Visiting the Fitzgeralds in Cambria California
Following our stop in Oakhurst, CA, we had a wonderful time of rest and respite after a few long stretches. We dropped in to see the Elizabeth Fitzgerald and her four girls in Cambria. Here we are on their front porch.
The Fitzgerald Girls, from left to right, Claire, Emily, Hillary and Dorothy
Claudia Bids Goodbye to Her Dear Fitzgerald Friends... on to Phoenix
Samuel Vision Is Here
Our friends from New York, Peter and Salina Salyer have named their new baby boy, "Samuel Vision Salyer." He arrived on June 22.
A Battle I Decided I Needed to Fight
The Indispensable Center of Church and Family Life
Here is a summary of my opening message this morning at the Phoenix Reforming Church and Family Road Trip Stop.
The Indispensable Center of Church and Family Life
We are here to say that there are exciting aspects of reformation that are taking place around us. There are things happening in people and in churches that have not happened in the last 50 years.
True reformation is a fruit of something else – something more important and fundamental. True reformation comes out of one source: A heartfelt desire for the glory of God.
In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul teaches us this principle, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
The Lord Jesus demonstrates this in his conversation with His Father when he cried out, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”
Habakkuk 2:14 communicates God’s supreme desire for His glory in all things when he declared, “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.”
All true reformation starts with the right answer to the first question of the Westminster catechism: “What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him for ever.”
When the focus of our churches or our families is anything other than the glory of God we should expect them to be cursed rather than blessed.
If we change the focus of our families for our own sakes and because we want a better family, we have missed the mark.
If we change our churches to the pattern of age integration for our own sakes and to satisfy our own pleasures, we have missed the mark.
You can establish the “nine marks of a healthy church,” be “together for the gospel,” be “family integrated,” do family worship, but if it is not for the glory of God, it is rubbish.
This is the indispensable center for church and family life. Has God changed your heart so that it desires to glorify God? Do you believe He is your only hope? Is it He the one you truly admire? This is the heart of all true reformation.
Reforming Worship – We Must Go All the Way
Friday night, Jason Young started his message with the 1828 Websters Dictionary definition of reform, “to abandon that which is evil or corrupt and return to a good state.” He then went on to explain that all reformations in scripture have this same quality. First is negative – errant form needs to be removed. Second is a positive – the authentic (right) needs to be put in place.
Drawing from his background as a brick layer, Jason pointed out that when you have a wall built wrong you have to go back to the place the first mistake was made. He said, “To reform the wall, you must tear it down all the way to the point it departed from the standard.”
After telling stories of reformation in the Old Testament and the New, he exhorted the audience “to remove unbiblical worship practices and replace them with ones God commands.” He said, “We must go all the way.”
The Brown Girls at the Ladies' Tea in Oakhurst, CA
Ladies' Tea in Oakhurst, CA from NCFIC on Vimeo.
Would I Want My Own Children in My Youth Group?
A Congregation Transformed
A Congregation Transformed from NCFIC on Vimeo.
The Light Switch Came On
The Light Switch Came On from NCFIC on Vimeo.
Reformation in Childbearing
Reformation in Childbearing from NCFIC on Vimeo.
A Glimpse at Some Family-Integrated Churches
Pictures from Oakhurst, CA
Here are our families pictured with the Mike Cox and Kevin Shaw families that worked so hard to organize the Oakhurst conference.
From Darkness to Light - Finding the Lost Book of the Law
Special Young Men
Craig Houston's sons were an enormous help to us at the conference. Throughout the weekend, while we were at the Bremerton conference, he delegated his sons to us. He gave Samuel to me (not pictured) Daniel to Peter and Nathaniel to David. They were sharp, efficient, and able in all the tasks we gave them to do. I was so excited to see such young boys whole heartedly dedicated to the mission of their father.
The good news is that these young men are not alone. Around the country, fathers are communicating vision and purpose to their sons. When fathers turn their hearts toward home and walk with their sons, pulling them away from frivolous activities and giving them men's work instead, productive things happen. You find boys, 8, 10, 12 years old who are often as capable and prepared for life as many college graduates. I praise God for such dedicated young men.
