GroshLink

 

God created us to share in this relationship (between the Father and the Son) and gave us a share in the communion of the Trinity at creation. This is the primary thing that we lost through the Fall. God's promise after the Fall, around which one may organize the entire history and teaching of the Old Testament, was ultimately a promise that the Son of God would come to bring human beings back into a share in the communion of the Trinity. In fulfillment of this promise, God the Son personally entered human life by becoming man while remaining God, and in his human life he showed us both God's love and perfect human love. At his crucifixion, God the Son bore in his own person our estrangement from God; as man he was crushed by our sin, and as man he was forsaken in our place by his own Father. Through his resurrection and ascension, he was restored as man to the fellowship of the Trinity which he had always shared as God, and in the process he opened the way for people who are united to him by faith to be restored to fellowship with the Trinity as well.  The Holy Spirit, whom the Father and the Son sent to earth, dwells in believers, uniting us to the Son and thus granting us the participation in the Father-Son relationship that became possible through Christ's life, death and resurrection. Through the Spirit, Christian are called to live -- both individually and as the church -- so as to anticipate the time when God will transform the entire created world and bring his dwelling here to be with his people for eternity. -- Donald Fairburn, Life in the Trinity: An Introduction to Theology with the Help of the Church Fathers (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2009), 232-233. 

 

Desire to read more?  Visit the ESN post A Beautiful Summation of the Gospel.

On Monday, while doing dishes/laundry, watching the girls, and keeping the house in order, I listened to Jim Belcher's Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional (InterVarsity Press, 2009). I've heard the book referred to and excerpted in a number of contexts, but it's good to finally have heard it for myself.  Now it's time to search out some of the sections which I found of particular interest and reflect upon them.  Anyone interested in joining me?  Here's where the conversation begins:

This book is written for those who are caught in between.  They are unhappy with the present state of the evangelical church but are not sure where to turn for an answer.  They like some of what the emerging and traditional camps offer, but they are not completely at ease with either.  The public conflict makes this anxiety worse, and these people don't know who to trust or believe.  What if both are off target?  Is there a third option, a via media?  I believe there is a third way.  It is what C.S. Lewis called the "Deep Church."  Deep church is a term taken from Lewis's 1952 letter to the Church Times in which he defended a supernatural revelation against the modernist movement.  He wrote, "Perhaps the trouble is that as supernaturalists, whether 'Low' or 'High' Church, thus taken together, they lack a name.  May I suggest 'Deep Church'; or, if that fails to in humility, Baxter's 'mere Christians'?" -- pp.13-14.

Do you find yourself caught in between?  And if so, how have you dealt with it? 

Recently came across the Center for Gospel Culture. Check it out.

How did this start? What was the vision/dream behind CGC?

A core value that we have at our church at Citylife, is to have everyone understand not only the truth of the gospel, but the implications of that truth into every dimension of life. It’s not merely about the gospel being preached and received, but how it can be lived. As a council member of the gospel coalition, I have been thinking, praying, wrestling, and having conversations with others on how we can recapture the center of evangelicalism, which is the gospel. I believe that the center exists to establish the centrality of the gospel as the basis for developing a gospel culture worldview in renewing every dimension of an individual’s life –spiritual, social, theological, ecclesiological, ministerial, psychological, corporate, and professional –so that individuals would be able to think, act, and live in line with the truth of the gospel (Gal 2:14). We want to establish a gospel central worldview for people who want to live out a life that revolves around a gospel culture. I also had a burden to bring some of my background training in biblical theology to help people to have an inter-canonical, diachronic, historical-redemptive, reading the scriptures along its big story plotline. -- http://centerforgospelculture.org/about/faq/

While serving on the prayer team at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Spring Leadership Team Meetings, I connected with a number of friends from across the movement.  With regard to Great Lakes, I particularly appreciated the opportunity to

