Austin Gardner

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I just finished Chasing Daylight by Eugene O’Kelly. The book gives a better way to die. Due to what I just experienced with my dad I thought the book was a very worthy read.

The man’s wife gives several lessons about how to die:

1. Face reality

2. Simplify

3. Live in the moment

4. Recognizing perfection

5. Achieving balance

Check out the article in Life Magazine about the 5 missionaries being killed in Ecuador. Amazing to see the surrender of these men and the impact off their lives even though they died so young.

Click here to read the article and see the pictures!

Who: Businessmen, Professionals, Career People and all others who are interested.

What: 3 hours of godly counsel from the Word of God and a delicious lunch!

Where: Vision Baptist Church, 1125 Alpha Drive, Alpharetta, Georgia

When: March 6, 2010 9 AM to 1 PM

Why: to learn what would be a biblical answer to your questions!

Here are some of the questions that we will endeavor to answer:

How can pastors believe that my life should revolve around God when I do not have the luxury of time that a pastor has?

How do you keep focused on God when your life is consumed with business and worldly distractions?

How do I keep from focusing on my needs, concerns, ambitions, and allow God to use me?

How do I balance my time between family, friends, God, and business?

How can I increase my ability to draw close to God and remain close to Him when I am consumed by business and work?

How do you love God when your life is filled with unsaved family, friends, coworkers, etc?

It’s not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or when the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worth cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat. “       -Theodore Roosevelt

taken from Matt’s blog

Dad just called me and said they had a tornado come through Kotidanga about an hour ago. It is dark outside, so they can’t see very well, but with the lightning flashes, they can tell that the medical clinic is gone. Mom and Dad’s back porch got ripped off, and their roof is “pouring” water into the house. Dad has not been able to get to my house yet, but he said the HF radio antenna on my roof is “snapped in half.”

They are very worried about the local people as the locals live in grass houses. Please pray for the weather to calm down in our area.

The good news: Pastor James has gotten a big in-road with a very influential man in the next valley over in the last few weeks, and the man asked him to come back tomorrow and talk to his dad and brothers about the Gospel. Please pray that God’s grace will outweigh emotionally the attacks from Satan.

Thanks, Matt

P.S. Dad will call me in the morning with a better report.

Others can see the hand of God on my life and ministry.

He put the burden on me but He also has helped me live a life that met themrequirements of the ministry. He gave me the ability. I went before my pastor and he could see that in me. A group of Godly men have examined me and they can see it. Not only do I think that God called me but others recognize it in me. God has placed His hand on me. I feel very humble when I think about it but the God of Heaven has counted me worthy and put me in His ministry. One of the wonderful things about it is that I am not the only one who thinks so. You wouldn’t be here today unless God had impressed on others that you have been called of God. You had to prove your call. You had to let others see it and they did.

God has confirmed or will be confirming His call in you.

He opened doors for you in your church, at the mission, in other churches, and in the work. He called you. Never, never forget it. Hold on. He that called you will see you through.

God’s call is what holds me when I get down.

I often think of quitting. I often get tired but then I remember. I am not in Peru because I want to be. I am not going as a missionary because I am a good guy. I am not there because I like it. I didn’t choose to go He called me. I would be afraid to do anything less. When I get down I just remember, (I try to forget), but it is still there I came here under orders. I do not want to embarrass my God, my Calling, my Church, my Mission Board. I will stay. I will not allow myself to think of other things. I will not try to rationalize it. I will not try to figure a way out of it. I will get a hold of God. He sent me He has to help me stay. For 30 years now He has not failed me and He won’t fail you. He has a job for you to do and He will give you more grace and help if you will just allow Him to do so

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

They preached the Word of God and the people were pricked in their hearts. That was the work of the Holy Spirit. He brought the message to their hearts. He made them cry out, what shall we do.

That is my prayer. That people would hear me preach, the Holy Spirit would work in their hearts, and they would ask what they should do.

I ask you to pray for me that God would use me in the pulpit to make a real difference in the lives of people. I am unable to do His work unless He does it through me.

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