Prayer Request

Things are going very well here in Philadelphia. There is much reading to do and assignments due every week; but the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. On the positive side, however, the more I learn, the more precious the Christ of the gospel becomes! I can see His guiding hand in my life here, as He continues His sanctifying work of uncovering my sinfulness through the situations I face as well as revealing the perfection of His work that He has begun in my life.

Which leads me to my prayer request: today we had a presentation at WTS from an organization called Harvest USA. This non-profit ministry seeks to "proclaim Christ as Lord to a sexually broken world". They offer free counseling, some one-on-one but also in group settings, seeking to help those who battle with sexual sins and/or are trying to help those who are so burdened. The goals of this ministry struck a chord with me: this is why I came to Philadelphia.

I am excited to share with you, therefore, that Harvest USA, based here in Philadelphia, is resurrecting an internship program for seminary students and church leaders. This would involve training through reading and discussions with a mentor one-on-one as well as in a group setting with a certified Biblical counselor present to give instruction and feedback. Aslo included is an opportunity to counsel with a mentor, eventually working toward counseling one-on-one with a counselee. What an awesome opportunity this presents for more focussed learning and training in the area of sexual brokenness!

However, they hope to only take on 4 males and 4 females, to begin interning in January. So, I ask that you would make this a matter of prayer that God would open this door for me, and thereby use this internship to sanctify me and teach me more about Him, with the intent of being equipped for service in His kingdom in this sphere of counseling. Please also remember to ask that He will direct me in the way that He wants me to go should this not be His will, but that He would make the way clear.

Thank you for all your prayers already. I thank God that He has allowed me to taste of his mercy and goodness by bringing me into the Body of Christ and be able to share these things with you, and fellowship with you as well. God's blessings to you and your families.

'Just a thought'

" A heart humbled by God's terrible majesty can begin its recovery and grow strong. Sin can't thrive in a humble heart."

Kris Lundgaard

The Enemy Within

p. 128

'Just a thought'

"You stir up man to take pleasure in praising You, because You have made us for Yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in You."

~Augustine

Confessions,

Book I.i.1

'Just a thought'

In response to counseling with the claim "God loves you just as you are. God has unconditional love for you." David Powlison writes:

"The Gospel is better than unconditional love. The Gospel says, "God accepts you just as Christ is. God has 'contraconditional' love for you." Christ bears the curse you deserve. Christ is fully pleasing to the Father and gives you His own perfect goodness. Christ reigns in power, making you the Father's child and coming close to you to begin to change what is unacceptable to God about you. God never accepts me "as I am." He accepts me "as I am in Christ." The center of gravity is different. The true Gospel does not allow God's love to be sucked into the vortex of the soul's lust for acceptability and worth in and of itself. Rather, it radically decenters people-- what the Bible calls "fear of the Lord" and "faith"-- to look outside themselves."

~David Powlison

The Journal of Biblical Counseling,

Vol. 13.2, 1995

Praise God for his unspeakable riches in Christ!

"...For He both hears and answers prayer"

With praise to our God and heavenly Father, 'who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ', has also granted that Rebecca and I may pursue a closer relationship. We are overjoyed, to say the least. God in His amazing grace has placed us in the loving family of His church; this family has helped us over the past few months, and even years, in ways which are difficult to express. He is more than worthy to be thanked and praised; it is also fitting to share our joy with you, and to thank you for the many prayers and support you have shown us. Though the road has not been smooth, we can testify to the faithfulness of Christ who has been with us every step of the way- and we know He will continue to be. Please continue to uphold us in your prayers; although God continues to work in us, we are still broken people in need of much change.

"Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together."

~Psalm 34:3

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works"

~Hebrews 10:23-24

Westminster Thoelogical Seminary

Thought it would be a good idea to post some pictures of the WTS campus- all four buildings of it. I had International Student Orientation today; tomorrow, general orientation. This provided (and I trust will provide) the opportunity to start making connections and building relationships.

WTS Bookstore

(see link at top of blog)

Machen Hall Administration and Housing building

Library

Machen Hall

Van Til Hall

Auditorium and classrooms

Safe and Sound!

Hey, y'all,

I have safely arrived at my home away from home yesterday at 6:15 pm. What a different experience living so far from home. I think at this point the newness of it all is keeping me sane.

God has been good, though, there is no doubt in that. The border guard gave me a hard time because I brought most of my tools over with me. He wasn't too happy, and threatened that they might not let me through . . . and that was it. Miracle #1. Then, inside the customs and immigration office, they asked for proof of finances, to prove to them that I would not end up a public ward and leech off the American system- as if :S Anyway, I had nothing, since much of the proof they were asking for was confidential and sent directly to WTS. So, I prayed. The guy said he had to talk to his supervisor, but it looked like I wouldn't be able to get my visa processed. The only "proof" of finances I had was a letter from WTS stating that I had "documented sufficient financial resources for [my] study at Westminster Seminary" and that I was admitted into the program. I continued to pray for a miracle as the guy talked with his supervisor, and God heard that prayer. They processed the visa on the good word of the Seminary, which apparently is unusual. Praise God! I signed the documents and got outta there before they had a chance to change their minds.

So that was the beginning of quite a long and tiring drive. A construction impediments, a roll-over accident, and two pit stops later, I arrived at my destination.

My address here is 2450 Norwood Ave., Roslyn, PA 19001

Next week I have orientation and meet-and-greets on Tuesday and Wednesday, and my classes start Sept. 6, so I probably will have time for some sightseeing. I'll keep you posted.

Please continue to pray for me, especially for this coming week. Thanks, and God bless!