You may have noticed the announcements regarding Operation Christmas Child recently.  The program is basically a way to provide gifts and necessities for needy children around the world.  We pack the boxes and Samaritan’s Purse distributes them.  Not only is this a great way to provide for a needy child but it also is a great opportunity to teach your own children what it means to give generously.

If you are thinking about participating in this you need to know that the deadline for drop offs is this coming Sunday, the 18th.

If you want more details and the needed paperwork to put a shoebox together go to the Operation Christmas Child website.

Recently, Erik Raymond posted on the perfect active obedience of Jesus Christ. This is our only hope and a truth that is particularly sweet each day as we see our obedience lacking. Here are some excerpts from the post.

I have been thinking a lot recently about the active obedience of Christ and have been continually amazed by the curse-bearing, law-fulfilling, perfect Savior. (active obedience is the Savior’s perfect substitutionary fulfillment of all of the divine precepts).

When you read a verse like Psalm 40, which was referenced and applied to Jesus by the writer of Hebrews a couple of times (2.12, 10.7), you just marvel:

Psalm 40:7-8 Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: ⁸ I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

I read of the Savior’s incessant desire to do the divine will and I am amazed. My amazement stems from my own failure to accomplish this will. Even on my best day as a Christian I am not one who can say, looking back at this best day, “I have perfectly desired and accomplished your will O God.”

Whenever I find myself lacking faith I remember that he was faithful, when I am unduly angry I consider his patience and kindness, when I am focused on the fading beauty of this world I rejoice that he was riveted on the glory and pleasure of the Father, when I am discontent I remember that he who had all became nothing and was content in and through everything. Whenever I sin I have to find myself looking for my Savior and when I see him I am to see his life of obedience to the Father’s law in my place. O’ the glorious reality of the active obedience of Jesus, for it covers imperfect sinners like me in his perfect and unfading righteousness.

So be impressed with Christ, the sin-bearing substitute and source of divine righteousness. Be impressed with him because he is so different than you, he is everything that you are not and, by divine grace, ever long to be.

Here’s some material for this Sunday to whet your appetite, prime your thinking, and stir your affections.

Josh will be preaching an overview sermon of the book of Colossians (get ready for some serious Christ-centeredness).

Colossians

Here are the songs.  The song of the month is “All I Really Need”(you can hear a sample of it here).

A Mighty Fortress by Martin Luther

God Be Merciful to Me by Jars of Clay

All I Really Need by Mark Altrogge

Rock of Ages by Augustus Toplady (music by Bob Kauflin)

Tis so Sweet by Louisa Stead

How Great Thou Art by Stuart Wesley and Keene Hine

If you found the material I posted last week on adoption thought-provoking and helpful here is an article by Justin Taylor in Boundless Webzine that is definitely worth reading (in fact, I think it may be the best resource out of all of them).  What it does is fill in a spot that I felt was a little weak in what I posted- the clear and rich connection of physical adoption with our spiritual adoption in Christ. Enjoy!

Paul Tripp continues his exposition of Psalm 27 dealing with hope and the believer’s confidence in the Sovereign Savior.  The whole post is worth reading but here are some highlights.

“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living.” (v.13)

“Someday, maybe, someday.” We’ve all said it, but it’s not really a statement of hope. It’s more often a fatalistic resignation to the death of some kind of dream. “Someday I’ll get a decent job.” “Someday we’ll be able to afford the kind of house our family really needs.” “Someday I’ll get myself in shape.”…  “Someday,” is a way of communicating what we wish would happen, but deep down inside don’t really think will…

…our “somedays” are more medicinal and therapeutic than hopeful predictions of what surely will come. They are mental pills to get dissatisfied hearts through disappointing days.

The “someday” of Psalm 27 is very different. It is a statement of confidence that’s both deeply encouraging and powerfully motivating…It’s not really a hope for some future outcome. No, what David makes here is a statement of IDENTITY. David is remembering who he is and in remembering who he is, he’s remembering what he has now and in the future.

