2007 Books of the Year

You should really check this list out. Compiled here is a list of 2007's best books. I took a look at it and my mouth began to water at some of the works I saw.
Click Here to see the list.

Does God Abandon? - Rom. 1.

In this sermon Dr. Suiter raises the question, "Does God abandon?" "Has He abandoned America?" This sermon was preached by Dr. Suiter, the former Interim Pastor of Twin City Bible Church. To listen to it, click on this link: sermon.

Church Unity

Church unity has been on my mind a lot recently. Perhaps because my church is struggling in this area at the current moment. Therefore I have much more been driven to the Word to find the answer to Church unity problems. I have come to conclude that the basis for church unity is in fact Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul begins Romans 12 with the verses that have been made familiar by AWANA and Sunday Schools all over America "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." These verses begin Paul's transition from doctrinal instruction to doctrinal practice. In verses 4-6 we find that Paul brings out two truths that are inextricably rooted to the point that you cannot have one without the other: The individuality of the believer and the oneness of the body of Christ "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;" So how can the church be both individual and one? The answer is found with two important words in the middle of verse 5 "in Christ". Now the inhumanly possible task of uniting individuals can be fulfilled and can only be fulfilled by the power of the Gospel. That gospel is Jesus Christ! The individuality of the believer and the oneness of the church are rooted and sustained in the one and only Jesus Christ! Therefore the basis for church unity is Jesus Christ. The sustainer of church unity is Jesus Christ!

Timothy’s Well

Come Celebrate Christmas With Us!

Who? Timothy's Well and your friends

Where? Rachel Call’s house

When? Saturday Dec. 22 @ 6:30

Bring cookies or brownies to deliver to the widows of the church for the first 30 minutes.

· We will minister to the WIDOWS!: 30 min.

· We will provide a place for catching up with old or new friends.

· With special performances by Matt Brinkley featuring Brad Browning

· Hosted by Mike Ervin and Rachel Call

The Church

For the past month we have been going through a study on ecclesiology (the study of the church). In this study we have endeavored to discover who we are in Christ. What we are supposed to be doing as the body of Christ. We will seek to find answers to many issues we face right now. We will not consult man’s wisdom; rather we will make our focus the wisdom of God – His Word and Holy Spirit. If you have been missing this study please see me or email me and I will give a packet that will catch you up with the rest of us!

Need some Christmas gift ideas? Here are some books that I highly recommend.

1. Abandoned To God by David McCasland
- This book is about the life of the author of the famed "My Utmost for His Highest", Oswald Chambers.
2. Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George M. Marsden
- This biography is about the greatest theologian in American history.
3. Overcoming Sin and Temptation by John Owen

Justin Taylor posted a link to some helpful tips from Mark Dever.

Before you decide to leave a church.

The Church

I originally posted this article last July. I really would like for you to consider the issues that are raised in this article and comment at will.

"During our discussion time, I brought up an interesting point concerning why people don't like church or Christianity. Now we all know that there are people in the world who claim that they do not believe in God, yet at the same time we see that they actually do believe in a god, whether that god is in some religion or in themselves. Looking out over our generation it's easy to see many who are disillusioned with the church. Why? Well, I think it isn't so much that they do not believe in God but that they have a hard time believing in the Church. Just ask someone you know that used to attend church why they stopped. Most of the time they are going to tell you a story of how someone from the church wronged them or they discovered hypocrisy in the church. It takes a lot of faith to believe in the church does it not? One of the most historic creeds of the church is the Apostle's Creed. This creed was used to summarize the message of the Bible, the Gospel. This Creed was very important; it was so important that people had to recite it at baptism. There is a phrase at the end of the creed that usually gets overlooked or gives people the heeby geebies because of their association with the terminology. The Creed begins with 'I believe,' so everything that comes after that is prefixed with 'I believe.' The last section of the Creed states 'I believe...in the holy catholic church.' Did you hear that? They had to state that they believe in the church! Now here is my disclaimer, 'catholic' is definitely not referring to the Roman Catholic church, rather it is meaning 'universal church.'
Now I want you to know that by no means am I seeking to bash the church, the beautiful bride of Christ. Rather I love her and want to see her become more beautiful. I do recognize that I am counted among that number in the bride of Christ, and I love her. Therefore, I want to call her to that attention. When we ask the question 'Who is God?' we are not going to find an exhaustive answer, but rather we are quickly going to find out more about ourselves. We are the church, the called out ones from every tongue and tribe and nation, all over the world. We are called to literally be the body of Christ. Do you get that? We are His body here on earth and He is our head. He moves us, His body parts, by telling us what to do and how to conduct ourselves through His Word and His Spirit. So how are you doing? Are living out the call on your life? Can people around you say, 'Yes, that guy/girl is definitely part of the church?"

