Monday November 30

Later today, we will be going to celebrate our niece's birthday. I slept in today (a stated goal for Mondays) after initially waking up pretty early. I will be one of the "exegetes" at a Reformation Society meeting for pastors on Thursday. Please pray that I will clearly expound the text 2 Peter 1:1-11.

I am hoping to think less about church and ministry today and focus on personal devotions.

Reading scheduled:
2 Peter
"The Parousia" by J. Stuart Russell (will need discernment on this one)

We are also working on the catechism as a family. I hope you have ablessed day.

Wednesday before Thanksgiving

Let the games begin. I am ready to celebrate God's goodness to us in Christ. Our beloved friends from Mississippi are here and we are having a great time. No one makes me laugh like my friend Jamie. He is a radical follower of Christ and enjoys life. We took a nice run this morning in the rain. He talked the whole time. I don't run, talk and laugh at the same time usually. My wife made an egg casserole, homemade biscuits, bacon and sausage for breakfast. Lunch is now optional. I am going to eat lots of pumpkin pie tomorrow. When I was little I didn't like it much. Now I love it.
Jamie and I are going to be in the Word and talking theology all day. His wife, Denise ("Neecy") wants to got the IKEA store. I have never been there so we may join the wives for that. I don't like shopping but it would be fun to go anywhere with these folks. I hope you are taking time to express your thanks to Christ. May the Lord bless you real good...

Monday 23 November

I enjoyed lunch with an old friend today. I ate a giant hamburger at Nature's Table. I guess profit is more important than principle (in this case I am grateful, I didn't want to eat alfalfa sprouts). We have warm fellowship in Christ.

Our friends from Mississippi will arrive tomorrow. We are really looking forward to spending time with them. I am going to work with J on discipleship. Please pray for us.

The Thanksgiving holiday has the potential to be a great time of Worship and Christian Thanksgiving. Take some time to be thank Christ for what he had done for you, your family and church.

Reading MLJ "Preaching and Preachers" again!

I am also hoping to resume my exercise tomorrow. We still have a couple of significant prayer needs.

Friday afternoon

I enjoyed having lunch with a couple from our church today. They are special people that I am privileged to call friends. My health is improving, thanks for your prayers. The kids are much better and bounced back quicker than I did. I am really looking forward to having our friends from MIZZISSIPPPEEE over for several days next week for Thanksgiving. It is great to have friends that you can pick up where you left off with them the last time you saw them. They are for us and we are for them.

Studied the Acts 8 passage more today. I have spent more time on next week's message than this week's. The time has come to focus on the Philip and Simon.

I so desperately wanted to be used of God for His Glory. Please pray that I will be faithful and fruitful in ministry.

My wife read Psalm 37 to me today. Sweet comfort indeed...

Thursday Afternoon

I am sick in body, but feel strong in spirit. Thursday is Sunday countdown day. The Lord's Day is coming! Hurray!

My patience has been tested this week. Another fruit of the Spirit needs development in me.

I am hoping to get my hands on Holy War tonight, if Savannah is willing. Looking forward to our dear friends who will arrive Tuesday afternoon. Please pray for J and D. Believing Christ is Holy and Sovereign is costing them dearly. Now, they know more of fellowship in Christ's sufferings. I know it is good for them theologically. But I am moved to compassion for them as they endure trials.

Please pray that the Lord would send laborers (new individuals, families) to work with us in His Harvest.

Wednesday Afternoon

I am sick and don't like it. What is really coming to mind is how well I feel most of the time. God is so good to us.

...Studying a sticky section in Acts 8. The text in question will most likely be preached in 2 weeks.

I want to give a special thank you to the anonymous donor who ordered a copy of "Holy War" for my family. Savannah has devoured it and will finish it this week. I haven't been able to read any of the book as of yet. I am looking forward to it!

The urgent need of our churches and our world is the bold proclamation of Christ.

Dana Sue is making homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner with her signature yeast rolls. We shall fare well.

Tuesday and Everybody Has A Cold

Good Morning, I hope all is well in your family. Our family is battling a cold. Everyone is at least partially affected. We don't have any fevers and the symptoms are mild. The kids and parents are all a bit tired and cranky. This is manageable until multiplied by 10.

Tuesdays are usually very good study and vision days for me. Today, I hope to go to Panera and drink lots of coffee while reading and writing. I haven't been to Panera in about 10 days so my evangelistic/pastoral work has not progressed there. I am thinking of creating a Bible study for the folks in my area. I am not quite sure of the format yet. I need to spend a couple of sessions there this week, if possible.

I am clinging to the hem of Christ's garment on a couple of things. Please pray for me if it comes to mind.

The work of parenting continues. Last night, my little boys were fighting and saying very mean things to one another. Name calling isn't allowed at our house. Those harsh words blurted out in anger cause much harm.

I hope today you will search for opportunities to worship Christ and love the brethren.

Monday Meditation

The corporate worship of the church is only as Christ-exalting as the private devotion of her members.

I am praying for a couple of different things today. I am wanting to grow closer to my Lord devotionally and I am hoping to aid others in this pursuit.

I will be reading the Scripture today in a slow meditative way, and asking the Lord to change my heart as the Truth of Scripture is held up as a mirror which exposes my sin.

Since Sunday is the Lord's Day, at my house we call it King's Day. On Mondays, I try to honor Queen's Day with my wife. Sometimes this event is only an hour long but I try to set aside undistracted time with my treasured bride. We will have some time later today. You pastors out there should really think about adding Queen's Day to your calendar.

Saturday Morning Post

I enjoyed time with my son on his birthday yesterday. We are praying that God will use Jacob for his glory.

