by Kimberly | May 2, 2011 | Uncategorized
Wow – its already May. Where does the time go when you are having fun?
This month is a busy one for me, so here we go.
1. First, to honor Christ through honoring Professor Chip Stam from the RDU area but last as a prof at SBTS. He is now worshiping Jesus with no pain. He met his Maker last night after a 4 year struggle with cancer. I look forward to rejoicing with friends this weekend in Louisville as we celebrate his home going.
2. The work I’ve been pouring life into the last year finally launched. Not all done, but ready to put it out there and see how God will use it to bless churches and the nations. Check it out: http://www.treasuringchristonline.com
3. In three weeks from right now I’ll be on a big boat sailing up the coast of Alaska. Can’t tell you how excited I am! 🙂
4. Between now and then though I have much to do: a conference (Advance the Church), a night with Tim Keller to benefit DurhamCares, a trip to Louisville, welcoming friends in town, a wedding, work, writing, book reviews, training for a half marathon. BUSY!!!! 🙂
5. God is so gracious to me – in little ways!
Link Love:
1. Love Tim Chester’s post on food
2. Jess includes another make-under post: your workday!
3. Makes me long for football season. Only time of year I wish I didn’t live in NC: I’m not a Panther’s fan
4. Oh my goodness, I so want to make this.
5. Ann writes a great post on how to be a missional family. You can also view a great resource we did at Providence on this topic as well:
6. I love my friend Courtney and her views on marriages and weddings.
by Kimberly | Apr 29, 2011 | Uncategorized
Do you ever wish your life was somehow different than what it is? Good or bad: are there things that you don’t have that you want and desire to excess?
If you have any of these thoughts running through your head or heart at any time of day, you need to get yourself a copy of Stephen Altrogge’s new book by Crossway Books entitled The Greener Grass Conspiracy.
This is written in true Stephen style: comical, lively, personal, biblical, gospel-oriented, Scripture dominant, applicable. And full of tweetables! 🙂 So many times I’ve wanted to put a quote on twitter (and yes, I already have) or posted to an email to a friend who might need to hear exactly what Altrogge wrote. He is a pastor and this heart of a shepherd comes out in every word he writes.
Based on some conversations I had with friends last night, I want to leave you with one of the quotes I loved from this book: (you’ll have to purchase a copy to read the rest)
“We’re saying that eternal fellowship with God, purchased at a great cost to God, isn’t enough to satisfy our souls.” (pg 72)
by Kimberly | Apr 25, 2011 | Uncategorized
Happy Day after Easter everyone! I pray that if you celebrated Easter yesterday and the alive Gospel of Jesus Christ – that it was a fabulous day of remembering our hope in the gospel! Jesus is life: and much sweeter than any hollow milk chocolate Easter Bunny.
I loved my whole weekend: immersed in the gospel, hanging out with friends, exploring new cities, water, beach. (Above picture taken in New Bern on the Neuse River)
Here we go:
1. Less than a month till Alaska. I get more and more excited about it!
2. I cooked some salmon yesterday – yummy! Who needs ham on Easter?
3. Have you ever pondered how many Bojangles there are in NC? A. Lot.
4. Sleeping has been better, just never getting enough of it – know what I mean?
5. Plugging away at my job. Still love my job. As I was talking to a gentleman this weekend: that is grace above grace to have a job that you love to do!
6. Friends are such a blessing in my life. I hope you have some good ones to share life with!
Link Love:
1. I love being described as hospitable only by God’s grace: here is a good post
2. This family is precious to me!
3. I love this song. The choir at FBCD sang it yesterday before the sermon.
4. JD posts on how to teach OT characters
5. Another great post on hospitality
Short and sweet this week! Enjoy and be blessed.
by Kimberly | Apr 18, 2011 | Uncategorized
1. Yes, I survived the storms. We had plenty of tornadoes in my immediate area on Saturday afternoon. I had a shower to go to, so I ended up driving through the worst part without me knowing it was the worst part. God is protectice. I put on a CD that brings peace to me, and just prayed aloud for safety. More it was: “Jesus!” He is near!
2. Shanes in concert on Saturday night. The music was good, but since it was a seemingly youth event (not advertised as such), they seemed a little more ADHD in their talking between songs.
3. Palm Sunday Communion service at my church last night was the best service at Providence i’ve been to in a year. Freedom in worship, focus on the gospel in every element. So good.
