Lakeshore Baptist Children's Choir

The last Sunday of this month Lakeshore Baptist Church will be having the children's choir sing at the Sunday morning service. I am really looking forward to this, as are most of the children.

Pastor Don asked me about a year ago if I would be interested in leading a children's choir, I was a little hesitant at first but finally said I would. We began last winter, singing at the Easter service earlier this year. There was not a huge turn out in kids, though we had several that came very faithfully and we had a good time.

This semester I have been joined by Emily Elbourne, who is helping on piano, and a woman who recently began attending the church - Mrs. Joni. She is a school bus driver and has been very helpful in picking up children and just knowing many children and asking them to come. This semester has been very good so far. We have a many children join us in the choir, most of whom have never been to church here or anywhere.

I have had a great time with the kids this semester, as well as constantly learning. I have been streched in ways I wouldn't have thought. But it's been good.

When I was thinking about songs to sing I wanted the focus to be evident - Christ and the gospel. I was greatly encouraged by the music from Sovereign Grace Ministries and chose to use a couple of their songs this semester. One song that we've been singing and I think has become the favorite of the group is To Be Like Jesus.

To Be Like Jesus

VERSE 1
Love, joy, peace, and patience too
Grow in those who trust in You
All who put their hope in Christ
Kindness, goodness, faithfulness
Self-control and gentleness
Live in those who have new life

CHORUS
I want to be like Jesus
To walk and talk like Jesus
I want to live like one who follows Him
I want to love like Jesus
To give my all like Jesus
I want to live like one who follows Him

VERSE 2
I don’t always do what’s right
Jesus lived a perfect life
And for sins like mine He died
Teach me to obey Your Word
Help me to put others first
Holy Spirit, change my life

© 2009 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Broken Silence - Ms. Lisa

I've never met Ms. Lisa, author of the Broken Silence blog, but I've been very encouraged by this wife and homeschooling mother of two. I check almost everyday to see if she has a new post up. I love reading her posts. She mixes hymns, theology, family, laughs, and helpful and encouraging snippets from books, scripture, blogs, and sermons.

I came across Broken Silence after Pastor Don had reconnected with his friend Tim, whom he went to high school with - Tim happens to be the husband of Ms. Lisa. I am sure glad to have gotten connected with this blog and can gain wisdom, insight, and sometimes just get a good laugh.

Currently Reading 10-31-09

Another week a few books read. This week I read through a couple of quick reads.

Compassion, Justice, and the Christian Life: Rethinking Ministry to the Poor by Robert D. Lupton
This was a great book that I think if very fitting for our ministry here in Lakeshore. The author focused on several situations but all in the realm of development and not just betterment. He emphasized the importance of development, as the old proverb goes "give a man a fish he eats for a day, teach a man to fish he eats for a lifetime"



The Milk of the Word: An Introduction to the Christian Faith by Peter Barnes. The was a great, short systematic theology book. It focused on the Word of God, The Triune God, Jesus Christ, The Atonement, and The Person and work of the Holy Spirit. The book was as thorough as one can be on these topics in 80 pages. Nearly everything said on these had attached scripture references, as well as, helpful quotations from past authors and theologians. Overall a great book, I'd recommend it to unbelievers, new believers, and Christians who've been walking with the Lord a long time.

Joyfully Home - Jasmine Baucham

I follow a lot of blogs, but some of my favorite blogs are written by Christian women. Most of whom are reformed in theology, but also share a lot of very practical ideas, stories, encouragement, and wisdom. Over the next several weeks I want to share some of them in hope of encouraging other women.

The first blog I want to direct you to is Joyfully Home written by Jasmine Baucham - daughter of Pastor and author Voddie Baucham. I met Ms. Baucham a little over 2 years ago at Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, FL. I was impressed and encouraged by this young woman, who at the time was 17, with the way she cared for her younger brothers and was always happy to help her parents. It wasn't until August this year that I came across her blog. Ms. Baucham is a very captiving author who does not waste one single word and is wise years beyond her age. I've been very encouraged by her posts and I hope it does the same for you.

Currently Reading 10-23-09

Okay, I know it seems like all I've been blogging about is the books that I've been reading. So I have. But I've missed reading books like I used to and since I have time to read when I am running at the gym and some evenings when I go home, I am trying to make the most of every semi-quiet opportunity.

From Religion to Christ by Peter Jeffery
This was a great little book, very solid. The author looked at the book of John chapter 3, Nicodemus's conversation with Jesus and lays out the gospel very clearly. I think this would be a great book for both believers and unbelievers.








Heirs with Christ - The Puritans on Adoption by Joel Beeke...the following is from back of the book...
The Puritans have gotten bad press for their supposed lack of teaching on the doctrine of spiritual adoption. In Heirs with Christ, Joel R. Beeke dispels this caricature and shows that the Puritan era did more to adovcate the idea that every Christian is God's adopted child than any other age of church history. This little book lets the Puritans speak for themselves, showing how they recognized adoption's far-reaching, transforming power and comfort for the children of God.



Restorers of Hope: Reaching the poor in your community with church-based ministries that work by Amy Sherman

In this book Amy Sherman challenges churches to get involved with mercy ministry she makes clear that a church that thinks it should not be involved in mercy ministry should really take a good look at society and more importantly the gospel. The book is very practical for leaders who may be wanting to get more involved with mercy minisrty or for ministries already ministering to their communities.



Evangelism: Doing Justice While Preaching Grace by Harvie Conn

This too was a great little book, only around 110 pages, but full of good stuff. It really focused on holistic evangelism - showing mercy and preaching the gospel together.





Sex, Sushi, and Salvation: thoughts on intimacy, community, & eternity by Christian George

I really liked this book. It is very solid theologically and very practical. He was right on when explaining the gospel and straight up with the reader on many issues focusing mostly on intimacy, community, and eternal issues. The theme of God's sovereignty over all things ran through the entire book as well as the urging for Christians to grow up and grow in their gospel-centeredness.

At times Christian George is a bit Driscollesque in his examples, so I am sure there are some folks out there that might not appreciate that. The one thing I was not crazy about was the place where some of the scripture references came from. Many came from the NIV which I had no problem with, but some came from The Message - a paraphrase of the Bible or I would say even more like a commentary. It is not a translation.

Currently Reading 10-4-09

This week has been a semi-productive reading week for me. I've finished a couple of books and still working on another.

The books for the week are:

Growing up in Grace by Murray G. Brett. I highly recommend this book. While reading I could help but tell myself...if you can't say amen, say ouch. Said a lot of amens, with an ouch!

This short book looks at the Christian life and the process of sanctification in a believers life. The challenge of this book as stated by Geoff Thomas in the foreward is this :

"This book addresses our consciences about the character ot our Christian way. Is there credible godliness? Is there a deepening, growing relationship with our Lord? Is the loce of Jesus Christ constraining our behavior - love so amazing, so divine demanding our souls, our lives, and our all - and are we giving the Lord affectionate obedience in return?"

Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce by John Piper. This is a short biography of the evangelical member of Parliament who strove nearly his entire life to abolish slave trade and slavery in England







Girl Talk: Mother-Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood by Carolyn Mahaney & Nicole Mahaney Whitacre.

These two ladies have written a book for both mothers and daughter on the issue of what it means to become a godly woman. The look at the mother/daughter bond and then in short chapters give many examples of godly living. Encouraging all the way the daughters to learn from their mothers, obey them and follow their example.