David Powlison  says:

Below is another adoption story from our congregation. Here is my interview with the Mark and Heather Wien’s.


This is your second adoption. Can you briefly describe the first and then tell us what led you to consider it again?


Our first adoption was also from Korea. It took a total of two years from start to finish, and when it was over we didn’t really think we would adopt again because it took so long, and it was so trying. But after having Addison for a year we both felt we should adopt again; partially because we wanted Addison to have a sister she could grow up with and also because we just felt led to do it.

How long have you been in the adoption process?

We have been in this process now for 16 months.

How has this process changed your relationship with each other?

I don’t know that it’s changed our relationship, but I personally love watching my husband dote on his little girl. There is something very special about a father/daughter relationship and I find it very endearing. I love seeing this side of my husband!

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced/facing?

The wait. Its super long and always filled with many, many unforeseen delays. For example, we were told we’d wait 6-8 months until we could travel to get Avery, and yet we will end up waiting 16 months. The delays were completely unnecessary and based on political decisions that negatively impacted our adoption. It was so demoralizing and frustrating. (It was like this with our first adoption too.)

What is God showing you through all this?

Don’t doubt His love because you don’t understand His sovereignty.

What is the current status of your adoption?


We travel to Korea September 4!! We get Avery on September 7!! We’re so excited this day has finally come!

How has this process impacted your view of the Gospel?


Although we’re completely different from God, born in sin, living in sin, and nothing like Him – He completely lavishes His love on us regardless. His love for us is not based on how similar we are to Him.


What can you tell us about the child you are adopting?


She turns two while we are in Korea. She is beautiful…of course! She has been living in the same foster home since her placement at one month, so she’s very attached to them. She is developmentally on target, but still only says three words in Korean, so she is delayed in her speech.

What most excites you about adopting?

The gift of having a daughter! Seeing her for the first time! Actually holding her in my arms after looking at her pictures for 16 months! It’s beyond explanation really.

What most scares you about adopting?

Our biggest concern is her ability to adapt and bond with us. She is a lot older than Addison was at the time of her adoption and we worry about her ability to adjust to a new family, new language, new time zone, new foods, and different (and strange) looking people!

What would you tell other families considering adoption?

It will be hard. There is no easy adoption…domestic, foster care, international… None. Your heart will ache and you’ll cry. There will be times you just want to quit in frustration and you wonder if it’s really worth it, but it is. It is MORE than worth it. So, if God has laid adoption on your heart, just walk through the door, and persevere to the end. God is good.

How can Metro East pray for you over the next few months?


Pray for us. Pray our trip goes smoothly and we make all our flights. It’s 20 hours of travel so we don’t’ want delays. Pray for Avery. Pray she attaches and bonds with us quickly. Pray she sleeps. Pray we all transition smoothly. Maybe some meals too!? After traveling 20 hours with a two year old who doesn’t know you or speak your language, we will be super-sleep deprived and exhausted. Sleep was a big issue last time, so I anticipate it being rough again.

How can we keep up with you through this process?

I’ve had a blog for a number of years and I’ll keep that updated throughout and after our trip. Its about2bmore.blogspot.com. You’re welcome to follow our journey there!

Thanks Mark and Heather, we look forward to meeting Avery! We will be praying for you throughout this journey!

GB

We are currently in the process of nominating new elders and deacons for our church. I wanted to share a few thoughts about this process and hopefully encourage you to get involved in praying and searching for men that God would have in these positions. Here are a few thoughts to get us on the same page.

See The Need

Scripture is clear that there only two offices that lead the church, elders and deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13). Elders serve by leading and deacons lead by serving. Therefore we must be diligent and faithful in upholding the biblical standard for these offices. We need faithful, qualified, godly men who know and love the Gospel and who love the church to stand in these positions. We want to honor God by honoring His Word which calls us to recognize the work He is doing in these areas.

Don’t Reinvent The Wheel

If you are wondering what kind of men you should nominate, then look no further than the New Testament. Paul says to Timothy regarding elders (overseers), “

3 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

Concerning deacons he goes on to say, “Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 3:8-13).

