yet another example of God answering prayer with something so far and above what we could ever imagine. She has already been an incredible source of support and she is the absolutely perfect compliment to my life and ministry.

If the Lord is willing, Amanda and I will be married Friday, November 2 in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Please pray for her and I as we start our life together!

Summer Internship
In case you didn’t hear me when I shouted this from the roof and mountain tops, I belong to Jesus Christ, the one and only Savior (Acts 4:12), and the love of the world!

Since graduating from Sunset in May, I have been living out of a suitcase. In the past three months, God has made it possible for me to preach the Word in four different states. In the same day, I’ve woken up in Seattle, Washington and gone to sleep in Ocala, Florida. As I have driven, I have seen Seattle, Vancouver British Columbia, Tampa Bay, Orlando, Miami, and Phoenix on signs on the freeway, among many, many others.

As was announced in the last update, I was blessed with an internship with the youth from the Woodinville Church of Christ (in Washington state). It was an incredible summer, as I learned something valuable each day, whether about full-time ministry, people, as well as daily spiritual growth.

For 12 weeks, I preached the Word, taught classes, studied with others throughout the week, worked with the kids in service projects, and taught at an annual retreat.
The experiences and lessons learned there were invaluable and I am so grateful for such a wonderful blessing.

In the Mean Time...
At the moment, Amanda and I are in Arizona. It’s been so great being "home" and seeing the faces and settings I’ve known all my life.

Her and I will be here till September 11, so we hope to see those of you who are here.

At the moment of this message, we are currently in discussion with two congregations in Florida. We are still unsure where we will serve, but we refuse to trust in anyone else than God. He will provide the opportunity.

Please keep us in your prayers in this regard as well.

Conclusion
To all of you, we send our love to you and thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement.

If time permits you to, please respond to this email and let us know what you have been up to lately, so we can pray for you as well.

With Love in Christ Jesus,
David

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost (1 Timothy 1:15)."

2007-05-03T18:07:00.000-08:00

As for me and my House
One of the greatest blessings in being here these past two years is my dependence on television and entertainment has dramatically diminished.

Until I watched some playoff basketball games last week, it had been more than a month since I had watched something on television. At one point last year, it had been nearly six months.

It got to where watching television didn’t even cross my mind…and it felt the same exact way as it does when you don’t drink as much soda, but drink more water and orange juice and healthier things…and how nasty a Coke or Dr. Pepper looks not long after.

We would all think that such a long gap from television would be difficult and that we would go nuts, right? Not at all. I've never been so refreshed in all my life.

It truly saddens me to see so many Christians in the Church who claim that they would read the Bible each day, but they just don’t have enough time in their busy day. Yet for 2-5 hours a day, you’ll find the same people sitting in front of a television or doing something to entertain themselves.

In other words, the statement may as well be, “I would read the Bible each day, but I would rather watch tv and do other things,” right?

I am convinced that through entertainment and things of its ilk, we have grown to prefer what is temporary and what can often cause us to sin over that which is eternal and what can bless us.

But what saddens me most of all is some of the things that professing Christians watch or listen to. Some of the things that I have watched or listened to at one point in my life.

Tonight, I decided to sit down and watch a show.

In less than 30 seconds - as soon as I sat down, God’s name was taken in vain. And in less than 5 seconds after it was said, I was on my feet leaving the room.

Those who are in harmony with this reaction may be few in number, but it has gotten to the point where if I hear God or Jesus’ name abused or taken in vain, I’m not going to watch another second.

In the past year I have gotten rid of whole stacks of movies and have decided once and for all, that for me, it is absolutely impossible to serve the Lord in my house with things that curse His name and make a mockery of Him.

We have come up with every excuse in the world to justify watching certain movies and shows. How it’s just a portrayal of true life and that it gets us ready to face the world when we hear people blasting Christ or using uninhibited profanity or whatever else it may be.

Many Christians personally have no problem with watching movies with language (even heavy language) and nudity and everything else and claim it doesn’t cause them to sin.

But in my personal case, it does tempt me. It does violate my conscience. The only times I ever swore in my life were times when several years ago, I was watching movies with filthy language and I heard it so much, the next thing I knew, I was saying it myself.

