While in Costa Rica I was pleasantly surprised by the way our college students ministered as true servants.  I was also surprised by their ability to serve.

For example, when asked how many of them knew how to tie rebar so we could pour a concrete slab, everyone in the group raised their hands.  Later that day I started my list of ways to know a child grew up at CrossPoint.  Here’s my list.

I would be curious to read your additions to this list.

I apologize for posting only one blog this week.  I seriously miscalculated how exhausted and busy I would be the week after returning from Costa Rica.  As a result I have been able to post only one blog for the week.  Perhaps I can return to my routine next Monday.

In the last 14 days I have experienced some incredible opportunities for missions and ministry.  I am still trying to process all I learned in Costa Rica.  In the days to come I want to write about the lessons I learned.

Another great experience included working on the construction project for the First Baptist Church of Akron, Alabama yesterday.  Later that evening, I was involved in an incredible time worship and fellowship with the fine people of Akron.

The mayor of Akron presented CrossPoint a key to the city.  The people of First Baptist also presented CrossPoint a plaque recognizing our work.  Three of the mission construction volunteers gave a brief testimony as to how God used the week of service in their life.

Bill Parr, one of the testifiers and a faithful CrossPointer, knocked it out the park with his testimony.  He spoke of growing up in Selma in 1931 and how race relations had changed in his lifetime.  He made his point well when he concluded his testimony by saying, “We don’t BURN crosses, we RAISE crosses.”

What a man.  What a testimony.  What an opportunity.

Wow, I have no idea where to begin giving summary to our mission trip to Costa Rica.  That being the case I will begin with a list of the top 20 memorable moments:

#20 – Rice and beans, rice and beans, rice and beans, rice and beans, rice and beans, rice and beans with every meal

#19 – The smiling faces of the children living in abject poverty

#18 – Great weather in the middle of Costa Rica’s rainy season

#17 – Experiencing a 6.1 earthquake

#16 – Zip lining through the Cloud Forest

#15 – Surfing and swimming in the Pacific

#14 – Befriending Alberto who helped my team win the food scavenger hunt the first morning we were in Costa Rica

#13 – Buying Alberto a “Shrek”  DVD and a flavored shaved ice drink for leading us to victory

#12 – Goat racing championships at Mission Challenge

#11 – Sticking a goat in Ron Ethridge’s room late at night

#10 – Eating ice cream at Pops

#9 – Watching each person on our share team the gospel with so many people

#8 – Witnessing the worldview transformation of our team

#7 – Sharing the Gospel for the children of Infiernocita – “Little Hell”

#6 – Sharing the Gospel for the “river” children of Haco, Costa Rica

#5 – Listening to David Foster, my lifelong friend Ron Ethridge, and my son Taylor, preach the gospel with a translator

#4 – Serving with Don Roberta and Donya Janet and with Don Ken and Donya Katie

#3 – Enjoying sweet fellowship with my Heavenly Father each morning as I overlooked San Jose, Costa Rica

#2 – Meeting and befriending the greatest nobody in Costa Rica – Rebecca (aka “Blue”)

#1 – Seeing God glorified

Paul Tripp on Grace

Paul Tripp’s explanation of the influence of grace in a marriage from his book What Did You Expect is a keeper:

Grace gives your marriage a lifetime warranty.  What this means is that God will give you everything you need to be what you are supposed to be and do what he has called you to do in your marriage.  But you must do it.  His grace enables, reconciles, restores and repairs.  His grace teaches you and changes you.  His grace gives you what you need to ask forgiveness and to forgive.  His grace empowers you to overlook minor offenses and target what is truly important.  His grace helps you see yourself with greater and greater accuracy and respond to what you see with greater and greater wisdom.  His grace gives you strength to continue when you feel like quitting.  His grace gives you power to resist temptation and to turn and do what is right.  His grace rescues you from your obsession with self-love and welcomes you to the joyous work of loving another.  His grace enables you to be good and angry at the same time.  When grace works a commitment to God’s kingdom and righteousness in your heart, you will be  angry at what sin does to you, to those you love and to the situations in which you live, and that anger will motivate you to be a tool of change.  His grace causes you to be committed to giving grace.  His grace is a marriage warranty, because it gives what you need, but what you get is grace in motion (p. 235).

