Photo Updates

Halloween adventure! Ruthie is getting so big! How time is flying. The boys are good big brothers!

I finally started Seminary. Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary!

To all my Central College Friends . . . Please leave a note and let me know how you are doing!

Chubby Cheeks

Ruthie had her first visit to the Dr. on Thursday. She managed to lose some birth weight, but judging by this picture that isn't a problem anymore! Look at those chubby cheeks.

Mom was enjoying Sushi as we took this picture. Joanna couldn't wait to have Sushi - it's been such a long time (9 months). But as you can see the wait was worth it.

"1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. "
Psalm 1

Being a Big Brother - Noah

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:21-22

Noah, what a blessing you are.

Love Dad

Being a Big Brother - Josiah

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" Ephesians 3:14-19

What a joy your are, Josiah

Love Dad

Welcome Ruth Evangelynne Thompson

To my Dearest Daughter. . .

May God richly bless you and may you come to know Him in His richest glory and grace. God has a plan for you. Grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ, our King and Lord. Be filled with love and free from rebellion and my your beauty flow from the deep well of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Love you Dad.

Born 3:07 AM Sunday
7lbs 8oz
19.25 inchs
Healthy and fiesty.

Disillusioned rhapsody

Don't you hate life when it spits in your face, kicks your shins, and leaves you for dead? When you're a child life is all about rhapsody, blissful enchantment; dreams are limitless and reality bigger than your imagination.

To bad rhapsody cannot envelop you into its arms and keep you from feeling life's little pricks and pains. Honestly, if you prick your finger, you bleed and if your shin is kicked, it typically bruises. Life is like that you know. It ebbs and flows.

Jesus didn't promise a bed of roses, but he did promise grace to handle that which comes your way. He also promised to give us the Holy Spirit who would provide council and wisdom to help you navigate rocky waters and grid locked reality.

Nevertheless, just once I'd like to be calloused enough that I wouldn't feel the prick or the kick. Yet I suppose such callousedness might also prevent me from feeling the love of others and the tender hugs from my children, the warm hug of a friend, and the ecstasy of my wife's embrace.

So, life does ebb and flow – some bad, some good, and some just plain old bland. When it hurts, it is nice to know that I still bleed – it is nice to know there is a savior who comforts me. It is comforting to know there is a God who knows me, good and bad, and still loves me.

Sure life is challenging and I sure could use your prayers as my life ebbs and flows. I could your prayers to give me wisdom and disciple to be the provider, father, husband God has called me to be.

And there remains three - faith, hope and love. Somehow, in all this I have faith that God will supply my needs to be all that I am supposed to be. I can hope that someday I'll be free from the ebb and flow, free from pain and free from sorrow. Back to beautiful rhapsody - with no end. Finally, there is love. And, isn't it love that brings meaning to life, especially when it’s kicking your shins? God has given me love - when I feel hurt, ashamed, meandering, purposeless it is the love of my wife and God that gives motion to my feet and will to my heart. After all love is the raft on the river of life that ebbs and flows and grace my life preserver.

Peace.

The Emergent Church UPDATED

I love the Emergent Church! I love the mission, the freedom, and most of all the expressions and worship of the Emergent Church. Nevertheless, I have some serious concerns about the Emergent Church that can be summed up in two words.

The first word is PRAGMATIC. It seems to me that with in the emerging church there is a "do what it takes," mentality to reach out to the culture. I suppose that is great and commendable - after all the Apostle Paul did command us to be all things to all people. However, do the ends justify the means? In the attempt to reach out and be missional have we given into a generous free fall into pluralism? Have we tried so hard to be pleasing to the culture around us that we've allowed the culture to shape us? We all have a story to tell, but at some point and time, our story needs to be brought into conformity with God's story. Absolutes seem to be distained by the emerging church because it has to do with modernity. Can we not be authentic, missional, and expressive without slaying truth?

The second word runs congruent with pragmatic - and that is TRUTH. If our churches are going to be pragmatic about reaching the culture do we abandon truth? It seems to me that truth isn't important to the Emergent Church. At least it seems that over arching mata narratives are not as important as experience and authenticity. While seeking to be attractive to the culture do we adopt a relativistic mind set? Is "experience" valued above objective truth? What role does truth play within the story of the Emergent Church? After all our worldview needs to correspond to reality in order for it to offer us any lasting hope. But since things like worldviews, reality, truth are part of the dreaded kingdom of modernity - we just have a generous relativism. Is that the case? Is truth dead, and has the Emergent church killed it?

A Redemption Story

A whispering crescendo, ebbing and flowing forth, a beautiful souond, the kind my soul has longs for. Perfect and pure, peaceful and true.

The dragon rises in full view - he bears his teeth with a grimacing glare of death. With a roar that echos in my conscience the dragon bellows.

Silence. Stillness.

Is there peace and fulfillment for even me - me a wretch? I am so unworthy of love, so unworhty of grace. I created this beast by my selfish pride, by refusing to yeild to my conscience. My yoke is not light, whose reigns are controlled by a merciless dragon eager to hold me deeper in bondage.

"Silence." The voice whispers with the authority of a thousand rivers rushing together. “Silence.” The voice comforts as a mother speaks to her new born child. Surely this is the voice of a King, surely this is the voice of one who loves.

This is what it feels like to lose control – to one greater then self. This is what it feels like to reach the end – then end of self. God if ever I needed you - if ever I needed a King to lift my weary soul from the pit of death it is now.

This is what it feels like to face the truth. The roaring Lamb has spoken and the beast is dead. The sword has pierced its heart and death is overcoming it. My shakels are broken and my hands are free.

I colapse, but not to the floor, but into the arms of my heavenly friend. "I am here now - do not fear. There is none that condemns you.

"This will be my finest hour. A new song plays - a song of redemption. This will be my finest hour.

"You could never overcome the beast on your own." He whispers.

"But why You, why me?" I reply. “I don’t deserve your grace.”

"Because I love you." He wishpers and places my hand in his - to feel his nail scared hands.

"The dragon had taken you to the grave, and the only way to be free was to die and this pentalty would’ve cost you more than you could’ve paid. So I took your place - so that you could be free."

I don't understand it and I don't think I'll ever comprehend it - so I think I'll just believe it.