Today we have our final mini-series post from the Whitfield's.  Haven't you loved hearing from them each Wednesday?! Thank you so much Keith & Amy for sharing with us this month!  To check out their past post's click here.  

Let's Hear From Keith:

An artist several years ago painted a picture that illustrates the way our lives are generally, and the hope we have as Christians specifically. In the painting, a lone man rowed his small frail boat across a lake through the night. Adding to the ominous feel of loneliness and darkness, the artist portrays threatening conditions on the water.  The wind was high and stormy, and the rippling waves were cresting and crashing across the lake. There was no sign of hope in sight except for one lone star. Continuing to row, the man fixed his eyes on that star.

Beneath the picture, the words "If I lose that, I'm lost!" were written.

Not only does this picture illustrate our lives, it illustrates the lives of the Christians Peter wrote to in his first epistle. Socially and politically, they faced the waves of suffering and the threat of persecution. 

Peter knew he had to capture their minds from the fears and concerns of their present circumstances to remember their living hope in “a salvation to be revealed” to them when Jesus returns. 

(1 Peter 1:3-5) ³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  

Peter directed their minds away from their situation by pointing them to the abundantly rich and securely purchased salvation that they had in Christ. Peter says this salvation should replace fear and concerns with joy. In 1 Peter 1:8-9, he says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you have do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

What are the aspects of salvation that should give us joy?

Peter lists a number of them in these verses: “great mercy,” “born again,” “living hope,” and “inheritance that is imperishable,”  

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But, when you read the verse, they are given in a standard list. Peter runs them all together. They can’t really be analyzed in isolation from each other. Let’s look. 

Great Mercy. What a wonderful way to describe God’s kindness towards us! Someone once said, "Grace is getting what we don't deserve. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve." Oh, how much we have fallen short of God perfect holiness! But, God shows us mercy. His mercy does not just do something for us and produces something in us, for it was according to his mercy that we were Born Again.  

By God’s mercy, we gain spiritual rebirth. In this, everything changes. We are born again “into” something. We gained something by the new birth. The thing that we gained is a Living Hope. We have something to anticipate for the future. The living hope is a sure hope, because it is hope in an Inheritance that is Imperishable.  

Finally, note that Peter bases all of this on Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
The resurrection is not just an historical event, but an astounding, paradigm-shattering miracle that (1) identifies Jesus as victorious over death, whose words can be believed and relied upon, (2) confirms our hope in him and (3) inspires in us a hope for life beyond mortal life.

Let's Hear From Amy:

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Let’s just be honest. Life can be so hard some times. For some of us it’s more difficult than others due to specific challenges that we face, but I don’t think there is anyone who would say that it’s easy all the time.

In the age of Instagram, we can quickly look at others and assume that everyone around us is deliriously happy, and everything is going their way. We are the only ones who are having a bad day. We see a snapshot of someone’s life (with a filter), and we begin to feel like we are the only ones who are fighting this battle of discouragement.

Work, ministry, responsibilities at home, assignments piling up, the humbling responsibility of raising children—these are all things that can overwhelm and wear us down. Truthfully, I fight this every day. And as I get older and realize that I am no spring chicken anymore, I have been able to add tiredness and aches and pains to the list. ;-)

So what happens? I look for escape. I wish I could just make the world go away. For one day. Stay in bed, read, eat, sleep, watch movies—all that good stuff. It probably isn’t true that it would fix things, but it just feels like it might.

But that can’t happen. I have little faces looking at me, asking to be fed and loved and driven to school. I have supervisors who are waiting for me to finish tasks. I have a to-do list that needs to be addressed.

So what do I do? I go to work. I take the kids to school. I do the things on my list. But I also realize that many of the pressures of life come from me. And I take my stress and my sadness and my worry to the place where I find hope.

Frankly, that’s not easy. I so quickly turn to dissatisfaction with current circumstances and regret over past ones. I look to either side and assume the grass is greener somewhere else.

So the past, the present, and the “anywhere but here” occupy my mind, but the future isn’t as quick to show up. But that’s the one thing I have going for me—my future. I was born again to a living hope.

If this week and the anticipation of Easter remind me of anything, it’s that something is waiting for me—“an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.” And because of what Jesus did, it’s all real. The cross says I can count on it. The empty tomb says I can count on it. The story is true, and the promise is what I hold on to when I feel like I am losing my grip.

This reality is more true and real than all the other things that fight to take my thoughts captive. It’s enough to overcome sadness, enough to overcome pain. It’s real. Because of God’s great mercy, I can have a hope that lives.

So yes, life is hard. And every day doesn’t look like an Instagram picture. But I have a hope. My faith can live. And that makes all the difference.

