Blog Commendation: Surprised by Optimism

Times are bad.  People are evil.  The government is corrupt.  Hopelessness abounds.  The world is falling apart.  People will always fail you.    But on the other hand, won't they somehow do what's right?   Isn't there a spark of goodness in every man?  Can't we hope that good men will prevail eventually over evil?  Should we place our hope in man?

My brother in Christ and friend, John, is writing to counter some of this very thinking.  I've come to respect John's words, and appreciate the insight God is granting him for the good of the body of Christ.   And because of this, I'm very excited to become a new follower of his blog, "Surprised by Optimism."  John openly and honestly writes:

"My reason for starting this blog is that I know the crippling power of cynicism, and I want to help others avoid it. Now, it’s not that I always walk around with a scowl on my face, as the song “He’s a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” plays ominously in the background. Instead, as Paul Miller explains in his book A Praying Life, my cynicism begins with my false assurance that “anything is possible”. However, optimism rooted in the goodness of people collapses when it confronts the darker side of life, such as disappointed expectations or downright evil in people (including myself). From the signs I see in our culture, I think that this type of cynicism is becoming a widespread problem."   

After reading John's words, I was made to reflect on my own cynicism.   Am I secretly and unwares cynical?   Admittedly this sin can blindside me unawares.  Is there hope for us to overcome this kind of cyncism?   John, again, writes in words meant to bring hope:


"However, there is a way out of this quiet cynicism. Rather than withdrawing into this negative spirit, we need an optimism that is founded on something more dependable than the goodness of people. We all know deep down that people, including ourselves, aren’t good. Nevertheless, the famous words of Psalm 23 hold the key: God is willing to be our Good Shepherd who won’t disappoint. Jesus proved this willingness when he came to earth to pay the penalty of our corrupted goodness by dying on the cross. Now we have the opportunity to have hope, and even the kind of fun that lasts! There is so much hope and joy to be found in God, and I’d love if you would join me in this journey of learning to be optimistic through Him!"

ht:  Unto-Him-We-Live 
ps:  Please be sure to read the comments on John's new blog seeing especially that from Father to Son and learn from grace.

BLOG COMMENDATION: From Russia With Love

I'd like to bring another wonderful blog to your attention - From Russia with Love.   The blog is authored by Natalie, wife of Jon and mother of "Jojo" and "Nay-nay."  Not only can I call them my friends but also by God's grace we have a sense that we labor together with them.  We here in the in the states, praying and supporting - They in Russia building up the church of God in Jesus Christ.

At Natalie's blog you can learn about life in Russia, raising the boys on the mission field, Jon's work as a professor enabling him to prepare future pastors and men to be leaders in the Church of God.

I heartily recommend their blog, encourage you to follow along, and hold them up in prayer before God.

I was given opportunity to thank God for From Russia With Love this evening while watching Cecile B. DeMille's, Ten Commandments.  As we watched, my daughters and I were discussing some of the same events.   We did note, that though this is a wonderful movie, more wonderful tonight watching for the first time in High Definition, yet there is a great deal added, facts misconstrued, and often of more concern motivations misunderstood.   As we discussed, I asked my 13 yr old, how did you learn and how do you know so well the history of the events in Exodus.   She quoted most wondefully from Natalie's blog saying,"Don't you read From Russia with Love?  How does Josiah learn, but by listening and paying attention to his own parents and what they teach and discuss together.  Didn't Natalie write concerning the events of Easter: " It's amazing how much Josiah remembers throughout his few years about these stories."  Having my own daughter quote Natalie, I'd like to say thanks Natalie and Jon, for your friendship, for your work in Russia, and for your influence even in my own childrens' lives.   Click here for Celebrating Passion Week and the above quote.

Natalie explains her blog and life in Russia:

My husband and I have been married since July 1, 2000. We have two cute boys, Josiah and Nathan. My family brings me so much joy, but I posses a deeper joy in knowing the Lord and Savior. Aside from the free gift of salvation, my husband is the best gift the Lord has blessed me with. He loves God with his whole heart, soul, mind,and strength. We live in Russia because it has been our desire to be involved in missions from the time we were married. My husband helps prepare men to be the future pastors and church leaders of Russia . Even though living in Russia is not easy there really is no other place I would rather be serving our Lord. My children are also a great joy in my life and without them I don't know what we would do every day!

I'm not sure which of the posts I enjoyed most, but I think it was a recent series which Natalie completed in March 2011, describing with words and pictures the history of their beginning time in Novosibirsk, Russia.

Click here or for the Novosibirsk series:   Novosibirsk

• Novosibirsk Part 1 : Getting There
• Novosibirsk Part 2: Our New Home
• Novosibirsk Part 3 : Akadem Gorodok.....
• Novosibirsk Part 4: Ministry
• Novosibirsk Part 5: Learning A New Language
• Novosibirsk Part 6 : Our Neighbor Nadia
• Novosibirsk Part 7: My Friend Natasha
• Novosibirsk Part 8 : Montessori 
• Novosibirsk Part 9: Our Neighborhood
• Novosibirsk Part 10 : Our Church
• Novosibirsk Part 11: The End!.

Unto Him We Live: God's Work of Grace in Adoption

UNTO HIM WE LIVE

There are a handful of incredible blogs I'm blessed to read on a regular basis.  One of those which really challenges me, teaches me, wounds me, rejoices my heart, and stands as an example is Unto Him We Live.

Unto Him We Live is a family blog, and you will have opportunity to read posts by both Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who are the parents, as well as many insightful posts by several of their children.   But I want especially to draw your attention to those posts that speak specifically to adoption.

Check out especially this post, describing how after 5 1/2 months since coming home with the Beavers from Russia, little Oksana is beginning by wonderful grace to put three words together in English - Praise the LORD, Hallelujah. Reading this you will be praising and rejoicing: A Helen Keller Kinda Week

And this post where we get a little glimpse of the POWER OF GOD as we read of the transformation of a little orphan girl into a beautiful believer in Jesus Christ: Transformation


And then this post really challenged me last Father's Day.  We read of this young ladies love and appreciation for her Father, and find ourselves called to higher and holier Fathering to the Glory of God.   51 reasons why Tatiana Loves her Dad, called DEAR DADDY.

Actually as I page back through all the posts at "Unto Him We Live" with the label "Adoption" I'm hard pressed to pick out only a select few.   I strongly encourage you to go back to the beginning of their blog, which started just over 1 year ago, on April 15, 2010 with this post discussing the possible halting of Russian Adoption:  click here,   and read the entire story and then keep reading as this work of God's Grace continues.  Thanking God to have such friends.      

To see All posts with the Label Adoption: Click here

Young and Married

I have been BLESSED with some incredible friends who write WONDERFUL Blogs.  As a means of expressing my appreciation for the efforts they put forth  I've added a "Great Blogs To Follow" listing to the right. Plus today I want to draw your attention to a wonderful new blog called, Young and Married.   I encourage you to go check it out.  Their purpose statement  especially captured my attention because by the Grace of God in our house we do Love Marriage:

 "...we live in a culture which strongly encourages couples to wait until much older to be married and frowns upon those who desire to marry young. We wish to turn this notion upside down and show that not only can a young couple survive when married young, but thrive. We also wish to encourage young men and women to pursue marriage if God is calling you to it, and not to wait, merely because it is culturally acceptable."