Do you have same-sex attraction?

I know the title of this post is kind of eye-catching and controversial, however; I do know that this is a serious topic to address. I must make a disclaimer here, namely that I do not consider myself by any means to be an expert on this topic. But I do have experience in counseling people who orient their lives as homosexuals.

If you were to sit down and read the headlines of the newspaper or a news website you would probably see one having to do with homosexuality. You hear it alluded to and preached against in the pulpit all the time. But it is not very often that you hear someone say to those who are practicing homosexuals that Jesus has died on the cross for them because He loves them and wants a relationship with them. Now some of you reading this post might be thinking that Mike Ervin is a liberal now but just wait one second. Ever since I have been converted God has sovereignly brought me across the path of people who tell me of their experience with same-sex attraction. They have asked me what God thinks of them and why God made them that way. One person I have cousneld told me that he had yet to find a Christian who will work with him. This person also told me that if there is a way out of this attraction then he would take it. Whenever I am asked what God thinks of them I point them to passages concerning homosexuality. They find that God condemns the practice as sin and an abomination to the Lord. But that is only the first step, for I then walk them through the story of redemption and point them to the cross of Christ.

When I was at Moody we had a chapel focus on same-sex attraction. Those sessions proved to be very helpful for me in dealing with unbiblical and non-Christlike angst for homosexuals. I began to really see them for how the Lord sees them - sinners who can only be saved by the grace of God, just like me, and you! This article is not aimed at being some kind of argument; rather it is a testimony of the grace of God! I personally have known and met people who have been living in a homosexual orientation who have been converted and are now walking in victory over same-sex attraction.

I met a person like this while I was at Moody, Christopher Yuan. He now speaks on behalf of God's grace in his life concerning same-sex attraction. Here is a link to his website: http://www.christopheryuan.com

A few weeks ago Chris sent me a link to a video of his testimony. I know that it will be a blessing and challenge to you whether or not you have same-sex attraction or not:
Chris's Testimony: One who you might think would never get saved: From Homosexual Drug dealer to Joint Heir with Christ!

If you do have same-sex attraction go to this website:
Setting Captives Free

SOLI DEO GLORIA

Heritage: Are you leaving one of victory or defeat?

This past Sunday was dubbed by the leadership as 'Heritage Sunday: Building Homes that Glorify God.' In effort to give the flock a biblical focus on what is truly important.

Therefore, I thought and prayed of how I can speak about this topic to Timothy's Well. The Lord led me to the small New Testament book of Jude. I really love this little letter for from it I have learned the biblical importance of knowing your history, knowing what you believe, and knowing who you believe. So this past Sunday I began a study oncerning the main point of this letter.

First let me give the context from which this letter was written.
From the introduction in the ESV:

"The letter of Jude warned against those who, having gained admission to the church, were perverting the grace of God, denying “our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v. 4). Jude used Old Testament examples to warn of these “blemishes” on the church. He wrote multiple denunciations of these ungodly people who “defile the flesh” and “reject authority” (v. 8). In contrast, he urged Christians to continue in godliness and love toward such people, convincing some, “snatching them out of the fire” (vv. 22–23). The book of Jude closes with one of the most beautiful doxologies in all of Scripture (vv. 24–25). Jude was probably the half brother of Jesus Christ and the brother of James. Jude likely wrote in about a.d. 69."

The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 . Standard Bible Society: Wheaton

How does this context apply to the church today?

Burying A Friend

A month has gone by since my last post. Much has happened since then that has contributed to change and transition in my life. It all happened on Tuesday, August 21.

That morning I awoke with a new task ahead of me, my first day of teaching at Twin City Christian Academy. The day went so well! I was able to begin all my classes by laying the foundation of a Christian Worldview and it seemed that all my students were eager to soak up the truth I presented. I realized that this was going to be the routine for the next nine months of my life.

