Friday

I am working on sermon prep in Acts 14-15 and on my planned Sunday night series beginning on June 6th at 6pm. The series will be entitled-"Who Is Jesus?" and I currently have 6 of the messages roughly planned. If you don't have another church to go to, I'd love to meet you @ our facility: 3600 McNeil Rd, Apopka 32703. It is off Bear Lk. Rd in Apopka and close to the Maitland Interchange/I-4.

My wife is celebrating her birthday this Sunday. Happy Birthday Dana Sue!

Our Wednesday night prayer meeting was a blessing to me. We talked about bearing one another's burdens from Galatians 6. We have some fine folks...

May you take extra delight in the corporate, and private worship of our Lord this Sunday. Come to CRBC for a visit if the Lord leads.

Monday

I want to be further down my path of sanctification.

It was encouraging to have some visitors at church yesterday. Thank you Lord for your endless grace to us.

I have seen the Lord answer several of my Friday fasting prayers. It has been truly amazing.

My wife is having another class on "Being a Godly Wife and Mother" that starts tomorrow. It was used of God last time to really help some of the ladies. When you open the Word and study it deeply, great things happen.

I plan to devote a lot of energy to my personal walk with Christ today. I look forward to how He will convict, exhort and encourage me today. I will be in the last half of Romans, 1 Timothy and Daniel 7-9, Lord willing. It looks like we will be back in Proverbs for family devotions this evening.

Friday morning

I had a rich time of devotion this morning. I read Titus, Romans 8-10 and Daniel 3-5. It amazes me how familiar texts can be so alive. The Word is living and active and sharper than a two-edged sword...I try to directly apply the pastoral epistles (in this case Titus) to my life and ministry. I really savored Romans today. Early in my reformation process I spent a large amount of time in the book. Of late, it has been more cf. material for other texts I am studying/teaching. Today, it was so new, fresh and exciting. In Daniel, I was again struck by God's providential care and how committed He is to His purposes and covenant. By the way,(since I have been saying it every week it seems) IDOLATRY IS TERMINALLY EVIL.

I am working on my sermon in Acts 14. The text for Sunday will be Acts 14:19-23, entitled, "We Must Through Many Tribulations Enter the Kingdom of God" . I wanted to maintain the narrative and complete the chapter but the density of the text requires more detailed examination.

I am also fasting today about a number of personal, spiritual and church things. Pray that I will not be distracted in my time of prayer and that God would make His direction known.

I am feeling progressively better. Thank you for praying.

Thursday Afternoon

I am working on sermon prep in Acts 14-15. What a privilege!

In my personal reading I am studying Daniel and Romans today. I will be reading in the pastoral epistles this evening. For family worship we will again be in Proverbs seeking practical wisdom for living.

The summer heat has arrived. Though I prefer it a bit cooler, summer has always been my favorite time of the year. Florida is the best.

My illness has exposed one of my fatal flaws, a lack of patience. I want to be better and I want to be better now. Lord help me to grow in this area.

I am highly offended that JB didn't bring me cinnamon rolls in my convalescence.

Wednesday

I am pretty sick today. In my pride, I recently told someone how I rarely get sick. Illness is a humbling event. It shows our dependence on God and others. I want to learn this lesson well. I need Christ and His saints.

If you didn't already hear, Wednesday night prayer meeting and Thursday morning Bible study are canceled. The prayer meeting is in our home I don't want anyone else to be exposed. I have a greater sympathy for my son Caleb who struggles with asthma.

The mercies of God are new each day and each day has its own challenges. Whatever you are facing, in all things praise Him.

I will be announcing the start of our Sunday evening service in the coming days. The purpose of this meeting is to more fully devote the day to the Lord in worship, equip the saints for ministry and preach the Gospel to unbelievers. I am excited about the possibility of exposing our church to those in search of a new reformed home and reaching the lost.

Tuesday supper time

Yesterday I took Bob Phillips of World Mission golfing at BH golf course in Orlando. Ed Manzano also joined us. It was a fun time, particularly since Bob was excited to play where the "pros" play. It is good to honor those who give up their comfort to serve Christ in foreign missions. Thanks MiMi (my mother in law) for providing the free passes.

I am feeling rough, coughing and have a bad sinus headache. My study plans have been interrupted but I hope to bounce back enough tonight to get in some study. Please pray for a good night's sleep.

The elders had intense meetings most of the day/night Friday and all day Saturday about issues that face our church. We prayed for our members and regular attenders and former members. The elders of CRBC love Christ and His church. There is a huge amount of work that goes on behind the scenes at the church. Pray for those charged with oversight.

I am so blessed.

Thursday

We looked at the Exodus narrative this morning in Bible study with an emphasis on 6-7.

Bob Phillips of WorldMission Ministries arrives today. Come hear him preach Sunday and share about the ministry after lunch. He has work in progress in Trinidad and Tobago, Belize and Scotland.

I am feeling energized about our church's future. Pray that the Lord would send His people to us.

It feels very strange not having to prepare a Sunday sermon this week. I am working on administrative elements instead. I have been reading a large amount of Bible this week. It has been amazing to spend this time with the Lord. I don't need a personalized, sky-cracking interpretive revelation. His Spirit meets me in His Word and He speaks clearly...

