Crossroads

We have an all-day (9am-3pm) parenting seminar on Saturday, 4/28 for parents of young children (ages 0-9). We’re encouraging both dads and moms to attend. Here is a wonderful opportunity for you to serve the parents of young children by looking after their children while they attend the seminar. If you know any married couples who have young children, I want to encourage you to ask them if you could serve them by watching their kids. Even if you don’t know anyone, if you are willing to serve, please let me know. I’m sure I can find someone who needs help. Thanks for considering this!

No doubt everyone has heard about the VA Tech tragedy that happened a couple of days ago. How should we respond to such an event? How do we make sense of all that we’ve heard? I wanted to provide you with some resources that might be helpful.

Dr. Al Mohler has written a helpful ariticle titled "Facing the Reality of Evil" that would help us to remember that we have a God who will ultimately make all things right. Here is an excerpt:

The unspeakable evil of the killings at Virginia Tech bring us once again face to face with the reality of human evil. Christianity faces this challenge honestly, and acknowledges the horror of moral evil and its consequences. The Bible never flinches from assigning responsibility for moral evil. Human beings are capable of committing horrible acts of violence, malevolence, cruelty, and killing.

Also, Desiring God Ministries has posted an article called "What to Say About Virginia Tech", in which they reproduced John Piper’s "21 Ways to Minister to Those Who Are Suffering" that he wrote after the Columbine shootings.

Finally, let’s heed Josh Harris’ exhortation to pray for those affected by this event:

Let’s ask God to keep us from growing numb to human suffering. Every article, every photo, every TV news clip that we see can be a reminder for us to intercede in prayer. Let’s ask God to comfort the suffering and draw to Himself those who are searching for answers. Let’s pray that Christians in the community there will represent the heart of the Savior to all around them.

Thank you for praying for your pastoral team last week as we were away at the Sovereign Grace Ministries Leadership Conference 07. The Lord really refreshed us in His grace, and as we apply what we’ve heard at the conference, I hope we’ll be better equipped to serve you more effectively.

One of my highlights of the conference was Friday morning session, when each of the Sovereign Grace Leadership Team guys got up to share how the gospel is going forth in so many different places, both nationally and internationally. God is doing many amazing things! It was so inspiring to hear the power of the gospel converting many lives around the world. It was good to know that we’re a part of something that is much bigger than ourselves; we’re a part of God’s mission to save His people through the gospel!

One thing to remember, though, is the fact that all of the expansion that Sovereign Grace is experiencing is the fruit of your faithfulness here in Fairfax. There is an inseparable connection between the fruitfulness that we’re experiencing and your faithful participation in the life of the local church. CJ drove this point home clearly and I want to do the same. Humanly speaking, your faithful participation in the gospel mission at this church through your giving and growing in grace is what makes all of this possible. Though we must give all glory to God for all the fruitfulness, I want to THANK YOU for being committed members of this local church!

Just a friendly reminder… There is no CG tomorrow night. The pastors will be attending the Sovereign Grace Ministries Leadership Conference starting tonight.  Please pray that The Lord would allow us to be refreshed by His grace and better equipped to serve you. Thanks!

We have our monthly Crossroads meeting tonight! We will start at 7:30pm with a time of singing God’s praise. Vince is going to teach us tonight using the Three Trees. Never heard of the Three Trees? Come check it out! Come early at 7pm for coffee and fellowship…

If you have been checking out the five15 blog or the Girl Talk blog, you are probably aware that Victoria Carolyn Whitacre was born yesterday (8lbs 4oz, 21 1/2 inches long) to our friends Steve and Nicole. Congratulations!! What a tremendous blessing from God! Emma and I will be having a girl in June as well… We can’t wait!

I recently read a post by Al Mohler titled "We Are What We Read". In it Dr. Mohler talks about David McCullough, an award-winning historian, and his insight on reading books and how we are shaped by our reading. Here are some excerpts:

"We are so greatly formed by our reading (or lack of reading), and the persons we read about were shaped by their reading."

"Reading is a crucial means of education and gaining knowledge. But books mean more than knowledge in the most basic sense. Books allow minds to meet, ideas to be exchanged, and experiences to be remembered or imagined. Those who do not read impoverish themselves by choice. They are the thieves of their own imaginations and wisdom."

So, what are you reading right now? How is your relationship with God enriched by it?