I met a very nice Christian lady from St Lucia yesterday. Please pray for "R" who is still mourning the loss of her husband through infidelity and divorce. She saw me reading my Bible and felt led to come and talk to me. There is something very different about how believers relate to one another. In Christ, we aren't really strangers!

We have a homegroup today at 3pm. If you live in the Windermere/Dr Phillips area please contact me if you would like to join us.
www.reformedbaptistpastor@yahoo.com.

I plan to preach in Acts 8 tomorrow, Lord willing. We are still hoping the Lord will add to our number like-minded brethren (or those interested in being like-minded) who desire to be faithful to Christ, His Church and His Word.

Evening 12 November

I enjoyed Sr. Bible study this morning. I am excited about studying 2 and 3 John.

Late this evening I plan on reading a book on preaching.

Tomorrow my oldest son, Jacob, will turn 13. I cannot believe I now have 2 kids that have crossed this milestone. We expect our 13 year old children to be very mature. Please pray for Jacob. We believe he can be one of God's great men.

I saw a couple of friends today that I haven't seen in many years. One friend had gone completely bald, the other completely grey. We are all aging.

I am on the Steering Committe for the newly formed central Florida Reformation Society. The format of the monthly meetings goes all the way back to the Reformation and John Knox. It will be great to exegete passages of Scripture together with like-minded brethren.

I am back on the sugar free training plan. No sugar (added) until a one day pumpkin pie exemption on Thanksgiving.

Wednesday 11 November

The family went to a class on the persecuted church and enjoyed it. I have overtrained a bit and have had an energy dump. I will need to strike a better balance, too much exercise with not enough sleep and recovery time. I want results and I want them now. When I was 20 I remembered thinking, "I will never be out of shape."

This evening I hope to spend some time in Acts 8 to start the sermon "simmering" process. I am learning more about my weaknesses in preaching and preparation and am trying to make the necessary changes. Times of absolute quiet are required for serious meditation on His Word.

My daughter Savannah and I hope to read Bunyan's "Holy War." I don't know if I own a copy or not.

I may have a couple of candidates for "The 100 Men Project." I will let you know if there is any progress.

Monday 9 November

Mondays are supposed to be my "off" day. I never fully get away from the work however. The pastoral ministry is challenging because you can never say, "This project is done." Just when you think things will calm down, the phone rings or an email arrives with new challenges. The leaders of the church must maintain a steady hand. The road gets rocky then it gets worse. I write this in a time of relative calm. We must be men of the Bible and prayer.

Tomorrow, we have an elder's meeting and then a Reformation Society gathering. It will be good to work with other like-minded churches for the cause of reformation.

I am looking forward to going deeper in Acts 8, I wasn't thrilled with my preaching on Sunday.

I am still thinking about writing some articles on idolatry. I firmly believe it is the evangelistic avenue we should be pursuing.

Thursday Thumping

I really benefited from the the early morning discussion on prayer with my brothers. It was heart-searching and convicting. I must be more devoted to Christ in prayer.

I am really looking forward to preaching Acts 8, I like it at least as much as Acts 7 but I always say that about the texts I study. My favorite Bible section is the one I am preaching.

I am very encouraged about 2 men who are really serious about following Christ. One is a younger man with great zeal, and the other is an old friend who has come to be radically committed to reformed theology and is discerning a call to ministry.

We will be studying the catechism and Proverbs in family worship tonight.
I told my oldest son Jacob that our wrestling days are soon going to be over. He is going to be really big (he thinks he will be small) and is super strong. In a light hearted moment he asked if he could call me his "old man." I said no.

Wednesday

I met a guy who survived a lightning strike today, I don't think he saw God's grace in it however.

Tomorrow, Thursday morning Bible study in downtown Orlando on prayer. Sr. Bible study at Perkins in Ocoee is on 2 John @ 8:30.

I talked with my big kids about Acts 8 last night which is next for Sunday morning preaching. They have keen insights into the Scriptures.

On a personal note, I have given up Diet Coke. It has been about 6 days and I have actually had withdrawal symptoms! I started drinking it when I made a push to go sugar-free a few years back. I had been drinking gigantic amounts. I read alot of material and the aspartame is bad stuff. I always go "all in" on things like this so cold turkey was the only option. Also, I am trying to exercise 6 days per week. I have averaged about 4 per week the last month or so. 3 for 3 on exercise this week with 2 days having weight training and running. Today, I lifted in the morning and plan to run before dinner. The eating and exercise programs are great opportunities to be more disciplined. Though bodily exercise profits 'a little' it also helps my spiritual life somehow which is excellent both now and in eternity.

I just ate a cinnamon roll. I don't think that is a good Diet Coke trade off. The work of personal discipline continues...

Sunrise With Spurgeon and Dana Sue

It is quite common to wake up before the sun rises. This morning, my wife and I decided to make some coffee and walk a few hundred yards down to the lake for a time of devotion together. We decided to let the Prince of Preachers instruct us on prayer from Morning and Evening. The cool breezes and warm fellowship made for a perfect start to the day.



I am planning to meet with a fellow pastor today at lunch. It will be good to support each other's ministry. Today, I will also begin more purposeful study in Acts 8. This is a turning point in the book, when Luke turns his attention primarily to Paul's ministry to the church. We will enjoy the evangelistic exploits of Phillip on te way to Saul's conversion in Acts 9. I enjoy the unique stylistic element that Luke uses in foreshadowing Paul's prominence later. He is most certainly a villian in Acts 8. The greatest enemy of Christ's Church will become her greatest herald!



Smash your idols today. Worship the Lord of Hosts (Psalm 24).