As I was reading my email after school, I discovered that one of my childhood friends passed away. Matt Potter, one of my closest friends. I immediately drove to his mother's house to find her and Matt's older brother mourning. Susan, Matt's mother asked me to do the funeral services. I agreed.

Daunting Dangerous Dean

As I type this post Hurricane Dean is a growing Category 4 storm with stats like: Winds - 150 mph, and could dump 20 in. of rain. Right now it is on a collision course for Mexico. People are evacuating like there is no tomorrow. Foxnews reports that people are sleeping on the floors of the airport just to get a flight out to anywhere as long it is away from Dean. People might be leaving, to the risk of a high death toll now limited but does that excuse the church from being on her toes to help? No way! We need to ready to jump in to these disaster zones. We need to be more ready than the government. It is our mandate to take opportunities like these to show the lost and dying world the action of the gospel! For the Gospel of Christ is alive and powerful! Therefore, let's pray that the Lord will send laborers to this field of harvest. Maybe you will be one of them.

End of Summer!

Well friends, the end of summer has arrived. Now it's time to go back to our school/work schedules. We had so much fun last night with everyone coming to my apartment for the end of summer bash. I want you all to know that I thank the Lord for each of you in prayer. I am excited to see each of you grow in your walk with Christ, and I am excited to see the gospel be displayed in your lives. May you never forget that involvement is grounded in the gospel. In fact, it is a gospel mandate. Each of you have orphans and widows in your midst, God has placed them in your lives so that He can show forth His Fatherhood and you get to be a part of that! WOW! How amazing and humbling! So often we seem not to care enough about the people around us be it at school, work, or neighbors to get involved in their lives. The gospel gives us a mandate to be involved, and it motivates us to get involved because it His power that transforms lives, not our power.
Grace and Peace!
Michael

Back to College Party!

When: This Sunday night after church, around 7:30
Where: My Apartment
Food: Grilled Brats, Hot- Dogs, Burgers
Bring: Yourself and pop (not soda), water or juice

I am looking forward to seeing everyone!

Only one Life to Live - P2

My grandfather ended up passing away a week ago today at 6:40 in the morning.

The Lord allowed me the privilege of having the last conversation with my grandfather. It was the Sunday before his death. That afternoon I found him in the lunch room sitting at a table all by himself. My heart sank like a rock in water. As I came into his view he turned and looked at me. Then his face lit up into a bright smile from ear to ear. He said to me "Boy you surely are looking sharp today. You're all color-cordinated. The only thing you need is a tie clasp." I had just come from church. As we sat there he enjoyed a couple glasses of red kool-aid, which he offered me some. He told me he liked being there, especially in the dining room because the workers would get him anything he requested. He was very nicely dressed, 'classy', and topped with one of his favorite 'Yale' styled summer caps. What is most important about this time with him is what I got to say to him, for I knew that the end was near.
I started off general. I told him that everyone loves him and wants him to get well. Then I told him that I love him very much. I thanked him for all that he has done for me, teaching me a strong work ethic, the importance of history, of writting and doing the best possible job. He really shaped me as a man. He just looked at me and smiled. I came over to him and we hugged and I kissed him. After a while I wheeled him back to his bedroom where he had trouble getting out of his chair. So I helped him up and layed him in his bed. It didn't take long for him to close his eyes and drift off into a deep sleep. I stayed there watching him for over fifteen minutes. Then I left. What I didn't know is that he would never again wake out of that sleep.

Oh how we never know the time when the end will come. We too could very easily take a nap and never wake from it. After that happens, then the judgement. Are you ready for that? Or have you wasted your affections, emotions, and desires on loves of this world that you will one day have to cease to love. It will all be nothing at that point; it is all already passing away. The only thing that will matter is what is done for Christ. That is what will truly last. That is what will really count. May our lives truly be described by the Apostle Paul "For to me to live is Christ, to die is gain."

Life Truly is a Vapor!

As I was about to order my lunch this afternoon I got a phone call from my mother who knew that I was about to eat lunch. She told me that my grandfather is unresponsive and an ambulance is taking him to the ER. So I immediately went up to the hospital. Here is one of my experiences while sitting with him.

