Sadness

One of our student leaders recently discovered that she was pregnant, the result of a poor choice prior to her commitment to Christ and subsequent commitment to abstinence. This week, she had some health concerns and the doctors decided to take the baby, unfortunately, the baby was not able to survive. It was difficult to sit in the hospital room and see the photos of this tiny girl who never got a chance to live. Please pray for the mother as she mourns this significant loss.

Never thought I'd see it

Yes, three snowmobiles drove down our street today. Now I've seen it all.

Christmas Store

Our "Pride for Parents" Christmas Store was on Saturday and it was a great day! Parents from our community had the opportunity to shop for brand new items at 90% retail prices. It affirmed dignity, developed discipline, and celebrated the gift of Jesus with an abundance of provision. Although only a small step, it helps to encourage families on the way to financial stability while providing for their immediate needs.

Van Conversation

"Hey Mark, these are great books your kids have back here in the van."
"Yeah, I love being a dad so I get to read my favorite children's books to my kids"
"So you read books to your kids... like a bedtime story or something?"
"Yeah, pretty much every night"
"So your family is kind of like one of those TV families?"
"I guess ... it may be hard to believe, but some parents still hang out and read books to their kids."

Reformed Theology

Here's my latest class..

The whole range of Christian doctrine—general and special revelation, God, creation and providence, the person and work of Christ, salvation, the church, and last things—are covered. Using Herman Bavinck’s Our Reasonable Faith as a basic text helps provide a strong biblical orientation within the framework of a Reformed doctrinal perspective since Bavinck’s one-volume work (originally Magnalia Dei) was intended as a more accessible summary of his magisterial four-volume Reformed Dogmatics. Now that the English translation of Bavinck’s larger work is available and can be used in the M. Div. Systematic theology courses (it is the foundation of Berkhof’s Systematic Theology), M. A. students will be receiving in abridged and summary form the same fundamental theological perspective as CTS’s M. Div students.

Any of my reformed brethren out there care to discuss Bavinck or Berkhof?

Breakthrough Enrichment Program

Last night was our Christmas Program for the BTE. Some of our teens serve as leaders for this (K-8) program, and I assist with transportation. It was a fun and celebratory night.

Some of the highlights were: One of our teens shared about the reality and purpose of Christ's birth. A parent standing up and publicly thanking the staff, encouraging more parental involvement, and challenging us all to continue to raise the bar for our children to become excellent. One of my former soccer players in Plymouth who brought her youth group to serve as volunteers for the program this fall.

It was a blessing to play a small roll in this program, and great to have more relationships with parents and children in our neighborhood.