Please Pray our Costa Rica Mission Team

By the time today’s blog is posted I should be well on my way to Costa Rica with one of CrossPoint’s summer mission teams.  We will spend a week with Mission Challenge.  CrossPointers Ken & Katie Parsons are already there waiting on us to serve with them.  We will be involved in some construction efforts as well as sharing the gospel with many of the people in that area of Central America.

The people travelling with me include:

• Caleb & Leslie Davis
• Ron Ethridge
• Trey Ethridge
• Britton Ethridge
• David Foster
• Chris Metcalf
• Ben Parr
• Josh Phillips
• Brad & Patti Rosenow
• David Summerville
• Taylor Whitley

Thank you for praying for us.  And, yes, I will be posting blogs next week from some of my overflow study of the gospel of Luke.

I am taking a team of students and adults to Costa Rica, May 28 – June 4, 2010.  We will be working with Mission Challenge.  CrossPoint has been forming a working relationship with MC through CrossPointers, Ken and Katie Parsons.  Katie has a special affinity with MC, since her parents moved there in 1982 to be missionaries.

Our work will include construction as well as street evangelism opportunities.  If the Lord is willing, we will conclude the week with an evangelistic outreach event.

Cost for the trip is $1,000.00, which includes airfare, food, lodging, ground travel and exit taxes from Costa Rica.  If you would like more information, please contact my assistant, Kristin Coon by email at kcoon@crosspointchurch.info or by phone at 205-655-0364.

We invite you to travel with us as we reach JUST ONE MORE to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

More than 100 CrossPointers sojourned to Hodgenville, KY., two weeks ago and constructed a brand new facility for Gospel of Grace Baptist Church.  We assisted another church in completing some inside work on a new construction project as well.  The report is that early Thursday morning bad weather raced through the area.  Yet by the time the workers completed their breakfast they were able to make progress.

I thank the Lord for the many God-glorifying CrossPointers who desire to see JUST ONE MORE added to the kingdom of God.

Mission work continued this past week as we held Vacation Bible School.  We’ll have pictures of that next weekend.

Summer is an incredibly busy time for CrossPoint. In addition to the summer vacations, camps, family reunions and a myriad of other activities, our family of faith goes on mission for God’s glory. Check out who is going on mission and where they are going on mission for God’s glory this summer.

Costa Rica: Ken, Katie, Kaden, & Kreed Parsons

Hong Kong: Taylor Whitley

Peru: Kristen Seay; Alan and Sandy Stone

Philippines: Gay Jones

New York: High Student Ministry; June 20 – 27

South Carolina: Middle School Ministry; July 5 – 11

Kentucky: June 8 – 12

Randy and Lynda Beasley; Bob and Peggy Branham; Hollis Brannan; Tom and Paula Brown; Tim, Pam, and Chris Bullock; Tommy and Cindy Campbell; Ken Carr; John and Carolyn Clendenin; Keith Colgate; John and Kristin Coon; Don and Pam Daniel; Chris Davis; Wes and Helen Dickmann; Robert and Nancy Downer; Donna and Chris Duke; Paul Dunn; Brian Dunnavant; Chip and Michele Earnest; Bill and Roxie Elliott; Russ and Jana Feild; Danny and Melissa Freeman; Jerry Fuller; Mark and Sunnie Gillespie Family; David and Erin Howell; Tom and Billie Howell; Mike and Susan Hudgins Family; Vickie and Jason Jerkins; Wanda and Jim Justice; Rick and Rick (Jr.) Kennedy; Gerald and Marsha Liner; Nathan and Renae Lovvorn; Rodney, Charlene, and Katy Meeks; Ron and Marie NeSmith; Todd and Gina Oden; Bill and Ora Parr; Steve and Anita Parr; Hugh and Carolyn Patrick; George Reeder; Bradley and Patti Rosenow; Denise Royce; George and Henry Sewell; David and Michele Tully; Lara Walls; Buddy, Denise, and Joshua Whitley; John and Bebe Wright

