C.S. Lewis once remarked, "It is terrible to find how little progress one's philosophy and charity have made when they are brought to the test of domestic life." It is distressing to realize how little impact what we claim to believe has on the way we live. Everything in our culture militates against any expression of Christian life. But that is no excuse. Jesus continues to call us to live lives that are set apart, in the world but not of the world. It is no easy task. But it is how we are to live. It takes living with the conscious intent of engaging the world to demonstrate God's love and requires a constant, watchful vigil on our part in order to be consistent. That's being missional, living every day with the conscious knowing that our lives are not to be lived just for ourselves.
It seems the only new year's resolution I have ever kept consistently is to not make new year's resolutions. But this year I resolve to live with a greater awareness that faith and life coincide everywhere and in everything. I cannot claim to believe in Jesus Christ and remain unchanged.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Saturday, November 28, 2009
A Guide to Christian Living
A Guide to Christian Living, John Calvin.
The Banner of Truth Trust. 2009.
Reformation Heritage Books
When John Calvin first began writing his Institutes of the Christian Religion, he had in mind a short handbook or manual which would set out the essentials of the Christian faith. Although the persecution of Protestants in France led him in time to accentuate the apologetic nature of the book, the Institutes, as first published in 1536, remained a work of Christian instruction, intended, as Calvin says, for those who were ‘touched with some zeal for religion’, and principally for those among his French compatriots who ‘were hungering and thirsting for Christ’, and who ‘might be shaped to true godliness’.
No chapter better corresponds to the author’s original intention than that entitled ‘On the Christian Life’. It offered a clear, balanced set of directions and encouragements to all who desired to live according to the gospel. Strong in its theological affirmation of God’s righteousness and providential care, of the reconciliation won for us by Christ and of the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification, it was equally strong in its pastoral concern for believers who were beset by their own weakness and sin, who daily endured trial and temptation and who nevertheless, united to Christ by faith, shared in his life and tasted his power.
The Christian life, as Calvin describes it, is lived simultaneously in the shadow of the cross and in the bright light of the resurrection. That the writer himself knew something of the cost of discipleship is clear from a consideration of his own experience. The distress of exile, the burden of poverty, the hurt of slander and misrepresentation, the threat of physical harm, were all things he knew at first hand. Farel, Calvin’s colleague, rightly calls him ‘my good, true brother, who is a partner in the cross of Jesus, . . . a man active and upright in the work of the gospel.’ The author who speaks in the Institutes about the pressures of Christian living is no armchair moralist, nor is he an unyielding Stoic for whom overt displays of emotion are a grave weakness. For Calvin tears as well as joy have a valid and necessary place: to be devoid of feeling is to be no better than a stone or block of wood. The essential thing is that, in good times and in bad, we continue to trust God who through grace has adopted us as his children, who quickens and comforts us by his Spirit, and who bids us persevere in well-doing until our life’s end. (From the publisher.)
Martin Luther once wrote, “The words you were running well (Gal. 5.7) contain certain comfort. For with these words Paul pays attention to the trial by which the devout are disciplined. To themselves their life seems dreary, closer to crawling than to running; but when there is sound teaching - which cannot be without results, since it brings the Holy Spirit and his gifts - the life of the devout is strenuous running, even though it may seem to be crawling. To us, of course, it seems that everything is moving ahead slowly and with great difficulty; but what seems slow to us is rapid in the sight of God, and what hardly crawls for us runs swiftly for him.”
To this thought Calvin adds, “...those who stumble and trip up should not depart from the way of the Lord, and that no amount of stumbling should being them to a complete halt. The should always struggle to their feet and try consciously to overcome whatever hinders their advance; although they may totter and tremble, they should never lose heart. Supposing they fall they should pick themselves up, so that, at the end, nothing may stop them pressing forward, or looking toward the kingdom of God, which is their proper goal.”
A Guide to Christian Living deals with the struggles we all face as Christians, how to live as we should as God’s children. These words of Luther and Calvin will resonate with anyone who has been touched by the Spirit of God. We all know how hard it is to run well.
I commend this little book by Calvin. I have found in it, and continue to find, a great deal of encouragement and exhortation in the struggle of living a Christian life. There are few books that could match it in as many pages. Please... buy it, read it. It is sustenance for the journey. You can buy it here.
