Why Did You Delete Austin Gardner?

After being asked now a few times as to WHY I deleted Austin Gardner's blog, I have decided to put the "Jefe's" blog back on my blog roll...

The reason (if you are wondering and just didn't ask me... lol) was an aesthetic decision - I felt like I had to much going on on the right side of the page and wanted to limit the number of blogs there. It was nothing personal against Bro. Gardner - I think the guy is awesome.

I feel like I need to address this though...

It appears a few think the reason is because of my acceptance of Calvinism as compared to the global vision Bro. Gardner has for world evangelism - You couldn't be so wrong...

I know where Bro. Gardner stands concerning Calvinism and unless something has changed in the last few years we would not agree on the matter. He has expressed his opinion and belief on the TULIP and I totally respect him for it. Do we disagree? Yes. Does that bother me? Not really.

I remember sitting in his living room in Peru, and him grilling me in front of everyone about being a Calvinist. I didn't know where I stood at the time - I was still growing and learning. Man did he roast me - LOL! Though it was a little uncomfortable at the time it did one thing - it made me think and examine my position on sovereign grace more carefully. He made some great points... I appreciate him doing that; leaders don't tell you what to think they teach you how to think. Bro. Gardner is a leader, a lover of souls and a man passionate for Jesus Christ. That is better than being called a Calvinist any day of the week - I hope one day people can say the same thing about me, that I was passionate for Jesus Christ and everyone could see it.

The problem with most theological disagreements usually boils down to definition - you interpret something one way and I maybe interpret it another way. Your thoughts concerning systematic theology may differ from mine and that is OK as long as you've got the fundamentals of salvation down.

I haven't talked to Bro. Gardner in a long while but I am certain we agree on more things than we would disagree. The man has done a TON for missions all around the world; his mentoring and discipling of young men according to God's Word will be one of the many chapters of God's grace that we unwrap one day in Heaven! (Ephesians 2:7)

So to set the record straight and make things less complicated for a few of my friends and acquaintances I have added Bro. Gardner back to my blog roll. I follow his blog; I encourage you to do the same as well! He is a leader of leaders and a great example to follow! Check out his blog!

Or just click here to visit...

$1 a Day for Chile - Success!!!

Our Youth and College & Career class teamed up to attempt to raise $300 for Chile over the period of a month by just setting aside ONE DOLLAR a day... that was the challenge...

By God's grace we raised over $900!!!

I was approached by others in the church who asked if they could help; a few other Sunday School classes helped out also - What a blessing!

One of our young people told me, "I could only do $12." I told that young person that it wasn't the amount necessarily that mattered but the ability - did you do your best with what you had? There was a bag full of change from a few of the kids, crinkled one dollar bills and checks from widows who just wanted to be apart of this awesome opportunity.

Overall the campaign was a huge success. I stressed to our young people and church that just by giving up a Coke a day or a double cheeseburger from McDonald's we could do something that could change lives in another country forever! We (Lakeview: Youth, College & Career, Widows, Etc.) are praying for the work in Chile - May God be made famous by Jason and the team serving in South America!

Pastor Mike said we will just round the amount up and send $1000 to Chile... :)

I'm so stoked... Praise God!!!

Busy! Whew!

So busy right now with my new job, finishing our house, church stuff and trying to be a decent husband... This week is the CRAZIEST week I've had in a long while!

God has been good to me in an extra special way the last few mornings... I am in Colossians - what a powerful letter...

The world has so infiltrated the church that our view of Christ and clear biblical teaching has been muddied. Since I moved to the "Upstate" of South Carolina one thing is apparent - there is no shortage of churches.

There are churches for the old, more conservative bunch. There are churches for the young, "hip" crowd. There are churches that celebrate and abuse the liberty we have in Christ and there are congregations that restrict and choke out the freedom we have because of Jesus.

One church draws with worldly music and attitudes; another church draws the self-righteous and ultra pious. All claim to be right... and claim the other churches to be "wrong."

For what it's worth, I read this morning out of Colossians 2, Paul's warning to the believers of those who will try to instruct you with the (false) wisdom of this world and others who will try to restrict you by the vain traditions of men. "⁸Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

As I view the MANY churches in my region, I can't help but think that MANY fall into one of two categories - Carnal, pop culture grasping wannabes or Legalistic, tradition driven fanatics. Maybe that is to harsh... maybe you think I am being to judgmental... I believe if you would be honest you would agree it may be good for every church and ministry to review their day-to-day operations and ensure they are not falling to the left or the right but rather are built solely and firmly on Christ - and not on worldly wisdom or strange traditions.

