Hello y’all!

While most of my brothers and sisters from my home church are away to Oakville, Ontario for the church summer conference, I am in Louisville, KY with my parents and sister. I’m moving in this weekend into my dorm room — purposed to spend the next 3yrs pursuing a Master of Divinity at Southern Seminary.

Thirteen Hours
I must say, it was a long 13 hour drive in from Toronto to Louisville. We left home late this morning, just before 9am. Crossing the Ambassador Bridge at Windsor/Detroit took over an hour! We started waiting in line to cross the bridge at ~12:40pm and didn’t cross it until almost 2pm. And then at Customs, I had to wait in line for almost an hour, waiting to get my Visa (I-20) processed and get an extra card stuck to my passport to prove my status as a student.

Thus, we didn’t leave Customs until like 3pm! LOL Talk about a long day of waiting:S Since we were delayed so much already, we ended up picking up Wendy’s along the way and ate in the car while driving down I-75… all 30 pieces of chicken nuggets that is!

This is it. I’ll be on my way to Louisville by the time this is posted.

Goodbye to you, by Michelle Branch.

Of all the things I’ve believed in

I just want to get it over with
Tears form behind my eyes but I do not cry
Counting the days that pass me by

I’ve been searching deep down in my soul
Words that I’m hearing are starting to get old
Feels like I’m starting all over again
The last three years were just pretend
And I said

**
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to

I still get lost in your eyes
and it seems that I can’t live a day without you
Closing my eyes and you chase my thoughts away
To a place where I am blinded by the light but it’s not right **

And it hurts to want everything
and nothing at the same time
I want what’s yours and I want what’s mine
I want you but I’m not giving in this time **

And when the stars fall I will lie awake
You’re my shooting star

Give Me An Answer Conference 2008
Immortal Combat: Is It Finished?
Missions, Spiritual Warfare, and the Kingdom of Christ
February 8-9, 2008 @ The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Speakers:

• Dr. Albert Mohler: President of The Southern Baptist Theological
  Seminary and cultural commentator (and host of The Albert Mohler Radio Program)
• Dr. Russell Moore: Dean of The School of Theology and author of The Kingdom of Christ
• Dr. Chuck Lawless: Dean of The Billy Graham School of
  Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth and author of Spiritual Warfare.

Sharing & Testimony of my Call to Ministry

I shared the following 10 minute speech with my home church’s English congregation this morning. May this piece of writing be an encouragement to you — wherever you may be on your spiritual journey.

DOWNLOAD & LISTEN:

My church has released the audio of my sharing on its website. Download the MP3 here, or just listen here:

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Good morning brothers and sisters!

I address you today, not as someone who is any better or more holy – but as a sinner who has been saved by grace alone – a child of God who has been justified by faith in Christ’s substitutionary death on the Cross. You and me, we are very much alike, for I also am a Christian who struggles in this spiritual journey, and yet—I am preserved by the Holy Spirit to persevere on this mission to make much of Him who has died to make us righteous.

First off, I want to repent and apologize to you for my pride and arrogance. I think over the years, I’ve often said many things that I did not mean or intend to say, or mistakenly come off in the wrong way or have been misunderstood. I know I may often seem very dogmatic about doctrine and how church should be done. And for those times I have unlovingly criticized how or what we’ve done things here at Jaffray, I apologize. I just wish you could know and understand my heart and where I come from, and how much I do love this church…

That you could see what I see every time I have conversations about doctrine and theology, what I picture in my head when I think about the church in all its intended beauty, and why I would ever consider giving up my own career goals to serve the Body of Christ. For what fills my mind every time I think about “church” is Christ Jesus himself on the Cross — He who purchased the church with His very own blood.

As Martin Luther once said,

“This life, therefore, is not righteousness
but growth in righteousness,
… not being but becoming…
We are not yet what we shall be
but we are growing toward it.
The process is not yet finished but it is going on….”

So I hope you can bear with me, imperfect as I am, as I try to be more and more humble in this pilgrimage!

3 things I must memorize asap (well, within the next 4 months):

1. the names of the books of the Bible in order (and correctly spelled),
2. the Ten Commandments (short version and in order), and
3. the text of 1 Timothy 4:7,
   

   Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness.

   and 1 Timothy 4:16,

   Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Plus, I must read these 3 books:

1. Bunyan, John. Pilgrim’s Progress.
2. Steer, Roger. George Müller Delighted in God! Tain, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2004.
3. Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress, 1991

And since I plan on attend Chapel faithfully throughout this semester for grade, I could additionally read for personal enjoyment:

• Packer, J. I. A Quest for Godliness. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 1990.

All this, just for the Personal Spiritual Disciplines (40150) course I am taking with Dr. Don Whitney every Wednesday this fall.

Ahh…. I should start studying