Well today was an interesting day in the Rodgers' household.
Krista is at the emergency room tonight with one of the girls from the dorm. Krista has been doing a good job with connecting with many of the girls and being a mother of two.
I spent the late morning and all afternoon running resumes around town.
PLEASE continue to pray for the job situation. I have had several opportunities that have seemed like sure things kind of fizzle out. Not sure why.
I have told Krista, it has really been a pride issue for me. I think the interviews or conversations go well and then nothing.
Second week of class has finished up. It has been a challenging two week (challenging = spiritual wake up call)
PRAY REQUESTS:
- Krista's ministry with the girls of Vibbard Hall
- My continued job search.
- Rest (physical but especially spiritual rest in the Lord)
- Wisdom in deciding upon a church to get involved in.
- Joel as he continues to adjust to the move and living with all of his "big sisters. (He is quite the little showboat in the lounge when there is an audience.)
PRAISES:
- Josiah is doing so much better health wise.
- Opportunities Krista has already had to connect with and minister to the girls of Vibbard Hall
- The challenges God has put before us because they are teaching us to depend on Him.
I just got my first score back on a quiz.
Right now my GPA is 4.0. One quiz from one class.
A strong start.
Yesterday was the seminary picnic and in place of the regular staff vs. students softball game we played a modified game of kickball in the gym. I played a pretty good game but we still lost.
The problem was waking up this morning on my 36th birthday after playing the game. I guess my comeback to the NBA is not going to happen. Wait a second, I never was in the NBA. I guess my chances of becoming the oldest rookie in the NBA have slipped away.
Well the first week of seminary classes are done.
Summary of learning that happened (this list is in no way comprehensive):
1. learned the Greek alphabet (and that you can make it through 6:30 in the morning classes... at least the first two)
2. Read and wrote a report on a great book called Biblical Church Growth by Gary McIntosh.
3. Realized I need 3 inch binders in my seminary classes.
4. Was challenged to think about my personal spiritual growth during my time here at seminary.
5. President Jeffery spoke at chapel on Thursday. Very challenging message on Lamentations. For your own reading check out the book. As your reading note the amazing change in chapter 3:21-27
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.
On the job front:
I also was offered a job at BestBuy. (CHECK POST ON SEPTEMBER 10)
Pray for us as we look at our finances and see how everything will work out. I know God is going to provide for us.
We would greatly appreciate your prayers!!
Today I started classes.
Two of them:
Personal Evangelism
Principles of Church Growth
Tomorrow my classes begin at 6:30 am.
Greek 1
and then
Preaching (Expository Preaching)
I have also have a job interview tomorrow.
Tomorrow is also the first day of classes for the college students so we are praying Krista's life will get into some kind of routine now that the craziness of orientation and returning students moving in is over.
Please pray for:
1. our family as we work through schedule issues and other things.
2. my job interview tomorrow
3. my Greek class tomorrow. (by the way if you are interested in reading a good article about why pastors should learn Greek and Hebrew go to: http://faculty.bbc.edu/rdecker/piper.htm)
By the way, Josiah is doing much better in regards to his health. Pray that he would improve in regards to his sleep.
Our first couple of weeks in PA have proven to be quite "interesting."
My sinus infection that first weekend. By the way I am over that. Thank God.
Krista's cold and sore throat at the beginning of the Leadership Week.
and now...
Josiah's infection. He just hasn't been feeling well. Really bad cough along with several other issues. Well, last night and today he just kept getting worse and we decided to take him to the ER tonight. They gave him an antibiotic shot. He seems to be doing better already.
Please pray for a speedy recover for him.
Also pray for us. These health issues have been weighing us down.
We KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is good because He has been providing for us during this whole time. As a matter of fact at one point when we were feeling down God provided encouragement for us through a care package from some good friends of ours. (Thanks for the pizza card and other gifts.)
Please continue to pray for us. Thanks.
This weekend the RAs (resident assistants), student government representatives and fall sports players moved into the dorms. We have several girls in the dorm now.
Be praying for Krista this week. It is leadership training week for the RDs and RAs and she has a lot of meetings and planning times with her RA.Pray for her strength. She has a cold/sore throat.Pray for her mind. There is going to be a lot of information for her to get and to share during this week.Pray for her heart. She is going to have the opportunity to build a lot of relationships with the girls in the dorm. Pray that she and the RAs will connect this week that will help them be able to effectively minister to the girls in Vibbard Hall. Pray for the Prayer time on Monday night. The RAs and RDs do an overnight prayer vigil from Monday 3:00 pm until Tuesday 2:00 pm. Pray Krista would feel well enough to go. Also pray the time would focus on God and His plans for the year.While Krista is involved in her meeting, Joel, Josiah and I will be in the wonderful care of Grammy (my mom). Pray for her time out here this week.