1. be one of the first at the Spring Meetings to see pictures of Ronen Lewis (born 3/22/2010), i.e., the first grandchild of Fred Bailey, Great Lakes East regional director.  May God the Father richly bless Ronen.  May Ronan truly utter joyful sounds/song to the Lord.
2. room with York Moore and learn more about his current work with The Price of Life Outreach.
3. chat with Grove City's College's current campus staff member, i.e., Paul Hassell, regarding the increasing involvement of Missionary Kids (MK's) in the InterVarsity Mission Fellowship (IVMF) chapter of which Theresa and I were members.  He shared that they particularly resonated with a series on multi-cultural ministry, which led to an MK panel for large group.  Excellent idea to bridge multi-cultural, bi-cultural, and cross-cultural ministry, wish I could have been there to hear some of the stories.  Reminded me of the joy of growing in Christ as a member of IVMF.
4. discuss the Emerging Scholars Network with several interested staff.  Pray for new opportunities to develop in Great Lakes.

PS.  For those connected with InterVarsity Staff in Great Lakes/GFM:  Today, while at a gathering of the Brethren in Christ's Atlantic Conference, I met a couple who knew Christian Anible and Cam Anderson.  They shared memories from several decades back about their time on Michigan Tech and Cedar Campus.  I wish that I would have written down their names! It was a great encouragement to share memories of God's great work through Christian and Cam during their time with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.  We miss Christian greatly, but know that his musical gifts are being offered in the presence of our King right now.

[insert Hallelujah Chorus] Eden's eyesight has improved to such an extent that she only needs to wear a patch for 2 hours a day instead of 6!!!! -- originally posted Facebook, 3/26/2010, 3:11pm.

Looking for some fun family projects for the weekend/spring? Check out Recycled Fun: 5 Spring Activities that are Truly Green. What suggestions do you have to add to the list?

I'm looking forward to hearing and chatting with Scot McKnight, Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois), at tomorrow's gathering of Atlantic Conference Brethren in Christ Church. Pray for the gathering to be a blessing to all present and provide insight regarding direction for individuals, families, local congregations, and related ministries. Pray for connections to be made at InterVarsity's Emerging Scholars Network Table which will lead to more partnerships for the Central PA Christian Scholars Network.

Note: Ministry Summary created for the Atlantic Conference Brethren in Christ Church available on-line: page 1, page 2.

Walter Bradley, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Baylor University, will be speaking on Friday, 3/26, 7:30 pm, Messiah College.  Some graduate students from PSU-Hershey will drive over to hear him address Alleviating Global Poverty Using Technology:  How Can I (or You) Possibly Make a Difference? ... http://www.messiah.edu/godandscience/spring10/bradley.html.

If you're in the area and interested, come and join us. If you're interested, but can't make it ... don't worry, notes will be coming ;-)

Inner city prep for college, which goes nearly year round!  Lots of excellent pursuits, but I was particularly impressed by the commitment to learning (vs. teaching to the tests).  Not surprising that the same friend who I quote in The Purpose of Education passed this along.   

Role model school in Detroit (Video, 3/20/2010, 2:36)
A Detroit school serves as a role model for a failing school district, reports CNN's Allan Chernoff.

PS.  How about casting vision by hanging university banners in the hallways.  Must be fun during March Madness!

While in prayer today, the Spirit impressed upon me Ephesians 4:29-5:2, 5:15-20 as prayer for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship as a movement, i.e., on campus and in leadership. May this Word also speak to you.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ...

Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Note:   More texts on the love of God coming. ...

Heading out to join the prayer team for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Spring Team Meetings. 

Pray for

• Safe travel to/from Madison, WI, for all delegates
• Lord's discernable Presence and direction in all discussions and decisions
• Clarity in vision for the future, one which is founded upon the Word of God, led by the Spirit, and aligned with our particular call within the Body of Christ
• Opportunity for me to make several important connections

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.  -- Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today we ask for you to join us in focused prayer for our family and ministry. For those who are in South Central PA, please join us 11 am - noon, Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ, 996 High St, Elizabethtown, Lounge.  In addition to the March Prayer Calendar, we've shared some additional prayer requests below.

