Dominican Republic 3.8.22

 

Well this morning concluded our time with the students. We spent some time worshipping together and talking about the things we had learned these past 4 days. We were pleased to hear some of things that the students had retained from the lessons and were willing to share with their peers, in a group setting. 

I finally got to see Darianny this morning. As you can see, she was struggling a little bit. She showed up in tears and after a few hugs she seemed okay, but didn’t really want to talk about what was going on. She hadn’t been able to make it on the days we had big group time. We just let her know that we cared, that we are praying for her, and so thankful for the opportunity that we have to be a small part of her life through the sponsorship program. When you have time, if she comes to your mind, say a prayer for Darianny

These two guys have been great this week. They have the potential to be great leaders for the younger children and their fellow peers. Pray for a continued desire to know more and more about Jesus. I’m looking forward to July, when we came back so I can hear what the Lord has been doing in the lives of Christopher and Yeison. 

Don’t forget to pray for Paul and Jose. These guys are the real deal. They have a deep desire for the things of God and give of their time, and talent to do their part to further the kingdom. 

 I have so many pictures and stories to tell and will be sharing those over the next few days and months. Plus, it helps pass the time until July- when we will be back 

Dominican Republic 3.7.22

We spent the morning walking through some defining values about the Trinity. We looked at The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit and how each of  them work together yet separate. This morning concluded our lessons with the students and I am thankful for the opportunity we had these last three mornings. From discussions about the authority, clarity, necessity, and sufficiency of the Scriptures to the many attributes of our God, I hope they have a little better understanding of these principles that help shape our faith and worldview.

Here is a picture of one of the students notes that they have taken the last few days 

They worked on making three separate star like patterns that can be hung on the wall as a reminder of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 

We have one last morning with them before we have to say bye. One of the only things that makes that a little easier is that I will be back in July

Please continue to pray for Kendi, Christopher, Yeison, Patricia, and Rubi

Dominican Republic 3.6.22

We spent some time today talking about who God is. We looked at His existence, His knowability, His goodness, His holiness, His truthfulness, His omniscience, His omnipresence, His omnipotence, and His unity. We had some great conversations centered around His attributes and the fact that His nature is the standard at which we find our morality/ethics, which help shape our biblical worldview.

We spent some time worshipping together. This always seems to be some of our best times together. There is not a trip that goes by where they don’t ask Brandon and me to lead out in some worship. I love that we can start singing in English and they join in, singing in Spanish. There are a few songs that we have worked on enough that we can actually sing the chorus in Spanish as well. 

We had an opportunity to present the gospel story to all of the students today, as well as a time of testimonies - sharing about the truth, beauty and goodness of God. I have to tell you that I thoroughly enjoy hearing my son share his story and make much of who Jesus is

The students love the time they have to work on crafts. Today, they were able to make some paintings on canvas with the cross symbolizing the grace that God gives us. 

Dominican Republic 3.5.22

 We had a great start this morning to our leadership retreat. We spent some time talking about the authority, clarity, necessity, and sufficiency of scripture. It’s days like this that I am reminded that we have to not just “do” church but we have to “be” the church. I think at times, if we are not careful, we find ourselves just going through the motions of what we would call church. We find ourselves in a routine that becomes stale and stagnant if not passionate about pursuing ALL that He has for us. What is it that He is calling you to? Where is He reveling Himself to you in your life? Are you willing to respond to that revelation?

These two men are yet another reason I love coming back to The Dominican Republic. They both love the Lord and have a deep passion for The Word to be taught contextually and with authority. We have amazing conversations about ministry being done from a gospel centered perspective. When you have a chance pray for Paul (closest to me) and Jose. These two men are serving in multiple ministries and are an inspiration 

I am overwhelmed at times, when I look back at all the things that The Lord has done over the years here in The Dominican. I remember prayerfully walking through villages asking God to give us a place to invest in vulnerable children, in a way that would show them the love of Christ. My prayer is that these children would know and understand that HE is sufficient in all things. It’s ironic, because I feel like it’s the same thing that we all need to know and understand. If we truly believe that He is sovereign in all things, than why do we allow ourselves NOT to rest in the simple fact that His sovereignty is sufficient for us. He is truly all we need. If He is sufficient, than we don’t have to add anything. We don’t have to try and manipulate events, and or circumstances that we find ourselves in. We can rest knowing that He is ultimately the One who is in control of it all.