Vacation Bible School: June 15 – 19

Tiffany Abernathy; Stacy Alfano; Stephanie Allen; Jenny Barrett; Bri Barton; Jennifer Bearden; Alec Bosworth; Gibson Bosworth; Hope Boswoth; Bethany Browning; Madison Browning; Helen Bryant; Mackenzie Bullock; Amy Burgin; Scott Camp; Hope Chastain; Melinda Christian; Allison Clark; Chelsea Clark; Christina Clayton; Debby Clayton; Josh Clayton; Abbey Coleman; Kristi Coleman; Christian Collins; Jo Cook; Donna Coupland; Kera Cottingham; Jennifer Day; Allie DeArman; Tammy Dameron; Sherry Denney; Jill Dunn; Madison Dunn; Clydene Dyer; Anna Claire Dykes; Jana Field; David Foster; Jennifer Firzlaff; Sarah Frazier; Victoria Gallagher; Mandy Gipson; Dianna Goss; Bethany Greene; Melinda Gunter; Deb Hallmark; Kylie Harper; Shelby Harper; Debbie Harrison; Ginger Hayes; Dana Henry; Hunter Henry; Leslie Hoffman; Dave Holloman; Maegan Horne; Jennifer Howard; Jonathan Howe; Jordan Howell; Lisa Hunter; Meredith Hunter; Karen Isbell; Beth Jessen; Michelle Jones; Sarah Kennedy; Jennifer Kimbrough Danny; and Jamila Lathem;  Cristal Leonardi; Seth Leonardi; Renae Lovvorn; Meg Lowry; Dorinda Lutz; Meghan Lutz; Amy Mclendon; Katy Meeks; Lisa Mills; Shelby Minor; Michelle Miskelley; Shannon Monroe; Amanda Moore; Janet Moore; Kim Moore; Angela Morgan; Carolyn Muglach; Abbey Nielsen; Donna Nielsen; Peggy Nix; Scott Norwood; Adam Owen; Amy Paddock; Rachael Palmer; Timothy Parker; Megan Patterson; Evelyn Patton; Lisa Pearman; Jordyn Polito; Janice Powers; Pam Prickett; Autumn Rager; Kelli Rager; Eric Roberts; Melissa Robison; Emma Sartin; Jessica Shelley; Rhonda Shelton; Mary Kate Sherer; Brenda Simmons; Alyssa Smith; Beth Allen Smith; Felicia Smith; Stevie Sowell; Diane Stewart; Tiffany Stone; Ashley Stromberger; Connie Sweeney; Sandi Talley; Heather Tapscott; Jaime Thornburg; Laura Thrasher; Ashlee Tidwell; Stephanie Tirey; Beth Tully; Justin Tully; Nick Tully; Erin Tunnell; Ben Turley; Jennifer Turley; Jane Turner; Stephanie Updike; Trina Waid; Jamye Waites; Bee Walker; Brooke Walker; Daniel Walker; Gina Walker; Kelli Walker; Stacy Walker; Lara Walls; Melissa Wechsler; Denise Whitley; Vonda Whitley; Mary Whitley; Shawna Whitlock; Daris Wilbanks; Lori Wilkinson; Ola Williams; Wendy Williamson; Deanna Wilson; Ramona Wolfe; Felecia Bryant; Brian Harris; Bryan Haskins; Beth Howe; Chris Howell; Jason Motte; Cathy Owen; Steve Parr; Ryan Whitley

When you think of these people and these ministries, please remember to pray for them.

