Ministry transition

{Note: This was our last post to this blog, as we transitioned from 20schemes to other ministry work. You can learn more about the current work of 20schemes here.
You can also read Suzanne's blog here.}

The family on departure day -- with our big ol' moving truck!

One year ago, our family was planning for an upcoming trip -- and potential move to Scotland. Who knew that today we'd be ministering in the desert of New Mexico rather than the Highlands of Scotland?

Well, the Lord knew.

The beautiful Jemez Mountains, north of Albuquerque (it's pronounced "HAY-mas", in case you wondered).

As we've been settling in, we've been reminded of God's goodness in so many ways.

God's physical provision for us through His people -- both here and our friends around the country -- has been humbling.

Our new church family readied our home for our arrival.

Living in the middle of the desert surrounded by glorious mountain ranges has been surprisingly refreshing to us. We are awed each day by their everchanging beauty and by their Creator.

Ready to tackle Pino Trail in the Sandia Mountains.

In the midst of the busyness of this transition, we're so thankful to be continually spiritually refreshed. Both the blessings and the trials of new opportunities drive us to the Lord and His Word. And He is faithful.

We hope that you'll continue to pray for us in this new ministry -- even as you continue to follow the work of our friends at 20schemes (so many exciting things happening there, as well!).

• Pray for Jeff in his work as elder. He's just joined the preaching rotation, beginning with Ruth 1, and is getting to know the church family.
• Our family has a heart to share hospitality with the church family and our community. Please pray that we'll make and take opportunities, and that these times will be encouraging to our guests.
• AnnaKate is settling into her new home, routine, and church in North Georgia. We are praying for continued wisdom -- both for her and us -- as we parent this sweet young lady from afar. This is new territory for us! We are working (and praying) on finding a car for her, as well.

(By the way, check out how much our Jared has grown over the past 18 months -- he's so much taller in the moving truck photo than in the older photo in our header! We're proud of the young man he's becoming.)

Believe a lie, live a lie

Jeff was privileged to preach at Central Fellowship Baptist Church here in Macon this past Sunday. Over the past few months, we've enjoyed getting to know this church family a bit. Pastor Rodney Queen allowed Jeff to come and share about 20schemes back in June and, since then, we've visited the church from time to time. I thought I'd share a bit from Jeff's evening message (you can listen to the entire message here).

When you read Genesis 3:1-13, do you wonder how Adam and Eve moved so quickly from living in sinless relationship with God in the perfection of the Garden to being deceived into sin and separation by the serpent? How did that happen?

As it turns out, Adam and Eve were deceived in precisely the same way we are deceived today: Satan replaced God's truth with something that they wanted to hear... and he persuaded them that God wasn't being forthright with them. For that brief moment, Satan created doubt in their minds, and that doubt led to sinful action. It turns out that the military tactic to divide and conquer has been around since the beginning of time. After all, isn't that exactly what Lucifer/Satan attempted with the angels just before he and his followers -- one third of the angels -- were thrown out of heaven? He tried it with Jesus, too, but that attempt failed miserably. (See Matthew 4:1-11. Instead of taking the bait, Jesus rebuked Satan with the truth of Scripture -- the antidote to the falsehood of deception.)

Eve seems to have believed that Satan wanted the best for her (which makes you wonder what she thought -- at that moment -- that God wanted for her). That is so often the way that the crafty master of deception presents his offer -- he just wants the best for us, for us to be happy and to get what we really deserve. Of course, he's obscuring his real goal, because we probably wouldn't go for that: Satan desires to thwart your worship of God. My momentary happiness -- or ultimate failure in sin -- is not his primary goal. He desires to steal from God by drawing me away from devotion to Christ.

And that's the great battle. Deception vs devotion. Division vs. denial of self. Discouragement vs discernment. It's the battle that we fight each day, each hour, each moment, by saying no to some things and yes to other things as we choose right over wrong and best over good in a desire to worship and glorify God in all we do. 

Whether we live in the schemes of Scotland or the Highlands, or the good old US of A, this is the message we need to hear. Those without hope need the gospel, and believers need instruction and encouragement. Will you join us in this work?

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:16-17 ESV)