A Glorious Alteration in the Town
How a church affects the lives of the people in the communities they occupy is one of the critical marks of true awakening. This was demonstrated in 1735 during the pastoral tenure of Jonathan Edwards in Northampton,
“This work of God, as it was carried on, and the number of true saints multiplied, soon made a glorious alteration in the town; so that in the spring and summer following, anno 1735, the town seemed to be full of the presence of God: it never was so full of love, nor so full of joy; and yet so full of distress as it was then. There were remarkable tokens of God's presence in almost every house. it was a time of joy in families on the account of salvations being brought unto them; parents rejoicing over their children as newborn, and husbands over their wives, and wives over their husbands. The goings of God were then seen in his sanctuary [Ps. 68:24], God's day was a delight, and his tabernacles were amiable [Ps. 83:1]. Or public assemblies were then beautiful; the congregation was alive in God's service, everyone earnestly intent on the public worship, every hearer eager to drink in the words of the minister as they came from his mouth; the assembly in general were, from time to time, in tears while the Word was preached; some weeping with sorrow and distress, others with joy and love, others with pity and concern for the souls of their neighbors.” (Pg. 63, The Jonathan Edwards Reader, Yale Nota Bene)
Bremerton Regional Conference
Recently, our travels brought us to Bremerton, WA where we held our third regional conference. Craig Houston, pastor of 
Westside Baptist, prepared a wonderful place for our event at their church home in Bremerton. After a busy time of setup upon our arrival Friday afternoon, we enjoyed pizza and fellowship with all of the men and women who came to willingly serve alongside us for the two-day conference.
The Lord greatly blessed our time with all of the families that gathered together. There was such a sweet atmosphere as the Word of God was faithfully preached, songs were sung, and timeless truths of Scripture were brought to bear. This stop was truly refreshing and a joy as we all rejoiced in the truths of Biblical reformation together.
One of the most blessed parts of this stop was spending time with the Craig Houston family. Craig Houston has faithfully ministered in his church body for many years and continues to faithfully deliver the Word of God with clarity and boldness. Though the counter-cultural truths of Biblical reformation are often met with opposition in the church, the fruit of Craig’s faithful labors are evident in the joy and love witnessed in his church body. Craig and his wife have 10 beautiful children and kindly hosted a number of people from the road trip team. It was a joy to be in their home and share with each other the amazing providences of God in setting us apart and calling us to be a peculiar and set apart people… broken RVs and all.
We also want to thank all of the other hosts that freely offered their homes to host members of our team and provide a wonderful place of food and rest. These homes have been little havens to us as we’ve faced a rigorous travel schedule over the past week. It’s also been a great honor to sit with these families personally and hear the testimony of the work of God in their lives. This was one of our greatest goals as we set out upon this trip; to sit and spend time personally with people so that we could hear first-hand of the work of reformation that’s taking place across America.
Please pray that the Lord would continue to give us blessed times like these as we journey across the country in an effort to proclaim the glories of Christ, the sufficiency of His Word, and the greatness of His name.
The Emotional Center of the Church
Here were my final words at Westside Baptist Church in Bremerton Washington this morning as we concluded our time there.
Please turn to Galatians 6:14 where we will learn about the emotional center of a true church. We have been talking this weekend about what God has designed churches to do - the focus has been on the activity of the church. We have said that all that churches do should be done around the indispensible center of the church - the glory of God. So, if the volitional center of the church is the glory of God, and if the relational center of the church is the love of God and if the functional center of the church is the Word of God, then the emotional center of the church is boasting in the cross of Christ.
How do we know that? Paul, after explaining his authority as an apostle in chapters one and two, and the true nature of the gospel and the purpose of the law in chapters 3-4and what it means to walk in the Spirit in chapters 5-6, Paul now brings his letter to a conclusion. The apostle uses two words in Gal 6:14 that seem to be a summary of the letter. Imagine summing up a letter of this length with only two simple words. These words capture the passionate plea Paul has been issuing. These two words are, “God forbid,” and they announce the gateway for joy and blessing in every person and church that experiences them. These words describe what ought to be the emotional center of the church. The center of what the church feels is boasting in the cross of Christ.
