The Festival of the Reformation

Our Associate Pastor, Bryan Robbins posted a humorous blog about the influence of Martin Luther upon the Christian Church. While Luther's rediscovery of the biblical teaching of justification by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus, and his boldness in calling the church to return to a pure Christian faith are invaluable, his latter life views on the Jewish people left a stain on his influence and upon the Christian Church.

Many scholars attribute Luther as a fuel to the Nazi's anti-Semitic worldview and subsequent horrific actions of the Holocaust. His writing, On the Jews and Their Lies, spews God-less sentiments toward the Jewish people advocating stripping their monies, possessions, and even their lives.

While we are indebted to the wonderful truths that Martin Luther rediscovered after the Medieval corruption in the Roman Church, we must distance ourselves from his views on the Jewish people.

Traction

A year ago, my family was unsettled. I had resigned from my position as family pastor at an established congregation in South Carolina, sold my house and moved to Asheville to start up a new church. We were being ripped off by the buyers of our old house and ripped off by the seller of the new. We had three families committed to starting the new church, but we were the only ones living in Asheville. The winter was cold, and long, and lonely and cramped in our tiny house in West Asheville.

Yesterday, the tribe we call Missio Dei Church, a congregation of about 65 adults and 15 or so kids, allowed me to ordain a pastor and we baptized three dudes in the French Broad River. We've been meeting regularly as a church since early Sept. and have high hopes of being a missionary presence for Jesus in our city. Praise God for the Gospel, and for the people He allows me to pastor.

Praying over Bryan Robbins

Baptisms in the French Broad River

Rayne Evangeline

Above is a shot of momma and Evangeline after everything calmed down. Shan was phoning her mom to let her know what we had just done.

So it turns out that Evangeline was a chunk. She weighed in at 8lbs. 14oz. and was 20 3/4in. long.

While the pictures look like two different kids, I assure you, they are the same. Now I get to track down some way to get a birth certificate.

Baby Update

Because we are in week 42 of Shannon's pregnancy, we traveled to Greenville to try some natural induction remedies. We spent the whole day and wrapped up the methods at 7pm with no results. After discussing things, we decided that since nothing was happening, we would travel back home to Asheville, pick up the boys and sleep at home in our own beds.
At about 11pm, Shannon was starting to have some contractions. This was nothing new, so I was timing them and watching Shannon's responses. By 11:35, we decided it was time to head back to the birth center and so we called Ginny Landrum to come stay with the boys so that we could head out.

Ginny arrived within 10 minutes, but those 10 minutes were very productive. Shannon gave me one of those looks, like, "we're not going to make it." Shan's contractions picked up and by midnight, it was obvious that the baby would be delivered in our home. Our midwife was planning to have us jump in the car and meet us half way, but when we decided that we were staying put, there was nothing she could do but coach me through the birth process.

God miraculously allowed me to hold it together and after 3-5 minutes of "pushing" contractions, I delivered for Shannon, Rayne Evangeline Hannah (our first daughter) at 12:34am this morning. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever done. Her little head came out and my heart started racing. I said something about the large amount of jet black hair she had and remember thinking to myself, "I don't see the birth cord anywhere near her head; good!" Next came her little shoulder, which I helped come through, and the baby came right out. As Shannon began to cry with relief, I turned my attention to continually getting the mucus out of the baby's mouth and nose with a bulb plunge. She gave out a tiny gargle and I knew things were great.

There's so much more to the story, but those details should suffice for now. We'll get official weights and measurements later. Thanks for all your prayers.

Pictures to come!!

How to give a proper "man hug"

In light of Bryan's comments about "man hugs" at Missio yesterday, I thought this short instructional video would be helpful to all of our dudes:



AT ALL COSTS, AVOID INAPPROPRIATE NUZZLING!

Persecution

Missio Dei Church currently supports Acts 29 International to resource church plants and pastors. To give you a taste of what is going on internationally, below is a letter to our A29 International director, Mike Gunn.


"Dear pastor Mike Gunn,

I am very much comforted by seeing your letter. I know there are some people who love me and pray for me which is my strength to push forward in times of trouble and persecutions.

Today the Judge will decide wether i will get anticipatry Bail or not. please pray.

Four anti- communial groups called RSS, VHP, Bajarangdal and Hindu Vahini together attacked me and our church people.

Hindu Vahini is the worst among these groups who killed two pastors brutually three years back in our city. They poured Acid, cut the pastors into peaces and put them in a gunny bag and thrown thier bodies in the outscirts of the city.

These days the persecutions are increasing and as many non christians in my area are turning into christianity now they have targetted me.

I know without Gods will nothing will happen to me and at the same time i am trying to be careful and vigilant.

I really appriciate your prayers and concern for me. I will let you know the court proceedings as time goes on.

pastor sudhakar"

I thought this would be a good wake up call to those of us who bitch and moan about inconveniences we experience in light of our great freedom to boldly preach Jesus. Please bend your knees on behalf of Pastor Sudhakar and his people.