Changes

Last Thursday was my last day working 3rd shift at Rockwell Automation. Hooray! I can't express how thankful I am to be to be home with Amy and the girls every night. Yet, it was still difficult to leave my co-workers at Rockwell. (So, if any of you guys happen to read this blog, please know that I miss you all. Be sure to come and visit me at Redeemer Church one Sunday!)

Beginning this week, I am working as a missionary in conjunction with Redeemer Church. (What that means is that I am working within the church and community to evangelize and disciple youth, children and their parents.) Also, in order to financially support our family, I am working for Frodo's Pizza and Anderson School District Five as a substitute teacher.

If you'd like, you can pray for our family in the following ways:

*Praise our Father for the missionary support that I will begin receiving in February. Pray that the Lord will continue to provide for our family as we seek to serve Him.

*Praise our Lord for the youth, children and families that are already present at Redeemer. Pray that our relationships will continue to grow and thrive as I seek to love, teach and relate to them.

*Praise God for the people we have already been able to meet and form relationships with thus far. Pray for our growing relationship with the Matthews family. Pray that God will contiue to open doors for Amy and I to meet new youth and families.

*Pray for the two new small groups that we will be involved with...one for youth and another for young couples.

Eternal Covenant

I just finished reading my first book of 2007, Eternal Covenant: How Trinity Reshapes Covenant Theology by Ralph Smith. From the back cover we read: "Though many Reformed theologians have recognized and agreement between the Father and Son for the salvation of the human race, few have explored the vast theological possibilities of an eternal covenant that involves all three persons of the Trinity." In his book, Smith seeks to answer three questions related to Trinity and covenant: Is there a covenantal relationship among the persons of the Trinity? What is the nature of that relationship? What are the implications of such a covenant?

I found the book to be thought-provoking and helpful in several areas. For instance, Smith's summary and discussion of the history of Reformed thought regarding the relationship among Father, Son and Spirit is very helpful. (He discusses thinkers such as Herman Hoeksema, John Murray, O. Palmer Robertson, L. Berkhof, Samuel Rutherford, John Owen, Francis Turretin, Charles Hodge and Abraham Kyper, just to name a few.)

Those familiar with the Westminster Confession of Faith, will find certain areas in which Smith's views stand in contrast to the Confession. For instance, Smith (following the lead of Meridith Kline) Smith argues that "the Confession is wrong when it speaks of God condescending to give Adam a covenant. Rather, contrary to the Confession, the covenant relationship is essential to what it means that man is God's image, a matter of no little importance in the larger system of theology (p.101)."

So, who should read this book? The general reader will probably find this book to be very slow (and at times, boring); therefore, it will mainly appeal to those pastors/students/teachers who are already familiar with the detailed discussions involving covenant theology.

Current Happenings

So, I didn't jump back into the swing of blogger quite like I thought I would, but there's no time like the present. So, let me begin with a few updates:

*Adalynne is growing bigger and more beautiful as each day passes. She weights about 10lbs now.

*Alora continues to amaze us with her growing vocabulary and sweet smile. Although she loves her new sister, she is still adjusting to the change. This has been evidenced by her occasional attention-grabbing-antics such as: dumping powder sugar into the floor and covering her bed with about 60 baby wipes. (Although her actions made me want to laugh, my parental sensibilites gave me the strength to hold back my laughts and...shall we say...extend the hand of booty fellowship.)

*Things are going well with the church plant. I am so excited about what the Lord has in store for us and Redeemer Church in 2007. We've been able to raise some support that will allow me to leave my current (3rd shift) job in order to make myself more readily available to the youth of the community. Of course, once I leave my current job, I'll still have to find another (1st shift) job to make sure my family has enought income. Along those lines, please pray for me as I search for a new job that will allow me to have time to meet youth in the community through the local schools, fca, etc.

*I shaved my head. Amy cut her hair...short, and it looks great.

*I'm going to bed now.

Returning

Well, it has been quite a while since I last posted anything. Honestly, I haven't had the desire or time to blog over the last month. But I'm ready to get started again.