What would Christmas be like without Jesus?

I asked this question to our students last night. Would we do anything very differently? I think many people would still give presents at the St. Nick's Day/Festival. I read a statement the other day that I think is very telling, especially in evangelical churches. Many people think that Jesus is important for what he did in the past. Most of these are also hopeful for that day of His return in the future. Where the disconnect comes is how we value or don't value the gospel and all that Jesus is to and for us right now. Students have made statements with their mouths and with their lives that they don't need the Scriptures, or the church as long as they have Jesus. I am very concerned for all whose way of thinking is dominated by a Jesus and me mentality. I want to enjoy worshipping our God and Savior and want to encourage and help others do that as well. What broken people we are in need of our Savior every moment. May I press on to know Him and the fellowship of His sufferings and all that He is so my joy may be full in Him. May your Christmas be filled with Christ. This is not an anti-gift giving blog. I am hoping that my family will experience Christmas a little differently as we consider the great condescension of our Holy One. Grace and peace

OUR HAPPY BOYS!!

So after a very long month with 3 stomach bugs, 4 new teeth, getting used to KY air (2nd worst allergy place to live), and 8 days of rest and relaxation in MS for Thanksgiving; I think the happy, energetic, and always full of life Gurney boys are back!!!!

VERY SOON!!!

So here I am at Matt's office (with the internet) and reading up on everyone's blogs. I love hearing from everyone and seeing all the pictures!! I have to say that it does make me very homesick to have a SEBTS reunion!! I know it would take some planning and creativity, but we just have to make it happen. What about sometime in the spring/summer months. I know schedules are crazy and maybe it's too much, but what do you guys think?

From Jen's Heart

Just some thoughts about what the Lord's been teaching me and showing me about Himself. I just can't get enough of His Word. Praise Him that I'm finally seeing it as my very life and breath!! I have a new hunger for seeing scripture as a whole and not so much as chapters and sections. Realizing and understanding the specific flow and order and how it builds on each verse is huge!! I know this isn't that mind boggling, but it's been refreshing for me lately. I was excitedly floored (like my adj.??) last night when I saw the connections of scripture while reading through Hebrews. Heb. 4: 13 - 16...you'll have to read it, but here's the basic idea...we are laid bare before our Savior which can seem shameful, but we have a high Priest that has been tempted in every way we are and therefore, we approach His throne of Grace with confidence in our time of need!!! As we see ourselves laid bare we realize our great need, but there's no reason to shrink back...approach Him with confidence!!!
Anyway, I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and loves the holiday season for all that it means......we have reason to celebrate....we've been given LIFE!!!!

Going Home

I did go home last week to visit my mom who just had her second hip replacement surgery. It was a good visit that I hoped encouraged and helped her. I hope that for my kids that no matter how old they get or how old I get, it would always be a joy to come home. What a picture of the gospel we can give to our children and to the world by our families as we make homes that are most often described as joyous. Not just at Christmas or other holidays, but in the everyday stuff that is life. As our friends and neighbors see us receive our children as blessings not as nuisances we show them the very heart of God towards His children. Despite the difficulties and discipline (or more rightly, including both of those) there is an ongoing offering of ourselves for the sake of our children to care for, protect and celebrate with them. I love to know that God feels and acts in similar ways, though much, much greater in scope and depth, towards me and all His children. When we first had Noah and I was walking through the hospital I was elated over the new possibility that I could sing to him and over him and that one day he could recognize and love me, and maybe even join in the song. In that instant, God's Spirit illuminated this truth to a greater degree than ever before that He had lavished such love on us that we are now His kids. And it is as beloved children that we seek to be imitators of God. So I am encouraged this day that our homes, our children, our spouses, our very breath is all a gift from God and this minstry to our families is by His mercy. I posted some newer pictures of the boys and Jen. Noah was a little sick yesterday but seems to be over the whole thing. Tucker is cutting at least 2 teeth, maybe 3 right now. We are just cranking along with life and seeking to do all of life for the glory of God.

The Gift of Worship

If our lives could be so sweet in passionate pursuit of our great God.

Who is it that I really want to be?

So I was talking to some students the other night, and the topic of hot dogs came up. I think it originated from me talking about my delicious Hebrew National beauties that were waiting to be consumed by me-they answer to a higher authority after all. Well, we got to talking about Oscar Mayer and singing the songs. I realized that the well known tune and lyric-"I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener, that is what I truly wish to be,..." is maybe the most ridiculous line ever. I mean, I love hot dogs, but why would you want to be processed meat squeezed into a wierd form, slathered in who knows what and then devoured by hungry, nondiscriminate people. Doesn't sound like much to shoot for. I don't want to be chewed up and digested for the brief entertainment or enjoyment or at the very low end, satiation of random people. That being said, the rest of the jingle is very telling. It says that if I was an Oscar Mayer wiener, people would be in love with me. It just made me think of how unhappy we can be with ourselves. This is pretty amazing, that you would prefer being a hot dog and feel confident that you would get more love if you were not what you are now. I know that there are still times in my heart where I wish I had more money, better abs, nicer cars and all sorts of other upgrades. I still pray fairly often that God would just help me to be who He has made me to be and to be excited about that. I guess as long as I don't sink to hot dog aspiration, I will be alright. On a completely unrelated note, Jen and I have taken many pictures and will put them up soon, maybe even tomorrow. We are going to North Carolina tomorrow until Monday for me to attend a conference on the emerging church at Southeastern. It will be great to get away and to see friends since we don't have any here yet.