Saturday, November 27, 2010

Gathering With Movie-Making Brothers and Sisters in Christ

We enjoyed fellowship Friday evening at our home with friends from the Steege, Heidrick, and Youngberg families.



Our family was blessed and uplifted by the Steege's delightful movie, The Runner from Ravenshead, which won the Audience Choice Award and was runner-up for Best Feature Film and for Best of Festival at the 2010 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.



Our EventBloggers.com team interviewed Joel at the SAICFF about their film:






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Cameron Heidrick was one of the stars in The Widow's Might, which won the Audience Choice Award and Best of Festival at the 2009 SAICFF.





We were blessed and encouraged by the fellowship with like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ!

posted by C.S. Hayden @ 12:12 AM 1 Comments

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010: Reflecting on God's Providence

Today is a special day we set aside to reflect on God's providence in our lives, our families, churches, our nation, and throughout history. We give thanks to God and proclaim His mighty deeds with our families and friends, cross-generationally.

Psalm 78 is one of my favorites when I consider God's providence, and here is a portion of this passage:
"[1] Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. [2] I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: [3] Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. [4] We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. [5] For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: [6] That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: [7] That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: [8] And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. [9] The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. [10] They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; [11] And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. [12] Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan."
Outside of inspired Scripture, my favorite words about God's providence are from godly men in ages past:
"God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy" (Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, V.I: Of Divine Providence).

After we enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings this afternoon, I had the opportunity to video record a half-hour of interview footage with my maternal grandparents. I asked them about memories from their families, past Thanksgiving celebrations, lessons they would entrust to future generations, and more.


Our family went to a local park and endured brisk, chilling breezes to take some photos.


I give thanks to God for the Pilgrim fathers who came to a new land almost 400 years ago as courageous frontiersmen, disciples, and disciple-makers for Christ and His Kingdom. William Bradford wrote in Of Plymouth Plantation:
"Last and not least, they cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least of making some way towards it, for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the Kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work" (p. 21).

"It was replied that all great and honourable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and must be both met and overcome with answerable courage. It was granted the dangers were great, but not desperate; the difficulties were many, but not invincible. For, many of the things feared might never befall; others by provident care and the use of good means might in a great measure be prevented; and all of them, through the help of God, by fortitude and patience, might either be borne or overcome. True it was that such attempts were not to be undertaken without good ground and reason, rashly or lightly; or, as many had done, for curiosity or hope of gain. But their condition was not ordinary; their ends were good and honourable; their calling, lawful and urgent; therefore they might expect the blessing of God on their proceedings. Yea, though they should lose their lives in this action, yet might they have the comfort of knowing that their endeavor was worthy" (pp. 22-23).
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

posted by C.S. Hayden @ 5:50 PM 1 Comments