These are the passages to first think through as you consider these the nominations. We are not looking for you to nominate men because they are nice or because they never miss church. We are looking for men with integrity, humility, compassion, conviction, and a lifestyle that is consistent with the Gospel. We know there are no perfect elders or deacons. But there are some men who exibit more of these qualities than others in this season in our church.

Look For Men Already Doing These Things

Elders and deacons, in some sense, are recognized more than they are nominated or elected. We have to elect them, put them through a vetting process, and present them to the church no doubt. But what we should be careful not to do is elect men who may serve well as an elder or deacon. We want to nominate men who already are serving as elders and deacons meaning they are doing the kind of work that elders and deacons do.

Do you see men teaching the Word well? Do you see men serving and offering their time and resources? Do you see men organizing and administrating? Do you see men taking initiative and leadership? Do you see men encouraging, counseling, caring, serving? These are the men who are already functioning as elders and deacons. Our task is to simply recognize the work God is doing in thier lives.

Pray, Pray, Pray

Ask God to speak to you about these issues. Pray for eyes to see and ears to hear. Ask Him to put on your heart the men He has called to these positions. Pray for the men who are asked to serve to respond with humility and gratitude as they consider these roles.

If You Are Asked

If someone approaches you about potentially serving as an elder or deacon, please consider it thoroughly. Pray about it with your spouse or friends. Search the Scriptures. Ask as many questions as you can to the current elders and deacons. Also, understand that entering the process does NOT guarantee that you will be an elder or a deacon. So if there are reservations, the process will prove helpful in clarifying things.

Hurry!!

We need these nominations soon! We must begin the process of interviewing these men and preparing them to serve next year. We have added a page on this site that will allow you to nominate online. You can find it HERE. Otherwise, grab a card this week, fill it out, and turn it in to the church office.

Thank you for you effort and involvement in this process. I am excited to see who God raises up for these positions.

Love ya,

Pastor Greg

The Church must prepare itself to answer the many questions that same-sex attraction and homosexuality present. A friend of mine sent me his thoughts on how he has dealt with these issues in his own life. He says:

“The issue of homosexuality is one that has recently become a front-line war zone in our culture. Both sides of the issue have offered their opinions about how same-sex marriage will affect our society, as well as the other various issues surrounding homosexuality. However, there has not been much response from the Church on how to help our brothers and sisters who are struggling with same-sex attractions. Therefore, I offer four truths that I have learned on my journey of dealing with same-sex attractions. These are some of the truths and practices that I have found to be most helpful in battling temptation.

God is Glorious

As you read the Scriptures one theme rings out as the overarching purpose in all that happens: God is glorious and does all things for his glory. I’m listing this one first because I believe it is the most important. Having a vision of God’s glory is what fuels me in this battle. When I spend time beholding the beauty and majesty of God, seeing his love for me declared on the cross, then I am left in awe and driven to worship. The one who is all glorious is worthy of all praise. And the praise that I give to God is through the life that I live. The cross demands of me a life of humble obedience, but when you realize the One you are living for is glorious, you realize he is worth it. Understanding this glorious truth, I am able to say that more than I desire my same-sex attractions to be removed, I desire God’s glory. The beauty of the Gospel is that God is redeeming me and in some way he will use my battle with same-sex attraction for his glory. If you are going to battle sin in your life then you must have a vision of God’s glory.

Eternity is Coming

Same-sex attraction can be an overwhelming issue to deal with at times. It is easy to get caught up asking the “Why?” questions and become morbidly introspective, and that is why having an eternal perspective is important. When this battle begins to feel like it’s consuming my life I remind myself that this life is short and that the end is coming. Not only is it encouraging to be reminded that I won’t always have to battle against sinful desires, but thinking about eternity also reminds me of what is most important. An eternal perspective reminds me to focus my energy on knowing Christ and making him known. Let the hard times press you deeper into Christ and let them drive you to long for his return.