Whether this is right or wrong, it seems to me that when we laugh at movies or shows that have profanity or that take God’s name in vain, we are in essence, showing our approval to those things and we are also in essence, conforming to the world.

Please do not misunderstand me.

Just like anything else, this is a balance. I'm not saying that we should sell every single thing we own and move out to the wilderness and completely remove ourselves from the world and from society.
I’m not against television or movies. I don’t believe that every movie or show is bad - there are good things to watch that don’t have those things.

I’m against placing those things above our time in God’s Word and in prayer daily. I’m against trying to justify there’s nothing wrong with willingly inflicting ourselves with the venom of the world we see and hear round about us every single day.

Why would we voluntarily want to hear and see even more of that? As if we didn’t hear enough foul language today. As if we didn’t see enough sensuality everywhere we turned.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

We quote it as if we actually lived it in our lives. It’s words hang on our walls and it feels so good rolling off our tongue.

But can we really serve the Lord when we watch things that curse the holy and awesome name of God to our faces and we just sit there letting it go in one ear and out the other, with a smile on our face?

Can we really serve the Lord when every other word we hear is an obscenity?

Can we really serve the Lord in our homes when we are filling our minds and entertaining ourselves with the very sin that Jesus died for?

You don’t have to agree with my solution, but I am ready to turn off the tv and open the Word of God more.

I'm ready to spend less time with others watching a show and spending more time sitting with others with Bibles opened and with hands together in prayer.

I’m ready to sell even more movies and sell even more cd’s and replace all the noise with silence and quiet time before the Lord.

I’m ready to smash the bronze serpent that has become the idol and god of too many homes and too many lives.

As for me and my house…we will serve the Lord.

2007-03-02T21:25:00.000-09:00

Brothers and Sisters; Friends and Family,

It is with love and joy that I greet you this evening, and I pray that this message is coming to you in a time of great love and joy on your end as well.

As always, i wish to thank all of you for your prayers, financial support, love, and encouragement. The Lord has so richly used you and your generous hearts to make it possible for me to have been here all this time, preparing for the greatest work on the face of the earth, and while i may express it often, i will never be able to express it enough. Thank you, one and all.

As you can imagine, studies, outreach work, and everything else that entails life have been very busy, yet at the same time very rewarding.

It has been yet another very rewarding term, with life-changing studies in Romans, John, Galatians, Ezekiel, Daniel, and a missions track class studying the Gospel and the different cultures.

With finals for this semester next week and one last semester to go, graduation is right around the corner! Lord-willing, we will graduate from SIBI on Saturday, May 19.

As I speak of this, it makes me want to sum these past two years up, but perhaps it is best to save that until the actual time comes and I really feel the urge to write to you about it! I rejoice to know there’s still more time here!

With graduating so close at hand, it brings me great joy to share the following news with you.

A Summer Opportunity
The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful opportunity of a summer internship! I am very privileged to spend the coming summer working with the youth at the Woodinville Church of Christ in Woodinville, Washington, and assisting brother Anthony Favors.

It is my desire and goal to grow to become effective to all age groups - to both the young, middle-aged, and aged (some of you will appreciate that I don’t use the ‘o’ word!) and to have an opportunity to help encourage, minister to, and serve the younger ages (the very future of the Church Lord-willing).

To say the very least, I am excited and grateful for such a wonderful opportunity and am looking more and more forward to this time.

Closing Thoughts
Well, I have exceeded a page in length and knowing most of your busy schedules, I suppose that’s good for tonight!

Please save this page and look for more to come!

Thank you so very much for your prayers, love, and support.

I labor for you by name in my prayers as well and ask that you keep me updated on you as well!

With Christian Love and Zeal,
Your brother, david

2007-01-24T18:39:00.000-09:00

First off, my apologies once again to you, my loving encouragers and friends. Right when I set myself to doing more posting in order to keep you updated, it takes me nearly a month to post my first entry of the new year!

As you can imagine, I’ve been busily at work, but expect to see more posts and exciting updates coming your way very soon!

