Wow... it's been awhile since I was here...
Let me bring you all up to date with how things are going at Jaffrey Bible House:
God continues to bless us in many ways, and He's more faithful to us than we ever could be to Him I think. We find ourselves, frankly, in a really weird place. On the one hand we are encouraged daily, strengthened by prayer (ours and yours!) and convinced that God has a marvelous work prepared not only for the store but the churches in the area - and, in fact, for all of the nation. On the other hand we are unable to meet basic financial commitments on every turn. It's hard to believe God would not pay His rent, and harder still to believe we would maintain optimism and hope regardless of our dwindling bank accounts. Our inventory increases slowly but steadily, and we still place special orders on a weekly basis (though sometimes it's only for one customer). The prayer groups that were meeting here on Tuesdays and Fridays have moved on to a location more suited to their needs (it's awesome that they need a bigger place, open more often!). I left my second job in September to be here full-time but if things continue as they are I'll be searching for work in January. That means a paycheck, and maybe some benefits, but also shorter hours at the store and less mental energies committed to it. It's an odd feeling, since we still fully trust that God will provide so that I can stay here full-time and be mobbed with customers. For whatever reason that doesn't seem to be happening.
In slightly other news, we as a family are going through a purge. We have acquired far too many "things" and feel quite burdened to dump ballast in a major way. Many of our entertainment items (games, movies, books) are finding their way to the dumpster or Amazon and lots of the girls' toys will be given out in the coming months. In nearly all ways we resemble a missionary family except that we don't at all feel God's call to go anywhere - we believe our "field" is still Jaffrey. There are many changes coming, but we don't think (at this point anyway) it means a move. We shall see what we shall see I suppose.
So please continue to hold us and the store in prayer for direction, provision and courage to do the things we may not want to do. I can't imagine the store closing, though I couldn't imagine the store lasting more than a few months either - praise God for His sovereignty! What strength we have comes from meditation on His Word - may we, like Job, exclaim: "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!"
Friday, November 25, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Labor Unions...
"Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." Matthew 9:38
Certainly it's a verse we see often this time of year. Does it retain its meaning in such a broad but shallow context on bulletin covers and Thanksgiving Day napkins? Consider a parallel account of this passage:
"Go your ways: behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way...He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me." (Luke 10:3,4, 16)
I know I've been convicted about my evangelistic pursuits a lot lately. When I used to pray that God would sent forth workers into those ripe mission fields I had this picture of God sort of commissioning some class of Humans that come equipped with a firm grasp of three or four languages and like to wear khakis and just stepped out of Kingdom Come with an unshakable resolve. Ah, but how easily I forget - I'm one of those workers, and you are too. All of Earth is my neighbor, and all of Earth is my mission field. And on this planet there are two kinds of folks: lambs and wolves. That's straight out of God's Holy Word, so you have to take it seriously.
I'm not meant to enjoy my life, though I may experience joy if He wills it. I'm made to spend the brief amount of time granted me to shout the praises and glories and mercies of a holy, just, and eternal God who desires nothing less than the whole of Humanity restored (2 Peter 3:9). He's got a plan to do it, a Way, and He delights in the opportunity for us to help Him because that's the sort of thing He's in to. Every soul is precious to Him. Is every soul precious to you? To me? Consider:
If the Earth exploded tonight, and you had a rocket ship that could save any number of people, but you had to invite them face-to-face, what would you do? You couldn't save them all, there isn't enough time. Would you give up? Maybe just call your family and friends and pack some of your favored possessions and bid farewell to the only planet you've ever known? Everything you've ever known or done is about to be obliterated: monuments, gold, automobiles, poetry, chocolate, bottled water, social networking. The memory of those things would only live on in you and those with you on your tiny rocket ship. Everyone else would be dead.
Well guess what? Someday, everyone will be dead. Everyone ever will be brought before the Sovereign Creator God to account for everything they've ever done. He is not interested in pay rates, witty status updates or the accumulation of junk - those things have no place in the next step of His plan. Of greater interest to Him will be how hard you tried to live according to His Word. Imagine if He asks you how many people you've shared your testimony with - would you know the number? Would it be zero?
That'd be like saying, "I like to stand in the center of giant stacks of money and just look," or "I often swim in vast pools of M&Ms and Dove Bars but I don't eat anything," or "I'm content to be alone in my rocket ship."