Keith & Amy Whitfield live in Wake Forest, NC, where Keith teaches Systematic Theology at SEBTS.  Keith previously served as pastor of Waverly Baptist Church in Waverly, Virginia, in the years 2005 to 2010, and from 2010 until 2012, they lived in Nashville, TN, where Keith taught at a liberal arts college and helped to train church leaders. Amy loves teaching and writing, and has a passion for women to be transformed by the gospel in their daily lives.  Amy currently serves as Assistant to Charlotte Akin,  and also assists in other areas with research and writing.  Amy and Keith have two children: Mary (age 9) and Drew (age 7). 

Today on the blog is a guest post from our own Mrs. Penny Keathley.  As we head into Spring, many of us think of the cleaning, vacations and general busyness ahead of us this year.  As we strive to serve the Lord well, her words of wisdom are quite timely.

Balance - a much undervalued word. 

Balance is a much undervalued word -- and yet, balance is fundamental to a life in harmony with God, with others and with our world.  In fact, God seems to have created our world and everything in it to function best in balance.  A few examples come to mind:

Sun and Rain - all sun and our gardens burn; all rain and they rot.

Work and Rest - all work and we burn out; all rest and we are simply lazy.

Tradition and Innovation - all tradition becomes a rut; all innovation lacks the wisdom of experience.

picture from http://www.sxc.hu/photo/264116

As someone who enjoys cooking and considers myself a bit of a "foodie", it comes to mind that God has given us food to nourish and enjoy - but to eat either excessively or negligently will harm ourselves.  Bananas may be a nutritious fruit - but if one ONLY eats bananas, sickness will result. Our bodies function best on a balance of fruits, vegetables, protein and (dare I say it?) carbohydrates.  (Unless, of course, you have a medical condition that requires otherwise.)   

This week I read a devotion by Brennan Manning regarding Jesus' example of humble servant-hood.  He said,

"When being is divorced from doing, pious thoughts become an adequate substitute for washing [others] feet." 

I completely agree.  But as a girl who grew up in an "independent, fundamental, Bible believing (and often legalistic) Baptist church", I observed what it means to emphasize one biblical truth in excess to the detriment of the balancing side of that spiritual coin.  So my first thought after reading that devotion was, "yes, but

when doing is divorced from being, our works become an adequate substitute for sitting at the feet of Jesus." 

My husband authored a book entitled "Salvation and Sovereignty".  In it he discusses the importance of balancing the dual truths taught in Scripture - God's sovereignty and human free will.  To emphasize one truth to the exclusion of the other is a recipe for spiritual error. 

Is it just me, or does it appear that God created us to be at our most healthy in mind, body and spirit when we walk this life in balance?

Last Monday night we had a great group of ladies attend Project:Compassion.  We are so thankful for each of you that attend Connecting Point events.  Thanks for coming out on such a cold and rainy night!

We started out the night hearing from Dr. Steve McKinion.  He shared great insights into suffering, and how to suffer well.  He walked us through their suffering with their youngest son's battle with leukemia, and different ways that their eyes have been opened to this new world.  To hear more about Dr. McKinion and his family check out his blog. 

Mrs. Ginger McKinion then shared some personal stories of how they have been ministered to during the past year and a half.  We are so thankful for their families transparency through everything that they have faced.  Ginger's honesty and realness was so engaging, and attendees were able to get an inside look at what it looks like day to day dealing with the in's and out's of having a child with cancer.  She also shared some very practical tips on what to say (or not say) to families when dealing with suffering, and tangible things you can do for people to show you care.  A great idea that she shared was to give gas cards and gift cards .  This was relevant for their family because they are on the road back and forth from the cancer center so much. Both Steve and Ginger stressed how prayer really does mean so much to families when they are going through hard times. 

Hearing from the McKinion's was the highlight of the night! If only we would have had a few more hours to hear from them and ask questions! :)

After listening to the McKinion's the attendees had a chance to write encouraging cards to different families who are in the midst of suffering.  Three families were actually friends of the McKinion's that they have been able to meet and form frienships through Harrison at the children's cancer center.  Other families included some of our own SEBTS faculty, the Merkle's and the Black's.  Ladies also had an opportunity to write notes to nurses that work in the cancer center where Harrison gets his treatment.  Our goal is writing the letters was to do something tangible to show compassion for those hurting around us right then.  Writing a note is so simple, and takes such little time, but can make such an impact.
 

We ended the night with sweet worship led by Josh and Pam.  There is just something about singing all together praises to God that really brings your heart to a place of pure worship.  

We pray that attendees were able to walk away with their eyes opened to how to show compassion to those that are hurting.  It was a great night!

Mark your calendars for Monday, May 6th for our final Connecting Point event of the year.  Project:Commission will be a special time of prayer and encouragement for the female students and wives that are leaving for overseas missions this year.  You do not want to miss this event!