Alone, watching him struggling to breath. His legs look like they should be on a corpse, dark, purple splotches all over, they are cold. I put my hands in his hands and began to tell him how much he means to me. How I am so thankful for his teaching me a strong work ethic, how to respect people and oneself. He taught me to respect authority and the law. He showed to me faithfulness to his church. He taught me the importance of initative, and the importance of studying, reading and writing. I told him that I love him and that I will be with him all the way. Therefore, I proceded to read the Gospel to Him and told him that I want someone to do that for me when I am in his state. I exhorted him to believe in the words of Jesus, in the death of Christ on the cross for the remission our sins, of His resurrection and ascension, and of the eternal hope promised to those who are born again into the adoption of God. I told of the promises of the Gospel, and again exhorted him to believe. Looking at him, I noticed he had not opened his eyes. I kept my hands in his and asked him to squeeze my hand if he heard me. I felt his fingers feeling mine. He opened one eye and looked at me. Then he closed it and his hands fell limp again. Maybe he believed, just maybe. Our God is sovereign!

He is going to be 84 this coming September 11th. A day that is marked by tragedy for him, for not only is it the day the Twin Towers fell, but it was the day his mother was buried. That makes him almost 84 years young! Around 1 AM my cousin came in to the hospital room to visit him. One of her last memories of our grandpa was from just a few weeks ago. Her memory goes a little like this: "Me and my best friend from college went to visit grandpa. As we went into the house we found him not only doing his laundry but he was watching it. Here is a man that has had all the money a man could want, all the toys he could want, all the successes, with a great influence upon the community over the years with nothing better to do with his time then to watch his laundry being washed." 84 years seems like a long time, but in all reality it truly is only a whisp of vapor. All the things that we do or do not do will count for eternity. Even the small things. Our lives will be marked by tragedies and flaws. We are flawed saints but the beauty is in the remembering of that flawed saint's life. Remembering the grace and power of God wokring through and flowing out from that flawed life. It brings Him great pleasure and it brings us unspeakable joy!

Saturday - Working with the Orphan and Widow

This coming Saturday we will embarking upon a new ministry for most of us, namely, ministering to children without a father. Often we think this type of ministry can only happen in other countries, but no, it can and should be happening here. James 1:27 says that the standard for true religion is to visit orphans and widows and stays unstained from the world. That is not just an Old Testament command, but it is primarily for us today!
In regards to this Saturday, we will meet after church on Wednesday night for a brief overview of what is going on this Saturday and what is expected of you.

Only One Life to Live - It's Only a Whisp

Last week we looked at the biblical view of history. From it we were challenged to get ourselves lost in the midst of the story. Something I thougt was interesting with this segment was how it fit into what we have not only learned from the other videos but also what we learned from the book of Deuteronomy. If you can remember as far back as the end of May I began our study of Deuteronomy by putting it in historical contexts. Then we brought it out practically in our lives suggesting that we all have a history. That is, namely, we all have a road actions and attitudes that follow everywhere we go. We add to this history everyday, even though we don't think about the reality that we are in fact in the midst of our own biography.
Therefore I am lead to speak a little more intentionally regarding the importance of each person's history. First, we must ask ourselves: what is life anyway? The Word of God answers this quite frankly: "It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14, KJV). It is a vapor, a whisp of the wind! Hence the Lord has put the reality that our lives are brief into perspective. Therefore we see that life is short, it is all before one minute, then all behind the next. Secondly we must ask: how can something so short count for so much? I will answer that by quoting Jesus: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:35, KJV). Thus it is safe to deduce from this verse that Jesus counts life as possibly being significant. Now I am not talking about being significant in accopmlishing amazing things or the indulgence of worldly pursuits. Rather I am talking about what is significant in light of the gospel, the truth. Therefore, we can conclude that life is both short and significant. That being the case, what are you going to do with your short life? Or in other words, what is your biography going to be like? Will it be titled 'Loser, a Life of Insignificance'? Or will it be titled 'The Greatest Treasure, a Life of Complete Joy'? We only have one life to live; one life to lose. What are living your life, your history for? Remember, everyone has a history, that is, a road of actions and attitudes that follow everywhere one may go. What is your story life?

Who is God?

This is quite a perplexing question. Last night we thought about this question and went to the Word of God to find answers. So who is He?

