This Momentary Marriage

Now even though I am not married I was totally encouraged by this story that I heard about a month ago. If you have not watched Ian and Larissa's video sharing their testimony of God's faithfulness I would encourage you to watch it!

You can read more at DesiringGod.org.

Praying that if God blesses me with a wife someday that I will be able to love her as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25).

-Robert

Abortion: the civil rights movement of today?

I just got back tonight (Sunday evening) from my roommates church (The Urban Refuge). They had a gathering of sorts to look back into Americas past to learn from it as we look forward. It was fun to have a black church come and share their pasion for the Lord. The music was totally different and totally awesome! The pastor spoke of the segregation that he experienced as a boy in the 50's and 60's. It was painful to listen to the travesties that he experienced. 

As the pastor spoke I am reminded how big of an issue the civil rights movement was for our parents and grandparents. Men and women took to the streets to lovingly stand up for what they believed in. Pastor John Piper came out with a book/documentary (see below) earlier this year to retell his tale in the midst of the civil rights movement and how it has effected him. I believe, like the generations before, there is still injustice in the world. Like the civil rights movement before we now face a new injustice of the mass killing of unborn children. 

What strikes me as interesting was how the deep south was so adamant that blacks were inferior to them. But as history would show this bigotry would prove false. I also believe that 20 years from now we will look back on all the innocent lives that were taken and morn of our ignorance and indifference. 

May God revel to us how precious every life is (black, white, born, and unborn). May we have the conviction to stand up for what is right. 

-Robert 

The Urban Refuge 

You dont fall out of love as much as you fall out of Repentance...

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

-1 Corinthians 13:11

One of the biggest things that bothers me to my core is men not taking responsibility. It bothers me that men do not serve. It bothers me that men do not sacrificially love. It bothers me that men are so selfish. To sum it up, it bothers me that men act like children. 


I think the reason all these things bother me is because I see myself in much of those traits when I "fall out of repentance." My desire is to love & serve the Lord and this is, no doubt, God given. But there are times when I feel childish, selfish, and dont want to take responsibility. Its then that God reminds me that Christ took responsibly for something that wasn't His (sin) to pay the penalty to share in everlasting joy. Christ's example of sacrificial love is something that every man should strive for by God's grace. 

So I end with a note to myself and a video to share. Robert, you were bought with a price to serve the Lord. Now go, love God and love others, without thinking selfishly and by God's grace you will experience joy. 

-Robert

Every Living Thing Changes

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

-2 Corinthians 3:18

Very interesting. Are we changing and progressing or are we dying...this was a helpful video to not only evaluate my job but also my attitude towards life. Am I willing to change? Great meditation for the evening. 

May God challenge you and me to change for His glory! 

-Robert 

"Γρεεκ 1" (Greek 1)

Its crazy to think that I am in seminary right now. I can vividly recall sitting in my room in college praying for God to open up doors to attend seminary to use as a platform for pastoral ministry. Admittedly I was a little disappointed when I hit the "real world" after college. I had left the only ministry I really had ever known at UW-Stout and I was unsure where God was taking me. But a look back shows a crazy awesome tale that only God could have written.

• Spring 2010: Graduate from Stout
• Summer 2010: Jobless (the economy tanked and jobs were hard to find). But I was blessed to spend a lot of time with my mom as she underwent chemo therapy for breast cancer. 
• Late Summer 2010: I start working full time at New French Bakery. 
• September 2010: I start attending Bethlehem Baptist Church and joined a small group.
• January 2011: I become a member at Bethlehem
• Summer of 2011: I start volunteering at Desiring God as a pastoral assistant for John Piper.
• Fall of 2011: I start praying that God would open doors to enter full time ministry.
• December 2011: I am offered a job at Bethlehem! I then begin to pray about seminary (I know right!)
• January 2012: I apply to RTS...1 week later I am accepted! 
• Today (June 2012): I am taking Greek...
• Tomorrow: It's in God's hands.

All I know is that I have been truly blessed by God over the past 6 years. To see where He has taken me in the past 2 is truly amazing. I pray that I will not take a single day for granted and that each day I will be reminded of God's faithfulness. 

James 4:13,14

-Robert 

Bless the Lord, O my soul

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

Psalm 103:1

Lately I have been hooked on Matt Redman's new song "10,000 Reasons." It is a great song that truly reflects my hearts desire to make much of Christ. Before my quite times in the mornings I have been playing this on repeat to get into a mindset of worshiping my king. If you have not heard it you can give it a listen below or purchase it from iTunes. 

May this song be a blessing to you and encourage you today. 

-Robert