Here are a few pics of the students that I am pouring into this week during our small group times. Please pray for Patricia, Rubi, Kendi, Christopher, and Yeison

 

Dominican Republic 12.30.20

Words can not express what today as like. Let me start with this though. During their Christmas musical presentation they used a donkey for Mary to ride in the ministry on, while Joseph led the donkey. 

I had an amazing time being able to sit with our sweet little girl here in the Dominican. Her name is Darianny, Please continue to pray for her and her family.

This was another awesome moment when they danced to Waymaker. The children in the program always work on artistic ways to worship their creator. I love the fact that they use their talents to worship.

Then there’s these two guys Miguel Angel and Claudio. We usually spend time playing music together and or studying the Word with each other. These guys will be used in a mighty way for the Lord. They seem to have a genuine commitment to the program and are always leading our in the Bible study and the worship time. They are gifted musicians as well.

Let me say a big thank you to all of you who helped support our Christmas Meal here. It was a huge blessing.

I will leave it with this, my son continues to amaze me with his love for the Word of God and his passion for it being taught with clarity. After, I presented the gospel to all the older children this afternoon, he stepped up and spoke with boldness about his spiritual journey, making sure to let them now the story doesn’t end (your journey doesn’t end) until He calls you home - and that the journey is one of progression. 

Dominican Republic 12.29.20

 Today was yet another beautiful day here in the Dominican Republic. Today was a day that reminded me of the fact that every tribe and every tongue will bring glory to His name.

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.  - Psalm 86:9

There is something to be said about the universal language of music. It draws people together. A song, even in a language you don’t understand, can have an amazing impact on you. I used to travel as a worship leader and retreat speaker and I can honestly say that worship fuels me, feeds me, and refreshes me. I have some amazing memories of leading at camps and retreats when His people unashamedly worshipped. As a family, we are drawn together to worship our Creator for his truth, beauty, and goodness. He has always been, and will always be the constant for us. I realize that most of us equate worship to singing songs of praise and adoration, but it is so much more than that. It is literally a lifestyle that we are called to have.

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. - John 4:23

The understanding that I have is that to be a true worshipper, you must worship in spirit and truth. So apart from the spirit, it is impossible to be a true worshipper. This also leads us to believe that apart from the truth, it is impossible to be a true worshipper. 

Don’t hear me wrong. Don’t neglect that truth that we are all worshippers of something or someone. The question is what are you actually worshipping? Who are you actually worshipping? If it is not the King of kings, through the truth of who Jesus is and the spirit that leads and guides us for His name sake - than you are NOT a true worshipper. At least not the kind that is spoken about in the scriptures. 

Today was just a reassurance of the fact that His children are wired to worship Him. 

Dominican Republic - 12.28.20

 Well, I’m sitting here again, in a place that has a big portion of my heart, reflecting on the day so far. We have 27 students involved in our leadership retreat this week, and I am already excited about what HE is doing. This morning as we walked through the gospel I couldn’t help but be encouraged by how that gospel was being shared with clarity. Students, here in the program, who are learning and gleaning truth from the Word are not ashamed to share it. Miguel Angel and Claudio are always willing to share and present the gospel unashamedly to all of their peers. As a matter of act, as we were leaving this afternoon they asked if we were going to continue studying the Bible because they loved it. Those conversations are what makes all of this worth it. I also love the fact that my son, can come in behind the study and put a bow on it with his stories that help drive home the points. It is also very encouraging when the students here are asking where the rest of my family is. Natalie, Meaghan and Kellie (Watson) - please know that you are a blessing to them and that they miss you. 

