Faith in the Midst of Trial

Matt Chandler, pastor of The Village Church in Dallas, is a man with an incredible gift for preaching and calling from God on his life. I posted a message he preached a few months back that challenged me and hit me in the stomach. He is a faithful pastor, father and friend. He also has a brain tumor. His focus during this time: suffer well for the glory of God. The AP spent time with Chandler, and his words and witness are nothing short of amazing. Here is an excerpt:

Chandler says learning he had brain cancer was "kind of like getting punched in the gut. You take the shot, you try not to vomit, then you get back to doing what you do, believing what you believe.

"We never felt — still have not felt — betrayed by the Lord or abandoned by the Lord. I can honestly say, we haven't asked the question, 'Why?' or wondered, 'Why me, why not somebody else?' We just haven't gotten to that place. I'm not saying we won't get there. I'm just saying it hasn't happened yet."

... Chandler never thought such a trial would shake his faith. But until now, that was just hope in the abstract.

"This has not surprised God," Chandler says on the drive home. "He is not in a panic right now trying to figure out what to do with me or this disease. Those things have been warm blankets, man."

Chandler has, however, wrestled with the tension between belief in an all-powerful God and what he, as a mere mortal, can do about his situation. He believes he has responsibilities: to use his brain, to take advantage of technology, to walk in faith and hope, to pray for healing and then "see what God wants to do."

"Knowing that if God is outside time and I am inside time, that puts some severe limitations on my ability to crack all the codes," he says. "The more I've studied, the more I go, 'Yes, God is sovereign, and he does ask us to pray ... and he does change his mind.' How all that will work is in some aspects a mystery."

Read the full article here.

He Will Rise Up

Ben Shive is a phenomenally talented artist. His first album, The Ill-Tempered Klavier, was released last year, and it showcases his musicianship in wonderful ways. It was given five stars by Christianity Today, a very uncommon occurrence, and unheard of for a freshman album. He's also a great guy- I've met him twice and both times he seemed more than interested in talking with Kristen and I (he even gave her some great recommendations for keyboards).

Before I go any further, here are two shameless plugs for Ben:
His Website
The Best Place to Buy This Album

All that said, this song has been on my mind and in my ears over the last few days. It's good perspective on my life and the events of the world happening all around us. Take a listen, and enjoy!



Every stone that makes you stumble
And cuts you when you fall
Every serpent here that strikes your heel
To curse you when you crawl
The King of Love one day will crush them all

And every sad seduction
And every clever lie
Every word that woos and wounds
The pilgrim children of the sky
The King of Love will break them by and by

And you will rise up in the end
You will rise up in the end
I know the night is cruel
But the day is coming soon
And you will rise up in the end

If a thief had come to plunder
When the children were alone
If he ravaged every daughter
And murdered every son

Would not their father see this?
Would not his anger burn?
Would he not repay the tyrant
In the day of his return?

Await, await the day of his return

Cause he will rise up in the end
He will rise up in the end
I know you need a savior
And he is patient in his anger
But he will rise up in the end

And when the stars come crash into the sea
When the high and mighty fall down on their knees
When you see the sun descending in the sky
The chains of death will fall around your feet

But you will rise up in the end
You will rise up in the end
You will rise up in the end

Haiti

A few pieces of information regarding the terrible disaster in Haiti and how you can help.

First, my brother Andrew (who has been to Haiti previously) has an excellent blog post that you can read here.

Second, I am glad that the question on many peoples' minds is not whether to give, but how. Even the poorest among us does not compare to the abject poverty that is the norm for these people, and the absolute collapse of an already poor excuse for infrastructure has literally left them with nothing.

There are a number of excellent organizations that are already working to aid the people of Haiti. Compassion International, Living Water International and World Vision are three that Kristen and I have given to in the past, and three organizations that have the people and resources to make a difference.

However, Baptist Global Response is the organization I would recommend giving to in this case. Subsidised by giving of Southern Baptist churches to the International Mission Board of the SBC, 100% of giving goes directly to Haiti disaster relief, as overhead is absorbed by the IMB. You can read an IMB article about their response to the disaster here, and this is the link that will take you to a page to give. You can give via credit card through a secure page after entering your billing information- designate your gift to "Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund."

Please join me in prayer for the people of Haiti as the initial shock of this terrible tragedy gives way to the difficulties they will be facing in the coming hours and days. Here is a prayer update from the IMB website:

