So Ashy

Today is Ash Wednesday; a day that signals the start of a period of fasting, mourning, and repentance for Christians, the season of Lent. This morning I attended an Ash Wednesday service and received upon my brow a cross of ash. In the Old Testament the prophets are always ripping their clothes and sitting around wearing ashes in mourning and repentance for the sins of Israel. I felt today a connection with those ancient prophets as I repented of my own sin and sat covered in ash in repentance for the sins of my country and my generation. Over the next forty days I will be participating in lent, an time of confession, reflection and repentance for the sins I have committed, and by extension, the sins my people have committed. This is a sad and dark time, but as the title of this blog reminds us, hope remains, and that hope is in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now is a time for repentance for our sins, but repentance is not a mere cerebral activity, it is transformation and rebirth in Christ. Join with me this Lenten season in an act of repentance, and look forward to the joy of Christ risen.

Missio Dei

So, once again Providence has hosted it's annual missions conference, Missio Dei. As the chair of this event I feel that it went quite well, there were things that could definitely have been improved, but overall I feel it was a success. Organizing this event was an experience and half and learned so much from it. I thought I'd like to share some reflections from this event with you.

"Thy will be done" whether I like it or not. I might as well go along with it.

"Ask and you shall receive," God provides double, just in case we miss it.

Jason was right in saying that the gospel is unlikely, those who were most inspired to take up the call of the gospel were those whom I least thought cared.

Christ is Lord, not the job description.

"If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it."

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

The gospel is indeed inevitable, Christ himself is building his church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

As Dr. Schellenberg often says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit." Missio Dei is a living testament to that truth.

The whole world groans beneath the whip of its slave driver, in Christ however, there is freedom indeed.

"Finally my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord"