July 2005 Archives
My Grandma Seaver died tonight. In God's kind providence I was able to spend a portion of this evening with her in the I.C.U. After kissing her and whispering in her ear one last time I left the hospital for home, a 50 minute drive. The Lord graciously took her Home minutes before I arrived at my earthly home here in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. While I was on my way home to see my wonderful God-given wife and three children, Grandma was on her way Home to see her most wonderful God-given Savior (who loved her and gave himself for her) and reunite with her wonderful God-given husband (who went Home to be with the Lord on my 21st birthday). Yes, arriving home to be with my family was and always is sweet. But Grandma's arrival Home to see her Blessed Savior is as sweet as eternity is unending. She is now Home never to leave home again. I love you, Grandma, and deeply envy the precious-beyond-description welcome you received when you met our blessed Savior face-to-face! Enjoy the worship in the Home where there is fulness of joy and pleasures forever more!!! There is home and there is HOME...
My daughter, Hannah, wrote a note to Grandma Great yesterday that my mom read to her mom today (or it may have been last night). I close this post with Hannah's encouraging words (as best as I can remember them):
"Dear Grandma Great,
I love you! I remember all of those special times that we had together. If you die soon, remember that you will be with Jesus forever! Give Daniel a hug and kiss for me.
Love,
Hannah"
"The gospel of Christ crucified and risen is meant to be preached to our soul--both in corporate worship where we hear it week after week, and from hour to hour as we preach it to ourselves in the daily fight for joy...The cross must be central in the fight for joy. We must put ourselves under is preaching on the Lord's day, and we must preach it to ourselves all day every day" (John Piper, When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy, 76-77).
The orphanage where we served cared for 300 girls who were under the age of one.
You can find mission trip photos taken by Gabe Neville here (co-team leader).
there will be more to come
but here's a few
they're a little large
but i'll fix that soon
here's the link: China Trip Pics
you can also find them under "about this blogger" in the sidebar
We are back home with our children after 10 days in China (though we feel like we left some of our children behind in China). I'm still processing the mission trip which turned out to be 10 of the most rewarding days of my life. It was everything I had hoped for and more. I've enjoyed the privilege of leading 5 mission teams with between 25 to 35 members, but I must say that it was very nice change to be a member of a mission team without any of the responsibility that comes with leading one. This was the first time since 1987 that I was able just to be one of many team members on a mission trip. I benefitted significantly from being just “one of the guys.” It was great to do more listening than talking this time. So many kudos to AWAA for the opportunity to join this wonderful mission team!
Speaking of wonderful...I could not have been impressed more with people who comprised the Fuling team. There were 37 people from several different church backgrounds yet we all joined together under the common objective of care for orphans in their affliction (James 1:27). I was both immensely encouraged and rebuked by the sacrificial love that I witnessed my team members demonstrate not only to the children of Fuling, China but also to each other. Our team leaders, Gabe and Eileen (husband and wife), were strong examples of Christlike, gospel-centered service. So thank you Gabe and Eileen and Fuling team members for living out the beautiful gospel with each other and the orphans. Melissa, Hannah, and I could not have hoped for 34 better team members with whom to serve. Thank you for making much of Christ in the way you conducted yourselves those 10 days. Your walk was indeed worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).
One of many grace-filled things God did had to do with the Fuling newspaper. Considering the fact that Fuling, China is a city with a population of 3 million, it’s bordering on remarkable that our mission team made the front page. The article describes our work with the Fuling orphans in simple yet very thoughtful and thankful terms. It is in the process of being translated. Once the translation is completed I’ll post it. But God was good to make known His tender care for the Fuling fatherless through our short time there. It will be interesting to see what God continues to do in that orphanage where God’s fingerprints can be seen all over the place. Our missionary God does indeed care for the fatherless no matter their country of origin.
Over the next few weeks I will be blogging about the trip. Most posts will include excerpts from my journal. But all posts will include pictures of the Fuling children. My goal is to give you an idea of the kind of thing God is doing in orphanages around the world that you have never heard of.
