Faulkner Engagement
 |
| the moment... |
Subscribe in a readerSo here at the ESBS, we try to be as biblical as possible, so just like Jesus, we send 'em out of here two by two.
Chance and Mary Austin got engaged last week. Whoot whoot! What an awesome place to meet your spouse. Sure does beat the bar, or the scrabble club. just sayin'
Congratulations Chance and Mary Austin. We're excited for your life together!
Check out the Student Blog!
Subscribe in a readerEach week we ask our students to blog briefly about what they're seeing in the book we're currently studying. From time to time I get some neat feedback from people who are blessed by what they're reading on the student blog site. Each time that happens I'm reminded that as the program goes along, little by little, our students are turning into people who really have something to say when it comes to a thoughtful reflection on the content of even the most random/under-appreciated books of the Bible.
Check out what they're learning: visit our student blog site soon.
"Who will you trust?"
Subscribe in a readerIve been thinking about Isaiah lately, getting ready to teach it next week. Isaiah's message to the kings of Israel and Judah is "who will you trust?" For Ahaz and Hezekiah (the two Kings Isaiah speaks to), the challenge was to look to God for safety and strength and NOT to Egypt or Assyria. Both Kings were tempted to make political alliance with their neighbors against God's clear direction.
Why?
That's easy I think. Egypt and Assyria represented a tangible hope of recue that they could see with their eyes. Those political alliances offered hope of safety and security WITHOUT having to look to an unseen God who's methods of deliverance couldn't be put on a calendar or written in a contract. As it turns out, both Kings make the wrong decision, and it ends up costing them disaster that NEVER would have come if they'd have only looked to the Lord for rescue and help.
Here are Isaiah's words to Hezekiah after his choices to make alliances with Egypt cost him 45 walled cities in Judah:
"Thus says the Lord, the Holy one of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved: In quietness and in trust shall be your strength. But you refused and said "No, we will flee upon horses," therefore you shall flee!...the Lord waits to be gracious to you, therefore he will rise up to show you mercy. For the Lord is a God of justice: blessed are all those who wait for him." (Isaiah 30:15, 18)
Home stretch (Quarter 4 begins)
 |
| Evan leading "the gift" at Rumbling Bald |
Subscribe in a readerWe're heading into the home stretch and quarter 4 begins on Monday as we kick off our run through the prophetic literature. The students are off on spring break this week.
I continue to be impressed by what God is doing in our midst. I love the community he's created around the school. I love the people he's brought our way. For me, this year has been a time of enjoying all that God's done in us, for us and through us these past 5 years. Several of our current students (Evan/Jon/Chance) have reconnected me to my passion for rock climbing and every time we're out I wish this year would never come to an end. It's going to be particularly challenging to say goodbye to this group.
I'm thankful for this life God has given our ESBS community.
I'm thankful for your involvement in it: for how you support it with your prayers, finances and volunteer time.
Tom
Kings...me...God...etc.
Subscribe in a readerWe're studying 1-2 Kings currently. Reading the book, which records the lives of all of Israel and Judah's Kings, its fascinating to see the way an entire King's life is immortalized forever in just one paragraph. It's got me thinking "man if my life was summed up in one paragraph, what would that paragraph be about, and would I be surprised by the things that DIDN'T make the list?"
Scot Pitts brought up a great point in lecture today. He brought up the point that each one of the Kings of Israel, who so many of whom look like such tyrants in 1-2 Kings, would have most likely had a VERY DIFFERENT opinion of how their lives should have been immortalized for all time. Jeroboam 11 is a great example of this. Jeroboam 11 (2 Kings 14:23-28) took advantage of a weaker political climate in the region and expanded the borders of Israel to one of their greatest extents, ushering in Israel's last "golden era" of economic prosperity before the spiral into Exile. It's interesting to me that Jeroboam 11, while things were going so "well" for him , was BLATANTLY IGNORING God's direction and God's law.
Jeroboam spent 41 years as King of Israel, leading Israel the whole time down the same path of idolatry and sin that would eventually wreck the nation and send them into exile. The book of Hosea was written into this time (Israel, pictured as a prostitute running away from their true love). Ouch.
I wonder if Jeroboam went to his grave thinking he'd done Israel a huge favor by being such a "successful leader." I bet so. The problem is, his "success" is measured in every way OTHER THAN the the things God cares most about:
Relationship with him, love for Him, following Him.