Certainly it's a verse we see often this time of year. Does it retain its meaning in such a broad but shallow context on bulletin covers and Thanksgiving Day napkins? Consider a parallel account of this passage:
"Go your ways: behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way...He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me." (Luke 10:3,4, 16)
I know I've been convicted about my evangelistic pursuits a lot lately. When I used to pray that God would sent forth workers into those ripe mission fields I had this picture of God sort of commissioning some class of Humans that come equipped with a firm grasp of three or four languages and like to wear khakis and just stepped out of Kingdom Come with an unshakable resolve. Ah, but how easily I forget - I'm one of those workers, and you are too. All of Earth is my neighbor, and all of Earth is my mission field. And on this planet there are two kinds of folks: lambs and wolves. That's straight out of God's Holy Word, so you have to take it seriously.
I'm not meant to enjoy my life, though I may experience joy if He wills it. I'm made to spend the brief amount of time granted me to shout the praises and glories and mercies of a holy, just, and eternal God who desires nothing less than the whole of Humanity restored (2 Peter 3:9). He's got a plan to do it, a Way, and He delights in the opportunity for us to help Him because that's the sort of thing He's in to. Every soul is precious to Him. Is every soul precious to you? To me? Consider:
If the Earth exploded tonight, and you had a rocket ship that could save any number of people, but you had to invite them face-to-face, what would you do? You couldn't save them all, there isn't enough time. Would you give up? Maybe just call your family and friends and pack some of your favored possessions and bid farewell to the only planet you've ever known? Everything you've ever known or done is about to be obliterated: monuments, gold, automobiles, poetry, chocolate, bottled water, social networking. The memory of those things would only live on in you and those with you on your tiny rocket ship. Everyone else would be dead.
Well guess what? Someday, everyone will be dead. Everyone ever will be brought before the Sovereign Creator God to account for everything they've ever done. He is not interested in pay rates, witty status updates or the accumulation of junk - those things have no place in the next step of His plan. Of greater interest to Him will be how hard you tried to live according to His Word. Imagine if He asks you how many people you've shared your testimony with - would you know the number? Would it be zero?
That'd be like saying, "I like to stand in the center of giant stacks of money and just look," or "I often swim in vast pools of M&Ms and Dove Bars but I don't eat anything," or "I'm content to be alone in my rocket ship."
---
This weekend, October 3rd, is Scarecrows on the Common in Jaffrey. There will be tons of things to do here on Main St. (aside from, naturally, making your own scarecrow to be put up around town) and Jaffrey Bible House will be open all day. We'll be having some big sales for in-store items, a discount for special orders placed that day, a coloring contest, free snacks and coffee from the Keurig and free T-shirts (supplies limited, good for you or your scarecrow). We are extremely excited to be back to full-time hours (literally - I woke up at 5am with butterflies this morning in anticipation for this week!) and can hardly wait to see what God has planned for Jaffrey and the surrounding area! Stop by between 10am and 6pm this Saturday, or next (it's one sale, but we're running it both Saturdays), to stock up on tracts, stickers, greeting cards or some Bibles to bless someone - maybe even invite them on-board your rocket ship!
~~JBH
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Long Time No Write...
"Are they still open?"
Is that what you're asking yourself? Well, yes we most definitely are!
God is good and the last couple months have been such a rollercoaster I'll save it for another post, but for now just know that He's up to big things here at Jaffrey Bible House! We'll be back to normal store hours (Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm) starting Tuesday after Labor day. Just a reminder for those first-timers, the tabs across the top of this page are our primary distributors:
STL has lots of books, music and movies...
Anchor has all that and a nice selection of jewelry...
Alpha Omega is our primary (but not our only) homeschooling resource provider...
Warner Press focuses more on church-related products (bulletins, offering envelopes, etc.)...
Kerusso is the number one distributor of Christian apparel and has really great T-Shirt designs available...
Gospel Light is new to the JBH team and carries a great selection of Sunday School curriculum, Vacation Bible School material and other excellent ministry-oriented products!
Stay tuned for news of what's in store at Jaffrey Bible House!
~~JBH
Is that what you're asking yourself? Well, yes we most definitely are!
God is good and the last couple months have been such a rollercoaster I'll save it for another post, but for now just know that He's up to big things here at Jaffrey Bible House! We'll be back to normal store hours (Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm) starting Tuesday after Labor day. Just a reminder for those first-timers, the tabs across the top of this page are our primary distributors:
STL has lots of books, music and movies...
Anchor has all that and a nice selection of jewelry...
Alpha Omega is our primary (but not our only) homeschooling resource provider...
Warner Press focuses more on church-related products (bulletins, offering envelopes, etc.)...
Kerusso is the number one distributor of Christian apparel and has really great T-Shirt designs available...
Gospel Light is new to the JBH team and carries a great selection of Sunday School curriculum, Vacation Bible School material and other excellent ministry-oriented products!