4. This week: as much focus in the Christian world is on the gospel: the work of Christ on the Cross: our sin that put Him there because the wrath of God has to be paid…I think of sin and how it affects much of life today. Longing to go back and re-do things and not sin. Not to have sin affect life today. Knowing that God restores. He is gracious and kind. Brings forgiveness and no condemnation. May I reflect that truth always in my relationships with others who are sinners like me: friends who let me down, anyone, even the driver who drives me crazy because he doesn’t know how to drive. Simple truth: forgiveness. Costly, though.
5. One of my fave songs right now: Old Alabama from Brad Paisley
6. Have you ever thought about prayer requests: and seeing how God answers them. Maybe with a no, maybe with a yes, maybe with a not right now. God does indeed answer the prayers of His children. Are we willing and ready to accept the answer: and are we watchful for it?
7. I am walking in 4000 steps for Wake Forest’s Pregnancy Center. I have some money to raise – I get to raise – you get to support. Go here to give to such an amazing, gospel-focused worth.
Link Love:
1. My friend Beth posted this – and I loved it. Sorta reminds me of the King George song, “Living and Living Well”
2. Good practical post for parents from my friend:
3. Moms: do you need a Spring craft to do with your children or something fun you want to do for the Easter table centerpiece?
4. Love this piece by the Resurgence:
5. Another great post at the Resurgence by Tim Keller on forgiveness and reconciliation
Happy EASTER! Live to Christ!
by Kimberly | Apr 11, 2011 | Uncategorized
1. Update from last week: sleep. Two nights in a row I got 7 hours and 5.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Praise Jesus. That was after two nights in a row of 2 hours and 45 minutes of sleep. So, God is gracious and sustaining!
2. I had a fabulous weekend: beautiful weather, wonderful friends, fun time photographing, fabulous food, great sermon on baptism from Danny Akin who is the president of SEBTS, and talks with friends…
3. How have you learned compassion in your life?
4. This week I am living life with folks, having some conclusion meetings (from year long events), and have a full Saturday with a concert by Shane and Shane. Can’t wait!
Link Love:
1. I’m going to be reading this new book from Crossway. You’ll want to get it (but watch the video here)
2. If you can’t go to the Gospel Coalition (like I can’t), you can at least watch the main sessions here for free.
3. Post about sharing the gospel with your young kids written by a friend of mine who serves in our children’s ministry here at PBC.
4. I don’t like the fact that America is impacting the world in this way.
5. Resurgence puts out some good stuff. This is on marriage.
6. Love and appreciate Mary Kassian – here is a good explanatory post by her.
7. Jenna always comes up with delicious recipes. This might be on the agenda this summer!
by Kimberly | Apr 5, 2011 | Uncategorized
Never judge a book by its by-line. That’s what I’ve learned.
Dr. Alex Chediak, author and professor at California Baptist University, has written a theological and practical book guiding students to live wisely and biblically during their college years. This book covers topics like study habits, interpersonal relationship, familial relationships, credit cards, scheduling, grades, and even brown-nosing the favorite professor to improve your grade (or wait, how not to do that).
The introduction and first “common mistake” lays the foundation for everything else. Chediak introduces students to a term that is the bedrock for everything else they will do at college: worldview. This is the most important thing a student can take with him when he enters his first dorm
room or first elective class. Chediak emphasizes how important a biblical worldview is to have: because there will be many opposing views that appear – even at a Christian college.
Alex takes this base and then hits on quite possibly every topic that a college student could ask when entering or maneuvering through their college years. I like the “real-life” questions that he has brought in from current students so he can put feet to his advice. Chediak also shares examples from his own time in college, or his wife’s experience during her college years. He also has discussion questions at the end of each chapter, making this a great book to use a small group (maybe high school seniors’ summer Bible study?). He lays a foundation for fighting against the culture around students that say its ok not to grow up (mooch off their parents, don’t work during college, move back home when you graduate, pile up
credit card debt, be weak and rely on your parents to fight your battles).
Chediak definitely aims at a particular target audience: the Christian high schooler poised to attend college (probably away from home). He hits this target. This book will be valuable to them.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
“Worldview & Character -> Attitudes & Behaviors -> Habits & Destiny” – pg xxxii
“Intentionality involves taking the time to examine our values so that our relational lives more accurately mirror our deepest priorities.” – pg 63
“Never date someone who doesn’t share your desires to live for God’s glory.” – pg 95 (this is different than just dating a Christian.)
“God’s plan is for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church – in an intentional, sacrificial, initiating fashion. God’s plan is for wives to nurture and affirm the loving leadership of their husbands, complementing and completing them, so that together they stand far stronger than either of them could separately.” – pg 107 (never too early to teach biblical gender roles!)
Wow – its already May. Where does the time go when you are having fun?
