New 9 Marks journal on Gospel & Marriage here.
Acts 29 Retreat Reflection
Our trip to Vail, Colorado for the annual Acts 29 Pastors & Wives retreat was outstanding. Robie and I were refreshed by the scheduling of generous personal time, as well as by the nourishing relationships with other planters and wives. We discovered that A29 is not only a network but a family. Gary and Betsy Ricucci led two session on marriage, which were honest, gospel-centered and helpful.
Each morning I enjoyed a walk along Gore Creek, which was more like a rushing river, nestled against the base of the Vail mountains. It was here that I experienced significant, personal renewal, as the Creator reminded me of his lavish love and grace that constantly flows towards us and through us in Jesus. I found myself singing “The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus,” a hymn that seemed to give words to the watery images around me:
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus vast unmeasured, boundless free
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of thy love
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee (listen here)
Should Google Determine Obscenity?
Check out my post on the topic here.
Our Worst for our Kids Best?
Children need to see the best and worst of marriage in order to understand not only the depth of sin but also the luminescent glory of conviction, repentance, grace, reconciliation, and celebration. Otherwise relational darkness will be known but not named. And it will poison the hope of healing. ..Whenever parents fail to grow as human beings, we also refuse that growth opportunity for our children. We cant take our children any farther in life, relationahip, and love that the point we have chose to progress on our own and in our marriages…True redemption involves being struck dumb by the enormity of our failure and then struck even dumber by the enromity of the heart of God that cancels our debt.
~ Dan Allender, How Children Raise Parents, p. 94, 102, 104