During our discussion time, I brought up an interesting point concerning why people don't like church or Christianity. Now we all know that there are people in the world who claim that they do not believe in God, yet at the same time we see that they actually do believe in a god, whether that god is in some religion or in themselves. Looking out over our generation it's easy to see many who are disillusioned with the church. Why? Well, I think it isn't so much that they do not believe in God but that they have a hard time believing in the Church. Just ask someone you know that used to attend church why they stopped. Most of the time they are going to tell you a story of how someone from the church wronged them or they discovered hypocrisy in the church. It takes a lot of faith to believe in the church does it not? One of the most historic creeds of the church is the Apostle's Creed. This creed was used to summarize the message of the Bible, the Gospel. This Creed was very important; it was so important that people had to recite it at baptism. There is a phrase at the end of the creed that usually gets overlooked or gives people the heeby geebies because of their association with the terminology. The Creed begins with 'I believe,' so everything that comes after that is prefixed with 'I believe.' The last section of the Creed states 'I believe...in the holy catholic church.' Did you hear that? They had to state that they believe in the church! Now here is my disclaimer, 'catholic' is definitely not referring to the Roman Catholic church, rather it is meaning 'universal church.'
Now I want you to know that by no means am I seeking to bash the church, the beautiful bride of Christ. Rather I love her and want to see her become more beautiful. I do recognize that I am counted among that number in the bride of Christ, and I love her. Therefore, I want to call her to that attention. When we ask the question 'Who is God?' we are not going to find an exhaustive answer, but rather we are quickly going to find out more about ourselves. We are the church, the called out ones from every tongue and tribe and nation, all over the world. We are called to literally be the body of Christ. Do you get that? We are His body here on earth and He is our head. He moves us, His body parts, by telling us what to do and how to conduct ourselves through His Word and His Spirit. So how are you doing? Are living out the call on your life? Can people around you say, 'Yes, that guy/girl is definitely part of the church?

We may know that God chooses his people, but how in the world do we choose God?

Tomorrow morning we will be continuing our study of Deuteronomy by looking at our second purpose statement: 'We must choose God.' Last week we looked at how God chooses his people and the implications thereof. Tomorrow we will seek to understand our responsibility in all of this, for man is a responsible being with his own will. What do you think about this? What do you know the BIble says about us choosing God? Do you think it's biblical? Why or why not? And if so, then what does that mean for your life and the life of everyone else?

What is Evil?

Why in the world is evil even in the world? If God is good then why in the world does He allow evil to exist?

Friday Night Faith Talk

As you can see on the calendars I gave to you, we are not meeting this week. However, we will pick it up on lesson 2 next Friday June 22.

Highlights of Sunday School

This past Sunday I actually got to teach the material for this week ;o) Timothy's Well has been studying the book of Deuteronomy for the last half of this year. Since we have so many newcomers and returners from college I was lead to do a survey of Deuteronomy. We began by addressing its literary prologue - i.e. the rest of the Pentateuch, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, and how it fits into the foundational history of the Bible. I think one of the most exhilarating truths about this book is the importance that Jesus placed upon it. For Jesus quoted from this book while in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, in fact, I think it is the most quoted book of the Bible by Jesus. According to conservative and most orthodox scholars, this book took place in the wilderness when the people of Israel were facing new challenges - 1. New Temptations, 2. A New Leader, 3. War for the first time, 4. This was a new generation, 5, And it gave a deeper message to the Law and why the Law was given. When Jesus was asked by the rich young ruler, "What is the greatest commandment?" he replied with a quote from Deuteronomy - "To love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength and the second is line unto it, to love your neighbor as yourself." The Gospel actually fulfills this commandment for us, in that, once we are changed by the gospel we can actually begin to love God, and when we can actually begin to love God then we can begin to love others.

So Why Did Jesus Come Into the World?

This is the very first question that we addressed last Friday night. There are several profound answers that are all correct and wonderful truths but there is one that trumps them all, namely, that Jesus came to trstify to the truth and everyone that is of the truth hears His voice! (My paraphrase)- John 18:37. What does this imply? Specifically this implies that there are two sides, one side that is of the truth and the other side that is not of the truth. Therefore, there are people that are of the truth and then there are those who are of illusion or lies. This means that if you do not believe in Jesus who claims to be the truth then you are not of the truth. Where does that put you? Pilate walked away from Christ at this very moment, probably muttering, "What is truth?" Pilate walked away from the greastest authority on truth!

Worldview?

