I really appreciate this article from the Gospel Coalition on how to “Grow a Disciple-Making Culture in Your Church“:
Jesus didn’t have in mind maverick disciple-makers; he had in mind a community of believers who, together and under the authority of the local church, seek to transfer the faith to the next generation.
There are some great questions that the church needs to be asking and that we as individuals need to be asking in regards to our disciple-making. Read the entire article here.
Though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say that I am not what I once was, a slave to sin and Satan. And I can heartily join with the apostle and acknowledge that by the grace of God I am what I am.
– John Newton
A quote from Burk Parsons in the March 2013 Tabletalk magazine:
“The problem today is not so much that young people have consciously rejected ancient biblical values but that they have not been taught what they are, much less been trained in them.”
Later he adds,
“…we have neglected God’s call to train up the next generation of young people in the way they should go. If we are to redirect the current paths of young people, we must begin in the church by taking up the charge to come alongside younger men and women, and teach them the old, ancient values of God’s Word.”
It’s been a rough week. Our entire family has been sick with the flu (yes, the one you hear about on TV) and we even spent time in the ER with our daughter Avery because we weren’t sure if she was throwing up blood. By God’s grace, we don’t think that was the case, and she is doing fine….but it was still scary. As I’m writing I can hear our two-year old son coughing in our kids’ room and Bethany has been feeling nauseous tonight. Like I said, it’s been a rough week.
I sat down tonight to write some thank-yous to friends who are graciously supporting us in our ministry to Czech Republic. As I wrote my first one tears began to fill my eyes. I guess I was a little overwhelmed with God’s amazing grace and the sacrifice of our friends and family who are joining us in this ministry. Writing these little notes always reveals how God’s plan has come together in one way or another. One of these notes was to a family who were crucial in helping shape my thinking about missions. Another family are close friends of ours who we will miss greatly when God moves us. A few were to individuals who I have served in ministry with the past few years. These people are all people that God has used in our lives to shape us, help us, mold us, and encourage us. Isn’t that amazing?
We serve a big God. His ways are not my ways. He can see the entirety of my life in a single moment. He knows every person we will meet, every person will we do ministry with, and he knew that maybe one day He would use those people to send my family to another culture to tell people about His Son Jesus. He knew how important each relationship would be in shaping Bethany and I and how crucial these people would be in encouraging our hearts when we’re weak. He knew this week that I would need that kind of reminder and encouragement and for that I’m very thankful. It’s just what I needed.
Our family has been severely under the weather this past week. We just spent the last 4 days at home together and really have done nothing but try to take care of each other. I (Shay) came down with this crazy sickness first and proceeded to pass it along to every other member. Though I’m working on my 6th consecutive day of feeling sick, I do believe I might be heading for recovery here. However, I can’t remember a time in any recent history of feeling as sick as I have this week–it’s been awful.
It’s very hard to keep your focus on Christ when you are having a 103 temperature. I’m thankful to Bethany for reminding me more than once that God had ordained in this for us and that He always desires our best. And I’m thankful that the Lord allowed this to happen during a time when we didn’t have any major commitments to keep as we were all literally stuck in bed.
If you think of us, pray for a speedy recovery for all of us. It’s hard to be sick, but it’s harder when you’re trying to take care of your family too so we could use a little break from the coughing and sneezing!
This 30 minute message from David Platt is worth every minute.
I don’t think I’ve ever made a New Year’s resolution. You always read around the new year about how resolutions never work and how people break them with a few weeks…yada, yada, yada. Well call it a resolution or whatever you want, but this year I decided to start Professor Horner’s Bible Reading System. Prof. Horner was actually one of my professor’s in college. He taught many of our English classes at The Master’s College and both Bethany and I took him for World Lit. We actually had the same class together while we were dating! But his Bible reading system pops up every year on blogs around the Internet as a legitimate reading program and now that I’m full engaged in it I can’t recommend it enough.
The basic idea is that you read 10 chapters in 10 different books of the Bible every day. If you look at the photo above you’ll see my book marks which hold my spot in all 10 different places. But instead of being a yearly Bible reading program, you actually finish the entire Bible in 8 months and while you read there are some books you will read multiple times. It might sound complicated, but it’s actually very simple–it’s just not what we’re used to.
In his notes on the reading system, Prof. Horner says that “you’ll realize you were starving yourself from God’s Word” and honestly I think that’s exactly what has happened to me and it’s only been 8 days. This system is no doubt intense and requires discipline, but it engages my mind in a way I never thought possible and the more you do it the easier it gets. By reading in many different books I’m seeing how my mind is trying to put the pieces together of God’s story. If you believe the Bible is one cohesive story, then this system makes sense. All the parts can start to come together and you can see the story of God just unravel–it’s mind blowing!