Jeff T.
The Banner of Truth Trust. 2009.
Reformation Heritage Books
When John Calvin first began writing his Institutes of the Christian Religion, he had in mind a short handbook or manual which would set out the essentials of the Christian faith. Although the persecution of Protestants in France led him in time to accentuate the apologetic nature of the book, the Institutes, as first published in 1536, remained a work of Christian instruction, intended, as Calvin says, for those who were ‘touched with some zeal for religion’, and principally for those among his French compatriots who ‘were hungering and thirsting for Christ’, and who ‘might be shaped to true godliness’.
No chapter better corresponds to the author’s original intention than that entitled ‘On the Christian Life’. It offered a clear, balanced set of directions and encouragements to all who desired to live according to the gospel. Strong in its theological affirmation of God’s righteousness and providential care, of the reconciliation won for us by Christ and of the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification, it was equally strong in its pastoral concern for believers who were beset by their own weakness and sin, who daily endured trial and temptation and who nevertheless, united to Christ by faith, shared in his life and tasted his power.
The Christian life, as Calvin describes it, is lived simultaneously in the shadow of the cross and in the bright light of the resurrection. That the writer himself knew something of the cost of discipleship is clear from a consideration of his own experience. The distress of exile, the burden of poverty, the hurt of slander and misrepresentation, the threat of physical harm, were all things he knew at first hand. Farel, Calvin’s colleague, rightly calls him ‘my good, true brother, who is a partner in the cross of Jesus, . . . a man active and upright in the work of the gospel.’ The author who speaks in the Institutes about the pressures of Christian living is no armchair moralist, nor is he an unyielding Stoic for whom overt displays of emotion are a grave weakness. For Calvin tears as well as joy have a valid and necessary place: to be devoid of feeling is to be no better than a stone or block of wood. The essential thing is that, in good times and in bad, we continue to trust God who through grace has adopted us as his children, who quickens and comforts us by his Spirit, and who bids us persevere in well-doing until our life’s end. (From the publisher.)
Martin Luther once wrote, “The words you were running well (Gal. 5.7) contain certain comfort. For with these words Paul pays attention to the trial by which the devout are disciplined. To themselves their life seems dreary, closer to crawling than to running; but when there is sound teaching - which cannot be without results, since it brings the Holy Spirit and his gifts - the life of the devout is strenuous running, even though it may seem to be crawling. To us, of course, it seems that everything is moving ahead slowly and with great difficulty; but what seems slow to us is rapid in the sight of God, and what hardly crawls for us runs swiftly for him.”
To this thought Calvin adds, “...those who stumble and trip up should not depart from the way of the Lord, and that no amount of stumbling should being them to a complete halt. The should always struggle to their feet and try consciously to overcome whatever hinders their advance; although they may totter and tremble, they should never lose heart. Supposing they fall they should pick themselves up, so that, at the end, nothing may stop them pressing forward, or looking toward the kingdom of God, which is their proper goal.”
A Guide to Christian Living deals with the struggles we all face as Christians, how to live as we should as God’s children. These words of Luther and Calvin will resonate with anyone who has been touched by the Spirit of God. We all know how hard it is to run well.
I commend this little book by Calvin. I have found in it, and continue to find, a great deal of encouragement and exhortation in the struggle of living a Christian life. There are few books that could match it in as many pages. Please... buy it, read it. It is sustenance for the journey. You can buy it here.
Jeff T.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Berlin, Germany English Camp 2010
ENGLISH CAMP 2010
Prenzlauer Berg
Berlin, Germany
This summer we will be providing an exciting week of English Camp for the kids in Prenzlauer Berg, in Berlin, Germany! This camp is designed for 10-15 year olds who want to improve their English. Our purpose for having camp is to make contact with kids, allow them to experience the love of Christ through their relationships with the staff, and to be able to follow up with these relationships during our yearlong ministry. The weekend after camp, we will hold special activities to reach out to the parents of our participants. This amazing time of ministry is only made possible by volunteers who come to Berlin to serve alongside of our staff.