Prayer requests from Theresa:

1. Praise: Enjoyed this weekend's cabin trip with Ellen and Hayley. Looking forward to the fun years ahead as all four girls continue to mature as women of God. What a joy to catch glimpses of Eden beginning to flourish!
2. Insight:  Eden's kindergarden registration and all the meetings which will be associated in trying to make the transition and coming year(s) as smooth and beneficial as possible.
3. Calendar: 
   
   1. When Tom's traveling for InterVarsity Meetings, a lot is going on at home.  Pray for the ability to arrange the needed childcare.
   2. Preparations for the summer, getting all the plans in order.

Prayer requests from Tom:

1. Praise:
   1. Joy of growing in Christ not only as an individual but as a member of an earthly and heavenly family, i.e., the Body of Christ.
   2. The deepening of the work with the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN), in particular the ESN Blog and the Central PA Christian Scholars Network (also visit Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Emerging Scholars Series).
2. Discernment:  New leader selection for PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society is tonight.  Pray for the passing on the torch to give glory to God, to continue to advance the Kingdom of God.  Praise God for the good report from the 20 who served on the Dominican Republic Spring Break Missions Team.
3. Strength and spiritual insight as Tom takes part in
   1. InterVarsity's Spring Leadership Mtgs:  member of the prayer team
   2. InterVarsity's Graduate and Faculty Ministry National Staff Team Mtgs
      1. Advisory Team
      2. Bibliography for delegates, Query: Intergenerational Ministry Bibliography
      3. Resource table for delegates
      4. Workshop leader, Query: Social Media, Community Development, Campus Ministry 

In Christ, Tom & Theresa

PS.  New ministry summary sheet prepared for the Atlantic Conference Brethren in Christ Church, which is meeting on Saturday, March 28: page 1, page 2.

PPS.  We're developing a calendar for focused days of prayers, more information coming shortly.

I came across II Corinthians 3:18 in an email and I was going to post it as an encouragement, but I thought I couldn't post it without 3:17.  And then. ...

Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. -- II Corinthians 3:7-18 (NIV)

This Lord's day, may you know and grow in the hope, the boldness, the freedom, and the transformation into the likeness of our Lord as described by the Apostle Paul.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. -- Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV)

Over the past several weeks, Eden's found ambulances of great interest and used her medical kids toys to exam family members numerous times.* On Sunday, we passed by an accident with an ambulance arriving and followed a second ambulance for about a mile.** So when we arrived at my parent's she went straight to the computer to find a picture of the inside of an ambulance and find out just what the bed looked like.  We looked at several sites, but she particularly liked taking the 360 tour of Rescue 53: Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad again and again.

*With Lily trailing behind her and copying her every move.

**For part of ride, Eden desired to be a veterinarian. That was probably based upon Hayley sharing her vocational interest. But Eden moved from being a veterinarian for animals to being a veterinarian for animals/humans to being doctor for humans.

Thank-you to my friends in Christ who passed along a quote from Life in the Trinity: An Introduction to Theology with the Help of the Church Fathers (Donald Fairbairn, InterVarsity Press, 2009).  I pulled my copy from the InterVarsity Press box and have been finding it an engaging combination of Scripture, quotes from the Church Fathers, and author commentary.  Even more importantly, it's been drawing me in closer communion/relationship with God.  I'll share some key quotes in the coming days/weeks.  But if you can’t wait, swing by Google Preview ;-)

In the below email from a brother in Christ, I was particularly struck by the statement regarding the timelessness of some precious dinner conversations with believers.  I've had a number of such conversations and long for them every time I meet with a brother and sister in Christ, a high expectation isn't it.  How about you?