God is Sovereign

In understanding why I have same-sex attraction, the most comforting thing to me has been a deeper understanding and trust in the sovereignty of God. My struggle with same-sex attraction did not take God by surprise; it was not unexpected or unplanned. And while that doesn’t answer the question of why he’s allowed it, it does remind me that he’s aware of it and that he is in control. God knows the anger, frustration, and sadness I have felt because of this struggle. And in the midst of it all he gives me his presence to comfort me and to lead me through it. I know that God desires what is best for me and I know that he is sovereign; therefore I can trust him with this battle knowing he is using it for my good.

Community is Essential

Being in community where I can be open and transparent has been one of the most healing experiences. When God commands us to love one another and to bear one another’s burdens that includes the deep and personal struggles in our hearts. God has graciously provided brothers in my life on whom I can call during my time of need. When my faith is weak they are there to remind me of the gospel and of God’s faithfulness. When I am falling into sin they are there to rebuke me and help me to overcome. Through the church’s response to my struggle I have experienced the love and grace of God. Dealing with sin in your life is a community project; therefore, it is essential to be part of a local body of believers who can speak truth into your life.

Final Words

While the things that I have shared may seem more theological than practical, I assure you that they are indeed very practical. The only reason that I am able to daily deny myself and pursue righteousness is because of the truths I have listed here. I strive to be obedient to Christ because he alone is the one who can redeem me and he alone is the one who can satisfy. I was an enemy of God, and did nothing to deserve his grace or affection, yet Christ willingly came to bear God’s wrath for my sins so that I might be restored to fellowship with him. The joy found in following Christ surpasses all that this world has to offer. I choose to continue pursuing Christ and saying no to my same-sex desires because he is worth it.”

I deeply appreciate the honesty and candor in this post. Most of all, I admire the God-centered, Gospel-focused approach to battling sin and temptation that so often gets neglected in these discussions. Please feel free to weigh in with any comments or thoughts.

GB

For those of you who are participating in the book discussion I am hosting here are a few details.

1) I am trying to get a feel of how many will be participating. I have heard from many of you already. The only reason I ask is because I want to be sure we have adequate space for the meeting. So if you can, please respond to this post by replying on Twitter, commenting on this blog, emailing me, commenting on Facebook, or by contacting the church office. This is NOT a sign-up for the discussion, so if you fail to contact me you are still welcome to come.

2) This week I recommend that you purchase the book The Prodigal God and begin reading. I want you to have time to not only read the required sections (Introduction, Chapters 1-3), but also time to think through some things that become “radioactive” to you as you read. Please try to avoid cramming the entire sections the day before the first discussion.

3) As you read, write some questions down. Think about bringing 2-4 questions or areas for more exploration and discussion to the meetings. We might not get to all of these, but we definitely want to try.

4) If you cannot purchase the book at this time please let me know and I will make sure you get a copy.

5) The first meeting will be held on September 9th at 5PM at Metro East. Once I get a handle on how many will be there I will announce the specific meeting place. We will discuss the Introduction and Chapters 1-3.

6) I am open for ideas on light refreshments.

7) Feel free to invite friends who might be interested, especially non-Christians (be sure to purchase their book!).

I can’t wait to share this time with you!

GB

This story is one of the reasons I get up in the morning and go to work leading a church.

My hope is to develop a culture of reading in our congregation. Many of our people read great books. I want to see more of that. In addition, great books need to be discussed, digested, critiqued, and applied. So on August 20 we will begin reading a book together as a church. Hopefully this will be the first of many. My plan is to choose a book under 200 pages and under $10. Metro East will not be providing the books so you will need to purchase them through Amazon, Westminster Book Store, Barnes and Noble, etc. Here is how it will work.

To start I have chosen Tim Keller’s The Prodigal God. On August 20 you can begin reading the book. During the month of September I will be holding 3 discussions on Sunday evenings at the church office. I will be coming out with the official dates soon. Each meeting will have the following reading expectations:

Meeting 1: Introduction, Chapters 1-3

Meeting 2: Chapters 4-5

Meeting 3: Chapters 6-7

Anyone can attend these meetings. The only expectations I have is that you read the required pages and come prepared to discuss. The meetings will last approximately 75 minutes.

I am looking forward to see who participates as well as the edifying and encouraging discussions that are bound to take place.

GB