Interview with an Atheist

The Lord has continued to impress upon my heart the responsibility we have as believers to witness, and the more I study, practice or experience God given encounters with the lost, the more excited I get about it! The incredible joy of following God's promptings can not be matched by the "security" of remaining anonymous to everyone around me. I've been praying for a deeper, more accurate fear of the Lord in order to squelch the fear of man inside of me, and I have been reminded of the verse, "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion." (Prov. 28:1) This atheist actually has a lot of accurate things to say and I found it very impacting to hear it from someone who doesn't even believe in God, but rather has based his conclusions apart from faith and simply on what the Bible says whether or not he believes it to be true. It's painful to hear him speak truth and yet see his refusal to believe it... I couldn't help but pray that God would open his eyes before it's too late so that he would believe! After watching the video I thought of the hymn Almost Persuaded:

“Almost persuaded” now to believe;
“Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say,
“Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day
On Thee I’ll call.”

“Almost persuaded,” come, come today;
“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here,
Angels are lingering near
Prayers rise from hearts so dear;
O wanderer, come!

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!
“Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail;
“Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail—
“Almost,” but lost!

“He who is al­most per­suad­ed is al­most saved, and to be al­most saved is to be en­tire­ly lost.”

-Rev. Mr. Brundage

"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so..."

Psalm 107:2a

Read more...

Be Diligent, Musicians!

I can hardly wait to hear the music in heaven... I'm sure it will be incomparable to what we know here on earth. In fact, music is just one facet of heaven that I am convinced is going to exceed anything we could ever possibly imagine! I love how God has provided a way to praise Him through the playing of instruments and would encourage you to perform in a way that is the highest example of the attributes we know about Christ!

"Neglect not the gift that is in thee..."
1 Timothy 4:14

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;" Ecclesiastes 9:10

"Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely
for the upright. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him
with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise."
Psalm 33:1-3

Read more...

Congratulations!

picture by Daniel Hanson

Happy 25th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!!

We are so blessed to have parents who came to love and admire each other ultimately because of their same deep desire to understand the Scriptures and love The Savior!

We've seen you take many, many walks together, having fun playing foosball (maybe a little too much fun!), working together as an incredibly talented team taking really odd, old materials from unexpected places and turning our house into a beautiful home, praising each other, pressing each other on to be a better, stronger person and giving yourselves over to the needs of your children and your church.


We love you! Enjoy your trip to Cape Cod! :)

Read more...

Welcome Back

Welcome home, Stephen!

And welcome to South Dakota, little William! :)

Read more...

Teach America to Pray!

Lord, we would bow in need of Thee

Throughout this land from sea to sea,
From where Atlantic's breakers roar
To blue Pacific's golden shore.
Oh, may we all in longing say,
Lord, teach America to pray!

May we our sins to Thee confess,
Pleading in faith Thy righteousness,
May we again come to Thy throne,
Returning that which is Thine own.
Our broken hearts before Thee lay.
Lord, teach America to pray!
May our good land be true and just,
Her motto e'er "In God We Trust,"
May she be guided by Thy Word,
Thy wisdom in her walls be heard.
May all who love her plead today,
Lord, teach America to pray!
And as her flag unfurls on high
Its starry splendor to the sky,
May we, in grateful thanks to Thee
Who gave to us this land so free,
Preserve her freedom in Thy way.
Lord, teach America to pray!
To pray that cruel wars may cease,
That to the world may come Thy peace,
That ever, always, at Thy feet
We may attain communion sweet.
In loving trust to thee we say,
Lord, teach America to pray!

Edith A. Wilsey

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land.

11 Chronicles 7:14

I read this verse on a picture hanging in ITC during my stay in Indianapolis. It really stood out to me as an instruction; a reminder from God that we are ultimately responsible to Him for the decisions we make and the power to destroy our land or the power to heal it comes from His hand and His alone. Our responsibility as Christians is impressing stronger and stronger on me as I see the layering of godless decisions currently being made. We are the light of this world, the salt, the Christ-ones! Who can know what Christ is like but by the way we live? We are truly the ambassadors of His Kingdom,
born for such a time as this.

The potential we have as God's children to impact our country is immense. It can be discouraging when we look around us and see the decline of morals, for example, but that is when we look around, not when we look to God! Is He not in control of absolutely everything? Has He not said He is willing to show Himself strong on the behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward Him? The best thing we can do for the United States of America is spend more time on our knees, more time seeking His face, more time calling down the power of God to work in and through our lives, that God be glorified and that His name be not blasphemed here.

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;

This is my heart-cry day unto day;
I long to know Thy will and Thy way;
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

Power in prayer, Lord, power in prayer!
Here 'mid earth's sin and sorrow and care,
Men lost and dying, souls in despair;
O give me power, power in prayer!

Read more...