Tonight, the annual Sunset workshop kicked off, and from this morning to this moment in the close of the day, I am absolutely on fire. It was a wonderful night of heartfelt praise to the King, a stirring message from God’s Word, as well as fellowship with many dear friends I haven’t seen in a while.

I couldn’t help but wonder…why does it usually take a workshop for us to be on the mountain top? Why do we have to wait until most everyone else shares in our zeal and fervor to truly build one another up in our love and devotion to Christ and to the lost?

In any case, tonight was such an encouragement and I pray that everyone here will grow along with me and take this joy and enthusiasm back with them from that which they came from.

2006-12-29T08:11:00.000-09:00

My family and i were blessed with a wonderful time in New York City. We spent Christmas Day there and after a few more days, returned Wednesday night. Here below, are just a few pictures from the trip. You can view many more right here.

2006-12-14T13:49:00.000-09:00

What a day this has been.

Once again, I find myself standing on the mountain top. My soul has been revived, reenergized, and rejuvenated. Although my eyes are heavy with weariness and fatigue, my soul stands tall and strong, more convicted and in love with Jesus, the Christ, than when I awoke this morning…and last night…and the day before.

Am I at a retreat, you may ask? No…in the past year and a half, one of the many things I’ve learned: all you need for true spiritual revival is an open Bible and an open heart and mind.

I cannot even begin to describe what a blessing it is to be here at this time and in this place. Having the privilege and opportunity to get together with many fellow preachers of the Gospel and to spend our days together studying the Word of God with some absolute giants of faith through the many years.

Today, many different sentiments could be found within me.

The fire within me for the Lord has grown and grown. The desire to go out into this world to make disciples everywhere, far and wide, is increasing more and more each day as I grow in the love and understanding of my Lord.

But there is also somewhat of a sad emotion as well.

As we wrapped up two more wonderful life-changing classes today, part of me was longing for this to keep going, on and on. These two years here are so precious…so overwhelmingly invigorating.

When the time comes to move on from this place, I pray I will always be a man of the Word and devote myself to the feasting of His Word. But it’s been said that never again will we be able to spend as much time studying as we are right now.

No, ministry school isn’t a prerequisite for evangelism. No, everyone doesn’t have to go.

But I am eternally grateful that I made the decision to come here. That I leaned on Christ when the forces of hostility voiced their criticisms toward me and that I came here to grow and to more adequately prepare myself for the full-time evangelism I wish to devote the rest of my life to.

As much as I’m going to miss studying and growing with these dear brothers in Christ, I can’t wait to get out there, with more time and more understanding and a deeper love for Christ as well as the lost.

This world is lost and empty from head to toe. She’s blinded by the disease of the mindset that there are many ways, when in actuality, there is one.

Even more alarmingly so, the Church is drifting further and further away from the authority of God’s Word and are embracing the doctrines of men.

Time is of the essence.

2006-12-12T19:15:00.000-09:00

Well, I suppose time got away from me. It’s been nearly two months since I’ve posted.

Unbelievable.

If there’s anyone still out there, I apologize for the lack of updates and will make it a practice to actually write on here more often, seeing this is a blog and that I love to write.

As you can imagine, life has been busy with school and the various outreach opportunities we’re taking part in.

As for the classroom, we are currently wrapping up what has been yet another excellent term, with studies in Isaiah, the Church, Church Growth, Hebrews, as well as Christian Counseling.

It’s so hard to believe, but after this term concludes next week, there remains only two more terms to go before we graduate this coming May. I can say with all certainty that the past year and a half has been a time of unanticipated growth and I eagerly await what is still to come.

On Monday nights, my friend Justin and I are still attending the A.A. meetings. Ever since the last update, two more colleagues have joined us, both of whom come from pasts that included drug and alcoholic addictions.

We have yet to win a single individual in this group for Christ and the easy thing to do would be to throw in the towel and give up since it seems as if we’re doing no good. Yet week after week, it’s the individuals who embrace us and tell us how much they appreciate us taking the time who remind us of the exciting rapport that is developing between us that makes us want to continue coming.

