Sermon Text: Genesis 14:17-24

Gen. 14:17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
Gen. 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)
Gen. 14:19 And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor* of heaven and earth;
Gen. 14:20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Gen. 14:21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.”
Gen. 14:22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand* to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth,
Gen. 14:23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
Gen. 14:24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

Women in the PCA

So for a third straight year, it looks like the focus will be again on women in the Presbyterian Church in America. Anyone who has been following the denomination, knows this is a hot topic. Women in Leadership, Deaconesses, etc.... In 2008 and 2009 the issue was left unresolved, and so now it reappears in 2010.

This attempt is more surgical in nature. Meaning that it is directed at a specific part of the Book of Church Order and comes with an amendment. In the past, it was often said the overtures and motions were too vague. That could not be said of Overture 3 for this coming GA.

I am wondering if this will be the showdown everyone has been dreading, or if it will be a non issue. I am not sure, but I, along with many in the PCA will be watching closely as this develops.

Stay tuned.

Click Here to read the byFaith Article

It's about time...

Being a married couple that has family on both coasts, flying long distances is common place. And when doing so, trying to get some sleep while flying is almost impossible. The seats are not comfortable and sometimes the arm rests are in the way. Frustrating.

Well Air New Zealand has finally come up with a way to make economy seats more comfortable to sleep.

All I can say, it is about time! I hope other airlines catch on fast.

Click Here to see Photos and Video on the new seats.

Disappearing New England Farms

The Northern New England Presbytery has a minister in Northern VT working with farmers and reaching out to them with the gospel. Wonderful ministry and I think it is very much needed.

What I have learned from his ministry is that farmers in the Northeast are disappearing. They are in real trouble and farms are being foreclosed and auctioned off. In fact, so many farms are in trouble, banks have recently stop the auctions because there are no buyers. A very sad situation.

This deepening problem has gotten the attention of a New England Grocery Chain, Hannafords and they launched this website to educate the public.

Keep Local Farms

I like supporting local merchants, and farmers in this region desperately need it. I would encourage folks to check it out.

Sermon Text: Genesis 13

Gen. 13:1 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.
Gen. 13:2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
Gen. 13:3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
Gen. 13:4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD.
Gen. 13:5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,
Gen. 13:6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together,
Gen. 13:7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.
Gen. 13:8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.*
Gen. 13:9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
Gen. 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Gen. 13:11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other.
Gen. 13:12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom.
Gen. 13:13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.
Gen. 13:14 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,
Gen. 13:15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.
Gen. 13:16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.
Gen. 13:17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.”
Gen. 13:18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks* of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

Quote of John Newton

I am not what I ought to be — ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be — I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good! I am not what I hope to be — soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, "By the grace of God I am what I am." - John Newton

paraphrase...

"I am not the man I ought to be, I am not the man I wish to be, and I am not the man I hope to be, but by the grace of God, I am not the man I used to be."'

Living in the Middle of the Atlantic Ocean

Call it strange, but I have always been interested in remote locations on the planet. I am not a lover of crowds or dense population, although I love Asia, so go figure. But remote landscapes and communities have an attraction, and I am not sure if it is good or bad.

The Empire where the Sun never set (United Kingdom) has some locations that are in this category, Falkland Islands, Ascension and St. Helena to name a few.

Take St. Helena, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with no airport and a small tiny town. How do they survive? How do they like it? or not? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

This article on the BBC Site does a pretty good job of looking at those questions. So are you interested in a move to a remote location?

Dakar Rally 2010 is History

I have to admit, I am little sad.

Yes, I am enjoying the NFL playoffs, but I have found the Dakar Rally 2010 far more exciting and fun to watch. I so want to go watch this in person, but if I was really honest I want to participate in it.

For Highlights, go to www.sbs.com.au for excellent coverage.

Guest Preacher : Jeremy Mullen

This Sunday we will welcome Rev. Jeremy Mullen to preach God's Word from the Book of Genesis.

Jeremy is a Chaplain at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. We are looking forward to having him with us this coming Lord's Day. Please join us.

Hannafords call to buy Local

I found this very encouraging. Click here to read further.

We have a minister who works with Dairy Farmers, and I have heard the stories first hand what these men and women are going through. Very very sad. I am very glad to hear there is a way to ensure we are supporting local farmers.

Hannafords will label Dairy Products so you know you are supporting local farmers. I personally think this is a great idea. I guess we will be buying milk at Hannafords in the near future.

Dakar Rally 2010

For most of us in North America, we are engrossed in the NFL playoffs this time of year. Just an observation, I certainly enjoy the playoffs. But during the first few weeks of January, a very unusual and amazing race is takes place South of the Equator.

The Dakar Rally is probably the hardest most grueling motor race on the planet. Motor bikes, Cars, Suvs and Massive Trucks race for 2 weeks over the most difficult terrain. Last year, only half of the participants actually finished the race. Traditionally, the Dakar Race takes place in Africa, but the last 2 years it has been in South America winding through Argentina and Chile.

Anyhow, I am fascinated with the "Truck" Division. They are the scariest and baddest trucks you will ever see. They are not pickups, real trucks, massive in size.

Take a look at the "Trucks" in Stage 5 of the Dakar Rally, simply incredible.

Here is also a video from the traditional course in Africa. Scarey

So here is my one complaint, it is an international race and the USA has almost little presence and with that zero success. The Russians have been the King of Dakar with their amazing Kamaz Trucks, probably the toughest trucks on the planet. Don't believe me? => watch them in action.

I want to see a USA Truck Team with USA engineering take on the Dakar. I fear, it may never happen. Personally, it would be a dream to see this Rally, it would be incredible to drive one of those "trucks" out in the open. A thrill of a life time.

So who wants to launch TEAM USA for the Dakar Rally? Let's go!

Fresh Persecution in Asia

I can't say I completely understand why this is so offensive, but it is offensive enough to cause people to want to hurt Christians and their facilities in Malaysia & Indonesia.

If your not familiar with what I am talking about, there has been a recent change to allow Christians to use the Muslim word for God, and it is causing violent protest among Muslims.

Read this article by the BBC to get a quick overview.

In many many many places in the world, the freedom of religion is not regarded. Very sad.

Sermon Text: Genesis 11:27-12:9

Gen. 11:27 Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot.
Gen. 11:28 Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans.
Gen. 11:29 And Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah.
Gen. 11:30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no child.
Gen. 11:31 Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there.
Gen. 11:32 The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran.
Gen. 12:1 Now the LORD said* to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
Gen. 12:2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
Gen. 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”*
Gen. 12:4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Gen. 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
Gen. 12:6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak* of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.
Gen. 12:7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
Gen. 12:8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD.
Gen. 12:9 And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.

Guest Speaker Sunday

Happy New Year 2010

This first Sunday, weather permitting, we will be having James Cochell preaching from God's Word. James is from Charlotte, NC and is a recent graduate of Gordon Conwell Seminary. Please plan to join us.