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My family returned home to Charleston last night around 9pm.  We had a busy weekend in Columbus as we renewed friendships and spent Sunday with the folks at Providence.  There were many people we had not seen since our last Sunday on August 26, 2007.  I preached Sunday morning and we enjoyed a picnic in the afternoon.  It was a good weekend and we are glad to be home. 

This Sunday Tim Valentine will be speaking at Randolph Street.  Tim has mentored me in life and ministry and I look forward to introducing him to our church family. 

Another week lies ahead of us, Lord willing.  What will you do this week to glorify God in your life, your family, your workplace, your neighborhood?  Think intentionally, think well.  There is much to do. 

Tomorrow morning my family and the Baldwins will be traveling to Lynchburg, Virginia.  I am speaking at Timberlake Baptist Church on Monday evening with the emphasis being church planting and faithful ministry.  On Tuesday I am speaking on my writing project topic, Persevering in Pastoral Ministry: Lessons from the Life and Ministry of John Calvin.  The pastor is a good friend of mine and likewise attended the Doctor of Ministry program at Masters Seminary.  I am looking forward to the drive and the time with these folks.   

We made it home last night around 10pm.  Long day of airplane and car rides.  Thanks for your prayers. 

Tonight (Monday) we are back in Albuquerque after a long weekend.  Tomorrow we will awake at 6am, eat a quick breakfast and get to the airport by 7am. 

Let me walk through what has happened since Friday. 

Saturday - we spent our morning sightseeing.  We drove through Monument Valley and enjoyed the large red rock formations.  During the evening hours we had a time of testimonies.  This was a highlight of the trip.  Our team shared with one another through many tears their thoughts from the week.  Sunday we ministered to the folks at the Baptist Chapel in Cortez, Colorado.  Our team lead the singing and read the Scriptures.  I preached and the church provided us with a meal.  Around 4pm we drove to Durango, Colorado and enjoyed a dinner.  This was a unique and very entertaining experience as we were treated to some wonderful (and very funny) singing.  Monday - we awoke this morning to spend about an hour with Ozark, Darlene and Pastor George.  I asked these men to share some thoughts with our team and it was a very encouraging (and another tearful) time.  These folks are wonderful people who love our Savior. 

We began our trip with 5 goals: (1)  Glorify God, (2) Have our hearts challenged by God, (3) Encourage Ozark & Darlene, (4) Serve the Navajo people, (5) Encourage Pastor George and the folks of the Baptist Chapel.  I am convinced, by God’s grace, we reached these goals. 

We look forward to returning home tomorrow evening, Lord willing.

More photos available here.

It has been a tremendous week.  God has been very kind to our team in giving us many ministry opportunities.  I have never been happier for a group of people as I am for our team.  They have worked very hard with no complaining (except for the large bugs in ladies bathroom in Aneth).  They have sacrificed comfort and sleep to serve many Navajo families for the sake of Christ. 

Our trip was seemless.  The flights were on time and the vans have not broken down.  Upon arrival in Aneth on Tuesday we were greeted by an amazing lightning storm.  Many said they had not seen that kind of rain for sometime.  Electricity was out which not only meant no lighting but no hot water.  After almost 2 hours of waiting for the rain to slow we began to sing to our Savior for Ozark and Darlene.  They were tired and I think a little disappointed because of the electrical outage.  He was thinking it would be a couple of days before it was restored.  However, near the end of our 2nd song the electricity came on!   

The VBS in Aneth went really well.  We ministered to over 45 diferent Navajo children in four different sessions.  We will tell much more about this later but let me pass this on now.  I listened to our teachers for 2 days.  This I know - these children and adults heard a very clear and precise gospel message and were called to repentance and faith.  Our team not only told these folks the gospel but they showed them the gospel through loving and serving them endlessly.  They served them food, sat and talked with them, drove buses to pick them up, cleaned and worked for them, etc. 

Another part of our time in Aneth was the work project.  Two of our men put a roof on an outdoor eating shelter.  It was mid-90’s and they worked all day long on Wednesday and most of the day on Thursday.  I will only say this - they were animals (old animals but animals nonetheless)!