Wherever we go, it is our aim and our goal to be lights for Christ in this world of darkness.

Please remember us in your prayers as we strive to take the Gospel to all of creation. You too are in my prayers, for as Christians, we share in the responsibility and blessing of seed sowing.

2006-10-24T14:42:00.000-08:00

Last week, several level-one students, Sunset instructors, and many more went on a local campaign. They spent most of the week knocking doors in hopes to set up some Bible studies.

I was helping some classmates move and my week also required a doctors appointment, yet looking back, I wish I had put all of that on hold and participated in the campaign.

Door-knocking has long been regarded as an ineffective outreach. Yet it’s amazing what happens when we step out on faith.

Here are the results:
1138 doors were knocked
645 were not home
326 Were not interested
53 Home Bible studies were set up
35 Requested Bible Coorespondance Courses
2 wanted to be in a small group Bible Study
53 people were interested enough to be called back

Perhaps the dislike we largely have for such outreach methods are lies from the adversary that we have believed and responded by not only disregarding that particular method, but all others as well.

One of the groups that went door-knocking reported that out of 12 doors they knocked, 5 Bible studies were set up! I wasn't a math major but even I know that’s 42% of the people they reached in that time wanted to study the Bible.

Believe it or not, there actually are people out there who are willing to study the Word with us.

We just have to find them. One way or another, we must boldly step out on faith and share the Good News with this dying world.

In Christ Jesus, we have the cure and the remedy and the antidote to all the problems and empty lives in this world.

The question is…will we share it with them? Will we show it to them?

Or will we selfishly keep it to ourselves?

2006-10-19T14:53:00.000-08:00

Eight years ago on this night i made the greatest decision of my life by repenting of my sins and being baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.

I arose a new creation and ever since I have been given this new life in Christ, my life has never been the same.

It's my prayer that I will be used to bring about many new births in people who are outside of Christ at this time.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"
1 John 3:1

2006-10-18T16:46:00.000-08:00

My dear brothers, sisters, family, and friends,

Peace and love to you in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I apologize for the lack of updates as of late. Term five was one of the busiest ones to date. …I promise, it was! :)

We finished an excellent series of studies in Ephesians, Colossians, James, 1 and 2 Peter, the Minor Prophets, an introduction to Missions, and the Sacrificial System, all of which were blessings to my walk and ministry.

If any of you could take one of the extension courses, allow me to recommend the Sacrificial System taught by brother Gerald Paden. This study examines the sacrificial system found in Leviticus and other Old Testament passages. It’s absolutely amazing how the events of the sacrificial process was a shadow of what was to come in Christ.

This course is available here.

Another wonderful thing about Sunset? Once a term is completed, we are given a week off to catch up on sleep, rest, and then squeeze in a little more rest after we’re through resting. This has been a calming and restful week, but I really look forward to the new term, which begins this Monday.

In term six, we will study Isaiah, Church Growth, Hebrews, as well as courses focusing on the Church of Christ, and Christian Counseling. After completing Sacrificial System, I am looking so forward to studying Hebrews, which not only is one of my single-most favorite books, but also ties right in to what we just covered in the previous course.

Lord-willing in four short weeks, I will be back in my hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. I will be arriving the evening of Friday, November 17 and I will be returning to Lubbock on Saturday, the 25th.

I look forward to seeing those of you who live there. When I’m in town I want you to know that I will be arriving with a sermon “in my hip pocket” just in case if the opportunity comes to preach it. Even if I do not get the opportunity to preach to you, tell me somewhere else you know of and I’ll go and preach there.

Needless to say, there’s one thing I long to do…one thing I live to do and that is to preach the Word and the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ and to live for Him in this world.

I’m looking so forward to being back and seeing you. Thank you, one and all, for your loving prayers, encouragement, and financial support, all of which helps makes it possible for me to be here. I continue to ask for your prayers and want you to know you are in mine each day as well.

May the Lord bless you this week. Let your lights shine for Christ so this world will want to know more about this Jesus we live for.

With Christian Love,
David
2 Peter 1:3

2006-10-08T17:37:00.000-08:00

The past two weeks have been extremely busy, thus leaving me little, if no time to post.