We then took some time to walk through the village and pray for some of the families that are being supported through the @25project. One of the little girls, who is new to the program, asked that we pray for her Mom who is still in Haiti and for her Dad and step mom who she lives with here in the DR. She told us she wanted to be a doctor. Another precious girl, also new to the program, asked us to pray for her mom’s health  and she told us that she wanted to grow up to be a good mom. This was precious to hear out of her mouth. The fact that she desires to be a good mom is wonderful. It reminded me a lot about some of the things we strive to put in front of our students back home. We challenge them to become men of valor and women of virtue. 

 

Puritan Prayer- Devotion

God of my end, it is my greatest, noblest pleasure to be acquainted with You and with my rational, immortal soul; it is sweet and entertaining to look into my being when all my powers and passions are united and engaged in pursuit of You, when my soul longs and passionately breathes after conformity to You and the full enjoyment of You; no hours pass away with so much pleasure as those spent in communion with You and with my heart.

O how desirable, how profitable to the Christian life is a spirit of holy watchfulness and godly jealousy over myself when my soul is afraid of nothing except grieving and offending You, the blessed God, my Father and friend, whom I then love and long to please, rather than be happy in myself! Knowing, as I do, that this is the pious temper, worthy of the highest ambition, and closest pursuit of intelligent creatures and holy Christians, may my joy derive from glorifying and delighting You. I long to fill all my time for You, whether at home or in the way; to place all my concerns in Your hands; to be entirely at Your disposal, having no will or interest of my own. Help me to live to You for ever, to make You my last and only end, so that I may never more in one instance love my sinful self.

Puritan Prayers - Contentment

Contentment

Heavenly Father, if I should suffer need, and go unclothed, and be in poverty, make my heart prize Your love, know it, be constrained by it, though I be denied all blessings. It is Your mercy to afflict and try me with wants, for by these trials I see my sins, and desire severance from them. Let me willingly accept misery, sorrows, temptations, if I can thereby feel sin as the greatest evil, and be delivered from it with gratitude to You, acknowledging this as the highest testimony of Your love.

When Your Son, Jesus, came into my soul instead of sin He became more dear to me than sin had formerly been; His kindly rule replaced sin's tyranny. Teach me to believe that if ever I would have any sin subdued I must not only labour to overcome it, but must invite Christ to abide in the place of it, and He must become to me more than vile lust had been; that His sweetness, power, life may be there. Thus I must seek a grace from Him contrary to sin, but must not claim it apart from Himself.

When I am afraid of evils to come, comfort me by showing me that in myself I am a dying, condemned wretch, but in Christ I am reconciled and live; that in myself I find insufficiency and no rest, but in Christ there is satisfaction and peace; that in myself I am feeble and unable to do good, but in Christ I have ability to do all things. Though now I have His graces in part, I shall shortly have them perfectly in that state where You will show Yourself fully reconciled, and alone sufficient, efficient, loving me completely, with sin abolished. O Lord, hasten that day.

Prayers from The Book of Common Prayer

I often enjoy reading through the Book of Common Prayer for many reasons. One of them being the fact that prayers such as these are found there. This morning, as I study and reflect on the scriptures for my sermon tomorrow, I find myself once again drawn to the beautiful grace of our Lord. 

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desires not the death of sinners, but rather that they may turn from their wickedness and live, has given power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins. He pardons and absolves all those who truly repent, and with sincere hearts believe his holy Gospel. Therefore we beseech him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do on this day, and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy, so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Litany of Penitence from The Book of Common Prayer

Most holy and merciful Father: We confess to you and to one another, and to the whole communion of saints in heaven and on earth, that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven. Have mercy on us, Lord. We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit. Have mercy on us, Lord. We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness: the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of our lives, We confess to you, Lord. Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of other people, We confess to you, Lord. Our anger at our own frustration, and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves, We confess to you, Lord. Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work, We confess to you, Lord. Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to commend the faith that is in us, We confess to you, Lord. Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done: for our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty, Accept our repentance, Lord. For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us, Accept our repentance, Lord. For our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us, Accept our repentance, Lord. Restore usthose who differ from us, Accept our repentance, Lord. For our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us, Accept our repentance, Lord. Restore us, good Lord, and let your anger depart from us; Favorably hear us, for your mercy is great. Accomplish in us the work of your salvation, That we may show forth your glory in the world. By the cross and passion of your Son our Lord, Bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection. Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desires not the death of sinners, but rather that they may turn from their wickedness and live, has given power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins. He pardons and absolves all those who truly repent, and with sincere hearts believe his holy Gospel. Therefore we beseech him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do on this day, and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy, so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Contentment- A Puritan Prayer

