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2 Timothy 2:2
Seminary. I married Carrie Bunton time, had the opportunity to serve as And the things which you have
after my first year of school in June, the worship leader at a local church heard from me in the presence of
2005. Now, as I am writing this in Indiana. many witnesses, these entrust to
ministry update, I have finished my faithful men, who will be able to
seminary classes, and my wife and I My time with XL and at the teach others also.
are in the process of moving from seminary proved to be a very helpful
Louisville back to Tallahassee. There time for learning and growing. I now Volume 15 Issue 2 August 2007
I will be on staff as the youth pastor look forward to all that I will learn as
I begin this next stage in life that isorientation Transportation Safety Board fatal In the context of our spiritual lives
at Grace Church of Tallahassee. al D
God has provided. p ati in t
he
general aviation accident reports list and the mission we have to serve our
continuation of flight into Lord, it is possible that we can suffer
S
My three years in seminary proved to
Ch
This summer, Carrie and I had the conditions for which the pilot was from our own “spatial
Where are they Now? be a wonderful time of learning and
risti
privilege of going on a mission trip not qualified as either a contributing disorientation.” We can become so
A Ministry Update from growing in my walk with the Lord. I
an Life
with the seminary to Newfoundland, or proximate cause. delighted in the successes of
Doug and Carrie Link was stretched in many ways, and I
Canada. This trip counted as the ministry or so overwhelmed by the
Doug completed the XL Internship in know the Lord was using this to Once an aircraft enters conditions
last couple of credits I needed to challenges of ministry that we can
2004 under the supervision of Rod mold me more into the image of under which the pilot cannot see a
graduate. On this trip we helped a only look back. On the other hand
Bunton at Grace Church of Christ. It was very exciting to distinct visual horizon, the drift in
young couple gather contacts for a we can become so consumed with
Tallahassee, Florida experience God’s blessings as we n July of 1999 John F. Kennedy the inner ear continues uncorrected.
Much has happened since I
completed the XL internship three
observed His provision in our lives
while we were in the Bluegrass state.
Carrie was able to work in a private
Christian Classical school and I
new church plant. What a great joy it
was to serve the Lord on this short-
term mission trip. As you think of
us, we ask that you might thank the
I Jr., Carolyn Bessette Kennedy,
and Lauren Bessette were killed
in a tragic plane crash en route to
Errors in the perceived rate of turn
about any axis can build up at a rate
of 0.2 to 0.3 degrees per second. If
the present, maintaining the
ministries or putting out the most
intense fires, that we can lose sight
of the ultimate purposes of God’s
years ago. First, I moved to Martha’s Vineyard. In the days that the pilot is not trained for or is not plan.
Louisville, Kentucky to begin experienced the excitement of third Lord for this opportunity as well as
followed investigators were tasked proficient in the use of gyroscopic
pursuing a degree from Southern shift at UPS. I also, for part of the pray for our new ministry in
with determining the cause of this flight instruments, these As in the case of the pilot,
Tallahassee. Trivia #1 : What is happening
crash. It was during this time that errors will build up to a this can happen very
the flight principle of “spatial point that control of the October 3-7, 2007?
XL’ent News disorientation” became prominent in aircraft is lost, usually in
rapidly and without our
knowledge. After all, we are very
the media and was considered a a steep, diving turn known as a busy in the ministry. Every moment
Web site: www.xlministries.org likely cause of this accident. graveyard spiral. During the entire is absorbed. We are meeting with
time, leading up to and well into the people, planning meetings, teaching,
Spatial disorientation is a condition maneuver the pilot remains unaware participating in board meetings,
in which an aircraft pilot's perception that he is turning, believing that he is visiting the sick, counseling, etc.
of direction (proprioception) does maintaining straight flight. For all practical purposes everything
not agree with reality. While it can
seems fine. In the midst of the
be brought on by disturbances to or The graveyard spiral usually busyness of ministry it is quite
disease within the inner ear, it is terminates when (1) the g-forces on possible for us to lose our bearings
more typically a temporary condition the aircraft build up to and exceed without even a hint that something is
resulting from flight into poor the structural strength of the seriously wrong!
