Dysfuntion Unction

Theologian Mark Biddle in his book Missing the Mark: Sin and Its Consequences in Biblical Theology defines sin- at least in part- as  underacheiving. That is, we human types trod through life never fully living up to the glory God created within us. We are slothful. We make excuses. We fail to allow God to fully engage us with his power.

I think he is on to something.

Regularly I hear folks speak of themselves in less than biblical ways. Summarized it comes out something like this: “Well, God probably could use me to a greater extent but I (or my family or my faith or whatever) is so dysfunctional that he can’t.” In other words- I am just too messed up.

Really?

Have your ever traced the ancestral family of promise in the Old Testament (that would be  Abraham and his generational kin)? Talk about dysfunctional! Lies, deceit, betrayal, sibling rivalry, lust, adultery, murder- all seemed to flourish within this bunch. Their problems could fill an entire season of Dr. Phil. Yet God used them anyway- and in incredible ways.

In spite of it all they still got his annoiting- his unction and God’s work in them still blesses us.

So don’t go excusing your way out of this thing. You were created in God’s image to reflect God’s glory- dysfunction and all. He is waiting to use his power to accomplish in you- more than you can ask or imagine. 

Let’s quit underacheiving. Instead let’s lift the veil of sloth and be “transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory” (2 Corinthians 2:18).

It is our anointing.

What’s New

Several new things (at least to me) are in the getting-crisp fall air. Just thought I would share.

Recently one of our elder’s wives, Kay Watson,  here at Gateway wrote a new book entitled Becoming Myself Becoming His.  It is an excellent resource for women and women’s study groups.  Go here to better see the book and find out more information about it and Kay. If your women’s group is needing a fresh resource- this is it!

Last week I had the fantastic opportunity to address over 4000 students in the chapel services at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. What a joy to be in that atmosphere and on that campus. Harding is now (in terms of student population- of which I am one in their grad program) the largest university affliated with Churches of Christ. It was a blessing being there!

My friends from Lithuania, Ilia Amosov and Juozas Puodziukaitis are scheduled, God willing, to arrive in Dallas on October 6th for a two-and-a-half week tour of the states. Their purpose is to spread the good news about their ministry in Vilnius. From Dallas they will go to Jackson, Forest, Brookhaven and Gulfport, MS; Lake Charles, LA and Houston TX; Pensacola, FL; Statesboro, GA and Windsor, CT. It will be an exciting and no doubt tiring journey for them, but they cannot wait!

And the last new thing to report is about our four year-old Jordan. Recently she played in her first-ever soccer game! She was pumped and ended up runing almost non-stop-  sometimes to the ball and sometimes away from it, but it sure was fun.

P.S. Jordan scored her first-ever goal in soccer this morning. Yay!

MBC Celebration

News out of Kosciusko, MS is that the dates of December 11-12 have been set as a day of remembrance and celebration for Magnolia Bible College. Among others, Cecil May, Jr. will be a participant on the program.

So, spread the word among the MBC family and plan to attend. Let’s give MBC a farewell worthy of her years of service.

Les Ferguson, Sr. who is the preaching minister at the South Huntington church in Kosciusko is the contact person for this event.

BTW, The Christian Chronicle has an article about the school’s closing on its website. It just reports the same official story as the college’s website.

More About Magnolia Bible College

Efforts are underway for MBC to host one last gathering of her family. This would be a celebration occasion for all who love the college to join together to remember and say goodbye. There are no definite details yet, but I will use this space to keep you updated.

Jon Mark Smith is also frequently blogging about the school’s closure.

And a statement from MBC’s board is now posted on their website- for whatever that is worth.

My Eulogy for Magnolia Bible College

It is my understanding that my undergraduate alma mater, Magnolia Bible College located in the quaint central Mississippi town of Kosciusko, will shutter up the class rooms at the end of this year. Finances or lack thereof and an ever dwindling student population- are the cited reasons.

This breaks my heart.

I arrived at MBC when it was a fresh but fledgling school- started with the noble goal of “Mission Mississippi.”  The idea was to train people to serve as full-time ministers,  preachers and workers to strengthen Mississippi Churches of Christ. I do believe with God’s help this mission was accomplished. MBC has now provided preachers and workers for the Magnolia State (and beyond) for over thirty years.  Churches have been planted and strengthened all throughout the state as a result of the work of MBC students, teachers and graduates.

MBC has always been a small college. If I am not mistaken it is actually the smallest school accredited by SACS. It has remained small largely because of its singular purpose. The only degrees offered are in Bible and theology.

For me personally MBC was a gift from God. It provided me a wonderful education, offered me all kinds of practical ministry and preaching experience and has given me many of my closet and lifelong friends.

The most significant lesson MBC taught me was to take a balanced approach to study and ministry. MBC also provided me the foundation and tools to respect the Word of God while approaching it and studying it for myself- with few preconceived ideas. This has kept my study fresh all through the years and I am ever grateful to those at MBC who taught this to me.

But I am really saddened to know the doors will close after thirty-three years. I have incredible memories of wonderful times as a student and  later as Admission’s Director.

I came to know Christ in a much fuller sense at MBC. I captured a passion for preaching and ministry there. MBC is family and I am already mourning her loss.