Yet something happened tonight I couldn’t help but share with you all!

After a small group devotional, my friend Justin and I were driving to the Sunset building to go pick up one of the deaf students, who had been studying and was wanting a ride home.

It had rained earlier in the night and we were riding with the windows down, enjoying the nice cool breeze and the light sprinkles that have come.

As we were on our way, a block away from the building, a truck who had been riding my bumper in a 35 zone swerved over to the left lane and jumped on the accelerator.

Suddenly, a rapid surge of water blasted through my open window, submerging us and soaked our hair and clothes. I got it right in the face! All the books I had and everything in my backseat also felt the effect of the water!

It absolutely soaked us! I think I literally counted four or five seconds of water coming into the truck and absolutely submerging us! It felt like the log ride at Six Flags.

We laughed so hard because this is one of those things that when it happens to you, you are shocked it hasn’t happened to you before. But yeah, that was definitely a first for both of us.

Valuable lesson learned tonight - if it’s been raining, even if it’s nice outside, roll those windows up. You might just get yourself soaked.

Don’t worry mom - I am swallowing the sinus pills as we speak and pray I won’t catch cold during finals week!

2006-09-24T12:24:00.000-08:00

What a joy it was to hear that my cousin Andrew made the decision to follow Christ today and that he was baptized for the remission of his sins!

As soon as i heard, i couldn't help but drop everything i was doing to praise my Father and rejoice with all of heaven, as they celebrated this new birth.

By giving his life to Jesus, Andrew made the single most greatest, important decision he could ever make in his life. It thrills my soul to call him brother.

Please pray for this new brother in Christ, that he may grow and mature in his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise God for His love and mercy on us, sinners so undeserving of His forgiveness.

2006-09-18T18:19:00.000-08:00

This has been a wonderful day.

As was mentioned in the last entry, in an effort and hope to set up some Bible studies, Justin White (a dear brother who is a classmate at Sunset) and I have begun attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. The meetings are conducted every Monday night across the street from the Sunset building, where we learn throughout the week.

Tonight was our third week to sit in. During the first two weeks, we observed some things (what the program is about, what these people are trying to conquer, etc.) and have begun building a rapport with some of the regulars. Yet tonight, the Lord blessed us with some progress.

As is the custom, the conversation goes around the room and each person has the opportunity to say something; about their addiction, what they are fighting, how long they have been striving to turn it around, and so forth.

What we like about A.A. is, they acknowledge there is a God and they recognize Him as what will help them get their life together. Yet the other side of the coin is sad and very indicative of the world we live in.

They will acknowledge God, but they do not recognize Jesus. In order to prevent from offending anyone, phrases such as “It doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you believe what you believe and don’t impose it on someone else, more power to you” are used by just about every individual in there.

It isn’t popular to say there is only one way, when the world views every single thing on earth as equally true and acceptable as long as it isn’t imposed on anyone.

But I refuse to bow down to political correctness. I refuse to keep Jesus Christ to myself. Paul said, “Woe unto me if I do not preach the Gospel.”

Men say there is no absolute truth and that anyone who thinks they do is arrogant and false. But Jesus said, "You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

The great universal myth is that as long as you have God, it doesn’t matter what you believe, that’s all you need. But that is not what God says in His inspired Word (2 Timothy 3:16).

Christ is the only access to God (Colossians 1:20; 3:17; Matthew 11:27; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:18; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25). He is the only redeemer (Colossians 1:14) and reconciler to God (Colossians 1:20).

In Him only the Christian finds fulfillment in life (2:10) and from Him alone is the hope of glory (1:27).

John 14:6 says that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that NO ONE comes to the Father except through Him, Jesus. Acts 4:12 says salvation is found in NO ONE else, other than Jesus.

As the time neared for us to say something, I jotted down those two scriptures on a piece of paper and showed it to Justin. Nodding his head, we agreed that we were both going to talk about Jesus.

And when it came around to us, we did just that. We also, after listening to all the various struggles that were shared, told them we were praying for each and every one of them; as well as a woman unparticular who has recently endured more than one loss in her life and who is raising two children.