Who holds your “someday?” Are you still attempting to change things that are beyond your power and out of your control? Have you simply given up; and in your disappointment resigned to play mental dream games to keep yourself going? Look up! Your Father controls it all and he looks on you with grace and favor. It’s never ever risky to place your past, present, and future in his hands. His “someday” isn’t a “someday” at all, no, it’s a “will be.”

From my friend Sean Higgins’ blog Tohu Va Bohu.

Pride also takes assorted shapes and sizes though some displays of pride are more familiar and others are often unexplored. The following quotes are from What Jesus Demands from the World and they expose two standard sorts of self-admiration with surgical accuracy.

Boasting is the response of pride to success. Self-pity is the response of pride to suffering. Boasting says, “I deserve admiration because I have achieved so much.” Self-pity says, “I deserve admiration because I have sacrificed so much.” …The reason self-pity does not look like pride is that it appears to be needy. But the need arises from a wounded ego, and the desire is not really for others to see them as helpless but as heroes. The need that self-pity feels does not come from a sense of unworthiness but from a sense of unrecognized worthiness. It is the response of unapplauded pride.

And then just a little down the page,

A person can seem to feel unworthy by constantly depreciating himself in public, but all the while feel angry that others do not recognize this as a virtue. (p.126)

Charles Spurgeon in his book “Soul Winner” as quoted by Mike Gilbart-Smith on the Loving Church blog.

There are two sorts of proud people, and it is difficult sometimes to say which of the two is the worse. There is, first of all, the kind that is full of that vanity which talks about itself, and invites other people to talk about it, too, and to pat it on the back, and stroke its feathers the right way. It is all full of its little morsel of a self, and goes strutting about, and saying, “Praise me, please, praise me, I want it,” like a little child who goes to each one in the room, and says, “See my new dress; isn’t it a beauty?” You may have seen some of these pretty dears; I have met many of them.

The other kind of pride is too big for that sort of thing. It does not care for it; it despises people so much that it does not condescend to wish for their praises. It is so supremely satisfied with itself that it does not stoop to consider what others think of it. I have sometimes thought it is the more dangerous kind of pride spiritually, but it is much the more respectable of the two. There is, after all, something very noble in being too proud to be proud. Suppose those great donkeys did bray at you, do not be such a donkey as to notice them. But this other poor little soul says, “Well, everybody’s praise is worth something,” and so he baits his mousetraps, and tries to catch little mice of praise, that he may cook them for his breakfast. He has a mighty appetite for such things. Brethren, get rid of both kinds of pride if you have anything of either of them about you. The dwarf pride and the ogre pride are both of them abominations in the sight of the Lord. Never forget that you are disciples of Him who said, “Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.”

From C.J. Mahaney’s book “Humility: True Greatness.”

John Stott has clearly thought about this and wrote the following: “At every stage in our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend.”

Pride takes innumerable forms but has only one end: self-glorification. That’s the motive and ultimate purpose of pride- to rob God of legitimate glory and to pursue self-glorification, contenting for supremacy with Him. The proud person seeks to glorify himself and not God, thereby attempting in effect to deprive God of something only He is worthy to receive.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote the following about the surest way to pursue humility: “There is only one thing I know of that crushes me to the ground and humiliates me to the dust, and that is to look at the Son of God, and especially contemplate the cross… Nothing else can do it. When I see that I am a sinner…that nothing but the Son of God on the cross can save me, I’m humbled to the dust… Nothing but the cross can give us this spirit of humility.”

I have been thinking about writing this post for some time but some of Josh’s recent comments in his sermons have spurred me to take action.

The following list of resources are various opportunities to get involved in our community here in Auburn (if you’re outside of Auburn you’ll have to do your own research). Getting involved in some of these things may be a way that some of us can love our community and build relationships for the gospel. Note that some of us don’t have more time to give or already have an overwhelming number of opportunities for the gospel so these things might not be for everyone.

