Thoughts on the New Perspective

First of all, at the behest of Mr. Haeck, I will introduce myself to those of you who don't know me. My name is Josh Huff. I am one of the few, one of the proud, reformed graduates from BBC. I am also Jewish which makes me doubly blessed by those of you espousing dispensational ideals of Israel still being the "apple of God's eye" rather than those who are adopted sons of Abraham through Christ (Galatians 3:7-9, 26; 6:16). I also love music, as you would notice if you saw my office at church, and I love God's word. I have a lovely wife of over two years now, and little girl named Charis who will arrive any day (I am so excited). Currently, I am working with the youth ministry at Fox Valley Bible Church and waitering at a little Irish Pub named Bennigan's. Now that the appetizer is over, onto the main course.

I have heard a lot of buzz about this New Perspective on Paul in the last several months and I thought it was about time that I read up on the subject. Many hateful things have been spoken about theologians I greatly respect, Scott Hafemann and John Armstrong to name a few, who agree with some of the theology contained in the New Perspective. I recently came upon an article written by another great mind on Paul (N.T. Wright) that clarified things a great deal for me. N.T. Wright is one of the original thinkers and architects of the New Perspective, and it might do some of us good to see what those who agree with it are actually saying, rather than reading only those who disagree. (I learned this lesson well going to a school where I, being a reformed calvinistic amillenialist, disagreed with a few things my teachers were saying).

We need to be careful who we call heretics in this day and age, especially when those we are accusing are much more learned than us. I think we fall into the trap of saying, "I agree with Piper or D.A. Carson on most things, therefore they must be completely right on this subject as well." We must not fall into the trap of the Corinthian believers who said, "I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Peter..." We need to all be students of the word and fully espouse sola scriptura in how we approach these new ideas. With that said, here is the link to the article. I hope those of you wrestling with the New Perspective will find it helpful.

http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_New_Perspectives.htm

P.S. I will let you all know as soon as Charis is born. Keep the faith brothers and sister. I love you all.

Welcome

I just want to give an official welcome to all the new members to have joined recently and those who will join (?). It would be great if each person could just write a short post (at least) to introduce themselves to those here from the past who might not know you.

BBC Center Stage in the "Young, Restless, and Reformed" Movement

Did anyone else notice Rich Lucas, Nate McCann, and Doc, a.k.a. Young, Restless, and Reformed, standing next to Piper smack-dab in the middle of a two-page spread for the article entitled "Young, Restless and Reformed" in the current issue of Christianity Today?


By the way...Great article! Thanks, Ash for telling us about it!

A New Child is Born!

Rejoice with us! Our new daughter, Gabriella Noel Zepeda was born on August 25, 2006 at 6:27pm in Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, PA. She is beautiful! She was born weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces and 19 and a half inches long! She has my wife's beauty and long legs and big feet like me. She has a ton of straight black hair (most likely will be curly soon).

We didn't get to the hospital until around 6:00am. Rebekah's water broke around 8:00am. From 6:00am to 6:27pm, the implications of the sin of Adam to the righteousness of the new Adam gripped my heart to have gospel fear and gospel joy.

"Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come [...] For as through the one man's disobedience (Adam) the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One (Christ our Federal Head) the many will be made righteous [...] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us [...] For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body [...] For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."--Romans 5:14, 19; 8:18, 22-23, 38, 39

There was nothing like the labor process (which Rebekah knows all about) that I have ever seen or experienced. The cool breezes of heaven (the relief of labor pains and the moment Gabriella was born) and the gnashing teeth of hell (contraction after contraction) never seemed so real and so bold upon my soul and upon my mind. On the way to the hospital Romans 8 was imprinted upon our minds and in our prayers.

Rebekah is a tough woman! My respect for her has risen a great height for her after this sweet experience. There was nothing like holding Gabriella in my arms for the first time. While I held her in my arms, in the stillness and silence of the hospital room, I sang to her my favorite hymn: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded. The moment she heard the tune, she became calm and listened intently in babish awe.

