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I find that I am blogging less these days, not intentionally.  If you wish, please follow my postings on Twitter-- accessible via the church website.  While away on vacation I won't be blogging and probably will do little tweeting ( I think that's the right "verb"!).

The Blessing of Vacation

I praise God for His kindnesses to me through the local Body of Christ, Rocky Bayou Baptist Church, including that of vacation time!  Our whole family will be together as we visit Rynette's and my parents "up north", July 4--18. Please pray for safety in travel, rest, and sweet, memorable, God-honoring family times together.  Please pray especially for our pastors, Carey Dean and Travis Cook, as our staff is "short" for a while.  And Rynette and I ask you to pray for our parents as they live with challenges of growing older, including frail health and diminishing strength.  Please pray that they will experience the daily help and assurance of our glorious God of Deuteronomy 33:26-27!  "There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in His majesty.  The eternal God is your your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms."  And pray this promise from Isaiah 46:3-4 over them, too.  "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am He, and to gray hairs I will carry you.  I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and I will save."  Also, please pray that God will grant us insights about how we may best encourage and honor our parents in these days.  We are blessed by you and thank you!

Helpful Stuff from Packer on Regeneration and Sancitification

Packer on Regeneration and Sanctification Source: thegospelcoalition.org

More Help for Continuing in the Faith

Solar Eruption Source: thegospelcoalition.org

Team Hot Wheels - The Yellow Driver

Men, You Don't Have to Be A Soldier to Write to Your Wife and Children

http://takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com/2011/06/team-hot-wheels-yellow-drivers-world.html

What Spirit-Led Means

At Rocky one way we express our aim(s) is with these expressions: God -centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-led, Truth-driven.  The following words from Charles Spurgeon express very well what these words mean:

"If there be this day any power in the church of God, it is because the Holy Spirit is in the midst of her.  If she is able to work any spiritual miracles, it is through the might of his indwelling.  If there be any light in her instruction, if there be any life in her ministry, if thee be any glory gotten to God, if there be any good wrought among the sons of men, it is entirely because the Holy Spirit is still with her."

"The entire weight of influence of the church as a whole and every Christian in particular, cometh from the abiding presence of the sacred Paraclete.  And brethren, we shall do well to treat the Holy Spirit as we would have treated Christ had he been yet among us.  Our Lord's disciples told him of their troubles; we must trust the Comforter with ours.  Whenever they felt that they were barbed by the adversary, they fell back upon their Leader's power; so must we call in the aid of the Holy Spirit.  When they needed guidance they sought direction from Jesus; we also must seek and abide by the Spirit's leadings.  When, knowing what to do, they felt themselves weak for the accomplishment of it, they waited upon upon their master for strength, and so must we upon the Spirit of all grace."

"Treat the Holy Spirit with the love and tender respect which are due the Savior, and the Spirit of God will deal with you as the Son of God did with his disciples."

36 Years of Gracious Blessings!

Beyond description I am a blessed man!  Thirty six years ago today Rynette Bartel married me at Bethel Mennonite Church, two miles from the ranch where she grew up near Wolf Point, MT.  By choosing me she chose the good, hard life of pastoral ministry and she is a wonderfully wise ministry partner  She is an incomparable woman and one of deep, growing faith.  She is gentle and kind in challenging me to keep my eyes on Jesus.  By God's grace we are growing in covenant love and we love being married!

"She is far more precious than jewels.  The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.  She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life." (Prov. 31:1-12) 

I love you, Rynette, and I rise with our children to call you blessed. (Prov. 31:28)  "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." (Prov. 31:29)  You are "a woman who fears the LORD" and I praise you! (Prov. 31:30) 

Continue in the Faith (Acts 14:22) by Remembering God

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/four-ways-we-forget-the-lord

Pray for Afghan Christians

In Afghanistan there are 48,000 mosques and no church buildings-- and several hundred followers of Christ.