When the meeting adjourned, people were coming up to us. Some thanking us for being there, one woman asking us to pray for her…others saying they appreciated us praying for them.

One man confronted us with an overload of questions, in hopes to prove us wrong and to agree with him, that there is no absolute truth. It was rather difficult at first, but once he noticed that we were maintaining gentle patience in love, and that we weren’t there to show why we’re so “smart” and right about everything, he began to step back and not come at us so hard.

We will be making further contact with him. He has already said he will study with us and even come to a worship service.

Then before we left, we spoke with two more men, who were standing at the back of the room.

One of the men shared a very painful story about his catastrophic family life, in addition to his years of addiction to multiple stimulants. He said that at one point, he didn’t talk to either one of his sons for more than 20 years and that the tension continues to this day.

After speaking with him at length, we just asked him…“We heard the story you shared and if you wouldn’t mind, we’d like to pray with you.” Without hesitation he said that would be great, and we put our arms around one another and we entered the throne room with him.

We prayed for him and his family, as well as for more and more opportunities. The man was going somewhere after the meeting, but we’re going to study with him and continue reaching out to him and others.

As Justin and I walked out of that smoked-filled room and gasped as we caught our first fresh breath in more than an hour, we agreed that being there with those people was worth every single second we spent with them.

In my entire life, I have yet to lead someone to Christ… but I am not giving up. I am never giving up.

Let’s tell someone about Jesus every single day.

Let us never give up.

2006-09-05T10:04:00.000-08:00

Last night was the start of yet another opportunity.

Missions is universal. It was once said in chapel one morning, that missions is anywhere - from across the ocean to across the very street from where we are right now.

Last night, my friend Justin and I learned just that, as a new opportunity was waiting literally across the street from the school.

On Monday nights, we have begun attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

We sat there for about an hour, in a smoke-filled room, hearing story after story after story. They go around the room and share their struggles, how long they've been sober (each story differing greatly from the one before), and so forth.

When it came around to Justin, he said who we were and what we were doing and that we are willing to study with whoever is interested. I said that I have no idea what they're going through but that we were there to support them and that we have faith in each of them, that they can conquer these addictions.

Everyone seemed to appreciate that, and the coordinator thanked us for coming. A few minutes later, one of the men spoke directly to us during his time to speak and said that really meant a lot to him.

We hope to build a rapport with these people so we can demonstrate Jesus to them and that we can show them who He is.

As expected, a few of the people made comments such as, "The 'God' I choose to worship has been a strength to me..." "It doesn’t matter what you believe, whoever you call ‘God’ is God to you," and so forth.

These people are looking. They have already arrived at the point where they know there's something wrong with their life and are doing everything they can in order to change.

Each and every one of them acknowledges there's a God and that He can give them the strength to overcome these addictions. …But that isn’t enough.

We need to show them Jesus. Because He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), for there is no other name under heaven and earth, given to men, by which they can be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the way, the only way to glory, and i pray we may help many see that.

So we're going to keep going, each Monday night. This is a great opportunity, and i realize that if i'm not getting out there into the world evangelizing, i'm not going to do it when i graduate from Sunset. It starts right here and now.

Please pray for these people we will reach.

2006-09-03T07:08:00.000-08:00

For all the playfully-degrading stigma given to the state of Texas by outsiders, I have never been able to understand it. This is a wonderful place and I absolutely love living here!

It’s been raining, seemingly non-stop for the past two days - yet to top it off, the mornings have been rainy and overcast, just the way I love it. It won’t even get above 64 today, and it’s going to be raining all week long, so I am absolutely loving this and taking it in.

This morning’s worship service at Green Lawn (where I attend) had quite a surprise for everyone there!

Dale is in the middle of his sermon…just preaching away - giving it everything he’s got and suddenly, the lights and all the power goes off! He stands there, and joins in everyone’s laughter. Then a brother brings him a flash light and he gets right back to it!

He just kept on preaching, lights or no lights. I feel it would be fitting to say it was a lights-out sermon!