We're praying that one day God would be pleased to dress her with the dazzling righteousness of His Son for God's glory and her joy (our joy too). Pray for us now as we strive to point her to Christ and be Christ-saturated in the way we love her and raise her in the way of the LORD in the days to come. Pray that God would continue to flourish our marriage with beautiful garden beds of sanctification and love in Jesus Christ.

Rejoice with us! Thank you for your prayers! I hope to post a pic of Gabriella Noel soon.

Gabe, Rebekah, & Gabriella--Psalm 16:11

P.S.--Pray for Rebekah as she is recooperating from everything.

I am not sure if people are enjoying reading (and remembering) our trip to Jamaica, but I have loved revisiting the trip...SO, as I'm sitting here on a break, I think I'll introduce the next day of the BBC Chamber Singers trip to Jamaica!SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2003:

"Well, we got up this morning and went down to the beach at 6 a.m. for the sunrise. Josh Huff, Matt Haeck, D. Scott Conner, Alicia Horkey (DeWever), Abby Reimer, Doc, & I represented the group on our early morning outing. Unfortunately, we didn't really see the sunrise because the beach was facing the wrong way and the Sandals hotel was blocking it. Even so, we had a good time swimming, doing David Hasslehoff impressions, and using Matt's video camera.

Afterwards, we went back to our guest houses, got ready, ate breakfast at the Big House, & then went on to Macfield Baptist Church. It was Dave Fulkner's (sp.?) home church. I went with Jenni Nelson, Abby Reimer, & Mike Catania to teach the 3-5 yr. old Sunday School class. Jenni taught the story of Joshua and Jericho while we acted out the story with the kids (marching around Jericho, blowing the trumpets, etc.). I don't really think the kids knew what was going on, though. I think they were too young & just plain mesmerized by the 'white people' in their Sunday School.

We sang in the service, but there was only a little keyboard for Chuck. Something was weird with the setup, & it took us about three attempts to start up our first song. It's a cappella, but we kept messing up because the keys of the keyboard were messed. Even when we look foolish, God can use us. The church didn't seem too responsive, but David Smith said that was just their personality. We had lunch at Fairview Baptist Bible College before heading to Black River.

We had some free time once we got to the Waterloo guest houses where we were staying, so we spent some time at the pool.We went to church & had an outdoor concert at Black River Baptist Church. It was weird to sing while bats were swooping around us. I had to laugh every time a bat swooped near us because of Gary's faces. I think he was expecting an attack of the killer bats at any second. =)

After the service, we came back to the hotel, ate supper, & had devotions by the pool before heading off to bed. Chuck's not feeling well, so we're praying for him as well as for Dave & Jess to get here safely & soon. I'm going to go wrtie a thank you/encouragment note before going to bed--the notes were Abby's idea, and it's a great one. I think that I'm more encouraged by giving the notes than getting them..."

Jamaica 2003, day two--Saturday, March 15:

"Well, the whole early beach thing didn't happen. Having not gone to bed at all Thursday night, we were all pretty worn out. Getting up was a little harsh. We had breakfast at the Big House and then went on to Hillview Baptist Church for a time of choral singing with the people. We worked on two pieces of music for about two hours before having a 'down home' Jamaican lunch of KFC & Pizza Hut! =) It wasn't exactly the Jamaica experience! After lunch, we spent a few hours at the Blossom Gardens Children's home. Romaine was my little buddy and spent most of the time contentedly sitting on my lap. The kids were again precious, yet their situation was SO sad. Romain kept grapping for me and sobbing as I left the home. Aaugh!!! Poor kid. I wish I could do something more for him...

[Doc, Ash, and I with the kids]

We had an incredible dinner tonight at the Big House of fish & Chicken (made by Gloria). Then, we had a concert at Hillview. It was such a great time of fellowship with believers of another background.

[Singing with the choir of Hillview Baptist Church]

Oh! Gaven flew in this afternoon right before we went to the children's home. It is so good to have him here. We're one step closer to being complete as a group again! We're still really missing Jess & Dave, though.