Last weekend my son posted the following “note” on his Facebook page.  I am posting it today on my blog for two reasons.  First and foremost, I am so glad to see how the Lord is already working in Taylor’s life on many fronts.  Not too far behind that reason, I am posting his thoughts because so many of you are praying for him (and his mother, sister and me) and you have been most instrumental in his call to ministry.  Thank you for allowing me to indulge myself:

Friday May 29, 2009

Every waking day is a good day. Today was the best day in HK yet. I feel like after all was said and done that something was actually accomplished, no matter how small. I have learned two things: one, nothing will get done unless someone does it; two, in order to do something, you must do it. This might sound (and it is) quite redundant. This is for a purpose. In order to do anything, big or small, you must take the first step. When watching T.V. you must first turn it on. You cannot simply press up or down on the channel button, nothing will happen. You will simply sit and stare at a blank screen relentlessly pressing the channel button. No matter how much you do this nothing will happen until you turn the T.V. on. Therefore, you must start at step one before you move to step two. Otherwise, your process will be incomplete, and your mission will not be accomplished.

Tactfulness is something that I am just beginning to learn. I am the type of person who wants to see immediate results; otherwise, I will not stick around to watch the plant grow. The Merriam-Webster dictionary would define this behavior as impatience. I am leaning just how impatient I am in this first week in HK. This summer is going to be great, sometimes however, great things come by snail mail, you have to pay extra (sometimes an arm and a leg) to overnight, and it seems that at this time I must take the free shipping for orders $99 and more. Regardless, progress is a tricky thing, possibly (dare I say) even time consuming. Patience (however cliché) is a virtue, a virtue that must be learned, with much… time.

I pray that I will see God’s will in my life, I worry that I will be to focused on the end to notice the means by which to get there.

God, open my eyes to your will, so that mine will be blinded, and yours will be accomplished.

Every moment that we breathe is another blessing undeserved, yet freely given to do as we choose. Every living moment is a moment to live radically, radically enough to save the world, one snail mail stamp at a time. Every waking day is a good day.

Preach it, Tay, preach it.  Every day is a good day.  Keep the faith. Stay the course.

Last weekend I read a powerful sermon written by John Piper sermon about the life and mission of Adoniram Judson.  The message is entitled “How Few There Are Who Die So Hard”, and you can read the full version here.  I placed a copy of Piper’s sermon in my son’s backpack for him to read during his flight to Hong Kong.

Adoniram Judson (1788 – 1850) was the first American missionary to devote himself to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the unreached people of Burma (now known as Myanmar).  Judson’s forty years on the mission field were marked by tragedy with the death of three wives and several children as well as several other hardships.  His work also included times of deep despair, imprisonment and persecution.  Yet Judson pressed on with a singular devotion to the Lord and His Gospel message.  And as a result of his work there are close to 3700 Baptist congregations in Myanmar who trace their existence to this man’s passion for Christ.  Many consider Judson to be one of America’s greatest missionaries.

In the message Piper records a letter Judson wrote to Ann Hasseltine’s father, requesting his daughter’s hand in marriage.
Judson writes to Mr. Hasseltine:

I have now to ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean, to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of him who left is heavenly home, and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with the crown of righteous, brightened with the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Savior from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?

That is just the kind of life any father would want for his daughter, wouldn’t you agree?

Piper adds that Ann’s father, amazingly, said she could make up her own mind.

In response to Judson’s proposal, Ann wrote to her friend Lydia Kimball:

I feel willing, and expect, if nothing in Providence prevents, to spend my days in this world in heathen lands. Yes, Lydia, I have about, come to the determination to give up all my comforts and enjoyments here, sacrifice my affection to relatives and friends, and go where God, in his Providence, shall see fit to place me.

The call to missions is a call given to every born-again follower of Jesus Christ.  We are all called by God to go into the world.  No one is exempt from the mandate.  For some, “going” is a call across the room or across the street.  For others, “going” is across the country or across the globe.  May all of us accept the call to go as Ann Hasseltine did, “to give up all my comforts and enjoyments here, sacrifice my affection to relatives and friends, and go where God, in his Providence, shall see fit to place me.”

