(adopted September 7, 2011)

“As a gathered church of believers in Jesus Christ in Fairdale, Kentucky, we covenant together in the bonds of love to walk as the family of God in the following ways.

1.   We will seek to follow after God privately and individually through trusting him, obeying him, praying to him, and learning about him from his word.

2.   We will seek by the Holy Spirit to maintain lives of holiness through drawing near to God, resisting the Devil, putting to death our sins, and living unto righteousness. We will personally watch over the souls of our fellow church members and urge them on to holiness and purity.

3.   We will seek to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ both personally and corporately. We will support efforts to extend the gospel in our community, our state, our country, and the world.

4.   We will seek to gather regularly to worship God, listen to the preaching of the word, and encourage one another.

5.   We will seek to support the ministries and mission of the church through praying for the church, exercising our spiritual gifts, and contributing financially to its needs.

6.   We will seek by the Holy Spirit to love one another sincerely while maintaining the unity and peace of the church. We will abstain from gossip, backbiting, and other sins that cause division within the church.

7.   We will strive to learn, support, and promote the church’s doctrine. We will also submit to the discipline of the church and its leadership.

8.   If we move from this place, we will seek, as soon as possible, to unite with some other church of like faith and practice where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant.”

The other day I was struck by these two verses.

Galatians 1:10

‘For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

1 Corinthians 10:33

“just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.”

What is the balance in these two verses? It seems to be a tug-of-war in Paul. But thats just it… there is not. Because it is not about Paul. In Galatians, he clarifies with calling himself a “servant of Christ.” In Corinthians, he clarifies with “not seeking my own advantage.”

The Christian life is like that. The person who has died with Christ, died to self, and alive in him. The person who does not count his life as having any value at all except living for Christ is the one who is able to live to please God and live to please everyone.

Now thats a fine line for self. But its not a problem if self is crucified and gone.

To God be the glory!

As a 31 year old pastor, I have many people who approach me about pursuing marriage. Actually way more than I was prepared to deal with. I am thankful for all the God-ordained opportunities though.

Also, as our church’s former youth pastor, I have lots of young people that I mentored in the past who are now grown up and looking toward marriage. I pray for them as they pursue it.

I say those things because I am aware and familiar with many of the challenges and struggles in this pre-marriage-stage-of-life. This article by the Resurgence is very helpful. It is short and good. Please take time to read it.

Here is a great line from the article:

“Instead of finding a compatible mate, Christians are instructed to marry another Christian and become a compatible mate.”

My wife, Valeria, has been reading the book The Best of J.C. Ryle and it blessed me so much when she shared this chapter with me. Valeria has enjoyed reading Ryle since she first heard of him while in college.

In chapter 6 entitled “Bible Reading,” Ryle writes:

“Give me your attention while I supply you with a few plain reasons why every one who cares for his soul ought to value the Bible highly, to study it regularly, and to make himself thoroughly acquainted with its contents.”

Here are his 8 points:

1. There is no book in existence written in such a manner as the Bible.
2. There is no knowledge absolutely needful to a man’s salvation, except a knowledge of the things which are to be found in the Bible.
3. No book in existence contains such important matter as the Bible.
4. No book in existence has produced such wonderful effects on mankind at large as the Bible.
5. No book in existence can do so much for every one who reads it rightly as the Bible.
6. The Bible is the only rule by which all questions of doctrine or of duty can be tried.
7. The Bible is the book which all true servants of God have always lived on and loved.
8. The Bible is the only book which can comfort a man in the last hours of his life.

I especially like those last 2 points. If you have never read any J.C. Ryle, I highly recommend it.

I saw this quote the other day and it has not left me.

“if your presence makes no difference, your absence won’t either.”

What a thought! May there be more and more people who are wanting to make a difference.

Romans 12:10-11

“Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”

First FCA of the year for Fairdale High School. Scott Long sp… on Twitpic.

This past Thursday was the first FCA meeting of the school year for Fairdale High School. FCA meets Thursday afternoons at 2:30 in the Fine Arts room. The Huddle Leader is weight training teacher Mr. Loren Renfroe, and he is doing a great job with leading FCA. There were 52 student-athletes there for the meeting. Here is a picture of former U of L football player and current FCA staff person Scott Long speaking to the students.

This summer has been long, tiring and HOT!

The end of July I was in Ecuador for 10 days. And then I came back to Fairdale for about 2 weeks. And then we went on a family vacation. And now I am back to work this week.

I am excited to be back to work. I am excited that the weather is already cooling off. I am excited that school has started back and that means football is beginning too. And I am excited to think about working diligently, steadily, and consistently for the church from now until the Christmas season holidays.

While I am back at work, putting my hand to the plow, and trying to catch up, all of these great verses concerning work are in my head and heart.

Colossians 3:23

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”

Acts 20:35

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus…”

1 Corinthians 15:10

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”

Ephesians 4:12

“to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ”

This post here by Dane Ortlund is on “Gospel Men.”

He lists four types of men in the world. Only one is the best.

Which one are you?

“A mature oak tree is immovable when the storms rage against it, but it’s also beautiful, and invites shelter to others. Isn’t that what gospel men should be?”

Tonight at 6:00 we are gathering for church to have our Post-Mission Trip report. This year’s Ecuador trip was fantastic! I am praying to see how God will really use these short-term mission trips to impact our local church here in Fairdale.

Tonight’s meeting will be full of pictures and videos and shared experiences from the various team members.

Here are two pictures of some “cuy.” Cuy is a delicacy in Ecuador. The folks were so gracious to serve us some our last night there in Ecuador. It was very tasty. “Cuy” is guinea pig!

Often times you hear people say that Christianity “is not about a religion, its about a relationship.” When that is said, they are referring to having a personal relationship with Jesus.

And this is good. Because being a Christian is about having a personal relationship with Christ. Examples from the Bible that show this are limitless. (He is our shepherd and we are his sheep. He is our God and we are His people. Adoption. He is our Father. We have come to know Him. He loves us deeply. He knows us intimately. He desires for us to know and understand Him well. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit. etc. etc.)

Well as I recently read through Second Samuel, I was challenged by David’s ability to speak of God in such a personal way.

If someone was to ask you “Please tell me about your personal relationship with God.” How would you respond? Does your faith have a real personal aspect to it?

Second Samuel 22 begins like this:

“And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.”

So that is the context. What David is about to say next, the song he is about to sing, is based on how God has been working personally in David’s life. The next 3 verses (that is verses 2, 3 & 4) of chapter 22 are David’s song, or response to his personal relationship with God. Notice how personal this sounds.

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”

Wow! What a connection to God that David has! In just three short verses he uses the word “my” ten times in referring to God. God, the God of the Bible, the one and only and true God is David’s God! Now that’s personal!

David says to God, you are:

• my rock
• my fortress
• my deliverer
• my God
• my rock
• my shield
• my salvation
• my stronghold
• my refuge
• my savior

David is able to speak of God in a way that is deeper and more meaningful than mere objective truths about the nature of God. David speaks (or sings) of God in a real and personal way.

No wonder God is able to say that David is “a man after God’s own heart.”

May we be real followers of Christ with a real personal relationship with the LORD like we see from David in 2 Samuel 22.