The cross is meant to be one of those things that drives our emotions. What we love is what we “boast” about the most. You can get all emotional and teary eyed about lots of things in this life but there is one thing that is supreme among them all,“God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our lord Jesus Christ.” John Stott explains the meaning of the word boast: “It means… to boast in, glory in, trust in, rejoice in, revel in, live for.”
What you boast about is what you like; what you have affection for; what you think about; your hobby horse; what gives you a sense of satisfaction; what makes you swell with pride; what makes you happy; what you rejoice in.
Paul is saying, this is what the cross should be for you. It should be the primary object of your affections. Paul is wrestling with the saints in Galatia that it not happen that their lives would be centered around anything else but the cross.
To say, “God forbid” is like saying, “May it never happen to me.” This is a good prayer for ourselves and our churches.
May it never happen to me that I cease boasting in the cross. May it never be that I cease to be moved by the thought of the cross of Christ. "God forbid!"
“He Who Waters” – for the churches and families who have sponsored Road Trip conferences
We have been so blessed by your planning, promotions, support and hospitality. These churches and families are verittable hospitality machines. A few days ago we read this in our vehicle and our first thought was of those who have sponsored these Road Trip stops.
"The generous soul will be made rich and he who waters will also be watered himself,” and “he who earnestly seeks good finds favor.” Prov 11:25,27
Pictured are The Raimundos, McLean Va, The Noah's, Greenlawn, NY, The Eckersons and Thomas's in Boston, Mass. The Millers in Farmington, Maine. The Maretzki's in Toronto, Ca. The Dorin's in Des Moines., Iowa The Lyerla's in Spokane, Wa, The Houstons in Brmerton, Wa, and tomorrow (Monday) the Cox family in Oakhurst, Ca... and more to come...
My Son David’s First Father’s Day - Today
David’s new wife Monica is with child and we have been giggling and rejoicing and marveling at the kindness of the Lord all day long, this Father’s Day, 2010. This is especially exciting as David has always had an unusual love for and giftedness with children.
Road Trip Video Clips from Spokane
Road Trip Video Clips from Spokane from NCFIC on Vimeo.
Road Trip Video Clips from Toronto
Road Trip Video Clips from Toronto from NCFIC on Vimeo.
Looking Back - An Interview with Ash and Sona Noah
Three Dramatic Changes in Mid-Life
Three Dramatic Changes in Mid-Life from NCFIC on Vimeo.
Rick Muse, a deacon from Hope Baptist Church who joined the NCFIC Road Trip Team for our Toronto Conference, speaks about the reformation that God brought in his family.
How Modern Youth Ministry Can Promote Frivolity
Road Trip Clips from Fergus Falls
Road Trip Clips from Fergus Falls from NCFIC on Vimeo.
Reformation in an Unconverted Youth Pastor
Ladies Tea in Chicago
Ladies Tea in Chicago from NCFIC on Vimeo.
Not Under the Law? John MacArthur Weighs In
Our church recently studied Galatians via our expositional preaching ministry on Sunday mornings. We engaged this study while in the middle of doing exposition on Deuteronomy which helped to clarify the nature and purposes of the law.
John MacArthur explains the often misunderstood idea that we are, “not under the law”
There is a popular notion afoot that assumes that the moral law is not binding on us. MacArthur writes,
“The phrase "under the law" occurs at least ten times in Paul's epistles, so we know it is a crucial concept in his theology. In Galatians 3:23, for example, He writes, "Before faith came, we were kept under the law" (Gal. 3:23). Now, however, he says as Christians we are "not under the law" (Gal. 5:18).
I often hear Christians recite the phrase "not under the law, but under grace" as if it meant no standard of law whatsoever is ever binding on believers. Grace is seen as a grand permissiveness, contrasting with the uncompromising moral standard of the law.”