Heavenly Father, if I should suffer need, and go unclothed, and be in poverty, make my heart prize Your love, know it, be constrained by it, though I be denied all blessings. It is Your mercy to afflict and try me with wants, for by these trials I see my sins, and desire severance from them. Let me willingly accept misery, sorrows, temptations, if I can thereby feel sin as the greatest evil, and be delivered from it with gratitude to You, acknowledging this as the highest testimony of Your love.

When Your Son, Jesus, came into my soul instead of sin He became more dear to me than sin had formerly been; His kindly rule replaced sin's tyranny. Teach me to believe that if ever I would have any sin subdued I must not only labour to overcome it, but must invite Christ to abide in the place of it, and He must become to me more than vile lust had been; that His sweetness, power, life may be there. Thus I must seek a grace from Him contrary to sin, but must not claim it apart from Himself.

When I am afraid of evils to come, comfort me by showing me that in myself I am a dying, condemned wretch, but in Christ I am reconciled and live; that in myself I find insufficiency and no rest, but in Christ there is satisfaction and peace; that in myself I am feeble and unable to do good, but in Christ I have ability to do all things. Though now I have His graces in part, I shall shortly have them perfectly in that state where You will show Yourself fully reconciled, and alone sufficient, efficient, loving me completely, with sin abolished. O Lord, hasten that day.

Gateway Fellowship / Cornerstone Fellowship - One Family

Gateway Fellowship, the church that I have been serving as the Lead Pastor for over 7 years, began to pray just a few short months ago that The Lord would do something special in us. You see, as a church plant, we have met in many different buildings but never really had one to call our own. We have met in store fronts, and day care centers, and have prayed specifically that one day God would give us a permanent home to meet in. Often times, we haven't been able to do some of the things that we felt The Lord leading us to simply because we didn't have the resources for it. We were in need of a great children's program, a place for youth, and some more people who had a deep passion for the Gospel. Little did we know, He already had a plan in mind.

Cornerstone Fellowship, a church in Caddo Mills, had begun praying almost the same prayer for their church about 4 months ago. They too were praying God would do something special in them. They were looking and praying for some new faces to help serve in ministry alongside them.

Cornerstone has a building and property and an established presence in Caddo Mills, which is exactly half the distance between Royse City and Greenville, where the majority of our church family resides.

The Lord put together a chance meeting between two pastors of two different churches, who in reality where praying basically the same prayer. Over the past month we have met and prayed together and talked about the possibility of our two churches coming together and becoming one church. I can't begin to tell you the "strength" I see with the possibility of us joining forces.

There were some things that needed to be discussed and prayed over. After many weeks of prayer and meeting with key leadership from both churches, Cornerstone Fellowship decided that they would vote on a pastoral shift in their church that would put me in the Lead Pastor role and their current pastor would function as the Executive Pastor. 

This morning, Cornerstone Fellowship, by unanimous decision, voted that I would become the Lead Pastor. Gateway Fellowship, will merge with into the fellowship at Cornerstone, and we will begin meeting together as one body of believers next week.

If you don't have a church home, I would like to invite you to worship with us at Cornerstone Fellowship in Caddo Mills. God is up to something and we are very excited about the future of the church. 

Devotion- a Puritan prayer

God of my end,

It is my greatest, noblest pleasure
to be acquainted with thee
and with my rational, immortal soul;

It is sweet and entertaining
to look into my being
when all my powers and passions
are united and engaged in pursuit of thee,
when my soul longs and passionately breathes
after conformity to thee
and the full enjoyment of thee;

No hours pass away with so much pleasure
as those spent in communion with thee
and with my heart.

O how desirable, how profitable to the Christian life
is a spirit of holy watchfulness
and godly jealousy over myself,
when my soul is afraid of nothing
except grieving and offending thee,
the blessed God, my Father and friend,
whom I then love and long to please,
rather than be happy in myself!

