Celebrating 10 Years of Newfound Life

October 21st, 1982

Born.

October 21st, 1982 until February 8th, 2000

Unsettled. Confused. Hopeless. Despondent. Disconcerted. Broken. Uneasy. Scared. Doomed.

Lost.

February 9th, 2000

Reborn. Forever changed.

February 9th, 2010

Today I reflect upon the precious happenings of one Wednesday evening ten years ago. Earlier that morning, I distinctly recall feeling unsettled about my lot in life. I was confused by the anemic answers my atheistic worldview brought. Although I had a life of relative ease and happiness before me, I was still somehow hopeless. A general despondency characterized my outlook on life. Even when things seemed right, I somehow felt disconcerted at my core. I was broken. An uneasiness flooded by soul. I was scared to death about what would happen upon my death. I was, in a word, lost.

But that all changed that Wednesday evening. I had heard what they call the "good news" before and had quivered at the thought of my pitiful relation to whatever god or gods might be out there. I had, time and time again, knowingly sinned the most despicable sins. Were those sins against a god? Had I unwittingly transgressed the will of some greater being?

No. I had not done so unwittingly, but deliberately. My sins were in direct violation of the very tenets of goodness and wholesomeness that my unconscionable lifestyle infringed upon. But until that evening, that precious Wednesday evening, I had not recognized the source of that goodness and wholesomeness.

What is the source? Or perchance, Who is the source? Was it? Is it? I knew it then as I know it now; there was (and is!) a God! O, praise the Lord! My soul rejoices!

From upon a Roman cross nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ spared me of the penalties of my sin. Ten years ago, I professed that very same Jesus Christ as the Savior of my soul and the Lord of my life. He changed me at my very core. He saved me. Praise the Lord!

O, my God; God of heaven and of earth, You spared my life at the highest cost! My life is now Yours; do with me as You please.

happy new year

welcome to 2010: the first year of a new decade for some; the last year of an old decade for others. regardless, it's a new year, and an exciting one at that. on august 8th of this year, harvesthill baptist church will be launching in strafford, missouri, with the aim of sharing the love of Christ with our neighbors, both at home and abroad. where will YOU be on august 8th, 2010? we'd love to have you at harvesthill!

speaking of harvesthill, we just undertook our inaugural "from our family to yours" campaign, during which we collected, wrapped, and distributed food, clothes, toys, and gift cards to four precious families in strafford. our campaign was an overwhelming success, as the friends and ministry partners of harvesthill collected, wrapped, and distributed at least 104 canned food items, 74 other food items (including milk, macaroni and cheese, etc.), 25 toys, 52 articles of clothing, 18 books (including 4 Bibles), 6 gift cards, and several other miscellaneous items for 15 individuals. additionally, in conjunction with our "from our family to yours" campaign, we shared the gospel directly with 10 individuals, and individually with many others.

as for me, i'm about to commence my final semester of seminary. while i've immensely enjoyed my time at southwestern, i'm anxiously awaiting my upcoming graduation so that i can move to missouri and engage more fully in the work of ministering to the precious people of strafford. this final semester will be particularly challenging for me, as i take on a heavier course load than ever before; continue to work at the seminary; serve at my local church in texas; and minister long-distance to the people of strafford, missouri.

i've arranged my classes this semester to fall on monday evenings, as well as all day on tuesdays and thursdays, so that i can continue to travel to missouri on the weekends to work alongside the missouri baptist convention and harvesthill's outstanding small group. we'll be starting up our weekly Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) on sunday, january 10th, from 7pm to 8pm. if you'd like more information about our BSFs, email me at john@harvesthill.org.

i'm taking several additional classes (i.e. classes i don't "need" to graduate) this semester to better prepare myself for the work of church planting, which means i'm spending a few extra bucks right now that i expect will pay huge dividends down the road, both in terms of better preparing me for ministry and better contributing to the growth of God's Kingdom. in order to take those classes, i've had to cut back on my work hours a tad, which means the ol' cash flow has been flowing in the wrong direction. if you're a seminary student and you're like me, i'm sure you could use a few extra bucks to help pay for your theological education (just like i could). i'd recommend that you apply for a seminary scholarship by following the link.

may God bless you and yours this new year!

many blessings,
john edwards

tomorrow

soon today will make a brief stop at yesterday; soon tomorrow will evade us still.
i find myself wondering where all these days keep going. one day, when i'm gray and feeble, will i spurn the careless days of my youth, when i sat awake in bed, wasting precious hours wondering about the tomorrows that would never actually come and the yesterdays that have slipped irretrievably away?