weather conditions with low or no airframe, resulting in catastrophic
visibility. Under these conditions the failure, or (2) the aircraft contacts Paul’s ultimate objective was to
pilot may be deprived of an external the ground. In a 1954 study, the Air know Christ! Everything else in his
visual horizon, which is critical to Safety Foundation found that out of life and ministry flowed from this
maintaining a correct sense of up 20 non-instrument-rated subject intense desire. This was an ongoing
and down while flying. A pilot who pilots, 19 entered a graveyard spiral pursuit that would continue until he
enters such conditions will quickly soon after entering simulated was in the presence of God. It is
lose his spatial orientation if he has instrument conditions. The 20th easy in the ministry to see this as
not been trained to fly with pilot also lost control of his aircraft, something already accomplished and
instruments. Approximately 80% of but in another maneuver. The
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
then disregard our individual need to
the private pilots in the United States average time between onset of continue to grow in our personal
do not have an instrument rating, and instrument conditions and loss of knowledge of our Lord. In
therefore are prohibited from flying control was 178 seconds. conjunction with this, Paul was
in conditions where instrument skills
The above material is licensed under the consumed with his need to grasp the
are required. Unfortunately not all
GNU Free Documentation License. It uses power of the resurrection as well as
pilots abide by this rule, and material from the Wikipedia article “Spatial to personally identify with the
approximately 40% of the National disorientation.” Continued on page 2
Continued from page 1
sufferings of Christ (something we It is interesting to note that the to confess and move forward. Don’t Mahaney next outlines the challenges us to invite and pursue develops in the reader a true sense of
can easily want to avoid!). Consider apostle uses the phrase “forgetting live in fear because of past problems importance of cultivating humility correction due to the deceitful nature urgency in the continual cultivation
Paul’s words in Philippians 3:10-11, what lies behind.” Exactly what was and the fact that you will likely face by focusing on God’s attributes, of pride which blinds us to our own of humility as an essential
“. . .that I may know Him and the it that Paul needed to forget? Could others. Be grateful for the fact that studying the doctrines of grace arrogance. Second, he exhorts us to characteristic for spiritual health and
power of His resurrection and the it have been the days when he so God is willing to use you in the (election, calling, justification, and humbly respond to trials, allowing growth. Perhaps the only thing
fellowship of His sufferings, being abused the church – both killing ministry, but don’t take the credit for perseverance) and sin, and playing ourselves to be transformed from “a missing was a discussion of
conformed to His death; in order that Christians and putting them into what He accomplishes. Set your lots of golf. Yes, golf – complainer and a Philippians 2:3-11 and an
I may attain to the resurrection from prison? Could it be the great sights on God. The pilot is provided Trivia #5: When is your questioner, into a faith-filled explanation of what it means to put
Mahaney feels that this will
the dead.” successes the Lord allowed him training in the use of instruments in registration due? worshipper of God” (p. the interests of others above
Trivia #2: What is the theme provide most readers with
to enjoy in seeing multitudes order to avoid succumbing to his many practical opportunities to 137). Third, he issues a call ourselves as exemplified by Christ’s
of this year’s conference?
Paul’s commitment come to faith? How about the wrong perceptions. We have been suffer, and respond properly to, to leave a legacy for our children by willingness to empty Himself and be
was to “press on.” This reflects a personal abuse he suffered that could given God’s Word and His Spirit so abject humiliation! More seriously, modeling humility ourselves, and humbled to the point of death on a
genuine desire and determination to have plagued him with fear every that we will not rely on our thinking. the author also challenges each teaching them to discern and admire cross.
actively and intensely pursue time he entered a new town? Might it be your joy and passion to reader to be on the lookout for true greatness.