This is all about being strategic. Figure out what might be helpful for your life and for your witness. Think creatively how you could strategically fit things into your schedule or get involved somewhere as a family. Consistent activities are probably most helpful although periodic events can also provide ways to strike up a conversation and begin a friendship.

Also, don’t forget that all of this takes us using words seasoned with salt and filled with grace- friendliness, wit, tact, love, authenticity, overflowing and evident love for Christ, etc.

Here you go…

The Auburn Buzz- a community oriented website with event calendar, blog, news stories, restaurant ratings, classifies, even lowest gas prices in town.

Auburn California Welcome Center Calendar of Events- listing of events in Auburn and other areas of Placer County.

Auburn Journal- frequently lists upcoming events, opportunities for community involvement, and community focused news stories.

Auburn Recreation District- listings of events, classes, etc. being run through the parks district.

Meetup.com- is a social networking site that connects people in certain areas with people with similar interests- motorcycle meet ups, pet meet ups, 4×4 meet ups, photography meet ups, literature meet ups, playgroup meet ups, hobby meet ups, etc. You might even think of starting one yourself (common sense and caution is obviously needed with this kind of thing).  Who’s up for helping me start an Ultimate Frisbee Meet Up Group?!

Why Does America Have Orphans If It Has Christian Churches?

America has nearly 115,000 orphaned kids in foster care waiting to be adopted. Some wonder how this is possible in a country with Christian families. Surely, there are 115,000 missional families in America, right? Missional families, for example, embrace the redemptive mission of God and practice “true religion” in their local communities (James 1:27). Missional Christians in America could eliminate the foster care system tomorrow if we would stop “shootin’ up” with the American Dream (heroine) in order to get high on a lame life lived for the sake of comfort and ease.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world,” writes James (1:27). As a matter of fact, the Bible has over 40 verses mandating God’s people to look after orphans and the fatherless for various reasons.

According to the American Religious Identity Survey, conducted by the City University of New York, there are over 224 million Christians in the United States. So, why are there 115,000 orphans in a country that has over 224 million Christians?

Since God’s people have always been called to live missionally we are not surprised to see that James is not saying anything new. “When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow” (Deuteronomy 24:21).

Let’s break this down further. The Washington Times reports that there are about 65 million evangelicals in America. So, again, why are there 115,000 orphans in America’s foster care system? Does this mean that there are 65 million people missing huge sections of their Bibles? Would someone please alert Crossway and Zondervan!

Wow! Makes you think doesn’t it. The above is an excerpt from an article by Anthony Bradley entitled Orphans and the American Dream. He ends the article with the following quote:

While not all Christians are gifted or equipped for taking in orphans it’s pretty convicting that 65 million American evangelicals can’t rescue 115,000 kids from an unstable hell. If the pagans in our neighborhoods aren’t struck by how our churches are applying the Word of God to the needy it’s possible that we aren’t the real deal yet. May we all pray that our churches are soon as mature as James commends. The revolution continues. . .

Adoption is something that I would guess many of us have never considered. However, maybe it is time we should. Below are some resources for understanding and contemplating adoption. Of course you can always consult our resident experts as well (shout out to Bob and Rachel).

From Hope to Reality- Carolina Hope Christian Adoption Agency blog- good resources and posts on adoption, the gospel, and various practical issues involved in adoption.

Financing Adoption- a blog post listing various resources for financing adoption by Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds

Adoption: The Heart of the Gospel- sermon by John Piper on the similarities of spiritual adoption and physical adoption- manuscript or audio available.

I am certain that there are many other resources out there but these were a few I cam across and thought might be helpful. While adoption isn’t for everyone, my prayer is that for some of us this will be part of what God uses to stir our hearts and set us on the path of demonstrating the grace of God through adopting an abandoned child.