I am reading on in Job. He showed his angst and dismay at what he was going through, but he came to the conclusion that God can deal with him as He may. He is totally at God's mercy, so he is submitting willingly to Him. I need to spend time processing this concept. I'm not sure that I am at that point...It is such a profound and godly place to be. God, give me the strength to rely on your sovereignty in the same way."

[Looking out over Montego Bay after a lunch of patties and coco bread]

The Arts & The Regulative Principle

Hey everyone! It has been a joy to read and survey all your posts in the virtual circle! May Christ ever be precious to us and may we use all our five senses to gaze upon all that God promises to be for us in the face of Christ.

I have been pondering the fulness of the means of grace that God in Christ Jesus has procured for us in the gospel--particularly in relation to worship. Specifically, Reformers like Calvin and Zwingli had their limitations and strict convictions in the nature and expression of worship. Though Zwingli was a musician himself, he saw only silence and meditation on the Scriptures as the means to worship God. Calvin, on the other hand, encouraged singing--Psalm singing only without any instruments in corporate gatherings. In family gatherings, he encouraged the use of instruments. As some of you are aware, Luther thought quite differently than these two. For he has been called the 'Father of congregational singing'. More than that, Luther had quite an openness to the nature and expression of corporate worship: "Next the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. She is a mistress and governess of those human emotions which control men or more often overwhelm them." Furthermore, this next statement struck my mind with magnanimity and struck my heart with warm profundity: "Nor am I of the opinion that through the Gospel all arts should be cast to the ground and should perish, as some misled religious people claim. But I want to see all the arts, especially music, used in the service of Him who has given and created them."

Reading this at first put gladness in my heart because, as you can see, Luther is winsome and apprehensive as to the means of grace Christ has purchased for us in the gospel in this area. However, reading these thoughts of a Reformer--seeing music as penultimate to the Word of God in worship also made me wonder about a few things. Especially because we live in an age where the preaching of the Word of God is depreciated and where the gospel is scorned by the culture, post-modern fancies, and the spirit of self-autonomy. In other words, what did Luther mean when he said he "want[ed] to see all the arts, used in the service of Him who has given and created them." The Great Conversation (Emergent Church) that has risen over the culture today wants to see all the arts in worship services. And I'm sure you are familiar with the arts from a post-modern perspective. Don't get me wrong, I believe that the art of music, poetry and so forth have great redemptive value in our worship services when they adorn the gospel, magnify God, and cause the Church to exult in edification! But coming again from Luther's perspective, the Reformation, and Scripture, how do we also grapple with the Regulative Principle on this issue? Most of what I say and quote from in this comes from reading Paul Jones' chapter entitled Hymnody in a Post-Hymnody World, in Give Praise To God.

I love you all! Fill me in--Am I totally off? Bear with my roughly-thought-out ideas.

Peace to you,

Gabe--Psalm 149:1

Has anyone else read the cover story from September's Christianity Today? It's called "Young, Restless, Reformed." I thought some of you might be extremely interested in hearing an outsider's perspective on Reformed Theology. i found in quite interesting that we're just NOW hearing about this "resurgence of Reformed theology amoung young people."

(unfortunatly I haven't been able to find the article online, but i'd be glad to fax it, if any of you can't get ahold of it.)

www.christianitytoday.com

Hello Chambers friends! I have been reading and enjoying your posts for about a month now, but have yet to post. I am ready to start my second year of teaching freshmen English here at BBC, and must say that I LOVE hearing you sing in the hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My heart desires to be back in the circle (thank you for the numerous invitations to join, Doc), but alas, it is not possible with my schedule.

I went home to West Seneca, NY (suburb of Buffalo) earlier this summer to help my parents pack for their move to Maryland (right outside of D.C.). As I was packing away everything that I didn't want in a rented storage space somewhere in the middle of Maryland, I came across an old journal. I have never been a big keeper of journals, but my last year in college, I went to Jamaica for the 2nd time with the BBC Chamber Singers. I determined to keep a record of what went on during the trip. I have journal entries from the first six of eleven days...I have no idea why I stopped half way through! =) I have posted all of these entries on my personal blog, but a few people have asked me to post them on the Chambers website as well. Some of you may not have known about them, so would you like to reminisce with me? Here's my journal entry for our first day in Jamaica (I may edit out a few things...) on Friday March 14, 2003:

[On the plane to Jamaica!]