We have very much appreciated your prayers and support so far. Please continue to pray for my job hunting process. I am hoping to hear back from some places this week.God wants worshippers before workers; indeed, the only acceptable workers arethose who have learned the art of worship.A. W. Tozer
Yesterday I was reading in Ephesians 1 and today I am drawn back to verses 17 and 18 in that chapter. It is Paul's prayer for the church in Ephesus.
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
It is my prayer that these things would happen in my life.
the Spirit of wisdom and revelation - so I would know God better. I pray that my time in seminary would be so much more than head knowledge. I pray I would know God better.
the hope to which he has called me.
And the big one for me today. The riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints. I pray I would be able to see the riches of God. Right now it is hard to keep that focus as I continue to look for a job. I am in a little bit of a waiting game right now. I have made several contacts and now I am waiting to hear back from them.
Continue to pray for wisdom and understanding as I am still on the job hunt. Pray that in the midst of this challenging time I would be a testimony to God's goodness.
We have begun getting to know people here. I think they said there are 18 kids under 12 years old here. Lots of friends for Joel. Krista has had some good meetings with people about the her responsiblities. Leadership week is next week. Resident assistant training. Student Government meetings. Lots of stuff happening. Please pray for all those details. Pressing on. Acts 20:24
It is hard to believe that we have already been here over two weeks.
Our apartment is looking like a home. We got a lot of work done on it yesterday. Not very many boxes left to unpack.
I also cannot believe how much better I feel this weekend compared to last. Thank you to those who were praying I would get over whatever it was I had.
Four update items:
1. On the job front.
I had a couple of strong leads this past week. Two of them would work well schedule wise. One of them is right here in Clarks Summit. Maybe will hear from some other possiblities this next week. Please be praying for wisdom. The objective I put on the top of my resume was: "Obtain a part/full time position that will allow me to use my skills and support my family while providing flexibility as I attend seminary." Pray I would find a job that would allow me to do that.
2. In church.
We have begun the process of checking out local churches here. It is actually an exciting process. There are several good possiblities and we are looking forward to visiting some of them. Pray we would find a good, solid Bible preaching church.
3. At school.
Orientation for the seminary is on August 26th and classes begin, I believe, August 28th.
4. And our driving licenses and cars.
For those of you who live in Ohio, be glad you don't live in PA. The driver license and car title and license process here in PA is like rocket science. We took from 10:00 am to about 1:00 pm (maybe later) Friday to get our drivers licenses taken care. There is only one drivers license center in Lackawana County and that makes the whole process very long. But it is done and we are very thankful for that.
A good quote from "Brothers, We Are Not Professionals" by John Piper.
There are two possible attitudes in true, genuine worship:
Delight in God
or
Repentance for the lack of delighting in God.
I pray that during our time here in seminary we would delight in God.
I also pray that you would delight in God.
On Thursday I was hit hard with a major sinus infection or something. I mean I was out of it. I could do nothing or even say much because my head was hurting so bad. I couldn't read. I couldn't write. I didn't leave our apartment from Thursday to Sunday.
I realize during that time of being incapacitated that my wife is awesome. She did great with the boys and she even got work done around the house while helping her sick, whiny husband.
Last night after starting a prescription from our doctor in Toledo who graciously called a pharmacy here in Scranton and some advice from my gracious sister-in-law (well wait a second, is your brother-in-law's wife your sister-in-law) I am feeling much better today.
I was reading the last entry in my journal from Thursday. It was a reaction to a chapter in John Piper's book "Brothers, we are not professional." The chapter was reminding pastor that their work should be about God's glory not their own.
The last line I wrote in my journal that day was:
"God, please keep me humble."
Well I must say I have been humbled.
Continue to pray for our adjustment to life here in NEPA (Northeast Pennsylvania).
Pray for me to find a job.
High school soccer camp has been going on this week. So we have soccer players staying in the dorm.
Pray for us to be able to take care of all the details of moving into a new state.
PRAISE THE LORD I am feeling better. Pray for continued recovery.
Prayer requests:
1. Establishing our apartment. As of today, we have a living room and kitchen unpacked. We also have most of Joel’s room done.
2. Finding a job. I was able to make some contacts and get some resumes out. I also found out about a couple of other possibilities. Pray for a job that would allow me to provide for our family and also be flexible with my seminary schedule.
3. Preparing to minister to the college students. Krista has already been able to make a good contact with one of the Resident Assistant girls. Pray for the students that will be in our dorm (Vibbard Hall)
4. Preparing for seminary life. I will be meeting with my advisor soon to look at the schedule we established this past spring. Pray for wisdom there and also pray for added strength when it comes to studying. Praise- We did get an additional two rooms that we were hoping to get. This will give me a specific area for studying.
Praises:
1. Safety as we traveled. Krista’s trip out with Josiah, Joel, her mom and Sarah took 12 hours. They did arrive safely. My trip out here with my father-in-law was shorter than that. We needed to get out here between 2:00 – 4:30 to take advantage of some college student help. We actually arrived here before the help. We had sixteen college guys help us move into our apartment.
2. The blessing of so many family and friends who were willing to help with packing and loading up the truck. By the way, we did get the couch into our apartment here at BBC&S.