John MacArthur further explains this in, “How Does Grace Free Us From the Law”
Stories of Awakening - Solomon Stoddard’s "Five Harvests" in 60 years of Ministry
While on the Road Trip, I am reading stories of awakenings in history. Here is a report by Solomon Stoddard who preceded Jonathan Edwards in Northampton, Mass. It demonstrates the Sovereign Hand of God in providing times of awakening and the seasons of dryness that often preced them.
We often see seasons of blessing in the church. Jonathan Edwards grandfather, Solomon Stoddard saw them come and go over the sixty years of ministry in New England,
“He had five harvests, as he called them: the first was about 57 years ago, the second about 53 years; the third about 40; the fourth about 24; the fifth and last about 18 years ago. Some of these times were much more remarkable than others, and the ingathering of souls more plentiful. Those that were about 53, and 40, and 24 years ago were much greater than either the first or last: but in each of them, I have heard my grandfather say, the bigger part of the young people in the town seemed to be mainly concerned for their eternal salvation.” (Pg. 58, The Jonathan Edwards Reader, Yale Nota Bene)
Fergus Falls Road Trip Stop
Andy Bradrick, Peter Bradrick’s brother and pastor of Living Waters Fellowship hosted well over 100 people in Fergus Falls Minnesota. This is a beautiful part of the US as it lies in the midst of a vast green landscape of hundreds of miles of rolling fields. Before the meeting, Andy’s wife, Emily, (mother of seven children) fed us a sumptuous meal the moment we arrived.
There were a few extra refreshing twists to the Fergus Falls stop. First, it was a happy reunion with Peters brother who is also participating in our elder discipleship program. Second, we had an unusual number of young families – second generation homeschool families with little children. Third, there were many people who were uninitiated in the message of the NCFIC. Fourth, during the Q&A time it was a blessing to hear from some who disagreed with our message as it gave us a chance to explain some things not dealt with during the main sessions. Fifth, one of our beloved 2009 interns Joseph Froemming and his entire family came. The reunion was very sweet to our souls.
I gave a message that was different from the other Road trip stops, focusing rather on the basic elements of what we believe to be healthy churches. Peter Bradrick explained the foundations of modern youth ministry, and appealed to the young people to rest in the righteousness of Christ alone.
We are exited to see what God does with Andy’s ministry in Fergus Falls as we see obvious fruit in his family and in his relationships in the community. It is his desire to be a faithful shepherd there.
Sandi Grutzius feeds a multitude
Des Moines Road Trip Stop
We stopped in Des Moines, Iowa to get a taste of the works of the Lord sprouting in the corn belt. Our friends, Ron and Mary Dorin and their family, along with the Bill and Kim Hobart family, coordinated everything for our visit there. Ron has been an encouragement to me over the last year in particular. We actually went to the same theological seminary and loved the same professors at Talbot School of Theology many, many, many years ago. While we have both shed the dispensational persuasion of Talbot, we still look fondly on our experience and appreciate how men of God there were a blessing to us. Now Ron Dorin’s son, Tyler, has joined us on our Road Trip and will also be serving with us as an intern when we get back to North Carolina. Tyler is a very special and mighty young man. When you are on a trip like this, with such close quarters and always facing various challenges, you really get to know the strengths and weaknesses of the travelers – especially their capacity for happiness and fortitude. Let me tell you, this young man is tried and true.
Ron Dorin
The wonderful gathering
Chicago Road Trip Stop
Two of my favorite men are Gary Powers, (Elder at Geneva Lakes Christian Church) and Steve Gruitzus, (Elder at Christian Heritage Church) – the sponsors of our Chicago Road Trip Stop. These courageous brothers, who have walked with the Lord for many many years, and who have always loved the Church of Jesus Christ, are always seeking how they might please the Lord and are constantly moving forward in the faith. Progressive sanctification is something they desire and the Lord has been leading them progressively to establish church and family life according to scripture. This is not a new thing for them, for it has always been their desire and they have not stood still.