Stay tuned for news of what's in store at Jaffrey Bible House!
~~JBH
Monday, August 1, 2011
He's Got It Covered...
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." - Psalm 32:1
God is so good to let us breathe, to let our hearts keep beating - He doesn't have to. He's not obligated to do anything for us at all and it's totally His right to just stop everything before I finish typing this sentence. I'm struck by how beautiful God's Work is. When I was in art classes we would regularly have critiques where the professor would turn the painting on its side, and then upside down, just to get a different look at things in a more objective fashion. It was always fun (especially for something like a still-life), but the principle applies that if you're paying too much attention to composition in only one orientation you'll likely miss some of the weak spots within.
Whenever I consider God's plan and what He has done, and promises to do in the future, I'm always amazed. Francis Chan said in a trailer for his latest book (it's called Erasing Hell and we're in the middle of reviewing it on this blog) that "I wouldn't think to do that." - and that's so totally appropriate! From every direction it's perfect. The verse above is written by David. Not Paul or Peter or John but David. Hundreds and hundreds of years before Christ you have God granting us a glimpse of what He's up to. Of course David had the tabernacle and then his son Solomon builds the temple, but that isn't really what's being foreshadowed here - clearly David writes of our redemption through Jesus. Because it's not really David writing, it's God writing through him. And even earlier you have Passover, another clear picture pointing to Christ. The whole of history is a sort of sketch, a rough draft of what God desires for Creation. From our perspective it's still a work in progress, but He's got a very specific composition in mind and He's got all the right tools to work with.
When I read "Blessed is he... whose sin is covered." several thoughts come to mind: 1) My sin condition necessitates covering in the first place, 2) I'm unable to cover myself, 3) There's "covered" and "uncovered" so there must be a "blessed" and "not blessed". So then I think: "What if instead of telling people they're about to be in a plane crash and they need a parachute we told them we're in a spaceship and about to depressurize the cabin. Without the right covering, you'll die in a most horrific way." That's pretty harsh I suppose, but not as harsh as saying "...except you won't die all the way. You'll die and then you'll keep on dying a second death forever and ever." which is actually closer to the truth. Without Jesus, that's what you can look forward to, and that's intense. I don't really want to do that, because it brings me to a fourth thought:
God's plan includes people being in Hell.
I'm not yet done with Erasing Hell, but I took some time to read a couple other titles regarding Hell and so when I read Psalm 32 I think I would've printed the word "Blessed" in bold face with all caps. God is so good to even offer us a chance at eternity with Him it just blows my mind. We who trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour are BLESSED!
~~JBH
God is so good to let us breathe, to let our hearts keep beating - He doesn't have to. He's not obligated to do anything for us at all and it's totally His right to just stop everything before I finish typing this sentence. I'm struck by how beautiful God's Work is. When I was in art classes we would regularly have critiques where the professor would turn the painting on its side, and then upside down, just to get a different look at things in a more objective fashion. It was always fun (especially for something like a still-life), but the principle applies that if you're paying too much attention to composition in only one orientation you'll likely miss some of the weak spots within.
Whenever I consider God's plan and what He has done, and promises to do in the future, I'm always amazed. Francis Chan said in a trailer for his latest book (it's called Erasing Hell and we're in the middle of reviewing it on this blog) that "I wouldn't think to do that." - and that's so totally appropriate! From every direction it's perfect. The verse above is written by David. Not Paul or Peter or John but David. Hundreds and hundreds of years before Christ you have God granting us a glimpse of what He's up to. Of course David had the tabernacle and then his son Solomon builds the temple, but that isn't really what's being foreshadowed here - clearly David writes of our redemption through Jesus. Because it's not really David writing, it's God writing through him. And even earlier you have Passover, another clear picture pointing to Christ. The whole of history is a sort of sketch, a rough draft of what God desires for Creation. From our perspective it's still a work in progress, but He's got a very specific composition in mind and He's got all the right tools to work with.
When I read "Blessed is he... whose sin is covered." several thoughts come to mind: 1) My sin condition necessitates covering in the first place, 2) I'm unable to cover myself, 3) There's "covered" and "uncovered" so there must be a "blessed" and "not blessed". So then I think: "What if instead of telling people they're about to be in a plane crash and they need a parachute we told them we're in a spaceship and about to depressurize the cabin. Without the right covering, you'll die in a most horrific way." That's pretty harsh I suppose, but not as harsh as saying "...except you won't die all the way. You'll die and then you'll keep on dying a second death forever and ever." which is actually closer to the truth. Without Jesus, that's what you can look forward to, and that's intense. I don't really want to do that, because it brings me to a fourth thought:
God's plan includes people being in Hell.