"This has been a very long, strange day. It actually started yesterday because I didn't actually go to bed last night. I got back to my room about 10:30 pm. and started packing. Gaven and D. Scott came over to Loescher dorm from Shaffer dorm, so they, Matt, Gary, and I stayed up talking and getting ready. By about 2:30 a.m., all I wanted was to go to bed or die. We kept each other awake because it didn't make sense to really go to bed at that point anyways. We met at Buckingham at 4 a.m. and then drove to the airport.First issue of the day! Dave didn't have his birth certificate! After all the explaining, he didn't realize that he needed to actually have it with him. =) We thought they'd let him go with just his license and Social Security card, but they wouldn't. SO, the next affordable flight that he found was for Tuesday. He called his parents to overnight his birth certificate, but had to wait to get to Jamaica.Everything else went smoothly until we got ready to board the plane in Atlanta for Montego Bay. They wouldn't let Jess on the plane because her birth certificate wasn't government issued...it was a hospital card or something and not official. Gaven stayed in Atlanta with her while the rest of us went on with the hopes of him coming in on a later flight that night and Jess as soon as her paperwork came in.

[A Jamaican welcome at the Montego Bay airport]

We got to Jamaica about forty minutes behind schedule and got settled into our cottages. David Smith wasn't there yet, so we went on down to the little public beach down the road. We then ate supper at the big house after meeting up with David Smith and went to do a service at Faith Baptist Church. We had no sound, but made do. Abby sang, and Jenni played the flute. Each section was only about three strong with Dave Siegrist, Jess Pouliout, and Gaven Watkins all missing (and Jenni lip synching since she lost her voice). 'Thank you Lord for using us even when we were at a low point!'

[The 'kids' of Faith Baptist Church]

After the service, we got changed and went to Tonys, a great Italian/Jamaican (how is that possible?) restaurant for jerk chicken pizza and Ting. We then went on to bed with hopes of an early morning of devotions and swimming at the beach."

[The purpose of these pictures is to shock you with the pure whiteness of BBC-ers in March on their first day in the Caribbean!]

[This is D. Scott and I snorkeling in the bay; I believe that's Abby Reimer and Alicia (Horkey) DeWever on the pier]

I found journal entries for the first six days of our trip...should I post the rest? I don't want to take up too much space on the blog unless I get comments from people wanting me to keep posting them here... Let me know!

We're here!

Well, we have arrived safely in so. cal. We got here late last thursday night, and since then, we've been running errands, learning our way around, and sunbathing, swimming and bodyboarding at the beach! Our stuff (all packed in a 6x7x8 metal crate) is supposed to be arriving this afternoon, so we'll be busy the next few days actually moving in to our new apartment. Classes don't start for another week and a half.

We saw some BEAUTIFUL country on the way out! Hopefully I can post some of our pictures from our trip soon.


Sunny Escondido, CA!

Technicalities...

Does anyone have a specific definition of what a Hymn is? And also, what is the definition of a "praise song"?
And so then, what is the difference? I am trying to get some more input on definitions, because of a recent discussion, and people not agreeing. Thanks.

Road Trip

We saw a lot of this yesterday--and more today!

Well, I had written a nice, lengthy post but I lost it, so here's the abbreviated version...
Spent time with family in Michigan this past weekend...stayed with the famous Huffs of Chicago Monday night...crossed Iowa yesterday--ate lunch with Bryce in Iowa City...stayedwith Christa's cousin Jami and her husband Jonathan in Lincoln, NE last night...and right now sitting in a coffee shop in Lincoln waiting as our car gets an alignment. We are going to try to get through Nebraska and Colorado into Utah today, though Jami and Jonathon thought that was a bit of wishful thinking on our part.

Then we hope to get to Escondido, CA, our new home, by Thursday night. That plan might not work quite as well as we are thinking now, but we do have time. All for now.