Original Post: "If it has been a while since you have read any articles by Tim Keller or Jerry Bridges, it may be time for you to give them another careful read. God has graciously grown these two men in their understand of the gospel and its implications. So we would do well to read what they have written fairly often. My personal goal is to read each of their articles at least three times a year. Why? I am so quick to functionally forget the objective truth of the gospel and its penetrating implications.
"Over the next 2 weeks I will be posting the links to particular articles they have written. Please receive these posts as encouragements to give your mind to the gospel afresh."
Today's recommendation is an article by Steven L. Childers entitled "True Spirituality: The Transforming Power of the Gospel."
Original Post: "If it has been a while since you have read any articles by Tim Keller or Jerry Bridges, it may be time for you to give them another careful read. God has graciously grown these two men in their understand of the gospel and its implications. So we would do well to read what they have written fairly often. My personal goal is to read each of their articles at least three times a year. Why? I am so quick to functionally forget the objective truth of the gospel and its penetrating implications.
"Over the next 2 weeks I will be posting the links to particular articles they have written. Please receive these posts as encouragements to give your mind to the gospel afresh. "
Today's recommendation is three sermon manuscripts by John Piper on Romans 1:16-17. In them John considers how it is the gospel saves believers. These three sermons were huge for me when I first heard them in 1998. If you've not read them before, let me strongly encourage you to do so.
How Does the Gospel Save Believers? - Part One How Does the Gospel Save Believers? - Part Two How Does the Gospel Save Believers? - Part Three
I am currently in Fuling, China serving in an orphanage. Our team is having a remarkable time. Be expecting excerpts from my journal and choice photos of the children upon my return very soon. You can visit the Fuling orphanage at Fuling Kids.
Grace and Peace,
Dan
"Pure and undefiled religion is to visit orphans in their affliction" (James 1).
Original Post: "If it has been a while since you have read any articles by Tim Keller or Jerry Bridges, it may be time for you to give them another careful read. God has graciously grown these two men in their understand of the gospel and its implications. So we would do well to read what they have written fairly often. My personal goal is to read each of their articles at least three times a year. Why? I am so quick to functionally forget the objective truth of the gospel and its penetrating implications.
"Over the next 2 weeks I will be posting the links to particular articles they have written. Please receive these posts as encouragements to give your mind to the gospel afresh."
Today's recommendation is a short article by Mike Bullmore (a Sovereign Grace pastor). Its title should be enough to entice you to take the 10 minutes necessary to read it:
"How should the gospel function in the life of the local church?" (pdf)
Original Post: "If it has been a while since you have read any articles by Tim Keller or Jerry Bridges, it may be time for you to give them another careful read. God has graciously grown these two men in their understand of the gospel and its implications. So we would do well to read what they have written fairly often. My personal goal is to read each of their articles at least three times a year. Why? I am so quick to functionally forget the objective truth of the gospel and its penetrating implications.
"Over the next 2 weeks I will be posting the links to particular articles they have written. Please receive these posts as encouragements to give your mind to the gospel afresh."
Today's recommended article is by Tim Keller. In it he briefly discusses the implications of the gospel as it pertains to the church's worship.
Evangelistic Worship (pdf)
Original Post: "If it has been a while since you have read any articles by Tim Keller or Jerry Bridges, it may be time for you to give them another careful read. God has graciously grown these two men in their understand of the gospel and its implications. So we would do well to read what they have written fairly often. My personal goal is to read each of their articles at least three times a year. Why? I am so quick to functionally forget the objective truth of the gospel and its penetrating implications.
"Over the next 2 weeks I will be posting the links to particular articles they have written. Please receive these posts as encouragements to give your mind to the gospel afresh."
Today's Recommendation - Let me encourage you to read the following article by Jerry Bridges:
Gospel-Driven Sanctfication (pdf)
If you do not have time to read it today, please consider finding some time within the next few days.
