Thursday, July 29, 2010

Zockoll update


The Zockoll household is readying for the fall in July, believe it or not. Peter will be going to Lee University here in Tennessee. Julianne will be heading to Grace Christian Academy into kindergarten - big step in her life! - and Jill will be a homeroom mother, assisting the teacher. I will be teaching Bible and Psychology in the Senior High while helping write articles for the Basketball Federation of America, 42nd Street Designs, OnDemand Web, Faith in Dreams movie studios and a number of other corporations.
Please pray for us as we take the next step in our lives as Peter heads to college and one more of our brood has stepped out into independent life. Tonight is his Dedication Night, with men of the church coming over and giving both a blessing and a charge for him.

Proverbs 3:5,6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths."

Friday, July 23, 2010

agape love is beyond emotion

This one is always a challenge for me to wrap my mind around. 1 Corinthians 13:4 clearly states that the best kind of love - agape love, which is a determined, serious love – is a kind love. It’s a kindness that is interested in the good of others and is eager to make itself helpful or available for serving others. It is beyond emotion - it's a commitment.

This means that Christ was committed to loving me, no matter how bad I am and how unlovely I appear to be.
This means that he was (and is) determined in His decision, which nothing will sway.
This means that the example He sets is for me to follow - loving the unlovely or the unthankful or the indifferent or the rebellious. No matter what their reaction, this is the call for me as a Christian to do.

No matter what their circumstance - no matter what MY circumstance, this is what I am to do.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Bancroft


I took Julianne and Jill and we headed up past Kingsport where I spoke at Bancroft Bible Camp, a fine campground with a wonderful heritage, dedicated people and a true love for the Lord. Most of the children attending are on scholarship, to my understanding, and the staff gives each child loving and careful attention. The director is Keith Walsworth, and he has a powerful ministry at Bancroft.
I spoke on the holiness of God to the 80+ campers there, always feeling humbled that God would allow me to carry His Word. There were four little children who made decisions for Jesus. What a great time.
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"Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation." - Saint Augustine