“knowing Jesus.” Take a look at grow in your personal knowledge of Conclusion
evidences of grace in others
Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have Each one of us can point to failures Christ, the power of His resurrection, Evaluation There is not one believer who does
(something the proud and self-
already obtained it or have already in our lives. At the same time we and the fellowship of His sufferings. Humility is an excellent book in not suffer from the deadly poison
righteous are incapable of) and to be
become perfect, but I press on so have seen God graciously work to As we grow in this knowledge of nearly every way. Mahaney makes that is pride. An excellent antidote
encouraging one another by
that I may lay hold of that for which accomplish His purposes both in and Christ, by His grace we can become good use of Scripture to develop is to read this book by C.J.
intentionally “giving grace” in our
also I was laid hold of by Christ through our lives. I also expect, if more like Him! Don’t let the each point; uses personal Mahaney, meditate on the truths
every word (Ephesians 4:29).
Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard you have been in ministry for any responsibilities of ministry cause you illustrations effectively; has found within it, and make the
myself as having laid hold of it yet; time at all, that you have faced to lose your view of the end goal. Mahaney closes this section with multiple, practical applications on necessary changes to develop Christ-
but one thing I do: forgetting what circumstances that you would not Enjoy the personal relationship that three exhortations. First, he how to grow in humility; and honoring humility.
lies behind and reaching forward want to relive. In the midst of it all, you are able to enjoy with the living Chris Riser
to what lies ahead, I press on the challenge is to “press on.” The God through the gracious work of
toward the goal for the prize of the
upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
“graveyard spiral” in the Christian
life can be insidious. Don’t become
our Lord Jesus Christ!
Trivia #3: Where is the
Trivia #6: Have you registered yet?
consumed with your inadequacies conference held? Rocky Wyatt
and failures – confess what you need
reminder of our true relationship and worth to our acts of humble
before a Holy God. service. “True greatness is attained
only by emulating the Savior’s
Contents example – and made possible only
Mahaney begins his book by by the Savior’s sacrifice” (p. 58).
defining humility as, “honestly
assessing ourselves in light of God’s Part III of the book provides details
holiness and our sinfulness” (p. 22) on how to practice true humility.
and pride as, “when sinful human The author encourages each reader to
Humility by beings aspire to the status and “begin your day by acknowledging
position of God and refuse your dependence upon God
C.J. Mahaney to acknowledge their
Trivia #4: How many
and your need for God” (p.
meals will be provided at
dependence upon Him” (p. 69). This requires
Introduction the conference
31). In Part II, Mahaney thankfulness, spiritual
“Humility draws the gaze of our quickly shifts the reader’s gaze to disciplines, and the purposeful September 1 is the due
Sovereign God” (p. 19). This Jesus Christ. In His sacrifice on the casting of each of our cares upon the date to register for the
to see you there
to see you there..
principle is drawn from Isaiah 66:2 cross, Jesus provided the fullest Savior. At the end of each day, the XL Ministries, Inc.
because time is running out and we want
(“This is the one to whom I will expression of true humility and reader is exhorted, through the words 2007 Conference
#6: Yes, we hope this is your answer,
look: he who is humble and contrite provides the only means by which of Thomas Watson, that to avoid October 3rd — 7th! #5 September 1 2007
#5:: September 1,, 2007
in Spirit and trembles at my word.”) our own self-righteousness and pride cosmic plagiarism, “we must hide Please go to the #4 E even
#4:: Elleven
and serves as the premise of C.J. can be truly destroyed. We must be ourselves under the veil of humility, XL Ministries website #3: Horn Creek www.horncreek.org
Mahaney’s excellent book. In our (www.xlministries.org) #2:: The Greatest Commandments
#2 The Greatest Commandments
divinely rescued from pride by the and transfer the glory of all that we
If you feel like this, or contact us at
fast-paced, pride-driven world, the ransom paid for us on Calvary. It is have done to God” (p. 80). Who wouldn’t want to have a #1 XL M n str es Inc Con erence
#1:: XL Miiniistriies,, Inc.. Confference
its time for you to come to the XL (817) 490-0915 for
call to humility is a much needed this ransom which brings meaning pine cone war with this group? Answers:
Conference for some refreshment! additional information.
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