What we are looking for:
-Short term volunteers, high school graduates or older.
Volunteers should be mature Christians who are ready & willing to minister in a cross-cultural situation. Volunteers don’t need to have prior teaching experience. The fact that someone can speak English qualifies them to serve at English Camp!
-Children of volunteers can come if an adult from the states is willing to care for the kids each day during our camp program time.
-Due to the many steps at our camp facilities and to the amount of walking required to maneuver through Berlin, volunteers need to be in reasonably good physical condition.
Staff Descriptions:
Tutors
-Tutors are paired with 2 to 3 participants (ranging in age from 10-15) to work with during the week.
-They do not need to come up with lesson plans/activities, etc. They
will use the material provided by the Camp English Teachers.
English Teachers
Each teacher will be responsible for teaching a certain number of lessons and
activities (approximately 3 or 4) for the week. An English Teacher Coordinator will work with each English teacher to help them prepare & coordinate these lessons, etc. The teachers will also be available to help the tutors during the week.
Music leader
This person will help teach English through song during camp.
Club Leaders
During camp, participants will have the opportunity to learn English as they learn a skill in a daily club. Club themes will be determined based upon what are volunteers are willing to offer or lead. Last year we had a Newspaper, Dance, Short Film, Baking, Game Designing and Baseball Club. Club leaders are responsible for organizing and leading their club each day.
Dates:
Camp Volunteers need to be in Berlin no later than 12 noon on Wednesday,
July 7th. (This means they will need to fly out of the U.S. on Tuesday, July 6th.) They will return from Berlin to the U.S. on Monday, July 19th.
Cost:
1)airfare
2)plus meals/transportation/housing/camp supplies (approximately 900
dollars per person)
3) In addition, volunteers will need to pay any fees required by their
denominational mission organization (administrative fees &/or insurance
fees required by MTW or World Witness)
If you are interested, please sign up on the sheet located on the foreign mission's table. You will need to fill out an MTW application and health form, as well as a Wildwood Short-term Trip Application.
Look for an announcement in the bulletin.
Prenzlauer Berg
Berlin, Germany
This summer we will be providing an exciting week of English Camp for the kids in Prenzlauer Berg, in Berlin, Germany! This camp is designed for 10-15 year olds who want to improve their English. Our purpose for having camp is to make contact with kids, allow them to experience the love of Christ through their relationships with the staff, and to be able to follow up with these relationships during our yearlong ministry. The weekend after camp, we will hold special activities to reach out to the parents of our participants. This amazing time of ministry is only made possible by volunteers who come to Berlin to serve alongside of our staff.
What we are looking for:
-Short term volunteers, high school graduates or older.
Volunteers should be mature Christians who are ready & willing to minister in a cross-cultural situation. Volunteers don’t need to have prior teaching experience. The fact that someone can speak English qualifies them to serve at English Camp!
-Children of volunteers can come if an adult from the states is willing to care for the kids each day during our camp program time.
-Due to the many steps at our camp facilities and to the amount of walking required to maneuver through Berlin, volunteers need to be in reasonably good physical condition.
Staff Descriptions:
Tutors
-Tutors are paired with 2 to 3 participants (ranging in age from 10-15) to work with during the week.
-They do not need to come up with lesson plans/activities, etc. They
will use the material provided by the Camp English Teachers.
English Teachers
Each teacher will be responsible for teaching a certain number of lessons and
activities (approximately 3 or 4) for the week. An English Teacher Coordinator will work with each English teacher to help them prepare & coordinate these lessons, etc. The teachers will also be available to help the tutors during the week.
Music leader
This person will help teach English through song during camp.
Club Leaders
During camp, participants will have the opportunity to learn English as they learn a skill in a daily club. Club themes will be determined based upon what are volunteers are willing to offer or lead. Last year we had a Newspaper, Dance, Short Film, Baking, Game Designing and Baseball Club. Club leaders are responsible for organizing and leading their club each day.
Dates:
Camp Volunteers need to be in Berlin no later than 12 noon on Wednesday,
July 7th. (This means they will need to fly out of the U.S. on Tuesday, July 6th.) They will return from Berlin to the U.S. on Monday, July 19th.