If you’re interested at all in starting this kind of system, I recommend going to Tim Challies blog and seeing his review of it. I think you will be blessed.
And one more side note about Prof. Horner: he’s also written what I believe is the best book on film and worldview out there for Christians. The book is called Meaning at the Movies: Becoming a Discerning Viewer and it will greatly challenge your heart as we think about art, film, and in general how to use our movie watching to the glory of God.
Not new methods, but only an understanding of how the Gospel works, can provide an adequate foundation and pattern for dealing with sin.
Read the whole article for a great short study out of Colossians on mortifying or killing sin by Sinclair Furguson (via TableTalk magazine).
This year we were home for Christmas. That may sound normal to you, but we’re usually flying some place and spending it with our extended family so being home is a nice change of pace.
As our little family grows it’s fun to start and/or continue traditions. One tradition Bethany grew up with was eating breakfast on the floor in the living room, beneath the tree. We have continued this the past 2 years and it’s a fun way to start Christmas day. This year we enjoyed sausage, bacon, eggs, and freshly baked cinnamon rolls! After that we broke open the stockings and started tearing into the wrapping paper. Since we have family out of state we open presents “together” over video chat which definitely saves money on airfare, but doesn’t replace actually being together in the same room. We still had fun giving and receiving gifts and our families are always very generous.
Bethany got some new everyday dishes, a few books, and some clothes. I got books, books, and more books. They are basically all I ask for so I’m stoked (more on this in another post). Titus got a bunch of toys but all he really cares about is the remote control car Nana got him. Honestly, it’s a pretty cool car so I totally understand his never-ending desire to run that thing all around the house. And finally, Avery got a real metal shopping cart (mini size), a few dolls, and of course some clothes–girls always get clothes.
We have been greatly blessed this year and it’s a great joy to celebrate the birth of Jesus. More than ever before I feel like I’ve been thinking about Christ’s death more than his birth. Christ knew his purpose and from birth he was destined for the cross. Praise God for his sovereign plan in saving us and for Christ’s humility in coming as a baby and paying for our sins on the cross!
Here’s a few photos of our Christmas day:
Not enough Thomason Christmas for you? Click here for more photos.
One of the perks of working for a company owned by a billionaire is being invited to his mansion in Malibu to play in the snow. Yes, you read that last sentence correctly.
Today we spent the day at John Paul Dejoria’s house, owner of Paul Mitchell hair care (the company I work for). It was our second time attending this crazy event, but last year we had a brand new baby (she was just 3 weeks old) and the experience just wasn’t as much fun as this year. I’m hard pressed to try and describe all of what this party is, so here’s a few photos with some descriptions below each to try and help make sense of it all.
Titus standing on the snow as we walk up JPs driveway.
At the top of the driveway we were greeted by huge snowflake balloons. Did I mention they were huge?
Founder and owner of Paul Mitchell and Patron, John Paul Dejoria (aka: “JP”) shaking hands with friends and employees. We got to take a picture with him shortly after this photo.
In-N-Out truck! #1, no onions with extra spread.
Titus waiting for his In-N-Out cheeseburger.
Avery being cute in her stroller as we wait for our In-N-Out burgers.
The family is happy as we finish our lunch and head into the party!
This is JP…as a sculpture/fountain. Did I mention he is a billionaire?
This is the snow hill. The Pacific Ocean is in the background just behind the huge blow up Santa. If you look to the left you’ll see the “real” Santa sitting on his “thrown of lies!”
A sign pointing the way to the kid’s play area.
On the way to kid’s play area is a huge dessert table thing. It was ridiculous.
Another dessert table thing. Pretty sure the cotton candy on the tree was real. And the people off to the right are waiting in line for their custom screen printed t-shirts.
Looking down on JP’s tennis courts which held the kid’s play area.
Titus enjoy some bubbles in the kids’ play area.
The bubble guy trying to show Titus how to make a really big bubble.
Titus looking through a huge bubble.
They had a race track and Titus picked the yellow car.
Here comes Titus’ yellow car down the stretch.
Titus playing lego basketball. I didn’t know such things existed.
Titus playing at the lego table. Vroom!
Avery puts her hand on a giant rocking horse.
Titus playing with the bubbles again.
A huge bubble floats by as Avery goes in for the pop.
Pop!
Me: “Titus stand in front of the reindeer and say ‘cheese'” Titus: “cheese.”
And last but not least, the celebrities. Among them, the man with the rubber legs: Dick Van Dyke. We saw him coming up the driveway as we were leaving so I went back for a paparazzi shot. To his left is Suzanne Somers in the furry hat. A few others were Ben Folds and Jesse James. You know us Thomasons, always hanging with the celebs!