My son, Taylor departs for Hong Kong today.  His mother, sister, grandparents and I carried him to the airport in the wee hours of the morning.  Three different airplanes over a matter of 24 hours will transport him to the other side of the world.  He will remain in Hong Kong until August 10, serving as the student intern for Kowloon International Baptist Church.

The following is a synopsis of the letter I wrote for him to read once he gets airborne.

Dearest Taylor,

Your mother and I want you to know how proud we are of you.  You, my son, are a source of great joy for us.  We gave birth to you almost 20 years ago, and the sweet delight we have in you is immeasurable.

As you depart to serve the Lord on the other side of the world, we want to remind you of a few things.  And we want to give you some instruction.  (Surely you know by now that every letter we write you must include some instruction).  Then, I will conclude with some words of encouragement.

First, let’s talk about what we want you to remember.

Your mother and I want you to know WE LOVE YOU. We always have, and we always will love you.  And there is absolutely nothing you could ever do to take our love away for you.  Yes, there have been times you have tested our love, but nothing, absolutely nothing, could ever cause us to stop loving you.  We love you unconditionally.

Your mother and I want you to know YOU BELONG TO GOD.  You are not ours.  You are God’s. You belong to Him.  He loaned you to us a few years ago, and we have done our best to return you to Him.  You do not belong to us, you belong to God.

Your mother and I want you to know WE PRAY FOR YOU. You can count on us to begin each day as well as end each day praying for you.  And we will spend countless hours between the start and end of each day praying for you.  We pledge to bathe you and those you will serve in prayer.

Your mother and I want you to know WE SUPPORT YOU. When you informed us God called you to be a missionary we were elated. After the truth of that decision settled in, we recognized that meant you would always be living “somewhere else” rather than near us.  We have accepted the reality of you being a career missionary, and we support you to serve God wherever He leads you.

Your mother and I want you to know WE ADMIRE YOU. You are risk-taker, and we admire that about you.  You are a good example for others to follow.  One of the mantras that describe your life is “Trust God.” We have watched you trust God and we admire your faith.

And now, spare us a moment or two to instruct you.

First and foremost, my son, remember SOLI DEO GLORIA. Live for God’s glory.  Do everything for His supremacy.  Fulfill the scriptural instruction – “So, whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).  This mission trip is not about your glory; it’s about God’s glory.  Do everything for His greatness.

Next, we want you to OBEY GOD. Can anything take the place of obedience?  No, and you know that.  You are obeying God by going to Asia.  We implore you now to obey God every day you are there.  Go where He commands you to go.  Say what He commands you to say.  Do what He commands you to do.

Also, we want you to HUMBLE YOURSELF. The people of Hong Kong do not need Taylor Whitley.  The people of Hong Kong need Jesus Christ.  Humble yourself each day, all day, so that you do not get in the way of what God wants to do through you.  Never is a man stronger in his service for the Lord than when he continually humbles himself before the Lord.

Additionally, we want you to remember CORAM DEO – before the face of God.  Everything we do, we do before God.  There is nothing exempt from the presence of the Holy One.  Our words, our actions, our thoughts – everything is done before the face of God.  Remember coram deo.

And, we want you to ENJOY YOURSELF. You know how God uses joy to influence others.  Let Christ shine through you.  Let the joy of Christ pour of your heart into the heart of others.  Rejoice.  Be joyful always.  Rejoice and be glad.  Remember, “you are the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16).

Finally, we want you to GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST. Take time each day to spend uninterrupted moments with the Lord.  You will be tempted to work day and night, and never slow down long enough to worship the Lord.  Do not fall into that trap.  Pray.  Study your Bible.  Meditate on the Word.  Wait on the Lord.  Mature in Christ.

Well, that is enough reminders and instruction for now.  You know our intent.

You are in the hands of God.  You are His.  We love you, and we are proud of you.

Much love and grace,

Mom and Dad