unmerited favor...

...continues to be unmerited.





It's amazes me that I will never stop needing to learn how much more I fall short than I think I do, and how much more the Boss' unmerited favor is than I think it is.


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I've started listening to a lecture series I downloaded from Reformed Theological Seminary called "(unmerited favor) in the (body)", and have been greatly encouraged by the truths shared by the teacher. The course really zero's in on not only what unmerited favor is, but what are the results and reprecussions of an understanding or lack of understanding thereof. I would highly recommend the series to anyone and everyone who reads this, it really has been an eye-opening series for me. What's funny is that it is definitely not the first, second, or 10th time I've heard the things the teacher talks about, but I'm reminded of the deceitfulness of s:n and thus am not surprised that the things spoken need to be relearned and reexamined completely. And what is the theme of the messages? Just this: the Boss isn't upset with me. Why not? Because His favor is not predicated upon my performance, but simply upon His desire to show His favor. Oh how I need to learn! Not only this truth, but more of the reality of that which opposes the acceptance of this truth, namely my old man! And oh how it opposes this! I remember Jerry back home at living water was sharing upon this very topic, and how he really hit the nail on the head when he was explaining the way that our old man is constantly either using such unmerited favor as an excuse for disobedience, or, and I find this to be far more common with myself, trying to earn favor through our religious endeavors. But we must forsake both of these as long as we wish to truly walk in the spirit and keep ourselves in the love of our Boss. What I probably enjoyed most about the lectures I'm listening to, apart from the great reality that there is such favor, is that the teacher really draws out the reprecussions of not having a right understanding of unmerited favor... And so we have the body, but He who is the head finds no home there, and our buildings are hardly any different than the old wineskins of Judaism; a proclamation of the law and nothing more than condemnation...And we act like we're so great on the outside and so good at following all the rules, while inwardly we despise ourselves and feel so condemned because we can't live up to those standards which gain us "points" with the Boss. We cannot live like this! This is not the freedom from the law for which the Boss has set us free! His love and favor toward us who are in His son is simply and completely based upon His desire to show favor; nothing else! I must learn that I cannot add or take away from this...and relearn it each day.


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So I've been doing well overall. I was really excited to see the way our Boss orchestrated some things with T.C.'s adoption. T.C. is Tim and Trudy's half-way adopted Chinese son, whom Tim and Trudy were unable to fully adopt before because of certain legal things. But now, because they were able to meet the right people involved with government matters, it looks like this is going to work out. They've been working on this for 3 years and it looks like it's finally coming together, thanks to our Boss no doubt. Also, a friend at the local hospital who is from Nepal made the good confession today as Rudy and some others rode with him in an ambulance to the cruise ship he worked on. Please keep Santush lifted up as he heads to Hong Kong for more recovery before flying back to his home in Nepal. It's been a priveledge getting to know him at the hospital and getting to see our Boss do some neat things in both his heart and his body. Today when they rode with him to the port, although they were just strangers, because they were riding with the ship doctors and because our Boss is good, they were able to go onboard and have dinner with the doctor's and some other staff, as well as meet the Captain. Amazing what can be orchestrated by an awesome King.


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..random picture..I decided we needed to take a picture together since we both have such great taste in hat-style....this is the father of one of the girls at the house. He's a neat brother who is actually retired police here in Haikou. ..

We finished up doing all of our registration stuff this week for school and will be starting classes this monday. I'm excited to just get back in school! Our schedule will be pretty busy, with classes from 8-12 everyday at the college, and various activities going on after that each day. I hope I'm able to spend enough time doing homework; that will be the challenge I think.

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We're still working things out with moving. In case anyone didn't know, the house we rent has been bought, and so we will be needing to move by some unknown time within the next 5 months or so.

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Also....I lost my camera....so probably not so many pictures anymore...ever...we'll see...I left it downstairs one day and by that night it was nowhere to be found. Kinda sad about that...if it shows up though, you'll probably know about it soon after. : )

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That shall be all for now. It's nearly 1:30am and I need to get some sleep. Please keep me lifted up as the battles arise and my mind seeks to wander from the great truth of who He is. Take care everyone, and do so with His love.