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Thu 01 Jul more sermonsposted by
 Tom at 07:58:29 AMHowdy, There are two more sermons available now. More to come in this month (as i am on y busy schedule again). The struggle right now is to try and stay fresh in preparations when work is much and i get tired. If you would, please pray that God works through and with me. in Him, Thomas Sun 11 Apr Grace unendingposted by
Tom at 09:58:01 PMSo another preaching sunday goes past and God keeps on making the same point int my life: without me you cannot do anything! I am getting this now that it is not about my strengths and weaknesses, but about Him. God can charge any person, no matter how little, with His Spirit. The question is not “are you able”, but “are you dependent”. Am also never-endingly thankful for all that He has done in my life, the humiliation and the uplifting. I have truly great friends, great mentors and a great God. I do not deserve any of it, as my life keeps on showing. But the more God uses me, the more i desire to be used. Obedience brings blessings, disobedience (either through commission or omission) brings a curse. Learn this, Thomas! And then we have a gracious and loving God, who pursues His children with loving-kindness. So much to grasp … such a small head! in Him. t Sun 28 Mar Joshua 7posted by
Tom at 08:10:03 PMWas preaching Joshua 7 again this morning. This was version 2, as version 1 had a few minor lacks that i supplied now (one of them was a proper introduction). I love this book more and more. There are so many warnings against disobedience, unholiness and compromise in it. On the other hand you see how truthful, loving, good and trustworthy God is! I was reminded again this morning that God is serious about sin! It does well matter to Him how we live our lives. He will not bless a ministry if the people in it make little of sin or even deny it by looking away. I needed that sermon for myself and should preach it to myself every week. It is a call to start a battle against indwelling sin. It is good to know though that God has supplied the Holy Spirit who gives us the ability and power to overcome sin. “Be holy as I am holy!” … this is not a mere by-word. It is not a bumper sticker sentence! God is serious about this and if you doubt it look at Acts 5 as well. Whenever God is staring something big in history He set such reminders. God is not fooled. We might get away with such things in front of others, but not the God of Psalm 139! So, i need to take up my guns again and start chasing … in Him. Sat 27 Mar Lebenszeichenposted by
Tom at 04:10:18 PMI just uploaded a bunch of sermons last night. I will really try and not forget to come up here and bring some news. Also note the new link for the possible church plant. This could still take years, but hey, one has to start somewhere, right? in Him. Sun 27 Sep Point of Graceposted by
Tom at 08:17:36 PMI had an amazing sunday, in a way unusual from a typical “great sunday”. The week was actually strewn with all kinds of bumps, ups and downs. I was to preach this morning again, Joshua 2 … was so looking forward to it, because this is such a great chapter. However, threw a lack of discipline i ended up finishing the sermon 45 minutes before the start of the service. That is NOT how it goes, it is NOT how it should be done. It’s ok when God lays something different on your heart, but if it is due to lack of discipline … it’s a sad sign. But it was a wake-up call. I believe in the Holy Spirit and that He guides and enlightens us as Christians. God chose the weak and the broken in this world to proclaim His name, so that no flesh can boast. I had nothing to boast about this morning and it went actually much better than it deserved. It is such a cool chapter, with such an amazing message! 2 points of application: 1. A saving faith (in Rahab) 2. A saving God The amazing thing about her faith is that she knew so little and yet she believed in such a way that she was ready to sell her city down the drain, just to be on God’s side. We all know so much more than her, but how do we live? Do we also follow Him “blindly”, in faith and joy? I needed that. It hit me likely the most of all … especially after this week. My own sermon as a point of rebuke and grace to me. Amazing! Have a great week you all. Let us love Christ and serve God and in that find our entire joy and satisfaction! in Him t Tue 11 Aug Another bitposted by
Tom at 07:51:14 AMMy mom phoned me last night to inform me that the “Pfarrer” (dominee) of the local church in Heimsheim (where my mom lives and i grew up in) agreed to have me preach there the 20th September. This is beyond huge for me. There will be family, there will be people that knew me from wee ages and there will be the pastor of the church who preached from the guestbook once. I want to make this occasion a defining moment. I want to glorify God, glorify the cross and make much of the Bible, in a church where no one carries one with himself. I know that there are a few people who hunger for the Word being preached, but they have become so accustomed to sugar cane that they don’t know anymore what meat tastes like. Please be praying for me and the people there, that God would work amongst them to give them a hunger for Himself and His Word again. The best would be if i could challenge the pastor to become an expositor of God’s Word, not his own mind (or guestbooks). I know I have unreal expectations, but I also know that God is “unreal”, in the sense that He is sovereign and all-powerful. If it pleases Him then He can do far more than what we can ask or think of. in Him Tue 11 Aug Tuesday updateposted by
