Convocation

A few weeks ago I delivered the convocation address for Covenant Christian School. You can find it here.

The Chariot comes down (or Ordination)

Last Sunday evening I experienced by faith what Ezekiel experienced by sight in Ezekiel 1 and 2—I was ordained into the ministry and installed as Assistant Pastor of Christian Education at Covenant Presbyterian Church with primary duties to serve as headmaster of Covenant Christian School. Unlike Ezekiel, I'm no longer a mere 30 years old (Ez. 1:1) and, unlike Ezekiel, I hope that my ministry will not be "to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me" (Ez. 2:3).

It is intimadating with being charged to be truthful to God's Word, to live a pious life, and to minister faithfully to God's people. But Ezekiel's vision gives hope.

Ezekiel saw God's very presence symbolized as the chariot, which was a way of showing Ezekiel the Holy of Holies, the Holy Place and the courtyard. I believe that Ezekiel's experience is a pattern for all ordained men. God comes through the ministry of men and sets those being ordained apart to share his Word. Like Ezekiel we are drawn into the holy presence of God and told to eat his word and then share it with His people (Ez. 3:1-2).

Ezekiel's vision also gives hope because it was God who set apart and it was God, through his Spirit, who lifted Ezekiel up and brought him to the exiles (3:15). May the same Spirit make me a "mini-Chariot" of God's presence to the world.

(Picture is of me on the left, Dr. Phil Stogner, a church planter on Daniel's Island near Charleston, and Rev. Eric Dye of Covenant Presbyterian Church.)

Getting Settled

Things have been pretty hectic since I last blogged. For the month of July Nancy travelled to my parents or her parents to live while I stayed in Columbia, working at the school. Living apart was no fun. We saw one another on the weekends but that wasn't enough. By the end Eden made daddy feel special when she started crying and said she missed me and wanted to know when we'd be living together.


Well, two Saturdays ago we moved into our new home in Columbia, SC. We love it. We had the wood floors refinished and have been busy painting. Boxes are slowly being unpacked. The biggest beast has been the ceiling, which has taken forever because it is a very thick popcorn ceiling. I never knew how big a difference a bright ceiling could make but it does. In this photo you can the contrast between the edging I've done and the old paint job. We have a big yard with lots of trees. The kids are having a good time catching bugs and running around. Plus, I'm only 1/2 mile from the school!