Both are leaders of churches who desire to govern all family, church, and business life according to the Scripture. Both are bi-vocational elders who have very successful businesses and who are leading age integrated churches.
Gary and Patty, and Steve and Sandi hold very dear and precious places in my wife's and my hearts. It is always such a joy for us to sit in their presence and labor in ministry together for the glory of God in church and family life. We long to be with them again.
Camping out at Gary Powers house.
Breakdown
Praise the Lord for backup gas cans.
Thomas Mayhew and the Indians
While we were spending time with the Gilbert Miller family in Farmington Maine, we learned that Gilbert’s wife Kimberly is a direct descendant of Thomas Mayhew, a minister who had a colorful testimony in the 17th century for his work with the Indians in the colonies. He started preaching to the Indians at Martha’s Vineyard at age 70, and preached for 23 years to age 93. He witnessed the awakening in Martha’s Vineyard and other places that included the building of “praying towns”. These praying towns were places of unusual spiritual activity and were established by the Indians. At one point, he became the governor of Martha’s Vineyard. After Thomas Mayhew died, there were eight generations of Mayhew’s who were pastors in succession at Martha’s Vineyard.
At one point he left the island for a trip to England, but the Indians loved him so much that they wept as he left.
The revival among the Indians was characterized by their adopting biblical practices for every area of life. One such area of life was the way they wanted to be buried.
His last and dying words were, ‘I have lived by faith, and have found God in His Son, and there I find Him now, therefore, if you would find God, look for Him in His Son, there He is to be found and nowhere else.”
Gilbert and Kim showed us a family tree revealing how the family grew from the earliest days. In this genealogical family tree, there are fascinating childrens names like Experience, Reliance, Prudence, Fear, Thankful, as well as Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Jerusha, and Bathsheba.
Looking Back - Farmington, ME
Looking back on our Farmington, ME conference, it seems something is shaking in Maine as the signups for this meeting were strong and there was some controversy brewing about our coming.
Many Hands
We have special gratitude for Gilbert and Kimberly Miller and his family who have been working tirelessly for months organizing the event and inviting people in the area. But they have not been alone in the effort as the Scott Harding, Dave Adams and Kevin Dostie families have also been making preparations with the Millers.
Six Generations and a mighty awakening
Gilbert’s family has been in Farmington area for six generations. His wife Kimberly is a descendant of Thomas Mayhew who was a missionary and elder to the Indians on Martha’s Vineyard. There was a mighty work of converting salvation among the Indians and Kimberlys descendants were used of the Lord to preach the gospel there.
Gilbert has also been in the cabinet making business, “Maine Custom Kitchens,” involving his family in the everyday life of the company, and has used the business to apprentice young men.
A new church plant
This family has been a constant encouragement to the Brown family in many ways. Gilbert has been a faithful church member in Farmington for the past 22 years and is now part of a group involved in early stages of planting a new church in the area.
Toronto
The NCFIC Road Trip Team goes to Canada...
The Toronto Road Trip conference was hosted at the beautiful Crossroads Centre, a wonderful facility in Burlington, Ontario.
The conference was well attended with Canadians from many different backgrounds, from those that were completely new to the doctrines we teach to those who fully and endorse and support our vision.
Here are Deborah and I, Jason Dohm, and Rick Muse with the hosts of the Toronto Road Trip: Gordon and Paula Maretzki and their children, Jesse Davy, Jude, Sydney, Sawyer, and Jinger as well as Sephanie and Cairn.
Here is Jake Zwart, Executive Director of OCHEC, (Ontario Christian Home Educators Connection) who offered their skills for recording and duplicating the messages of the Toronto conference. He is pictured with his wife, Heather and his sons.
My wife and I listening to a message at the Toronto Road Trip Conference.
Startling Statistics About Internet Pornography
Here are some startling statistics about internet pornography.