-matt

word verification

just to let you all know...i turned on word verification for comments...we got spammed!

Hello Everyone!
I can't believe how bad I've been about keeping up with people this summer. I just spent quite a while looking over some of your posts and enjoyed hearing what God's been doing in your lives.
Soon I'll be in for a big change . . . a week from Monday (the 21st) I'll be moving to West Chester, PA to begin graduate school for Piano Pedagogy at West Chester University. I'll pretty much be on my own for the first time in my life, and attending a secular school (which I'm excited about--it will be stretching, but so good for me!).
God has graciously worked out SO many details to make this possible . . . in everything from a cell phone to an apartment (I'm renting from a couple from Brielle's home church!) to a graduate assistantship. I'm going to get paid to do my favorite thing--accompany! I'm looking forward to more piano lessons and opportunities to (by the power of the Spirit) live and speak my faith with unsaved people. Prayer requests would be adjusting to a completely new environment and schedule, boldness to witness, and wisdom in finding a church.
For the summer I've been enjoying living at home, working at the hospital, helping lead a children's choir at church, going to my brother's softball games, giggling with my sister :) . . . and generally staying very busy in a refreshing way (no homework for the first time since I started college . . . I'm so glad I don't have a summer class!).
It's been a big learning and growing time for my church too, and it's been good to be with these people for a few months. We've been without a senior pastor for over a year, and it's been a tough, but good time time for the body. We've learned things about prayer and trusting God we would never have learned otherwise. I've grown to love the people here in a renewed way. It will be hard to leave!
For those of you who are sitting there wondering, yes, Jonathan and I are still dating. Long-distance relationships are not easy, but I'm learning a lot and enjoying the process! At least
West Chester is only three hours from BBC instead of nine and a half like driving from MI!
Well, I have to run for now. I'm hoping to keep up with what's going on in the circle more regularly once I get back on a normal school schedule. Miss you all!
~Emily :)

The Gospel Ministry & New Life

Hey you all! I give praise to God for answering prayer. I was able to get a job working at Starbucks. Pray that I will learn how to do everything for the job well--a lot of memorizing has to go into it. Yes indeed, memorizing Scripture is ultimate unlike memorizing drinks. It is inferior. I'm going to work part-time. Pray that I will preach the blazing gospel of God's glorious grace with a countenence that is aflame with the effulgent radiance of Christ!

Rebekah & I are going to move to New Jersey. We plan on living in New Jersey for a year before I go to seminary. Southern is looking really tasty. I see all this as a blessing b/c I get to rest from academia before I get into it again and learn how to be a father, a husband, and a servant in Christ's Church. This will be a good experience before going to seminary. So as a result, I'm going to be more involved at our Church down there http://calvaryem.org/. Calvary Baptist Church of East Millstone, N.J. is a sweet local body of believers. The people there long for the gospel to be ultimate as a Church. They are 'cheerful givers' (2 Cor. 9:7). They delight in lavishing each other with charity. The preaching is the best part of the whole banquet feast! My Father-in-law is a great expositor of the Scriptures. He's been preaching and sheparding there for 20+ years--the Spirit of God is mightily kindling a zeal in his heart for his flock and for the Scripture to be preached in grace and truth (John 1:14, 17). Of the 20+ years that he's pastored there, prayer for revival has been a longing. The first revival in Colonial America was in New Brunswick, N.J. (15 min. away from Calvary). Perhaps God would be pleased in answering our prayers with revival at Calvary. We live in exciting days! I pray God would continue to teach me more about revival. Pray for us fervently.

I will continue to lead in worship every Sunday morning and evening. Our goal in our worship times is actually the 2005 Chamber's goal (my last year with you guys): to know God in such a way that He is glorified in our affections. I'm trying to modify it a little bit working with Pastor Piper's worship philosophy at Bethlehem. I think that the congregation is understanding all the implications of knowing God in this way: that God is necessarily and ultimately to be seen and rejoiced in as 'the Exceeding Joy' in all of life (Ps. 43:4) . As a result of this, I am pleased and thankful to God that we are all savoring Christ together in our corporate worship. How blessed and sweet is the local Church!