Cost:
1)airfare
2)plus meals/transportation/housing/camp supplies (approximately 900
dollars per person)
3) In addition, volunteers will need to pay any fees required by their
denominational mission organization (administrative fees &/or insurance
fees required by MTW or World Witness)
If you are interested, please sign up on the sheet located on the foreign mission's table. You will need to fill out an MTW application and health form, as well as a Wildwood Short-term Trip Application.
Look for an announcement in the bulletin.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
THE CENTRALITY OF THE GOSPEL
Tim Keller
In Galatians 2:14, Paul lays down a powerful principle. He deals with Peter’s racial pride and cowardice by declaring that he was not living “in line with the truth of the gospel”. From this we see that the Christian life is a process of renewing every dimension of our life-- spiritual, psychological, corporate, social--by thinking, hoping, and living out the “lines” or ramifications of the gospel. The gospel is to be applied to every area of thinking, feeling, relating, working, and behaving. The implications and applications of Galatians 2:14 are vast.
IMPLICATIONS
Implication #1 - The power of the gospel.
First, Paul is showing us that that bringing the gospel truth to bear on every area of life is the way to be changed by the power of God. The gospel is described in the Bible in the most astounding terms. Angels long to look into it all the time. (I Peter 1:12). It does not simply bring us power, but it is the power of God itself, for Paul says "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation" (Rom.1:16). It is also the blessing of God with benefits, which accrue to anyone who comes near (I Cor.9:23). It is even called the very light of the glory of God itself--"they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ...for God...has made his light shine into our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (II Cor.4:4,6)
Interested in reading more? Click here!
Tim Keller
In Galatians 2:14, Paul lays down a powerful principle. He deals with Peter’s racial pride and cowardice by declaring that he was not living “in line with the truth of the gospel”. From this we see that the Christian life is a process of renewing every dimension of our life-- spiritual, psychological, corporate, social--by thinking, hoping, and living out the “lines” or ramifications of the gospel. The gospel is to be applied to every area of thinking, feeling, relating, working, and behaving. The implications and applications of Galatians 2:14 are vast.
IMPLICATIONS
Implication #1 - The power of the gospel.
First, Paul is showing us that that bringing the gospel truth to bear on every area of life is the way to be changed by the power of God. The gospel is described in the Bible in the most astounding terms. Angels long to look into it all the time. (I Peter 1:12). It does not simply bring us power, but it is the power of God itself, for Paul says "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation" (Rom.1:16). It is also the blessing of God with benefits, which accrue to anyone who comes near (I Cor.9:23). It is even called the very light of the glory of God itself--"they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ...for God...has made his light shine into our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (II Cor.4:4,6)
Interested in reading more? Click here!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Good Works
In Matthew 5.16 Jesus said, Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glory your Father who is in heaven. This dismantles the rationalization for privatization, which I am convinced is a device of the devil to keep us from doing good. Here Jesus teaches us to live our lives in such a way that we do not hide from the world what we are doing. This translates into small and regular, if not daily, acts of kindness toward all we come into contact with. A kind word, an offer to help, stopping ourselves on our trips to get involved with other people. This is what it means to be "missional." It means sacrificing our agendas, and comfort, to reach out of ourselves and demonstrate love toward another.
I read this and can't help but think of recent events where I could have reached out to someone with a kind word, or an offer to help but withdrew, as I usually do, thinking to myself, "It's none of my business." But it is. I am to learn to love others, and to be concerned for their welfare as I am concerned for my own welfare.
In Ephesians 2.10 Paul tells us that we have been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God, our Father, prepared for us to walk in before the foundation of the world! That is amazing. It affirms what Jesus is saying about living life in such a way as not to hide our good works, or not to engage other people because "It's none of my business." By being aware of opportunities to engage others, and then engaging, God is glorified. Privatization tells me it's ok to keep truth, and in effect kindness, to myself. If I am to love others I can't keep the truth and kindness of God's amazing love and grace to myself. As His image bearer I must be open and outward- focused. It is not so hard to do small acts of kindness to those we come across, with no other motive than to be compassionate for the sake of Christ. This is not optional.