25% of all search engine search requests are pornography related
35% of all internet downloads are pornographic
The average age of boys seeing internet pornography is age 11
12% of the web sites on the internet are pornographic - 24,644,172
The most popular day of the week for viewing porn is Sunday
A Testimony of Reformation
The Toronto Road Trip Conference is in full swing. This morning, Rick Muse, a deacon at Hope Baptist Church in North Carolina, gave his personal testimony of family reformation.
He spoke of the key elements of orthodoxy that the Lord used to bring about reformation as well as specific areas in which God brought about reformation in his family.
You can read his talk here.
Farmington, Maine - Road Trip Stop Number 5
Upon arrival in Farmington, Maine, we were greeted with much joy and enthusiasm by many families from the local church community. We enjoyed a wonderful barbecue dinner on the back lawn of the Gilbert Miller home, overlooking the beautiful mountains of Maine. It was a sweet time to share in fellowship with these brothers and sisters in Christ.
The meeting was hosted at Merrill Hall in historic Farmington and quickly filled with many attendees who gathered to hear the messages on reformation of the family and church. We were expecting a smaller gathering, but to our surprise we were blessed with more than 150.
It has been a delight to minister to families whose eyes are just being opened to these life-changing truths of Scripture. God is so merciful in continuing to refine and transform our thinking to align with His ways. This is the exciting awaking that is taking place in the families who gathered for this meeting.
For our early departure the following morning, the Miller family prepared a wonderful breakfast feast for us before we hit the road again. The Lord has kindly blessed us with many wonderful hosts that have willingly offered their time, resources and homes to serve our team.
We're eager to see how the Lord will continue to use these times to help bring the message of biblical reformation across our land.
Announcing Blog Comments
We've just opened the comment function here on the NCFIC Blog. We would love to hear your comments and feedback.
A Defining Mark of True Reformation
It's been a joy to witness the amazing hand of God in bringing families together across America to expound upon the true meaning of Biblical reformation. Having already travelled from Wake Forest to Taunton, MA, it's been very encouraging to witness the hunger that many have for the reformation of the church and family. In speaking about the many evidences of true Biblical reformation, I addressed one element that I believe we're already witnessing across America: a hunger for God. A true awakening is propelled, or at least manifested by an unusual hunger for God.
Within the last week, we've been in the midst of people that have come with desire to hear the truths of God's Word. We pray that their hunger will serve as a great beacon of light to encourage and strengthen the rising number of people devoted to restoring the ways of God to all areas of life.
"Wash yourselves: make yourselves clean: remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good..." - Isaiah 1:16, 17a
Share a Testimony of the Work of Reformation Within Your Family and Church
What is Biblical reformation? This is one of the most critical questions that stands before us in the twenty-first century. As we continue to speak to this matter during the Road Trip, it's our desire to hear how the Lord is at work within individual families and churches. At each stop, we've been interviewing various people asking these two questions: First, how is the Lord reforming your family? Secondly, in what way is the Lord awakening your church? Join us by sharing a personal testimony of the visible fruits of reformation within your family and church. Please post all testimonies in the new comment section of the website.
Interview with Mark Thomas - Host of the Taunton Road Trip Stop
Interview with Mark Thomas from NCFIC on Vimeo.
"Christ Needs No New Inventions" - Spurgeon
First of all, Christ needs no new inventions to glorify Him. "We have invented a new line of things," says one. Have you? "We have discovered something very wonderful." I daresay you have, but Christ, "the same yesterday, today and forever" (Heb. 13:8 NKJV), needs none of your inventions, discoveries, or additions to His truth. A plain Christ is forever the loveliest Christ. Dress Him up, and you have defamed Him. Bring Him out just as He is, the Christ of God, nothing else but Christ, unless you bring in His Cross, for "we preach Christ crucified" (1 Cor. 1:23); indeed, you cannot have Christ without the Cross; but preach Christ crucified, and you have given him all the glory that He desires. The Holy Spirit does not reveal in these last times any fresh laws or any novel doctrines or any new evolutions. He simply brings to mind the things that Christ Himself spoke. He brings Christ's own things to us, and in that way glorifies Him.