In addition, I yearn/pray heaven to draw near when meeting with those who have yet to join me in following Christ, stepping into the reality of the Kingdom of God.  I know that many yearned/prayed through conversations with me and greatly rejoiced when the foundation and direction of my life was transformed by the work of God through his Word, Spirit, people, acts through creation/circumstances.  

sinclair ferguson gave a deeply moving worshipful address on john 17 at sproul's orlando conference over a year ago...the communion within the trinity, now being extended and shared with all of us...reminiscent of a married couple wanting children to extend their family and the joy of fellowship with one another...i think First John talks about the triuine God wanting to extend the joy of what they had out into the creation, to bring us all together...they in us, us in them, and us together with one another... [Note: Tom encourages you to prayerfully consider I John 3-5]

and i am thinking again how much we need the precious gift of at least one believer who is a friend that we can not only communicate with, but have communion with...the best dinners i've had lasted a few hours, but seemed like a few minutes (the timelessness of heaven?)...so open to sharing with one another, no barriers, no judgmentalism...the freedom and joy of listening to one another...caring , understanding...a time of renewal...and new hope...

Note:  I added the links to provide more for those who desired to explore the material further.

Just came across Harvard Basketball Takes Off (March 12, 2010) on InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's website.  Here's the first two paragraphs of the article.

Harvard has never seen anything like Jeremy Lin. In fact U.S. college basketball has never seen anything quite like Jeremy Lin, an Asian American basketball player who became a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award as he led his Harvard team to its best record ever this season.

But Jeremy is just as committed to leading his weekly Bible study with the Harvard Radcliffe Asian American Christian Fellowship (HRAACF) as he is to leading his basketball teammates to victory. He’s also begun a Bible study with some of his basketball teammates.

Note: One of my earlier posts on Jeremy Lin: How does your faith shape the way you behave on the court? 

Today Penn State returns from spring break.  But I'm afraid that none of the students on the various campuses (or on many other institutions in the system of American higher education) will return to a library such as those found in Librophiliac Love Letter: A Compendium of Beautiful Libraries (Note: there are a few American libraries which make the compendium). 

Do you think working in such libraries opens up the life of the mind, imagination? How do utility and beauty vie with one-another when considering the construction of institutions in higher education?  Are such libraries a thing of the past, the dark ages from dead traditions which gave more space and placed more value upon beauty ;-)  Any votes on which library posted on the site should be listed as most beautiful or is comparision not even possible? 

Finding yourself in the deep waters?  A friend passed along Isaiah 43:1-3a as an encouragement and I pass it along to you.  Receive the blessing of the Word and Real Presence of God.

 ¹ But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
      O Israel, the one who formed you says,
   “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
      I have called you by name; you are mine.
 ² When you go through deep waters,
      I will be with you.
   When you go through rivers of difficulty,
      you will not drown.
   When you walk through the fire of oppression,
      you will not be burned up;
      the flames will not consume you.
 ³ For I am the Lord, your God,
      the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. -- Isaiah 43:1-3a

Let us pray for one-another today, never forgetting that God the Father is present in a big way and shaping us more and more into the image of His Son Christ Jesus through the Word, Spirit, Body of Christ, and context in which we find ourselves. 

You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. -- Matthew 5:3 (The Message).

Much to do today. ...  Pray for the leading of God's Spirit of in all my travels and conversations.

Humility -- Jeremy Lin.  Amen!  Changes so much, win or loose.

• The Faith and Fate of Jeremy Lin (3/3/2010)
• Jeremy Lin, Faith, and Ethnicity (3/4/2010)

PS. Earlier post Harvard Hoops Star Following Christ. Join me in prayer for Jeremy's continued growth as a follower of Christ who grows in humility and plays to the glory of God. HT: Miller for keeping me up on this developing story.  

Pray for the focus and creative energy to write for the ESN blog. Thank-you to Miller for this inspirational piece by which to begin the day.

Join me in praying for the 20 person PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society's missions team. They are currently serving in the Dominican Republic over PSU's Spring Break. The team is comprised of a graduate student, medical students, nurses, and physicians. Pray for God to be working through them to those whom they minister to/alongside. Pray for safety in travel, the provision of necessary supplies, the healing touch of God in the physical and spiritual body. Pray for grace and insight when they return on Saturday to a variety of schedules and the picking up of daily routine.

.

Amish Grace & Pop Culture (Tom Grosh, ESN Blog, 3/3/2010) ... Responses?