Further on in the Sermon on the Mount (7.24-27) Jesus tells us that the wise man is the one who acts on His words, he is compared to a man who builds his home on a solid foundation, one that will withstand life's storms; he is compared to the foolish man who builds on sand - a foundation that is uncertain and constantly changing, like one's own opinion and understanding.
The goal for us as Christians is to build our lives on Christ, the Rock; to yield our lives to Him in learning what it means to love God and others according to His word, not our own understanding. He has shown us how we are to live and given us the grace to do so. Don't be deceived into thinking you are justified in keeping to yourself. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glory your Father who is in heaven.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Foreign Mission's Purpose Statement
Our purpose lies in the context of reaching lives for Christ, and then restoring those lives in Christ. To that end Wildwood Church is committed to fulfilling the Great Commission of our Lord by advancing Reformed and covenantal church-planting ministries through word and deed in strategic areas worldwide. We will do this in conjunction with Mission to the World and other like-minded agencies, as well as through fostering a mission’s mentality in our congregation encouraging individuals to consider serving in the foreign field through short-term trips and/or through serving as career missionaries.
We will endeavor to primarily support church-planting ministries, but also consider other types of ministries as the Lord leads us. Our priorities in this are as follows: Wildwood church members, PCA affiliation, MTW missionaries, and other agencies. In addition, we will also seek opportunities to support Reformed theological educational ministries engaged in equipping leaders for the work of ministry worldwide.
We seek as our foundation to be God-centered and God-dependent in all that we do. For unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain.
We desire to build a bridge between Wildwood Church and the missionaries we support worldwide, developing relationships with them that aid them in their work financially, spiritually, and physically. To this end we will promote short-term trips that will contribute to a missionary team’s ministry in the field, as well as seek to join church partnerships with missionary teams as God directs.
Our emphasis in integrating missions throughout the church is to involve church leaders in mission’s opportunities, and to expose the congregation to the various missionary ministries.
We will endeavor to primarily support church-planting ministries, but also consider other types of ministries as the Lord leads us. Our priorities in this are as follows: Wildwood church members, PCA affiliation, MTW missionaries, and other agencies. In addition, we will also seek opportunities to support Reformed theological educational ministries engaged in equipping leaders for the work of ministry worldwide.
We seek as our foundation to be God-centered and God-dependent in all that we do. For unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain.
We desire to build a bridge between Wildwood Church and the missionaries we support worldwide, developing relationships with them that aid them in their work financially, spiritually, and physically. To this end we will promote short-term trips that will contribute to a missionary team’s ministry in the field, as well as seek to join church partnerships with missionary teams as God directs.
Our emphasis in integrating missions throughout the church is to involve church leaders in mission’s opportunities, and to expose the congregation to the various missionary ministries.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The Foreign Mission's committee of Wildwood Church welcomes you to our information blog - Beyond These Walls!
We meet on the first Tuesday of each month in the round conference room at 7:30pm. Our primary focus is prayer for our missionaries and our church, and to conduct whatever business is needed.
Anyone with an interest in foreign missions is invited to join us.
2009 Meeting Schedule
September 1, 7:30-8:30pm
October 6, 7:30-8:30pm
November 3, 7:30-8:30pm
December 1, Party!
Needs:
We are currently in need of a treasurer, a missionary hospitality coordinator, and an Adopt-a-Missionary coordinator. If you are interested, please send Jeff Trostle a note at toopilgrims@gmail.com.
The harvest is plentiful, but the worker are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers into His harvest. (Mt. 9.37-38)
More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams...(Tennyson)
We meet on the first Tuesday of each month in the round conference room at 7:30pm. Our primary focus is prayer for our missionaries and our church, and to conduct whatever business is needed.
Anyone with an interest in foreign missions is invited to join us.
2009 Meeting Schedule
September 1, 7:30-8:30pm
October 6, 7:30-8:30pm
November 3, 7:30-8:30pm
December 1, Party!
Needs:
We are currently in need of a treasurer, a missionary hospitality coordinator, and an Adopt-a-Missionary coordinator. If you are interested, please send Jeff Trostle a note at toopilgrims@gmail.com.
The harvest is plentiful, but the worker are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers into His harvest. (Mt. 9.37-38)
More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams...(Tennyson)
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