Wouldn't you know it. In God's kind providence during our trial, Alistair Begg just happens to be preaching out of James this month. In addition, our pastor Shawn Young, is preaching out of Psalms. Constant reminders that our Father in heaven has a perfect plan for our lives and that He is perpetually out for our good.

In one of Alistair Begg's sermons, he quoted the Dutch Reformed missionary, Andrew Murray (Christ in the School of Prayer and Waiting on God). Murray had some great practical advice for believers in Persevering Under Trial:

In my experience of trial, I will say this:

1. It is God who has brought me here. It is by His will that I am in this tough spot. And in that fact, I will trust.

2. God will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child.

3. God will make this trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends for me to learn.

4. God in His good time, can, if He chooses, bring me out again, how and when He knows.

Alistair Begg summarized the points of persevering under trials as following:

1. I am here by God’s appointment.
2. I am in His keeping.
3. I am under His training.
4. I am here for His time.

Several of you have asked how you can be praying for us during this time. In addition to asking the LORD to help us get fully back on our feet, I can't think of a more fitting prayer for our family, than the points that Murray noted.

Thank you again for your prayers. We love you all!

Two weeks ago was Maddox' first run at gymnastics. In addition to being as cute as she can be, she's having a great time.

Our first year of flag football is underway, with the Jaguars showing some impressive ability to have fun.

Simple, hauntingly beautiful music.

A short clip from one of my favorite books, Pilgrim's Progress:

"Who directed you to go this way to have your burden removed?" asked Worldly Wiseman.

Christian answered, "A man who seemed to me to be a very great and honorable person. His name, as I remember, is Evangelist."

"Curse him for his advice!" Worldly retorted. "There's not a more dangerous and troublesome way in the world than the one to which he's directed you. And that's what you'll find if you allow yourself to be guided by his counsel. You have, as I perceive, already met with some trouble, for I see the dirt of the Swamp of Despondence on you. That swamp is only the beginning of the sorrows that follow after the individuals traveling on that path. Hear me, because I'm older than you. In the way you're going, you're likely to meet with Wearisomeness, Painfulness, Hunger, Perils, Nakedness, Sword, Lions, Dragons, Darkness, and - in a word - Death. And you think not? These things are certainly true, having been confirmed by many testimonies. And why should a man so carelessly cast himself away by listening to a stranger?"

"Why, sir," responded Christian, "this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than all these things you've mentioned. No, I don't think I care what I meet with in the way as long as I can also find deliverance from my burden."

"How did you come to get your burden in the first place?" inquired Worldly.

"By reading this Book in my hand (the Bible)," answered Christian.

For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
- Romans 11:36


I'm sorry it's been so long since our last post. I know several of you have looked on our site for an update on how we're doing. We appreciate all of your love and prayers during the past few weeks.

To give you a very condensed update, about three weeks ago I was diagnosed with a tumor in my right eye called a choroidal melanoma. Six out of every million people get one, and you're reading a lucky ticket holder right now. Though my tumor was not very big, it was growing in a place around my optic nerve which limited the treatment options. After prayerful consideration - and talking with a lot of gifted physicians - we elected to have my eye enucleated (removed). My surgery was last Wednesday and by God's kind grace, He is helping us get back on our feet one step at a time.

As you can imagine, it's been a whirlwind of a month around here and we're learning all kinds of new lessons. One of the biggest lessons has been learning to trust more completely in the One who who loves us the most.

John Piper wrote an excellent article called "Don't Waste Your Cancer." I won't take the time to re-write the points (you can click the link and read them if you'd like), but the gist has been another reminder that through it all God works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.

I wish I could tell you that I've been some kind of super-hero in handling this trial. But the reality is I'm a weak and struggling sinner. I think this has been the biggest trial I've ever faced. And for some reason, in the midst of what has probably been my darkest hour, God has chosen to show His compassion and kindness to our family in so many ways.

I've once again been brought face-to-face with the good news of the Bible. That our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. I can honestly say that it's been Christ who has gotten me through. I don't know how those who don't belong to Him handle times like these.

So where will we go from here? Toward the end of October, I get fitted for a prosthetic eye. I'm told that most of you won't be able to tell which eye is my real one and which is not. Until then, we're continuing to look to the One who has gotten us this far and are continuing to ask for His strength, His grace, His healing and His promises to be as true for our family as they have been for all His children throughout history.

If we had to stand before God on our own merits during times like these (or at any time, for that matter), none of us would make it. But thanks be to God for sending us a Savior in His own Son, to pay for our sins. And by simply putting our faith and hope in Him, He promises to never leave us nor forsake us, and especially important, to never count our sins against us. What a comfort.

Please continue to pray for us. We're indebted to the entire Christian body who has surrounded us with prayer and support up to this point. We love you all.