I'm not yet done with Erasing Hell, but I took some time to read a couple other titles regarding Hell and so when I read Psalm 32 I think I would've printed the word "Blessed" in bold face with all caps. God is so good to even offer us a chance at eternity with Him it just blows my mind. We who trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour are BLESSED!
~~JBH
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Like A Good Neighbor (But Like The Bad Ones Too)...
"...The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." - Matthew 9:37b,38
We'll continue the Francis Chan review later, but for now I want to share some of what God's been laying on my heart. Without getting too intense - I've been praying a lot for Hollywood. I couldn't say specifically for what, but I'm nearly overwhelmed with how trapped a lot of those folks are. Some actors/actresses/artists/others are living a life of filth and loving it, but I'm becoming more and more sensitive that some aren't as into it - they're just slaves to their own image.
As much as I may be in debt for rent or credit cards or bills, I'm nowhere close to being in the kind of debt those people are. Multi-million dollar homes? You can't just walk away from that sort of financial commitment and it's not like you'll find that kind of money doing much else if you could. I haven't been keeping up with what's going on with the American debt because, well, who really can - we're in it and we're in it deep. I wonder, though, if the top ten paid actors and athletes donated 90% of their year's salary in exchange for being declared national heroes, wouldn't that bring us much closer than whatever pitiful amount they're arguing about in Washington? My point is Romans 6:16 includes monetary debt as well as anything else, and Hollywood is cranking out slaves as fast as any of the other bad guys out there.
So who's reaching them? I know Kirk Cameron and his ilk probably do their best, but are there really any other true Christians able to have a one-on-one with Eminem, or Miley Cyrus, or Martina McBride? Oh there's superficial Christianity - usually just called "Faith" or "Spirituality" all over the place but I don't buy that charade for one second. Christ says the harvest is ready but there aren't many willing workers, and we're not guiltless of sharing the Gospel with "superstars" less than anyone else. He also says to watch out for false teachers, and I'm sure there's plenty in Hollywood.
And so that's where my heart is. God has given me, it seems, a tremendous sense of vision and a heart to match but I'm not so good at using it yet. Could I just look up an address for Britney Spears and go and read some scripture with her - do people do that? Of course it's easy to think "No, Will, they'd stop you before you even got in the driveway!" But what if they didn't? What if when Christ said "Go ye into all the world..." He meant "Go ye into all the world..."? California is part of the world too, so maybe we need to start heading in that direction as well as overseas. Imagine, then, embarking on this sort of trip and getting there and actually getting in and actually meeting that person - how awesome! I think I'd have to start with something like: "Well, God must really want to talk with you because I'm pretty sure I didn't expect to make it this far!" Sort of a real-life Blues Brothers, but with cleaner language.
Anyway, that's what God's been up to lately. I don't know what His plans are (He often doesn't tell me those sorts of details), but I wouldn't be surprised if I had to go on a road trip at some point in the near future. God is good, and He's everyone's God whether they realize it or not, and He wants all people to come to Him because He made us all and He loves us all and He died for us all but He can't stand it when we say we love Him but really we just squeeze our devotions in during commercial breaks and write off whole portions of humanity as unreachable. He's God: He's everywhere you could possibly go!
~~JBH
We'll continue the Francis Chan review later, but for now I want to share some of what God's been laying on my heart. Without getting too intense - I've been praying a lot for Hollywood. I couldn't say specifically for what, but I'm nearly overwhelmed with how trapped a lot of those folks are. Some actors/actresses/artists/others are living a life of filth and loving it, but I'm becoming more and more sensitive that some aren't as into it - they're just slaves to their own image.
As much as I may be in debt for rent or credit cards or bills, I'm nowhere close to being in the kind of debt those people are. Multi-million dollar homes? You can't just walk away from that sort of financial commitment and it's not like you'll find that kind of money doing much else if you could. I haven't been keeping up with what's going on with the American debt because, well, who really can - we're in it and we're in it deep. I wonder, though, if the top ten paid actors and athletes donated 90% of their year's salary in exchange for being declared national heroes, wouldn't that bring us much closer than whatever pitiful amount they're arguing about in Washington? My point is Romans 6:16 includes monetary debt as well as anything else, and Hollywood is cranking out slaves as fast as any of the other bad guys out there.
So who's reaching them? I know Kirk Cameron and his ilk probably do their best, but are there really any other true Christians able to have a one-on-one with Eminem, or Miley Cyrus, or Martina McBride? Oh there's superficial Christianity - usually just called "Faith" or "Spirituality" all over the place but I don't buy that charade for one second. Christ says the harvest is ready but there aren't many willing workers, and we're not guiltless of sharing the Gospel with "superstars" less than anyone else. He also says to watch out for false teachers, and I'm sure there's plenty in Hollywood.