We are keeping our mini-series moving along this month.  We can't believe that it is already week three of our series!  Check out today's post from Keith & Amy Whitfield on understanding the meaning of the resurrection.  To see their previous posts click here and here.

Let's Hear From Keith: 

How can we understand the meaning of the resurrection? Not just that it happened but why it happened and what this event means?

Biblically speaking, death follows disobedience. Take, for example, Genesis 3 and the sin of Adam and Eve. The next four chapters are marked by death. In Genesis 4, Cain killed Abel. Then Cain feared for his own life (4:14). “Then he died” is the refrain of the genealogy in Genesis 5. Again, in Genesis 6-7, death and destruction touched the whole earth as God judged through the flood. Death is an inescapable reality, even though God’s creation was originally designed for life and the flourishing of God’s good creation.

In the New Testament, Jesus Himself grieved the reality of death. He wept in the presence of Mary and Martha when His friend Lazarus died (John 11:32-35). He wept because death is an unwelcomed intrusion into God’s good world. Death signifies that things are not the way they are supposed to be. In the presence of death, Jesus proclaims that death will not reign. He says, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).

In Luke 24:1-8, we read the biblical testimony on Jesus’ resurrection. The women arrived to prepare Jesus’ body and found a surprise. The stone was rolled away, and there was no body to be found. Then, two angelic beings exclaimed, “He is not here but He has been resurrected!” (Luke 24:6).

So what does the resurrection of Jesus mean? Remember the connection between death and disobedience. If death is defeated, our disobedience has been dealt with. Earthly judges condemned Jesus, the innocent One, to the cross. But the Judge of heaven, God Himself, vindicated Jesus Himself from the dead. When we trust the verdict of God over the verdict of men, we too are vindicated along with Jesus. His life is our life. His obedience is counted as our own.  And His victory is ours.

Let's Hear From Amy: 

I look at my son and daughter now, and I remember that time of innocence and blessed ignorance in childhood. Remember when you really didn’t know what this thing called death was all about? Sure, you had heard of it, maybe even knew of someone who experienced it, but hadn’t really faced the despair that can come with proximity to it. Growth and change come for children, and there are many rude awakenings as awareness of the world grows, but that one is the worst.

But when I was eight years old, through circumstances in my family that no one could have ever imagined, I was thrust into that new understanding quickly and, for a brief span of time, rather repeatedly. I had experienced sadness before, but it had been a childlike sadness, over issues that were rather small and easily fixed. This time, I felt it all around me, in every person, and for a little while it came to stay. The seeming finality of death was all too real.

This chapter in my life opened the door for a battle with anxiety about this one thing-- fear of losing more family members, concern when all the people I loved weren’t right with me at all times, and worry that I couldn’t make it through the sadness if it ever happened again.

But as I got older, I learned two things. First, I learned that this thing I was so afraid of is unavoidable. It happens every day, and it happens to everyone. There is nothing I can do to stop it. By itself, that concept doesn’t help me much. If left alone with that, my fears will only grow.

But second, the gospel changes everything. When Lazarus died, Martha’s despair was great. She went so far as to tell Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” And He knows that anguish. He has entered the world of suffering and He knows that things are not right. But He told her in that same conversation, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he did, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

He came into this world to live with us. He took our place in death to atone for sins. And He didn’t stay in that death—He brought resurrection and life.

This doesn’t mean that I don’t still struggle when I have to face grief. And it doesn’t mean that I don’t ever experience fear. But I have an answer now that makes all the difference. And that answer comes because of His resurrection.

I know that the anguish we feel every time we face this reality is there because this world is not the way that God created it. Things aren’t as they were supposed to be. But I also know that something changed that morning when the stone was rolled away and Jesus declared victory over death. Hope sprung forth, and it is enough to combat my worries. It says that every need I have has been met in Christ, even the need to be rescued from death. My sins are forgiven because of what He did on the cross, and the ultimate penalty of death has been overcome.

No, the world doesn’t look like it did in the beginning. But He makes all things new, and He sets all things right. And He brings hope that answers even our deepest fears.

Keith & Amy Whitfield live in Wake Forest, NC, where Keith teaches Systematic Theology at SEBTS.  Keith previously served as pastor of Waverly Baptist Church in Waverly, Virginia, in the years 2005 to 2010, and from 2010 until 2012, they lived in Nashville, TN, where Keith taught at a liberal arts college and helped to train church leaders. Amy loves teaching and writing, and has a passion for women to be transformed by the gospel in their daily lives.  Amy currently serves as Assistant to Charlotte Akin,  and also assists in other areas with research and writing.  Amy and Keith have two children: Mary (age 9) and Drew (age 7).