This brief blog entry doesn't do Paul's letter to the church of Colosse much justice - I encourage you to read it yourself.

Beware of strange teachers who use captivating speech, cool music and sometimes foul language to draw a crowd - their motives should be questioned, their teaching and doctrine examined. (Acts 17:11) Instead follow Christ, dwell in His presence and mimic His example.

Finally - Answers!

What happened to the dinosaurs? Why do they not roam the Earth anymore?

Moral of the story - Don't be late! Ever!

Help Reach People in Chile!

Jason is planning on going to the largest, hardest hit city with a team of 8 people to hand out food, water, medical supplies and the Gospel! They are taking 40,000 (that's not a typo) tracts and are also planning on preaching in the streets and in the parks to those how are displaced, both physically and spiritually!

Read Jason's Blog for more information!

Our youth is still doing our $1 a Day Campaign - Pray for them... and pray for CHILE!!!

God Knew...

Wow...

Our Youth Group at Lakeview is about to wrap up our $1 a Day for Chile on Sunday - with that in mind I can't help but think of the timing of this missions effort...

God knew that Chile would be rocked by a huge earthquake well before the thought ever entered Jason's mind to ask for support for the college and church planting work. As one of the young people told me this weekend, "It's a privilege to be able to give!" What an opportunity our young people have - yea, what a RESPONSIBILITY we hold.

Our goal is only $300 for one month - so small when compared to the millions of dollars that have been spent on fast food these past 30 days. My prayer and hope is that God will use this to soften the hearts of Chileans. Sure $300 isn't a lot when compared to the number of people there, but maybe it will be the difference maker for just one person hearing the Gospel. What a return on that investment - deposit $300 to God's work and reap a soul spared of eternal agony thereby made a trophy beaming of His grace!!!

God knows the final dollar amount - I don't... but what I do know is that no matter the amount we collect on March 7th it may be what Jason and the team in Chile needs to reach just one more person with the Gospel of Christ! Pray for our young people to be burdened for such a time as this!

Also - check out Jason's website for updates in wake of the earthquake. As far as I know they are still without power, water, internet and phones. Follow him on Facebook as well - Jason Holt.

Blast from the Past!

Step into the time machine and journey into history! OK not really but...

Click below to read an old entry from almost a year ago concerning Calvinism... (Add your John Williams cinematic track here - LOL)

What Do You Think?

Matt Chandler: AP Story

I wrote a while back about Matt Chandler's battle with cancer - what an amazing testimony to us all of God's faithfulness through trials... Here's a quote from the article:

"We never felt — still have not felt — betrayed by the Lord or abandoned by the Lord. I can honestly say, we haven't asked the question, 'Why?' or wondered, 'Why me, why not somebody else?' We just haven't gotten to that place. I'm not saying we won't get there. I'm just saying it hasn't happened yet."

Read the article here.

Read their blog here.

YIELD @ Lakeview

What an honor it is to assist and work with the young people at Lakeview!

Please pray for the young people and please pray for me - pray God grants me wisdom, understanding and power through the Spirit!

I try to remind our young people that they are not the church of the future; they are the church of today!

Check out the Youth Blog!

Why is the Universe so Big?

Space... The Final Frontier

No, I am not a Star Trek geek but I did like the new movie that came out this past year... Sarah even enjoyed it... Hmmmm... I've never been a big fan of Captain Kirk but I am definitely a fan of the Jedi - and if that makes me a geek so be it! LOL

My buddy Chris emailed me this link the other day after a conversation we had a day earlier concerning the size of the Universe and other things (that will go without saying - LOL).

Piper ALWAYS has something good to say and I encourage you to read what he says about why the Universe is so big:

Sometimes I'm asked how I explain the disproportion between the size of the universe and the smallness of man created as the crown of God’s creation. The tension is felt in Psalm 8:3-5.

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.”

My answer is that the magnitude of the universe is not meant to correlate with the image, but with the Original. The heavens are not designed to declare the glory of man. “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalms 19:1). The point of the universe is that God is great and man is infinitely less great.

I did not say man is not great. Psalm 8 says man is great. “A little lower than the heavenly beings.” Now we are ready to see the point of the universe and why Psalm 8 begins and ends, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” It does not begin and end, “O Man, image of God, how majestic is your name in all the earth.”

Man is great. But compared to God’s greatness, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” The universe is designed to remind us of this distance between’s God’s infinite greatness, and man’s finite greatness. Man must reside on tiny planet earth in a seemingly infinite universe. And the universe must look infinite to be a fitting picture of what it cannot be: infinite. Only God is infinite. The universe is declaring that. Pretty well.