Ron and Judy Smith visit.
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| Ron and Judy Smith with Caleb Hartzler last winter (Byron and Eileen's son) |
We're so pleased to have Ron and Judy Smith with us for the next two weeks. Ron and Judy started the SBS program within YWAM in 1981, and they were hugely instrumental in helping plant the ESBS here at Camp Lurecrest in 2006.
Having Ron and Judy with us now is nothing short of miraculous, given where they've been and what they've experienced over the past 6 months:
While teaching last fall in Asia Ron was hospitalized with severe hemophilia. When Ron was admitted to the hospital his red blood cell counts were so low that doctors feared he was close to death.
After several days of recuperation and blood transfusions Ron was diagnosed with a rare form of bone marrow cancer. The past 6 months have been entirely devoted to Ron's recovery. He's undergone multiple transfusions and several rounds of chemotherapy. Ron's body has responded really well to the treatment and Ron and Judy are encouraged that the cancer cells are decreasing and his body is generating blood on its own again.
Their visit here this week is their first journey out since the diagnosis. You can imagine how good that feels for all of us!
Please continue to pray for Ron and Judy. Pray with us that God removes all the cancer cells, and that Ron's bone marrow continues to produce red blood as it should.
Faulkner Engagement
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| 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)
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| 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