Mission Trip Observations

Well our trip to Arlington went well. It was a great time for our group to serve the Hispanic Bible Church in Arlington. Our contacts were Craig and Barbara Prather, who are Countryside missionaries and work at the church. We ran three bible clubs a day in different neighborhoods designed to create contacts for the church to follow up on. Our programs included games, crafts, skits, puppet show and songs, basically it was a mini-VBS. Our students did a marvelous job of preparing and presenting the material. They took their responsibilities seriously and worked hard to make sure that the kids knew they cared for them, and wanted them to grow in their relationship with the Lord.

I think the part that was the most exciting for me personally was the unity that my group formed with one another. I don't think it was anything that I personally did, but we did a lot of Spirit-led praying. This seemed to do wonders for us and gave us a peace that surpasses my comprehension (hmm seems familiar). I forget how much I enjoy praying with others. There is such a wonderful thing about coming together with brothers and sisters and lifting up requests to the Father. It especially was encouraging to hear our students pray for the bible clubs, for the kids and for one another. Its always encouraging to hear their prayers for one another and the desire they have for God to work in the lives of those they are ministering to. Thanks for your prayers and remind me in a few months to continue praying with them...

To live is Christ,

Jay

Why can't we all just get along...

I've come to the realization that having a blog that is barely updated is worse than not having one at all. I'm setting a goal to write at least once a week.  

 Over the last few months I've been doing some reading in Bruce Demarest's The Cross and Salvation.  The book is required reading for a Soteriology class that I am planning to take with Dr. Horrell in a few weeks.  The book is extremely thorough, almost to a fault, but I find that I have really enjoyed reading it.  The study of salvation and all of its terms could take lifetimes to fully study, yet I am trying to master it in a few weeks!  

One question that I have considered as a result of reading this book is this; is there a way in our churches for Arminians and Calvinists (or other theological systems such as Wesleyans), for those who view doctrine differently to unite to worship, study the Word and serve one another as one body.  So often doctrine divides, but this side of heaven can we put aside those differences and focus on those things that we have in common.  Now I'm not saying we let anyone and everyone in.  Its just that from a theological standpoint many of us share a lot in common.  We hold that the Bible is God's Word, practical for our lives.  Jesus is the Eternal Son, who became a man, lived perfectly and paid for sin on the cross.  He physically rose and offers eternal life.  I firmly believe John Calvin is in heaven, along with Jacob Arminius, Martin Luther, John Wesley, D.L. Moody, and a host of other people whose beliefs were different than mine or yours.  We all together represent the large circle of orthodoxy, of the the body of Christ.   

I'd like to think its possible for me and an Arminian and a Calvinist to be able to form a church that has a foundation broad enough for us to worship and study together, encouraging each other in our faith, but also allows freedom in these differences that we have.

I know this is idealistic, but if we acknowledge that there will be people in heaven who have differences of thought, etc, then shouldn't this be our goal while on earth?  I don't know how you would handle conflicts that would inevitably come over these doctrines other than just to say it would take mature, humble yet confident Christians on both sides of the disagreements who could understand the focus shouldn't be on winning the argument, but  on influencing our local community together.  Just thoughts to consider...

To live is Christ,

Jay