Heartbeat AT
For those who seek fellowship with the wilderness, . . . "Be still and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10
"The whole cast of a truly Biblical ministry will be a concern that people should recognize our only interest is not in selling our own line, or persuading people of our own opinion, or seeking that they might adopt our own view on a particular issue, but in humbly, obediently and openly seeking to deal with what Holy Scripture says, opening it up and making it plain." -Eric J. Alexander (Former Pastor of St. Georges Tron Church-Glasgow, Scotland)
...but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed- God is witness- nor did we seek glory from men,... Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. -I Thessalonians 2:4-6a,8
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.
In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. -Ephesians 1:8b-10.
I can't help but notice that the Apostle Paul didn't merely praise God for His grace, but for the glory of it! This grace, which He freely, not arbitrarily, not in part, but in the inexhaustible, depth of His infinite character, bestowed on us through His Son Jesus Christ the Beloved, causes the likes of this unworthy recipient to offer praise, not just for its provision, but for its glory as well.
Paul not only offered praise for the glory of His grace; he went on to expound on the riches of it.
It's one thing for someone to have compassion on you or your condition. It's quite another for that someone to correct the problem, to provide the cure, to make things right once more. Yet that is exactly what He is willing to do for every individual who by faith will take Him up on His free offer of redemption, a purchase secured forever through the sacrifice of His blood. In Him alone we have forgiveness of our trespasses. All that He is more than makes up for all that we are not. He alone is able to accomplish our remedy and cancel the debt of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.
In all wisdom and insight from the One who says, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,..." (I Corinthians 1:19), He made known to us who were ...formerly darkness, but now who are ...Light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8), the mystery of His will, that ...mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past (Romans 16:25), ...which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
Incredibly, He did all this according to His kind intention which He, the One who fashioned humankind from the very start to share His Life and reflect His glory (Genesis 1:26,27), purposed in Him, ...suitable to the fullness of the times, when everything was perfectly set in place for it to happen, ...that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, ...so that Christ may be all, and in all (Colossians 3:11).
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? -I Corinthians 1:20
Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandments of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen. -Romans 16:25-27
To a human race dead in... trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1), He offers Life, for death has but one cure. The One who Himself is Life (John 14:6) alone offers the redemption dead men desperately need, according to the kind intention of His will and according to the riches of His grace. What an offer! -CR
Today, February 6th, begins with breakfast at Sally's Pancake House. Sherlock, his Dad Saul, his sister Jael, and Circuit Rider will then head for the Chicago Loop (downtown) and a visit to the Art Museum before heading to the northwest suburbs for a bit of afternoon shopping. This evening the gang will return to the home of Jim and Linda McGhee for cake and a time of singing around the piano. Sherlock's Dad and sister fly back to Miami Sunday night. As always, it has been loads of fun staying with longtime friends Jim and Linda, whose son Ulysses thru hiked with CR eleven years ago when he first did the Appalachian Trail.
Please continue to keep up with the whereabouts of the duo by clicking on to Current "Trail".
Congratulations Laura Peterson
...on your new job in the Chattanoogo area! We'll be praying for you as you make the move south from Upper Michigan to Tennessee this week.
Happy 20th Birthday
...to CR's niece Sarah, a Junior year at the University of Kentucky. You are a treasure and loved so very much!!
Another photo has been added! Simply click on to "Photo Gallery" and go to the 2009 collection for a picture of CR and Sherlock with Gorilla Jim (AT '02) and his wife Carol taken in early December. More Oklahoma pictures coming soon!
Got a Summit Photo? Send it our way and we'll add it to our Gallery!
Don't forget to sign the Heartbeat Guestbook too!
Friend, Hiker, and Author Eric Kampmann has a Blog we recommend you check out! Let us know what you think!
If you would like a copy of Eric's Book Trail Thoughts we would love to send you one absolutely free. Simply email us with your mailing address and we will get one out to you right away!
"It is this paradox which is so baffling, this combination of the self-centeredness of His teaching and the unself-centeredness of His behavior. In thought He put Himself first; in deed last. He exhibited both the greatest self-esteem and the greatest self-sacrifice. He knew Himself to be the Lord of all, but He became their servant. He said He was going to judge the world, but He washed His apostle's feet." -John Stott (Basic Christianity)
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. -Philippians 2:5-8