Another home school conference!
Thursday night we ate dinner at Lalo and Dara Gunther’s house with the Martin family. I’m sure some of you are familiar with Jobe Martin’s ministry or their DVD’s — Incredible Creatures. We have a lot of respect for their family and have been blessed to get more acquainted with them this past year!
With Lalo (right), his wife Dara (left) and his little daughter, Anna. Lalo works for the Institute for Creation Research. (A Christian organization that is on the “cutting edge” of Creation Science research today. We appreciate their unwavering stand on biblical authority. But they have many enemies in our evolutionary world and could use our prayers!) Lalo used to be a gang member and spent several years in jail. Then he got saved and his life dramactically changed. Over dinner he told me several stories of amazing witnessing adventures he’s had – from witnessing in dark alleys in the worst parts of Dublin, Ireland, to drawing crowds at fairs by organizing impromptu skits with the youth group he led and then boldly proclaiming the gospel to the crowds. Just listening to his stories reminded me of how much we will miss out on in life if we don’t forsake our fears and get into the battle for the Lord. We were talking about how witnessing brings an adrenaline high (one that is much better than rollercoasters 🙂 ). Nothing compares to serving the Lord. (Not suggesting going into back alleys, though…)
Sarah, Stephen and I did a session at the home school book fair called “Preparing Young People for Mighty Works.” We had never done this session together with all three of us before, so we thought it was a little rusty, but we were encouraged by people’s responses. One of the things we were talking about is how we need to be doing God’s work in God’s way–striving for holiness without compromise. As Stephen stated in closing “We think that the church today has replaced the doctrine of separation with the doctrine of relevance. As a result, we have lost our saltiness; we have lost our testimony. In seeking to be culturally relevant, we have become ineffective.” To be mighty for the Lord requires purity and holiness. We are supposed to be different. If we are copying the world or compromising with it we will not be demonstrating Paul’s attitude in 1 Cor 1:20. He did not try to impress the world, but instead he held up the cross of Christ – foolishness and a stumbling block to the world, but the power of God.
Our good friend, Alex, who was a part of the first Bright Lights internship
Saturday night we celebrated Mother’s Day at Pei Wei’s — a favorite restaurant of ours that we go to every once in a while when we can find one. It’s kind of like Panera in regard to prices and ordering, but the food is all Asian (and it’s sooo good).
Hi Grace!
It was great seeing y’all again! We where so blessed by the session y’all did! 🙂
Have a blessed day!
Haley
Hey Grace!
Great to see that you all had a fun and profitable time in TX!
I miss you – tell your sweet family hello for me. 🙂
Baylie
Hi Grace!
It looks like y’all had a great time!
Happy Mother’s Day to your mom! (A little late…) 🙂
-Elizabeth
Great job! I would really like to meet Jobe Martin! Just one question: What is the doctrine of separation that has been replaced by the doctrine of relevance?
-Daniel <
I got to visit with the Martins a bit while we were at the Midwest convention & was very happy to hear that your families had connected. Dr. Martin is one of my dad’s mentors and we have been blessed by their family for many, many years.
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for asking that question. It’s hard to communicate without spending time to define terms. What we meant was that churches are sometimes so concerned about “being like the world in order to reach the world” that they don’t emphasize our calling to be holy. Holiness doesn’t mean “sinlessness;” it means being “set apart”, “different”, and “special.” The opposite of holy is the word “common.” But we are told, “be not conformed to the world.” (Romans 12:2) And if we aren’t holy, we won’t shine as brightly. We’ll blend in to the world rather than being a testimony to it. So the Biblical word for the doctrine of separation is holiness which means that we should be so dedicated to Christ that we are not lured by the world and we do not reflect the world’s ways and thinking.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1 John 2:16)
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9)
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
“…the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (1 John 17:14)
Just wanted to say thank you for the work you are doing! My husband, daughter, and I were in y’alls session in Arlington, TX, and were so encouraged! I boughts Sarahs book before I meet Prince Charming, and am so excited to have something that displays the kind of standard we are trying to teach our children, and our jr high class at church. I am so thankful the Lord is using y’all. Seeing that God’s ways are still working today in young people even though the world is such a mess! God’s Word still remains! Thanks for what y’all are doing! 🙂