Today we woke up at 3am and drove to Navajo Mountain.  The drive was picturesque, especially our decent into Piute Canyon.  The team can only explain the scenery as the pics will not do justice.  After traveling through the Canyon we went to Pete Greyeyes’ farm and spent several hours with his family.  We patched a roof on his barn and mended a fence.  Afterwards we ate lunch with them (packed by our ladies) and Pete shared his testimony of salvation with our team.  His daughter was there and she translated.  What a glorious time this was as we listened to this man claim his love for Jesus in his native tongue.  This was a memorable experience.  I was very reminded of the Rev 5 passage when we (every tribe & tongue) shall all gather before King Jesus and sing to the Lamb that was slain and redeemed us to God by His blood. 

Tonight we are near Kayenta, Arizona spending the night in a hotel.  We are having some downtime and relaxing.  We just enjoyed a good meal and some are swimming. 

Tomorrow we are sightseeing and driving to Cortez, Colorado.  We will spend the evening preparing for the Sunday gathering @ Ozark’s Church. 

More will be update later and you can find some pictures here.  There is so much more to tell you but ……………… I’m sleepy. 

We have safely arrived at the Columbus Airport.  We woke up this morning around 5am and ate some fresh pastries from Schneiders Bakery.  Arriving and checking in was chaos and we have only had one lost ticket (Taylor) in the terminal so far.  All is well and I will post some pics later in the week.   

One of the books I am currently reading is Iain Murray’s biography of Jonathan Edwards.  Edwards was one of the many instruments used by God to bring to pass the Great Awakening.  Last night I read this account of a young man who heard Edwards preaching in 1739. 

He fully supposed that as soon as Mr. Edwards should close his discourse, the Judge would descend and the final separation take place. 

Last night during our Q&A I read from a section of Thomas Watson’s A Body of Divinity.  Beginning in August we are forming a book club that will focus on reading and discussing Puritan works.  The first book to be discussed will be Watson’s Divinity.  Below is the quote from last night. 

It will be a great comfort in a dying hour, to think we have glorified God in our lives.  It was Christ’s comfort before his death: John xvii 4. “I have glorified thee on the earth.” At the hour of death, all your earthly comforts will vanish: if you think how rich you have been, what pleasures you have had on earth; this will be so far from comforting you, that it will torment you the more.  What is one the better for an estate that is spent?  But to have conscience telling you, that you have glorified God on the earth, what sweet comfort and peace will this let into your soul!  How will it make you long for death!  The servant that has been all day working in the vineyard longs till evening comes, when he shall receive his pay.  How can they who have lived, and brought no glory to God, think of dying with comfort?  They cannot expect a harvest where they sowed no seed.  How can they expect glory from God, who never brought any glory to him?  Oh in what horror they will be at death!  The worm of conscience will gnaw their souls, before the worms can gnaw their bodies.

Each Monday we begin our week with much on the schedule and a little tired from the weekend activities.  It is easy to just jump back into the weekday routine and get back to work.  Let me encourage you toward some intentional type thinking this week. 

• Consider some ways you will serve the people of God this week.  How about inviting someone over for dinner or taking them out to lunch?  Do you know some folks in the hospital, nursing home or unable to leave their homes - how about a visit?  Can you take a moment to write a note to someone who needs encouragement?   How about picking up the phone and checking on someone you did not see at the corporate gathering on Sunday? 
• Identify some particular sins in your life and deal with them this week.  Memorize Scripture that admonish you toward righteousness in these areas, ask God to fill you with His Spirit, be quick to confess and always seek to replace that sin with acts of obedience. 
• Plan your reading this week.  Set aside blocks of time to read.  The more you read the better reader you will become.  Read the Bible.  Read good theology books.  Read Church history.  In Thomas Watson’s Body of Divinity he says, “We glorify God, when we are God-admirers . . .”   Expand your thoughts of God by reading this week and in doing so you will deepen your admiration. 

May God be glorified throughout your week!