3. Joel has two new friends and really enjoys playing with them.
4. The blessing of the additional rooms in our apartment.
5. For God’s amazing grace in everything.
On July 23rd I had the opportunity to share about our move to Baptist Bible College and Seminary.
I wanted to share a couple of these things.
MY DESIRES and PASSIONS
1. To effectively and powerfully preach God’s Word.
2. To live a life among people that would demonstrate a dependence on God and a desire to please Him.
3. To equip the people of God for worship and service. (Eph. 4:12)
4. To teach and train adults as well as high school students.
5. To see people become more and more involved in their churches not just for the sake of busyness but for God’s kingdom.
I found this in my journal from November 19, 1999. I don’t know where I got it from but I know it is not original.
I want to be a man
· Who is moved by faith
· Who is fired by love
· Who is godly
· Who is careful about the worship of God
· Who serves God, not men
· Who prizes Christ
· Who weeps over sin
· Who loves the Word
· Who has the Spirit of God residing in him
· Who is humble
· Who is prayerful
· Who is sincere
· Who is zealous
· Who is patient
· Who is thankful
· Who loves the saints
· Who does indulge in any sin
· Who is good in his relationship with others
· Who is thoroughly trained in religion
· Who walks with God
· Who strives to be an instrument for making others Godly
Please be praying for me as I search for a job. Now that we are here I need to begin focusing on this aspect of life.
I need to find something that will support a family and be flexible with my class schedule.
By the way it is soooo hot here. The heat index is 110 degrees.
We are beginning the process of getting settled into our new apartment.
The last couple of weeks have been crazy but now we are here! Thanks be to God who blessed us with so many different people to help!
-Thank you to all the ladies who helped us pack up our stuff into boxes.
-Thank you to all the guys who came to help us pack the boxes and furniture into the moving truck. A special thanks to Larry. The people out here were very impressed with our usage of space.
-Thank you to all the ladies who helped us clean up our apartment in Toledo.
-Thank you to Shane and all the TLC counselors who helped us unpack.
-Thank you to everyone who has been praying for our move. Please continue to do so.
-Thank you very much to Krista's parents for all of their help in Toledo, on the way out to BBC&S and their help here.
My wife was due at the end of this month but God had different plans!!
We have a new baby!!
He is beautiful!!
End of June - New baby
End of July - Move to a new state
- Prepare for a new job
August - Start Seminary
Some major stressors in life but it is an exciting time.
I must say that in each of these situations I am looking forward to seeing how God is going to work.
Even as I site here thinking about how we are going to make ends meet financially, I know that God is going to provide in ways that I cannot even imagine.
God is so amazing!
I am SOOOOO selfish!!!
Psalm 25
Psalm 24:4-5
Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and
teach me,
for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Summary:
God, You have saved me from my sin.
God, You will keep me all the days of my life
Therefore, I daily want to know what you have for me.
Challenge:
My daily challenge is to live life 100% dependent upon God.
I want to live a life of thankfulness.
Psalm 24:8-9
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore
he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right and
(He) teaches them his way.
Summary:
God is the standard that I must live by if I truly want to live a Godly life.
Challenge:
I want to not be influenced by the things of this world.
I desire for God to show me my sin and to take it away.
I desire to be humble before God.
I don't want to call God my Father and My Master and then do what I want. (Malachi 1:6)
Psalm 24:11
For the sake of your name, O LORD,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
Summary:
I want God to take care of my sin problem for His Glory.
Challenge:
How often do I think God is obligated to do things for me because of what I have done.
Oh, God, I plead with You, help me to see that my life should be about your glory.
I know I don't do well with this but I want you to change me.
These are previous posts from another website.
I thought I would put them here.
You can also go to:
http://www.xanga.com/boonedy
to see some other posts and quotes.
The entire book of James
"What a man does it the touchstone of faith. So, true faith, which alone justifies, is expressed by what a man does not by what he presumes. The man who lives faithfully is the justified man (although he is not justified by living faithfully). Deedless faith cannot save, not because works are the ground of justification, but because the lack of works is the evidence of the absence of real faith."
from the book After Darkness Light, page 92
"I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven." A. W. Tozer
1 Peter 1:3-7
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Well, Emmanuel Baptist Christian School had a fire on Friday. School is shut down a couple of days earlier than it was supposed to. The school is shut down now because the fire was in the chemistry storage area. Mercury levels in the building are high. There are a lot of thoughts going through my mind right now. From the superficial...how inconvenient this is for me. I cannot get to any of my books because the school is locked up. I hope I will be able to get them sometime soon. To the not so superficial...when will be able to get back into the building. To the eternal...God I have no idea how this is going to work out but I pray that even in the midst of a situation like this that I don't understand I would be able to glorify You, God.
Please be praying for Emmanuel Baptist Christian School, the administrators, the teachers and the students.
I pray these trials will help me to see your glory which is so much greater than a builder or books.