And so that's where my heart is. God has given me, it seems, a tremendous sense of vision and a heart to match but I'm not so good at using it yet. Could I just look up an address for Britney Spears and go and read some scripture with her - do people do that? Of course it's easy to think "No, Will, they'd stop you before you even got in the driveway!" But what if they didn't? What if when Christ said "Go ye into all the world..." He meant "Go ye into all the world..."? California is part of the world too, so maybe we need to start heading in that direction as well as overseas. Imagine, then, embarking on this sort of trip and getting there and actually getting in and actually meeting that person - how awesome! I think I'd have to start with something like: "Well, God must really want to talk with you because I'm pretty sure I didn't expect to make it this far!" Sort of a real-life Blues Brothers, but with cleaner language.
Anyway, that's what God's been up to lately. I don't know what His plans are (He often doesn't tell me those sorts of details), but I wouldn't be surprised if I had to go on a road trip at some point in the near future. God is good, and He's everyone's God whether they realize it or not, and He wants all people to come to Him because He made us all and He loves us all and He died for us all but He can't stand it when we say we love Him but really we just squeeze our devotions in during commercial breaks and write off whole portions of humanity as unreachable. He's God: He's everywhere you could possibly go!
~~JBH
Friday, July 22, 2011
Erasing Hell, Chapter Three
Erasing Hell, Chapter Three
"Surely Jesus backed away from these terrifying images and emphasized the love of God when talking about the judgement day. Right?"
Chapter three gets closer to the core issues of the conversation, and Chan is certainly taking his time to build up some solid foundation. I'm beginning to wonder if he'll ever get to the point though - this chapter is essentially chapter two but instead of His contemporaries, Chan lays out what Jesus Himself said about Hell. Frankly, there's not much to review since it's mostly just verses and clarification. I like how he ends the chapter though, and it hints at the possibility of some big guns on the horizon: "Don't get so lost in deciphering that you forget to tremble." Now that's what I'm talking about - let's tremble!
Well... I read ahead. I couldn't help myself really, I'm just not used to reading only a chapter a day of any book. When I'm on a roll I want to keep rolling, so I'm currently somewhere in chapter 5. We're getting there, and I'll post up a review tomorrow of chapter 4, though if I had read ahead I would have probably reviewed the first 4 chapters together, since they are all so similar. I don't think a person should ever get bored reading about Hell.
~~JBH
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Erasing Hell, Chapter Two
Erasing Hell, Chapter Two
"Through the years, many ideas of hell have been proposed - some attractive, some not. But if the truth is what we're after, we need to stick to what Jesus actually said."
On to the second chapter. There are some things I like and some things I like less, but overall Chan continues setting the stage to talk about Hell. He spends most of the chapter laying out the context of first-century Judaism and tackles a few different viewpoints on what has been misunderstood in some present-day teachings. He mentions Rob Bell a couple times and cites numerous sources, content to merely refer to the source by the century it was written in, later explaining in the notes at the end of the chapter in detail where the quote or idea comes from. Most often these are apocryphal passages from the book of Enoch or Baruch if they aren't quotes from Bell, C.S. Lewis or other notable humans.
I'm purposefully pacing myself in reading the book and perhaps this taints my experience, but I'm getting bored already. I want to dig in and talk about the big stuff. I'm less interested in what Rob Bell has to say about Hell because, well, I don't think even he understands what he says most of the time. He's quite post-modern in that respect. Don't get me wrong, Chan is laying some necessary foundation and he's doing a great job - but I'm on page 71 of 198 and we still haven't concluded much at all. I'm interested to see how he presents Hell, since he seems to be systematically removing the softer presentations. Chapter Three is titled "What Jesus Actually Said About Hell", so maybe we're getting somewhere. I could also be a little spoiled, since the last two books I've read were C.S. Lewis and you can pretty much quote random sentences from his work and sound profound.
---
As an aside, Jaffrey Bible House is gearing up for Riverfest on July 30th. Some things are changing this year, and the result is going to mean more people on the Jaffrey Commons (our front yard) and for longer (the BBQ is going to be held there, if all goes as planned). This is a huge opportunity to be recognized and bless folks! Our prayer is that God would work through us during that time to become further acquainted with the community and grow as a business - so we can serve more! All store inventory will be at least 10% off, and all pre-paid special orders placed that day will be 15% off - this is awesome! Even if only to visit for a few minutes, please stop by and see what God is up to, you'll be blown away!
~~JBH
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