In our living room hangs a picture of a log cabin in a snow-swept landscape against the backdrop of majestic mountains beside a gentle brook. It is one of my "happy places," the picture of serenity and nostalgic winter beauty, and I sometimes gaze at it in all of its contrasts to life in a smoggy Central Asian mega-city and think what a pleasant place it would be to spend an afternoon. Remote, self-sufficient kinds of settings have always held a certain "homey" attraction for me, reminders of the rural stomping-grounds of my childhood. This time of year in particular, a large part of our hearts yearns to be near the familiar, pleasant, and comforting; to be "home for Christmas," whatever home means for each of us. As we connect with gathered family over the internet, there is an ache experienced in us and them.
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Contributors
Stacie Gibson is Matt's wife, a mother of 4, a busy homemaker and home-educator in addition to being a certified ACBC counselor. She is a guest blogger at Biblical Counseling for Women.
Barb Leaman is a children's Sunday School teacher and a teacher's aide for the Hornell Jr and Sr. High Schools. She is wife to Glenn and mother to an adult daughter.
Dave Theobald is the preaching and teaching elder at Grace Baptist Church. He is married to Jamie and has two sons, Job and Jonathan.
Rob Wilson is a deacon of Grace Baptist Church, a veterinarian specializing in large animals, a farmer, a husband to Kim, and father to 3 energetic kids.
Ustad ("teacher," in local dialect) is a global partner of GBC, who shares stories and perspectives from the field, for our encouragement and to help orient us on things eternal.
Grace Notes Blog Posts
The airport in the capital city of our adopted country is an interesting place to meet a certain brand of foreigner traveler: contractors, diplomats and para-military, normally single and alone, attracted by the high salaries or adventurous experiences offered here. "Milo" (not his real name) sat down next to a colleague and myself while we were waiting to board the next flight. I was tired and ready for a break, not in the mood for conversations with strangers. But God had an appointment lined up.
By Ustad
For the past few years we've been celebrating Christmas mainly with non-Christians, and having fun doing it!
It seems a little abnormal. After all, the other religions have their holidays, and we have ours. Don't Christmas and Christian belong together? Christmas can be a great time for outreach, churches often agree, but mainly this involves rounding up a few prodigals--cultural Christians who come around on Easter and Christmas--and inviting them to our programs, rather than truly taking Christmas to people who don't identify as Christians. For their joy and ours. Read More
For the past few years we've been celebrating Christmas mainly with non-Christians, and having fun doing it!
It seems a little abnormal. After all, the other religions have their holidays, and we have ours. Don't Christmas and Christian belong together? Christmas can be a great time for outreach, churches often agree, but mainly this involves rounding up a few prodigals--cultural Christians who come around on Easter and Christmas--and inviting them to our programs, rather than truly taking Christmas to people who don't identify as Christians. For their joy and ours. Read More
By Ustad
A common local proverbs states, "The guest is the friend of God," or even, "The guest is god." In other words, guests are to be treated like deity. Their every need is to be anticipated and met with a gush of extravagance. (To get a biblical picture of this, read the account of Abraham forcing hospitality on his angelic guests in Genesis 18). Read More
A common local proverbs states, "The guest is the friend of God," or even, "The guest is god." In other words, guests are to be treated like deity. Their every need is to be anticipated and met with a gush of extravagance. (To get a biblical picture of this, read the account of Abraham forcing hospitality on his angelic guests in Genesis 18). Read More
By Ustad
Jonah has shown us a contrast between Jonah's disobedience and the obedience of the rest of the cast of characters. It has shown us a contrast between Jonah's self-centeredness and God's compassion. Finally, we are going to see a contrast between Jonah and a New Jonah -- the Lord Jesus Christ. Read More
Jonah has shown us a contrast between Jonah's disobedience and the obedience of the rest of the cast of characters. It has shown us a contrast between Jonah's self-centeredness and God's compassion. Finally, we are going to see a contrast between Jonah and a New Jonah -- the Lord Jesus Christ. Read More
By Ustad
Could it be that the Father is rearranging things on this planet in order to both maximize gospel spread and shake his children free of their disproportionate attachment to private plants? Could he be opening our eyes to more of His heart in order to arrest our hearts for His agendas? Read More
Could it be that the Father is rearranging things on this planet in order to both maximize gospel spread and shake his children free of their disproportionate attachment to private plants? Could he be opening our eyes to more of His heart in order to arrest our hearts for His agendas? Read More
A seminary classmate once argued in a class presentation that the account of Jonah is not historical - it didn't really happen. Instead it was written as a parable with a moral lesson intended for the people of Israel. They were supposed to see themselves in the fictional tale of a rebellious prophet, be reminded of God's mercy and lead to repentance. I disagree with my friend.
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By Ustad
Periodically, researchers produce studies on religious trends such as the one published by PEW in April 2015. According to their projections, by 2050, the number of Muslims will nearly equal the number of Christians globally, and Christianity will continue to decline in Western nations. No doubt these studies have value potential in awakening, preparing, shaping, and motivating the church. We can be grateful for the work which goes into this kind of research. However, in some ways reports like this can be quite unhelpful. Read More
Periodically, researchers produce studies on religious trends such as the one published by PEW in April 2015. According to their projections, by 2050, the number of Muslims will nearly equal the number of Christians globally, and Christianity will continue to decline in Western nations. No doubt these studies have value potential in awakening, preparing, shaping, and motivating the church. We can be grateful for the work which goes into this kind of research. However, in some ways reports like this can be quite unhelpful. Read More
By Ustad
The old mind-boggler asks, "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?"
Now let's for a moment make the chicken a church and the egg a disciple. Does the disciple make the church, or the church make the disciple? Further, which is the goal of the missionary? Since Jesus told us simply to "make disciples" (Matthew 28:20), should we consider that our ultimate mandate? Alternatively, since Paul and gang had this habit of forming churches (eg. Titus 1:5), should we make church-planting our final aim? Read More
The old mind-boggler asks, "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?"
Now let's for a moment make the chicken a church and the egg a disciple. Does the disciple make the church, or the church make the disciple? Further, which is the goal of the missionary? Since Jesus told us simply to "make disciples" (Matthew 28:20), should we consider that our ultimate mandate? Alternatively, since Paul and gang had this habit of forming churches (eg. Titus 1:5), should we make church-planting our final aim? Read More
By Ustad
Today I bought a one-way ticket. And it wasn't for me. On rare occasion, people like us find themselves helping a believer leave his or her home country, for their protection, or some other purpose. It is not done casually or often, since our heart is to see believing friends stay as salt and light inside their community whenever possible. Today I find myself doing the opposite... Read More
Today I bought a one-way ticket. And it wasn't for me. On rare occasion, people like us find themselves helping a believer leave his or her home country, for their protection, or some other purpose. It is not done casually or often, since our heart is to see believing friends stay as salt and light inside their community whenever possible. Today I find myself doing the opposite... Read More
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