More photos of the newest baby

Photos of the new baby - Karina Putri

Born Today

We have a new baby at Connor's House, born today at 1:00 AM (US time) and not yet named, a girl weighing 6.8 pounds, 18.5 inches long. Mother and baby are both healthy. I will post photos as soon as they are available.

The Ultimate Use of My Life

After graduating from high school I found myself undecided as to how I would use my life. I knew I wanted to attend Abliene Christian University, marry a Christian, and serve God in some way, but couldn't decide between a career in Music (I had studied piano for 12 years), business or professional ministry. I finally decided upon a business major with a minor in Bible. I was selling components for the space industry during the days leading up to our landing on the moon; but, as important as that project seemed at the time, I still wasn't feeling fulfilled. Something was missing. Since I had graduated from a "Christian" university, people on the job kept asking me Bible related questions. A former high school classmate even called me asking me to study the Bible with her husband. I found myself being pulled more and more into a life of professional ministry, something I had been open to but nevertheless resisting since high school. I finally asked my wife one evening, "What would you think if I became a preacher?" Her answer surprised me. She said, "I think it would be great. I've always wanted to marry a missionary." This had never come up in our courting days. A missionary? Wow...! So, I began filling in for ministers on vacation, or congregations with an empty pulpit and after about 6 months was invited to fill a vacancy permanently and things have never been the same. Now I truly felt that I could find nothing better to spend my life doing. I found satisfaction and fulfillment.

All of this came to mind today as I was reading the following: "If we court the world’s smiles and wealth and applause, we may make a show, but only for a time. If ours is the breath of prayer, we shall reign when the pomp of earth has vanished for ever away!"

While this is true of anyone who serves God in any capacity, I heard it speak to me specifically. For me, Serving God and my fellowman is the ultimate use of my life's energy. What I do and say as a minister and missionary has repercussions not only in this world but also in the world to come. Even a seller of connectors can, by serving God and his fellowman, influence eternity; but, I'm thankful that God called me and gave me the opportunity to do it full time. What we do for God and others has eternal consequences.

Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Revelation (p. 239). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

The Victory Is Ours

From this morning's reading:

"As in the death of Christ, Satan was foiled with his own weapon, and by death came life, so what is intended by the enemies of God to be the extermination of Christianity is the means of increasing and strengthening his Church."

The first four seals of Revelation seem to indicate that the world will endure various kinds of trouble and difficulty. Christians and non-Christians alike will suffer. But the last three seals show the blessedness of those Christians who have preceded us in death, the judgement of all mankind, and the eternal bliss of Heaven for the faithful. So, there is no need to worry about whomever is in the White House, or whatever the enemies of Christianity might be planning. Even the final battle -- the war to end all wars -- will not be fought with human weapons. The church will survive and be victorious in the end. Our responsibility is to remain faithful. "...the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."

Matthew 24:13 (NASB)

Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Revelation (p. 185). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

Jakarta Under Water

Flooding continues all over Jakarta. Some report that it is worse this year than most. I still remember when it was a meter high in my bedroom when I lived in Menteng in 1977.