URGENT PRAYER UPDATE
IMB
JANUARY 14, 2010 HAITI.
As we are all aware, Tuesday evening before dark, a catastrophic earthquake rocked the island nation of Haiti, with the epicenter being ten miles west of Port-Au-Prince, the capital city of two million people. As the news has brought this catastrophe into our homes and heanrts, we have all been praying. We know to cry out to the Lord immediately, to beg for His mercy throughout these earliest days as initial responders work diligently searching for the injured, recovering those who have died. And we give humble thanks for those Haitian Christians that we do not know by name, nor have we heard their stories. We give thanks that they are there expressing the love of Christ to those who are frightened and confused.
David Brown, who with his wife, Jo, directs Baptist Global Response work in the Americas has said, “Please pray for us as we assess and monitor the situation in Haiti after the 7.0 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks…The initial information indicates 2 million people in Port-au-Prince are directly affected. Please pray for victims and their families. Pray for wisdom as responses are initiated.” Personnel in the Dominican Republic have requested help in post-trauma counseling and training in the area of spiritual support. Since this is such a critical need in Haiti, training for nationals will be held next week in the Dominican Republic. Please pray for the trainers as they travel and prepare the materials for the conference. Ask God for the emotional health of personnel as they confront the dire needs. Pray also for those who will receive counseling and training as they share God’s love with a nation that is in deep spiritual darkness.
Please continue to pray for God’s mercy and compassion on this country, interceding with steadfast prayers for the thousands who are suffering in the midst of untold destruction. Additional information and prayer updates can be found at http://imb.org.


**Thanks to Alexis Bednar for the info on BGR and the IMB prayer update.

Waiting like Habakkuk

Now comes the waiting...

I've graduated from seminary, been ordained and finished polishing my resume and cover letters. Now I'm scouring newspapers and websites for openings. Every day I look somewhere, and rarely does a week go by without me sending out a resume or three to a church somewhere.

South Carolina, North Carolina, Indiana, Washington, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Iowa...I'm starting to lose track of who I have sent what to, and when. A friend of mine who just took a church in South Carolina told me that he sent out 120 resumes before he got the church he is at now. I'm about 1/10 the way there I suppose.

It's early, but I'm already fighting the temptation to doubt, wonder and question. When is this ever going to happen? Is this ever going to happen? What if our lease runs out and then we have to make a decision on another? These thoughts have been swirling about my head for quite some time.

A few days ago, I was struck by the reality of my time of waiting as I read through the book of Habakkuk. The purpose of the book has everything to do with the uncertainty of circumstances and the assurance of the faithfulness of God. Habakkuk voices two complaints: "why does God not answer his prayers?" and "why does evil against God's people go unpunished?" Israel was in ruins during this time, and unfaithfulness was commonplace among the people of God.

God responds:

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if I told you." (1:5) "For still the vision awaits its appointed time: it hastens to the end- it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it: it will surely come: it will not delay." (2:3)

And the book closes with the questioning prophet now affirming and rejoicing in the sovereign will of his all-powerful God:

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on high places." (3:17-19)

In the midst of great trial and turmoil for the people of God, he reminds them that despite the appearance that all may not be well, he is an continues to be faithful to them. If God is so faithful in so much, how can I not trust him in this little thing? The reality of my situation is made clear by the greater context of God's history of faithfulness to his people. Just as he was at work to move the nations for Israel's sake, so he is at work in search committees and church meetings as churches all over the country seek His will for a pastor. And so is he at work in my life as I wait for the appointed time, to see such things that I would not believe if he were to tell me now.

News for a New Year

Happy New Year! A new blog for a new year marks not just a change in appearance of this blog, but a number of significant changes in my life over the last month. God has been so faithful to me:

I finally graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Four and a half years of study culminated on December 11 when I walked across the stage to receive my Master of Divinity. My parents, aunt, grandmother and one of my brothers was there, as well as almost all of my in-laws. It was a joyous occasion not just because of the graduation, but because of the time spent with family.


Then, Kristen and I took a trip down to S. Florida to spend Christmas with my family. We decided to drive it straight, which in hindsight I think we will do again. While down there we spent some great time with my brothers and my parents and enjoyed a Christmas in shorts and sandals.

The trip included a Heat Game for the four of the Groves boys, with seats 9 rows from the floor. It was a great time, made even better by the victory by the Heat over the Jazz. Matthew was excited about our seats...

This picture is what happens when you leave a camera with me and Matthew...

We also went bowling. Here's an excellent picture of us brothers again. Kristen and my parents rounded out the group, and a great time was had by all. I also got 3 strikes in the last frame for the second time in my life.

But the capstone of this last month was my ordination at First Baptist Church, Ft. Lauderdale on December 27, 2009. I have been working through the process for several months now, collecting letters of recommendation and completing a very extensive theological questionnaire, as well as communicating via email with one of the pastors.

Sunday morning, the pastor called both Kristen and I up and spent some time reading portions of some of the letters that leaders in my life had written about me. He attested to my fitness for ordination, and then Kristen sat and I knelt while pastors, deacons and leaders surrounded us and, after anointing both of us with oil, ordained me for Christian ministry. It was an incredibly moving experience, and a reminder of the call that God has put on both our lives. The whole experience was such a blessing for me, being back in the church I grew up in, the church where I first began to feel a call to ministry, in the midst of so many who had taught and led me as I grew up.

So much has happened in the last month, and yet there is so much to come. God has been and continues to be so very faithful, and we're excited as we wait for the Lord to lead us to the church where we will serve. Keep us in your prayers and stay tuned for the exciting things that the Lord will be bringing us in 2010!