Excel Still More

In 1 Thessalonians 4:1, Paul exhorts the Thessalonian believers to “…excel still more” in living to please God.  All believers should continually be learning, growing and maturing in Christ-likeness.  This week, please be praying for a few folks from RCG who will be involved in some unique and focused growth opportunities.

First, on Tuesday Tim Ingrum and Theo Friesen will be starting their Fall Quarter of classes at the Cornerstone Seminary.

Second, this coming weekend Smokey Nevins, Matt Wolf and Anne James will be attending the first of three  intensive weekend sessions for Biblical Counseling Training being hosted at Northcreek Church in Walnut Creek.

Finally, also this coming weekend, Chuck Meadows,  Theo Friesen and I will be participating in the  9Marks Weekender, which takes place at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.

Please be praying that for each of us within these opportunities, we would receive grace and strength from the Lord to learn and apply His truth all the more faithfully and skillfully.  May all that we share in cause us to “excel still more,” and  serve to “…see God glorified as His grace and truth in Jesus Christ abounds in and overflows to more and more people.”

And as you’re praying for us, pray also about specific ways the Lord would have you to “excel still more!

Music and the Stars

Blessings to you this Labor Day!  Let me pass along a couple of resources that may be of interest to you.

First, a few months ago Sovereign Grace Music released a new album entitled Risen.  As you might guess, all of the songs focus on the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ.  With where the Lord has had us in recent weeks in John 20 during corporate worship, this album is a rich and excellent “musical meditation” on the glories of our risen Lord and Savior.  Who names – maybe we’ll soon be singing some of these songs at RCG!

Second, in this past Lord’s Day sermon, I mentioned the Kovac Planetarium in Northern Wisconsin.  I visited this intriguing place last week while visiting my Dad for a few days (he lives about 30 minutes from the planetarium.)  Quite a showcase of “The heavens telling the glory of God…” – Ps. 19:1.  CBS News did a brief story on Frank Kovac and his work, which you can see here.  So if you’re ever in Northern Wisconsin…I’m just saying!