I'm teaching a small class for Junior Highers in Sunday School. It is a simple discipleship class. I teach fundamental yet crucial doctrines and their implications from Scripture and we discuss them together winsomely and honestly. I've learned how to be patient with young minds whose intellectual faculties progressively gain acumen and apprehension. It's taught me to explain certain things winsomely in diverse ways. Piper is awesome at that. Ultimately, my time with these kids kind of reminds me of our times in the circle--genuinely and winsomely praying, reading, meditating, discussing, crying, laughing, and singing in our hearts to and for God and for our joy.

I'm also going to have more responsibility in the pulpit this year. Some of you might be thinking, "Gabe, in the pulpit? No way!" Yeah, I say the same thing to myself everytime I get done preaching at Calvary. I've had 4 opportunities to preach in the pulpit so far and I must say, it's a joy. I love these texts: Col. 1:9-11; 1 Pet. 1:22-2:2; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Chron. 7:1-3! Pray that God would be pleased to give me discernment, wisdom, joy, love, and proven character.

I love you all. I rejoice in you.

Striving to hate sin,

Gabe--Ps. 16:11

Christ's righteousness & Babies R Us

Hey everyone. For those of you who don't know, Rebekah and I found out that we will be having a daughter (very soon). She could go into labor any day now. Everyday Rebekah says to me, "Ooo, I want to have this baby 'tonight'! And I say to myself, "O boy." I have our bags packed for the hospital and everything. I have the baby kit too. I hope I do all the right things on the day that Rebekah says, "It's time!" I'm going to be so nervous and clumsy--I don't know how I'm going to respond. I don't know whether I should pull over if a cop turns on his lights behind me or just keep flying to the hospital. Life is just one big riddle of folk music: it is mysterious but amiable with tasteful tones and sunny textures.

We were at Babies R Us the other day picking out 'newborn' outfits. I must admit, as Fatherhood is setting in, I was getting caught up in the endearments of my daughter as we picked out clothes that we would soon put on her. But then I thought of how inferior that was when the garments of Christ's righteousness appeared so beautifully to my mind. These clothes for my daughter have beauty and color, but not like the robe of many colors of Christ's righteousness (Gen.37:3). O! How I pray for my daughter to be dressed one day by the One who comes from Edom, who is dressed with the colorful garments from Bozrah, who is splendid in apparel, who speaks righteousness and is mighty to save (Isaiah 63:1)!

I love you all.

Rejoicing today b/c the Temple Curtain has been torn in two,

Gabe--Mt. 27:41

Pray

You all know how I asked for prayer a while back for my family and a crisis we were going through. Well, it hasn't ended since then, and now it's been kind of consumated. My youngest sister, Shelly, ran away last night. The last few weeks we had been trying to deal with some major problems with her; my parents even sent her to a Christian camp for "troubled teens", which cost them around $3,000. So, she got home last night, and after my parents went to bed she snuck out the window or something. Please pray, for my parents especially, but also pray for Shelly's safety and especially salvation. Unfortunately, conversion will be very tough for Shelly because she has been in a church that's great at confirming complete pagans in the faith--All you have to do is follow the paths laid down by everyone else in the church for LOOKING spiritual, and all anyone will do is give you assurance that you're saved and goin to heaven baby! For example, the youth pastor doesn't worry about sin in the youth group; he'll just say, "Oh, they're Evangel kids!" And why not? They go on all the missions trips, and they all "throw sticks in the fire" at camp. Shelly really thinks she is saved, though the rest of the family knows she is not. In a note she left, she actually said something to the effect of "I know God has great plans for me"!

Now I'm just ranting, and that's probably not good.

Please pray, though.

Matt.

Sigh of Relief

This morning I directed the choir in the song that we have been practicing all summer. That was exciting to finally do it! I was nervous, but it came together. I was also singing one of my recital songs for special music, and I had been sick this past week. I sure missed all the good accompanists at BBC! I was never able to find someone to play for my solo, so my dad showed me how to make a midi file of the accompaniment! It actually sounded decent, though not as good as having a live accompanist.