C. H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon on the Holy Spirit, p. 60-61
Spurgeon on the many ministries in the world - Making Much of Christ
Spurgeon says, "There are many ministries in the world, and they are very different from one another, but this truth this truth will enable you to judge which are right out of them all. The ministries that discredit Him, ignore Him, or put Him in the background in any degree are not of the Spirit of God.
Any doctrine that magnifies man, but not man's Redeemer, any doctrine that denies the depth of the Fall, and consequently detracts from the greatness of salvation, any doctrine that makes man sinless, and therefore makes Christ's work less - away with it, away with it! This will be the infallible test as to whether it is of the Holy Spirit or not, for Jesus says, "He shall glorify me."
C. H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon on the Holy Spirit, p. 55-56
Listen on Sermonaudio.com
Sermon Audio from NCFIC on Vimeo.
We love sermonaudio.com - a wonderful resource for FREE sermons. The quantity of sermons and the breadth of subject matter available is simply MONSTROUS (in a good sense). Many of my favorite preachers and some of my best friends feature their messages there. Now check this: there are currently 333,570 sermons online and growing every day.
We will be posting various reports and video clips on SermonAudio during the Road Trip.
Steven Lee, the President of sermonaudio.com is a dear brother who has been a blessing to me in many ways. I believe the Lord is using Steven Lee to play an important role in fueling a global reformation. The downloads in countries “closed” to the gospel are significant and are being used of the Lord to evangelize and equip the saints. Steven is using his energies to “Preach the Word” and it is emboldening and sweetening the Church of Jesus Christ all over the world. I use SermonAudio as a research tool to help me think through thorny issues I am dealing with in our local church, in our family, and in the NCFIC.
Taunton Massachusetts
A Large Crowd
We were surprised at the large size of the crowd in Taunton, MA that consisted of elders, youth pastors, and worship leaders in local churches as well as many families. Following the conference, we held a worship service at the hotel where there was standing room only.
Heritage Christian Church
Heritage Christian Church sponsored our visit to Taunton by providing advertising, the venue, and by shouldering the financial burden for the meetings. Dave Eckerson, Mark Thomas, Brian Fournier, as well as the Flynn family and many others from Heritage provided an outpouring of preparations and hospitality for the attendees – and especially for the Road Trip Team.
Significant Capacity for Hospitality
We were so blessed by this church and by these families. What amazed us was the sheer capacity they had for blessing those who came and for the meals they prepared for us. Both the Thomas family and the Eckerson family were obviously very experienced in hospitality with instant readiness for large numbers of people staying in their homes. They had long tables, lots of places to sleep and the ability to host a horde at the drop of the hat.
A Historical Marker
Here is a historical factoid. Both Mark Thomas and Dave Eckerson were at our first Uniting Church and Family conference in St. Louis, Mo. This was a historic conference where the atmosphere was absolutely electric. I will never forget that conference for its momentous impact. Many, many of the 700 men in attendance had a passionate desire to be faithful to God in church and family life. The crowd was composed of almost exclusively men (now our conferences are composed not of men only but whole families). These same men were used of the Lord as catalysts to plant hundreds of churches across the United States.
Sweet fellowship
It seemed to be a great victory to us. One thing that really stuck out to us was that the fellowship was very warm and full of lovingkindness. We were met with such mercies from these people.
On making corrections in the church without losing love for her
Here is a significant quotation from Dan Horn’s message “Members of One Another” on how the family needs the church, which was based on an exposition of 1 Cor. 12. He said,
“We must make corrections in church life without losing our love for Her. When Christ left heaven was the church perfect? No, she was in rebellion. When Christ saw the problems in the church He left heaven to live and die for her. We need to do what Christ did. He loved the church in spite of her problems. But he also worked to remove her spots and wrinkles. He knew her problems but he loved her nonetheless.”
An Update on the Road
An Update on the Road from NCFIC on Vimeo.
Breakdown in Greenlawn, NY
Breakdown in Greenlawn, NY from NCFIC on Vimeo.