We (Timothy's Well) hope that you can get a sense that there is no direction in life that God has not spoken or given answers. We are building a systematic framework in which you can put all of the truths claims that will make sense. We will see what happens when man turns away from God's truth and we will see what should happen when man turns and gazes upon the face of God. If this is done, you will not be the same ever again.

World Changer

This past Friday we had our first Friday Night Faith talk with eleven in attendence. Del Tackett began the series with a short message from Is. 6, essentially saying that this series is not to fill our heads with simple facts but rather, to cause us to be transformed. In Is. 6 we see that when we gaze onto the glory of God we are exposed, our cultures are exposed and we are changed into a world changer! Now let me ask you this, are you a world changer? Have you been changed by the gospel? If so in what way?

Where Do I live?

Well, that is a very good question and a very personal one at that. One so personal that I will not post that on this public domain. ;0) Thus I need you guys to email me if you plan to attend the Friday Night Faith Talk so I can give you my address. I want as many of you to come as possible, so feel free to ask me my address and if you need a ride I will try to work something out for you.

Michael Ervin

Don't Waste Your Life

Click here for more info on this curriculum.

The truth Project

While I was at Moody Bible Institute I heard about this curriculum. Then I came to TCBC and I found out that Dr. Suiter has gone through the instructor training classes for this curriculum. It is put out by (Click here for more info) Focus on the Family.

Concerning Sunday School on June 3rd

Sorry for not being able to teach the material to you all on Sunday. The Lord's providential hand lead us to join the Youth Group, which I think was good for two reasons in light of the recent transitions going on. First, we were able to show the Youth Group that there actually is something after Youth Group. Secondly, we were able to extend a warm welcome to the new comers in our group (Courtney Nichols and Katrina Vance). There are others, however, those gentlemen were out of town I believe. I will use the material I handed out to you on Sunday morning as our lesson plan. I encourage you to read ahead and formulate questions in your mind.

How do you read a book?

When I was a pastoral apprentice under Pastor David Sunday, he taught me a most effective strategy of reading a book. While reading write down Five Questions about the material you are reading. Write down five challenges pertaining to what you have read. Write down five encouragements you gained from the reading.

When Tragedy Strikes

When someone we know suffers a great loss or when someone they love is seriously hurt we often feel we have to find the right words to speak to them. Most of the time we feel that we can never find those words so we do nothing. However, when we think we have those words we use them only to find out they did nothing to help those who are hurting but rather make matters worse. So how can we help in time of tragedy? What can we do? I once heard Jill Briscoe say that one of the most significant ways to minister to people in the midst of tragedy is by being present with them. She calls this a 'Ministry of Presence.' My cousin Keith is a missionary in Uganda, he has told me the tales of how Ugandans deal with death and suffering. Essentially, when someone dies they truly grieve not only as individuals but as a community. They try to bury their deceased as soon as possible so the night of the death is the night of the most intense grievance. On that night people from the community, friends, family, or even acquaintances stay up all night with the family of the deceased. Their ministry is just being present with the hurting and even crying with the hurting. This is exactly what Jesus did when his friend Lazarus died. In fact, the shortest verse in the English Bible is John 11:35 - 'Jesus Wept.' Thus, when tragedy strikes the most important thing you could do is to be there with the hurting, reflect with the hurting and seek to have affection for and with the hurting. What do you think about this? How do you deal with tragedy?

Is one's history prophetic?

Many people enjoy reading, especially reading biographies because one can see within that person's childhood influences and sketches of what is to become the man or woman. However, can one always predict the future in light of the past? Or is one's past simply a prologue that can be dismissed?
This question is one of utmost importance for us to use to examine our own lives. Everyone has a past, a history. I have a path behind me that is 23 years long, and you have one that is ____ years long. This path is my own history. Your path is your history, you own it. Thus, does your history give you evidence of why you can expect God's hand of grace and blessing upon your future? Or does your history suggest something else, something less hopeful? This is what we must have in mind as we study the book of Deuteronomy.

Study Book

We are using (click on link for description) Warren W. Wiersbe's Be Equipped, to aid our study on Deuteronomy. If you need a copy of this book email me or let me know when you see me.

Michael

Ministry

In light of our study in the Word, we must live out what we are discovering. Therefore, this summer we will plan several ministry activities.

Sunday School

Over the past few months, this class has been studying the book of Deuteronomy. I was wondering what your thoughts are on the class, and on the study of this particular book.