Wednesday Night

We had a fine prayer meeting this evening. J family you were missed I hope everyone is feeling ok. We used 2 Cor. 5-6 as a prayer guide. We considered being more heavenly minded, more thoughtful about our estate as believers who have been reconciled, our ministry as ambassadors for Christ, the urgency of the Gospel and living a pure, separate, and holy life in loving worshipful response to Christ.

Tomorrow we will study Exodus 5-6 in Sr. Bible study.

I will be working on our church vision and praying for our future.

We are trusting the Lord for a number of financial things as a family. It is good to be His and wait on Him.

Tuesday Midday

I am in much prayer about the future of our church. We need to be a faithful and productive assembly. In the future, I would like to see us training men for ministry through formal and informal instruction (internship). I would like to plant a number of churches in Florida. I would like to participate in the planting of churches in the States and abroad. I would like to see us involved on several fronts internationally. It is also my desire that we would have a permanent witness here in Orlando until the Lord comes. This would necessitate us having property and a permanent facility. We have an amazing ministry opportunity in Orlando. It is a major international crossroads. If we were to be like Paul, we would be thinking strategically about Orlando and how the Lord may be pleased to reach the nations through us.

I love to dream but this isn't just a dream for me. It is my calling. Are you interested in having a comfortable little church or do you want to turn the world upside down?

Wednesday at lunch

I have been reading The Supremacy of God in Preaching for the last couple of days. Piper really hit a home run with this one. I've enjoyed it numerous times and it never gets old. I pray the Lord would raise up thousands of preachers for His Glory.

Today, I continue sermon prep in Acts 14, Thursday Bible study prep in Exodus and prepare for tonight's prayer meeting. It is good to spend a lot of time in the Word.

We will be going over to my parent's house for an early dinner to celebrate my sister's birthday. It should be a lot of fun.

I am praying the Lord will show me who I need to share the Gospel with and invite to church. This is a dangerous prayer to offer. You will be witnessing before you know it.

Tuesday afternoon

I did preliminary study in the next sermon section in Acts 14:8-18. The Bible is an inexhaustible well of truth. So often we only skim the surface and leave gold in the mine.

Tonight, my wife will be hosting a bread making class led by JB. I think it might be an excuse for the ladies to have some fellowship. I hope they save some for me.

Tomorrow, I am hoping for an excellent day of study capped off with a profitable prayer meeting. It is also my baby sister's 31st birthday. Happy birthday Rebecca!

We love the theology of the Puritans. However, few of us love the Puritan idea of holy living. May we grow to love the holy pursuits of Christ more than the enticements of the world.

Monday evening

My family and I went to the beach this morning and had a blast. We were in the sun for almost 3 hours. Those who took or were forced to take precautions came away unscathed. Other red beach goers didn't fare as well and will have a lingering reminder of the fun.

The Gospel of Jesus will triumph in the hearts of men, women and children. We must never forget that He saves sinners.

I had a fellow recently critique my preaching. I think he was right on. He said I needed more application and more clearly articulated "points." I told him I thought he was right but that I usually preached one point messages. I am going to try to do a better job of spelling things out. What is clear to me, may not be clear to others. I think I preach in the way that I learn or think. I need to preach in ways that helps every person in the room. I strive for being natural and non-mechanical. Additionally, I have an aversion to 3 points, 3 illustrations and 3 jokes. But, there is always room for growth. I am far away from where I'd like to be. I better get to work...Or better yet, I better get to praying that Christ would do a work in me.

Sunday evening

My wife and I went to Lk. Sherwood Presbyterian Church (OPC) this evening. I have always wanted to meet the pastor. He wrote a great article on longevity in ministry that was a tremendous blessing to me. He has served faithfully at this church for more than 30 years (it may be more than 35). As I approach the 5th anniversary of our first meeting I have hopes of being in it for the long haul. God is sovereign. He may have a different plan but my inclination is to have a long pastorate at Covenant.

I am hoping to have a rich personal devotion time this week. I have to study for numerous reasons but nothing is more satisfying than reading and meditating on the word for personal devotion.

I am a bit discouraged, after all, it is Sunday night. I must be more diligent to meet unbelievers and invite them to Bible study and corporate worship. I so want to be faithful and fruitful.
I sometimes wish the Lord would say, "you are going in the right direction" or "you must do this differently..." Everyone has a better way for us to do church. I want His way.

I have had 2 different families ask about Sunday night services. I have been inclined to do it for some time. My initial thoughts were to do it near my home for the purposes of outreach and localized ministry. There are no Sunday night options here of any kind. The other logical choice is in the church building. I will be praying about this. Let me know if you have an opinion.

Saturday evening

For my family, Saturday is a day of preparation. Our lives have always revolved around the Lord's Day. Because of my responsibilities I am always thinking ahead to Sunday. This is NOT a burden. It is our joy. The gathering of the saints in Christ in corporate worship is the highlight of our week. I hope you see the blessings of Sunday.

We had an encouraging Saturday morning men's Bible study this morning. It is good to fellowship around the Word. Several men brought light to the passage in Eph. 1:15-23. I was strengthened and built up in the faith.

Next week, my schedule is less dense. I have much reading and study to do. I am so looking forward to the Lord using the time for my personal growth in Christ and its manifestations in the life of our church.

If you are without a church home or are part of a fellowship that has departed from the Truth of Christ's Gospel we would love to meet you. We certainly aren't the only game in town but we are striving to be faithful and fruitful.