Road Trip Stop at Iglesia Biblica de La Gracia
Josue and Jennifer Reymundo on Reformation from NCFIC on Vimeo.
Our second Road Trip Stop took us to McLean, Virginia where “Iglesia Biblica de La Gracia” hosted us. Josue Raimundo is a missionary to the Spanish speaking community and the pastor of this Spanish speaking church. Here he and his daughter, Jennifer discuss the centrality of scripture in family and educational life.Josue is in the process of translating our book, “Building God Centered Families” which is an edited version of Matthew Henry’s sermon, “A Church in the House.” This book contains some of the very best advice for families for how to build a God centered family.”
Dan Horn on Reformation
Dan Horn on Reformation from NCFIC on Vimeo.
How God is Reforming my Family
Here are 12 ways God is reforming me and my family - Tommy Vestal
1) We are helpless to move forward in life as a family by our own understanding and that we must flee from the things of this world when they conflict with scripture regardless of their perceived insignificance.
2) We must use God's word to guide our actions, form our priorities, direct our paths. Especially but not limited to entertainment, education and child training, discipline (for ourselves and the children), work life, finances and spending and the use of our time.
3) We do that by reading His word daily as a family and studying what the Word means and how to apply it to our family and our lives as individuals.
4) As parents He has broadened our understanding of the scope of our jurisdiction.
5) He has revealed to us as parents, and convicted us of our responsibility and authority through the light of His word that we would not waste the time that is given and entrusted to us. And that we would invest heavily in the lives of our children by making a daily deposit of God's Word and Truth.
6) He has given me a greater awareness of my sin and a hatred of it.
7) The works of my hands and feet are rubbish before the Lord and that salvation is supremely and wholly by faith in Him, freely given to us by His mercy and wholly by His choice. This affects me everyday and cuts at my very core.
8) Grace and mercy are meant to be and must be applied in life just as God freely showed and shows grace and mercy to me.
9) We are convinced that God's moral law reveals His character to us and that He desires that we keep it in order to glorify Him and not to save ourselves.
10) He has shown us the joy of serving our family, neighbors, and church through hospitality which ultimately displays that grace and mercy of Jesus Christ,
11) that the joy of the Lord is our strength and all hope is in salvation through Christ Jesus,
12) and a continued understanding that God is sovereign in all of heaven and earth and that all things do work together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.
Wake Forest Road Trip Stop
Approximately 350 people came to participate in kicking off the Road Trip in Wake Forest. We heard seven messages from seven pastors who told their stories of church and family reform. Boyd Dellinger, Steve Breagy, Jimmy Ferebee, Ken Auer, Dan Horn, Jason Dohm and myself all gave messages.
Dan Horn, “It gives us great concern that people withdraw from the church.”
Jimmy Ferebee, “I was going the wrong way – in earnest”
Boyd Dellinger, “The NCFIC is like a house of many rooms, and many activities going on in those rooms. If you go into the living room, you will find a father conducting family worship, and if you go into the kitchen you will find,… but the roof of that house is the sufficiency of scripture.”
Jason Dohm, elder at Hope Baptist, “I want to show how the first command and Deuteronomy 6 relate and how they are inseparable. There is no such thing as a faithful obedience to the first commandment which leads the life of a home untouched. The first commandment always works itself out in what you do when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.”
Ken Auer, of Southwest Wake Assembly, said, “I grew up in the mainstream as a fish swimming down stream with all the other fish. I was a fish and did not know I was wet.”
Steve Breagy, “I was a pastor and thought I was wise, but realized that God said, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.' I realized that my wisdom was worldly wisdom."
Harry Upchurch, of Anchor Baptist Church in Bunn, NC, “The greatest reformation happens when we reject extrabiblical practices. Jesus did not break people up by age, and I want to do what Jesus did. The more we get away from that pattern the more damage we do. If we take the whole bible and apply it to our church, God will bless us."
Dan Horn, “The indispensable center of church and family life is the glory of God. If we change focus in our families and begin to do the right things and are doing it for self-improvement rather than the glory of God we are robbing God. We have forgotten God.”
