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Why Disability Ministry? Web conference next week

November 10, 2012 by John Knight

I have much to say about Thursday’s Desiring God conference, The Works of God: God’s Good Design in Disability.  But I’m going to pause to let you know about another free opportunity to learn about disability and the church.

Key Ministry, whose motto is ‘a church for every child,’ is conducting their second annual web disability summit from November 12-16: Inclusion Fusion.

Their theme this year is “Why disability ministry?” and I was pleased to be invited to participate.

You can register for this free event here.

We have several friends participating in or helping organize this web summit:

Dr. Michael Beates, author of Disability and the Gospel, (which was promoted at DG’s conference)

Barb Dittrich of SNAPPIN’ Ministries (who live tweeted DG’s conference, which I discovered after the conference)

Shannon Dingle of The Works of God Displayed (who attended DG’s conference)

I look forward to what God might be pleased to do through this conference as well!

Posted in Special Events | 1 Comment »

Paul said it better than I can

November 9, 2012 by John Knight

God was very kind in how he provided for us at the conference yesterday.  Every speaker gave me something fresh to think on about God’s sovereign goodness.  And if you didn’t see Krista Horning, you will be blown away when its available in a few days!

I am so grateful to God, and am happy to let Paul speak for me:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36 ESV)

Posted in Scripture | 1 Comment »

Why ‘the works of God’?

November 8, 2012 by John Knight

If you’re an early riser and reader of this blog, would you pray for the conference, The Works of God: God’s Good Design in Disability?  You can watch it live here.  If you get this blog by email at night, would you thank God for his help today?

I haven’t explained the title of this blog for a while and some new folks have joined us.

I like the phrase ‘the works of God’ for many reasons, but these are the two I return to most often:

1) It is directly connected to disability

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:1-3 ESV)

2) It is directly connected to hoping in God (and fathering)

He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
(Psalm 78:5-7 ESV)

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The Works of God: God’s Good Design in Disability – Please pray

November 7, 2012 by John Knight

Tomorrow almost 500 people will be gathering at Bethlehem’s North Campus for The Works of God: God’s Good Design in Disability.

Would you pray for this conference today and tomorrow?

You can also watch it live at http://www.desiringgod.org/live

Please also pray for those coming to exhibit, some from very far away:

99 Balloons

Joni & Friends Minneapolis

The Elisha Foundation

Walk Right In Ministries

Shepherd’s College

Waypoint Adventure

Conference Schedule (all times are CST).

8:30 a.m.  John Piper

9:30 a.m. Krista Horning

10:15 a.m. Panel Discussion: John Piper, Nancy Guthrie, Mark Talbot and Greg Lucas; facilitated by Pastor Kempton Turner

1:00 p.m.  Nancy Guthrie

2:45 p.m. Mark Talbot

4:00 p.m. Greg Lucas

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Voting, then resting in God

November 6, 2012 by John Knight

We are a voting family.  Neither Dianne nor I have missed a general election since becoming eligible to vote.

So, at some point today we’ll vote.  And then we’ll trust God to rule over the outcome and the winner, as he has done for every other election in this and every other country!

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
he turns it wherever he will.
(Proverbs 21:1 ESV)

And a reminder for those of you voting in Minnesota: make sure you vote on all the constitutional amendments.  If you don’t make a selection, they count it as a ‘no’ vote.

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Another great event this week – just for moms!

November 5, 2012 by John Knight

Grace Church of Eden Prairie does some pretty remarkable things for families experiencing disability.

On Saturday, they will be having their annual Special Moms Day Away, from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  You don’t need to be a mom at Grace Church – they welcome all women!

It is actually for more than just moms:

For mothers of kids with special needs as well as grandmas, aunts, caregivers, and women involved in disability ministry.

Nancy Guthrie will be speaking twice!  Lisa and Larry Jamieson (who are be exhibiting their ministry at our disability conference) and Bob and Mary Horning (parents of Krista) are also presenting!

I know several women who have attended (including my Dianne) and each year has been God-centered and encouraging (and its only $10 and includes lunch).

You can get more information or register here.

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Why Am I Going to “ The Works of God: God’s Good Design in Disability” Conference? – Pastor Paul Martin

November 4, 2012 by John Knight

Pastors, I really want you to attend this conference!

Last week Pastor Paul Martin provided five reasons why he’s coming (and I recommend you go to his blog, kerux noemata, to read his explanation for each one):

1. To be reminded that sin and suffering are in the world.
2. To connect with a few choice brothers.
3. To learn how to love my son better.
4. To learn how to make our church a safer refuge for the disabled.
5. To be encouraged.

I’m really looking forward to seeing Paul and several other pastors who are coming.

And there is still time to register for The Works of God: God’s Good Design in Disability!  You can register onsite on Thursday morning, but it would be really helpful if you signed up by Tuesday.  They’re getting the lunch order in that day, I think.

Or you can watch the entire conference live-streamed at http://www.desiringgod.org/live beginning at 8:30 a.m. (Central) on Thursday.

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Because God has ordained those days, we can be thankful even for the hard ones.

November 3, 2012 by John Knight

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
(Psalm 139:16 ESV)

What a comfort it is that God knows every one of our days so intimately and rules over them so thoroughly that he wrote them down!

Greg Lucas, in his book Wrestling with an Angel, points out that he’s getting weaker just as his son with disabilities, and associated really difficult behaviors, is getting much stronger.  What’s a man to do in that circumstance?  You’ll need to read his book to find his answer, which is a very good one.

Greg’s observation that things with his son are getting more difficult, not less, was one that resonated with me as well.  And God knows those days!  There is hope in future grace!

Then on Friday I was introduced to a new song, for me, called Every Day by Joel Sczebel and Todd Twining.  Here’s the chorus:

Thank You for the trials
For the fire, for the pain
Thank You for the strength
Knowing You have ordained
Every day

Because God is who he is, we can be thankful even for those days of deepest sorrow.  God is amazing.

Here’s the entire song.  I hope you find comfort in it as I did:

Posted in commentary, Scripture | Leave a Comment »

Why do I say our children with disabilities are the works of God? Because he made them (and us).

November 2, 2012 by John Knight

But now, O LORD, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
(Isaiah 64:8 ESV)

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.”
So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.
Then the word of the LORD came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 18:1-6 ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3 ESV)

In six days we will gather for The Works of God: God’s Good Design in Disability. There is still time to register or you can watch it that day at www.desiringgod.org/live.

It is a weighty and beautiful topic.  Please pray for everyone involved, that we would find our hope in God and would treasure him above all things!

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Not wanted? Don’t tell this dad who’s saving children with Down syndrome around the world!

November 1, 2012 by John Knight

Thank you to Carol Steinbach for alerting me to Brady Murray.

Brady Murray was scared when his son with Down syndrome was born.  Now he’s working to get children with Down syndrome out of orphanages and into families!

Watch this 90-second video for an introduction (it looks like a Facebook account is required to access this video).  This article in Triathlete and this article from KSL.com explain more about this man and his motivations.

Some families don’t believe they can parent such a child (though with the right supports, particularly seeking their hope in God, more families could successfully raise such children); the solution they are offered is to abort.  Adoption IS AN OPTION for children with Down syndrome, as evidenced by Reece’s Rainbow!

I have no idea what Mr. Murray believes about God from these articles, but God has placed something special in his life to drive him to help families with the significant financial expenses related to adoption.

Church, we’re not asking you to run a triathlon for children with disabilities!  We’re asking you to welcome and use the gifts God has given to all his creation, including those living with disability, for his glory and for your good!

Posted in News | 1 Comment »

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