Knowing, as I do, that this is the pious temper,
worthy of the highest ambition, and closest
pursuit of intelligent creatures
and holy Christians,
may my joy derive from glorifying and
delighting thee.

I long to fill all my time for thee,
whether at home or in the way;
to place all my concerns in thy hands;
to be entirely at thy disposal,
having no will or interest of my own.

Help me to live to thee for ever,
to make thee my last and only end,
so that I may never more in one instance
love my sinful self.

Amen

Worship without theology

John Stott writes that...

"All true worship is a response to the self-revelation of God in Christ and Scripture, and arises from our reflection on Who He is and what He has done. The worship of God is evoked, informed and inspired by the vision of God. Worship without theology is bound to degenerate into idolatry. Hence the indispensable place of Scripture in both public and private devotion. It is the Word of God which calls forth the worship of God. On the other hand, there should be no theology without doxology. There is something fundamentally flawed about a purely academic interest in God. God is not an appropriate object for cool, critical, detached, scientific observation and evaluation. No, the true knowledge of God will always lead us to worship, as it did Paul. Our place is on our faces before him in adoration....Bishop Handley Moule said at the end of the last [19th] century, we must "beware equally of an undevotional theology and of an untheological devotion."

Dominican Recap

This morning as I sat and read The Word, while sipping on fresh brewed Dominican Coffee, I was thankful again for my most recent trip to the Dominican Republic. This trip was another reminder of the fact that He is in control, and He does what He says He will do. While walking through Santa Alicia, feeding the children in school, and chatting with Pastor Bona, I was once again brought to tears about His handiwork. This trip was not only beautiful, but it served as a confirmation and visual reminder of all the many things we have been praying about for years.

Through @25projectorg's NameChanger program, these children are being educated daily, have been given a school uniform, are being taught the Word of God, and are given breakfast daily, which might be the only meal they eat that day. All of this is possible because of people, like you, who have sacrificed in order to sponsor a child in the Dominican Republic. These children are Haitian immigrants who are living on sugarcane plantations, which are called bateys. We are so thankful for how The Lord has opened doors for us to minister there.

For the last several years, I have spent time in Santa Alicia and El Cea praying about all the things that He might have us do there. I am so thankful for @25projectorg and how The Lord has put together and orchestrated all of these things. Once again, an amazing confirmation of all that He is.

If you would like to get involved with the work that @25projectorg is doing in the Dominican Republic, I would love to talk about it with you. Would you consider coming alongside 25projectorg in order to help change the lives of children living in these bateys.

Not only is there an ongoing sponsorship program, called NameChangers, in Santa Alicia but we are also starting a breakfast program and sponsorship in El Cea. Why don't you pray about becoming a NameChanger and help us make an impact on the lives of these children. Pray with us for the people in Santa Alicia and El Cea, for Pastor Bona and Pastor Chile', and for our ministry partners there.

This is Mariyerlin, she is the little girl that my family sponsors. We pray for her daily and my children are so excited about the opportunity we have to invest in her life.

El Cea- Dominican Republic

Today was another amazing day of dreaming and praying about what all HE has in store for @25projectorg here in the Dominican Republic.

We went to El Cea today, which is another batey that Haitian immigrants live in. You have to get an understanding of the history between the Haitians and the Dominican to get a proper perspective on the culture here in the DR.

All I that to say, God has birthed and orchestrated some very beautiful ministry opportunities we have here in the DR through @25projectorg.

25projectorg will begin a sponsorship program and breakfast program very soon in El Cea. For me, this is yet another answer to prayers that I've been praying for years. So thankful for His plan, His timing, and the fact that HE is in control.

It was good to see the El Cea community again today, as well as Pastor Chile'. Would you join me in praying for Pastor Chile' and the ministry partners and their work here in El Cea.

If you want to know how you can get involved with the work here in theDominican Republic through @25projectorg , contact me. I would love to share the vision with you and how you can get involved. 

-Here are a few pics from today:

One of my buddies, Carlos

- my favorite picture of the day