Anyway, it feels good to have both of those things done. I received the best comment about my conducting: that I looked like I loved it. Praise the Lord for showing me what I love, but I still don't always know what to say after people give compliments. Anyone in Church Music Administration remember that conversation? I normally just say thank you, cause I don't trust myself to say anything else.

For anyone that did not see the comment I left on my last post, yes, my mom is very well. Thank you, friends, for praying. I was afraid that it would last for a while like the last time, but I think it was a good reminder to me to not take for granted the time that I have with her when she is well.

I have still been trying to keep up with the war with Israel and Hizbullah. It's frustrating to see the way the media is spreading lies with reports and pictures. It is also frustrating to see the lack of support for Israel, but in a way not surprising when we know the hatred the Evil One has for the Apple of God's Eye. God has been teaching me as I pray for Israel these days. It looks bleak, but I am glad to serve the God who promises to preserve His people.

Just a little update from me, since I have not written much in a while.

The End

Right now I am sitting in the basement of the Lodge at Lincoln Lake Baptist Youth Camp. It is 2:24am and I am looking forward to sleep tonight. I am finished for the summer and tomorrow I drive ten hours back to BBC. I am happy to be done, but thankful for all the experiences that I have had over the summer. It is a precious time when you can look back and see the huge strides of grouth in your life in such a short time as a summer. I am looking forward to getting back to my home here in the US, BBC, and getting some rest. I look forward to what God has for me over the next few weeks, months and year.

Hello from Huff (the older)

It is so encouraging to see you all keeping in touch, though time and space separates us. I wanted to throw my hat in the ring as it were and say hello from Chicago. God is working greatly out here, especially in our family. God is steadily growing us, both spiritually and physically, with a daughter coming in one month. We would ask for your prayers as we move into the parenting stage of life.

And now for the theological question of the day. Does apologetics, or the art of defending what you believe, in regards to Christianity, have its roots in Post-modernism? Does trying to convince someone of the truth of the Bible using means other than the bible constitute using the wisdom of this world (1Cor. 2:1-5)? And, to follow that process to its logical conclusion, would someone that is convinced of the truth of scripture based on apologetics have their "faith" based on the wisdom of men?

I recently taught on this at our church and was challenged greatly to simply preach the word; to plant seed and let God bring the increase (1 Cor. 3:6-7). I don't need to convince anyone of the truth of scripture... that is the work of the Holy Spirit. But, is there still a place for apologetics???

In His Service, for His Kingdom,
Josh Huff

I can't believe it!

Well, it's August already, and that is just very very hard to believe! This summer has flown by, but it's been very good!! But as I am looking forward to the next school year, and looking back on this summer, I have a very big prayer request!
For a while now, my hands and wrists have been hurting me. My right arm has been falling asleep with no apparent reason. I'll be working hard, and out of no where, my hand gets all tingly as if it were asleep, but no amount of shaking makes it get normal. I can still use my hand, but it's numb. The only things that this can be is 1. Carpal Tunel or 2. A pinched back/neck nerve.

Please pray for this to go away. Hopefully, when I get to school, and I stop using my hands in such rough ways, this will just go away. But for now, I am struggling with working and also any practicing of the piano that I fit in. Any prayers would be appreciated!

But in other news, I am VERY EXCITED about this next school year!! Lessons learned from last year will be applied to this year, so hopefully it will be an even better year!! WOOOHOOOO!!!!

Who else is ready to be back with everyone?

Please Pray

Some of you have heard about the depression my mom went through the year before I came to BBC. Yesterday it became apparent that she may be having a relapse. She is going to see the doctor today. My dad said she has been off medication since June. She is probably just going to go back on the medication. All of this is difficult for me. I cannot fully express here the effect that it has on me, but I had a long talk with my sister last night about it. Please pray for my mom. Please pray for my dad and the doctor to make good decisions about treatment. Please pray for me not to succumb to fears and worries and the lies that have had me bound all my life.