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IMG_0172.MOV (3548 KB)

Here is a brief cameo of Charlie and his cousin being sweet to each
other.

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Here is my administrative staff hard at work sorting mail for the
church plant.

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It's an exciting morning as Will, my 5 year old, lost his first tooth.

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Culpeper has a great youth soccer program.  Joseph and Will had the first games this morning. 

         

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The_First_Day_of_Soccer_tag_ca.zip (12296 KB)

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There were televisions hanging at the end of the halls in the RTS, Charlotte campus.  They usually gave updates on campus life.  But not that day.

One hung outside our classroom as we studied Hebrew.  A student ran in through hallway door and quickly switched the channel to a news feed—a no-no on any other day.  Our attention was swept away from the word of God to the world of God.  Buildings in New York City were on fire.  Later they would fall in rubble. 

On September 11, 2001 I was a seminary student learning about my sovereign God.  His sovereignty didn't fail on that day it was just harder to explain, harder to understand.

We had chapel that morning.  Dr. Brown suggested we sing the hymn I include below.  We did.  The reminder of God's eventual and final triumph over evil, sin, death, and darkness clung to my clothing like a scent you just can't shake.  I was glad for it.

The cross of Jesus was and is my hope.  At that lonely hill I have to admit that tremendous suffering and God's glorious triumph can exist side by side.  I have to confess that peace wins the day through blood.  I have to concede that all wrongs will be made right.  I have to.  

It's days like this I don't really need to be reminded to that my crucified Lord is still on his throne.

————

Christian, dost thou see them on the holy ground,
How the powers of darkness rage thy steps around?
Christian, up and smite them, counting gain but loss,
In the strength that cometh by the holy cross.

Christian, dost thou feel them, how they work within,
Striving, tempting, luring, goading into sin?
Christian, never tremble; never be downcast;
Gird thee for the battle, watch and pray and fast.

Christian, dost thou hear them, how they speak thee fair?
“Always fast and vigil? Always watch and prayer?”
Christian, answer boldly: “While I breathe I pray!”
Peace shall follow battle, night shall end in day.

“Well I know thy trouble, O my servant true;
Thou art very weary, I was weary, too;
But that toil shall make thee some day all Mine own,
At the end of sorrow shall be near my throne.”

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A beautiful afternoon for youth sports.

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7 years ago Hallie was in labor with my firstborn—Joseph.  This morning he is sitting here designing elaborate Thomas the Train tracks and tromping through the house in rain boots.  Time flies. 

Praise God who "fearfully and wonderfully" made a son for me who was born 7 years ago today.

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Things I'm excited about for this Saturday.

1. Going to the farmers' market this morning with the fam.
2. Getting ready for Joseph's 7th birthday tomorrow.
3. UVA vs William & Mary...Go Hoos!
4. Watching a date movie with Hallie tonight.  Any recommendations?

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I'm an avid Evernote user.  It's a great system for collecting anything and everything.  I've found it particularly useful for my sermon preparation and archiving.  I use it to:

1. Write all my notes for sermon preparation
2. Save pdf's of my BibleArc's
3. Then once I've preached the sermon I save the mp3 on the same file.

Very handy.

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