I love and appreciate that brother’s fervor. I long for the same courageous vehemence to boldly proclaim His Word in all circumstances, situations, and settings.

Those who know me well will know that I love dark and quiet places. Not in a sinister sense, but in a calm and peaceful and tranquil way. My friends here call my room “the cave,” because I have large drapes over my windows and at times during the day, it’s so dark you can’t see your hand in front of your face, it’s so dark. So I loved that this morning.

He finished the second half of his sermon in the dark and finally, after we partook of the Lord’s Supper, the lights came back on, at last, much to my chagrin.

But it was something different, something that reminded me that God is in control and that He can be glorified in settings that everyone isn’t used to.

Then the highlight of the day followed, as a young man was born into the family. As he arose from the watery womb, I closed my eyes with a smile on my face and said, “Thank You, Father” as I heard him go under and come up from the water - the most beautiful sound in all the world.

As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:30, “It’s because of Him that we are in Christ Jesus.”

Praise Him.

Year Two Under Way

2006-09-02T20:28:00.000-08:00

After a busy summer full of wonderful blessings, opportunities, and just a little good ole’ r & r thrown in the mix, we started the new year on August 14.

Opening day of the new year is always so exciting.

It was encouraging to see everyone back and to hear of all the opportunities and ways in which the Father has blessed us and used us during the summer.

We journeyed both far and near with the saving message of Jesus Christ - some going to Ukraine, others to Brazil, Australia, Mississippi, Nicaragua, Hungary, Alaska, Equador, New Zealand, California, Romania, or returning to their home congregations to visit supporters and work with them.

It must also be noted that I was far less on edge this year on the first day. As I saw the tense looks on some of the beginning level students’ faces - who have no clue what to expect, I could relate far too well, from being in their shoes last year!

Each year in the opening chapel, the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is proclaimed in as many languages as we have speakers of those languages for. Then as the commission is being read in each language, a person carrying the flag of that country comes and stands at the front.

Like last year, I sat there with tears in my eyes, because it’s that inspirational and heartrending.

As each language was heard and a bone-chilling moment of silence followed as all the various flags were brought to the front of the room, I closed my eyes and thought to myself, “This entire world needs what I and every Christian have - Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God and the one and only way to glory.”

And that we can make a difference if we are willing to devote our lives to Him and what He commanded every Christian to do (going and making disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all He has commanded).

If we are just willing to let go of our comfortable American way of life and step out of our comfort zones and be bold for Christ wherever we are and whatever we’re doing. To know that He will use people as simple and ordinary as us for unfathomable things if we are willing to put our abilities to use for Him in this world.

Missions
After prayerfully and carefully weighing the choice all last year and summer, I decided to go through the missions program, beginning this year.

But the beautiful thing is, we as Christians are not separated by congregational ministry, foreign or national missions, youth ministry, or the various other ministries.

Whether we’re working with a local congregation, working with kids, getting involved with outreaches, being active in prison ministry, studying with people in a country a million miles away who have never heard the name of Jesus, etc.; we are striving to use the abilities He has blessed us each with to His glory, so that His kingdom might grow, and that’s what it’s all about.

We are the body of Christ and we are in this thing together.

I am very excited about missions.

At this point in time, I don’t know where I’ll go, so I’m praying fervently, that I may know where God needs me. Wherever it is, whether far or near, I look forward to the challenge and the opportunity.

I anticipate all the ups and the downs that will come. Yet all in all, no matter how great the trials and difficulties are, the precious lost souls all throughout this world are more than worth it.

A Word of Thanks
To the supporters, I want to thank you from the very bottom of my heart.

Since I’ve come to this place, I have grown in faith and love for Christ each day. I have gained a missional mindset and I am no longer content with selfishly keeping Jesus to myself.

My time here thus far has changed my life and my devotion forever, and I realize your support helps make being here possible. I am eternally grateful for the sacrifices you have made and continue to make each day so I can experience this.

Yet most of all, thank you for your love, encouragement, and prayers. Such encouragement has served as motivation each day, and has helped increase my enthusiasm.

Let’s continue encouraging and praying for one another each day.

Be His today, everyday.

drc