Tom at 07:42:22 AMThe day started early. Yes, Hotels are nice but for some reason i don’t sleep too well in them. At least i had a nice breakfast (that has to be the favourite part of it all) and the shower. Had a good discussion with my colleague about God, last night. I don’t think it was my best moment because i was tired, cold and had one beer (all of which make me want to revert to English all the time). But he thanked me this morning for the conversation and called it challenging … clearly, God is working better when i don’t think i am on top of the game. Now sitting at the client again and wondering how we will get this done today. I should actually stay another day, but i have another deadline to meet as well. I like pressure, i work best when time is little … somehow it helps me focus. So now i rediscovered my mobility blog tools, and i will aim to use them more often on this blog, more often than just once a month. So, have a great day (those of you who linked RSS to this in Him who rules, T Mon 13 Jul Monday at homeposted by
Tom at 09:03:19 AMGood morning dear friends, I am enjoying a sunny morning in my old room. Yes, it’s home office time again. I came down to my folks last week, to stay for my birthday (which is tomorrow). I am going to be reminded of the amazing kindness and love that i have been shown the last birthday. That was something unforgettably special! We visited my dad, his sister and our granny. It was, as usual, not easy. But i also find myself having a harder heart towards them than i ought to have. So you can pray for that. Saturday i went to inaugurate my new soccer boots and ball. It was awesome! But today i am sitting with lower back pains again. I really must go and have my discs checked out … i am afraid that there is a bigger problem than what i want to see. Anyway. Sorry the newsletter is taking so long … often planned to do it but then got distracted. in Him. Thomas Sun 28 Jun First sermonposted by
Tom at 06:15:45 PMToday i gave my first sermon in Germany. It was somewhat frightening (as it always is), but it turned out well. God gave me all i needed for a successful sermon: fear of Him, weakness and dependency. It also helps reminding myself that this is what i came here for. The text was Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23. “How is a citizen of heaven: only those who bear fruit”. I am looking forward to translate some of my other sermons. But i am especially looking forward to get into new studies. I will probably start with Samuel soon. Don’t really know what awaits me. Am in Berlin again this weekend. This traveling to and fro highlights one point: i am stil drawn to be closer to the seminary. In this case now it is Berlin. There is something sepcial about this city … it’s ugly, wild, busy, congested, dirty and way too big for a “Landei” like me … but there is also something “magical” about it. You would have to be here to see it yourself. Had some good chats with Christian from the EBTC again. I am close to His vision and ministry and thank God that He brought me here to Germany. There is much work and i want to get into it. So now i am wondering how long i will be full-time working … have been thinking about the possibility of doing it only part-time, as the need arises … but how to support myself? That will not be easy here. The cost of living is high … and then i am also still praying for a wife. But one thing i know for sure … God provides more abundantly than i can imagine! Hope you’re all well. My hope on Him. T Tue 23 Jun The weather bugposted by
Tom at 08:51:38 PMHey there, You might have noticed it already on farcebook, but the weather has not been the greatest round here. I know, it’s kind of bad to talk about the weather when there is so much more to talk about. BUT … i don’t want to spoil all the beans for the newsletter here already Things have been going well. I am still looking for a place to stay, although there might be an option, if the folks from church will consider it. A nice old house, with high ceilings and high windows, as only Germany has them. But, God willing, you will see. My back has been better … until i went jogging again, yesterday. The foolishness of a man’s heart … but i crave sports! Now more than ever. The weekend in Berlin was nice. It was a short but well done graduation. I got to serve, which (to me) was the absolute pinacle of the evening. It was so much fun. Being with the Andresens is always great. Also got to chat with Katrina and her uncle a bit again (haven’t seen both in a while). I have been in Heimsheim since Sunday. After having to drive 700km down from Berlin i decided to stay a few days (home office, brilliant!) and meet up with my boss mid-week … mid-way. Get to preach on Sunday, so i have to hurry this and get into the Bible again. It’s scary to think of it … i will be more scared tomorrow, etc, etc. Flitt was at the vet today. She got an op on her under belly for some sort of growths. She’s 13 now and starts looking like an old dog. Shame. I am sorry i missed so much of her youth. Now she is even older, the drugs hit her hard. And, she needs to wear one of them funnels. It’s funny, but it doesn’t help her self-esteem God bless you guys. Until soon again. Miss you all. in Him, who is able to keep us from stumbling. Thomas |
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