Haiti Teaching - Spiritual Gifts

I will be teaching a group of pastors while in Haiti next week. Take a peak at some of my notes if you would like.

The Gospel of Mark Overview

The Gospel of Mark

Scratch Notes

This is the story of Jesus and His life.

Mark’s gospel highlights action over teaching, which leaves us with the impression of a dramatic story.

Mark’s favorite word is “straightway, or immediately.”

Again and again, Mark cuts to a different camera shot. Like a fast-paced movie, Mark keeps the interest of his readers.

Compared to the other gospels, Mark does not contain much teaching. Luke’s gospel includes twenty-five parables, Matthew has twenty parables, Mark has only seven. However, Mark’s accounts of events and teachings are vivid, and sometimes even more vivid than the other gospels.

Many of the details found in passages such as: Mark 6:30-34, 7:31-37, 8:22-26, 9:14-29 are not found in the other gospels even if the stories themselves are present. This leads me to think the book recounts what Peter remembered from the events. It has sort of an eye-witness feel.

Who wrote Mark?

A: Peter is the source. John Mark wrote it down.

The late first and early second century church leader Papias, who knew the disciples themselves, said that mark wrote down everything the apostle Peter told him about the sayings and deeds of Jesus. This is an idea the NT supports. John Mark first became associated with Peter when Peter was freed from prison and went to the home of Mark’s mother in Acts 12:12. Peter later mentioned that mark was with him in 1 Peter 5:13.

Many think that the fleeing figure in Mark 14:50-52 was actually the young John Mark and that this is kind of his signature in the book.

According to tradition, Mark wrote down Peter’s account near the end of Peter’s ministry in Rome.

STRUCTURE:

Mark contains the quickest beginning of any of the Gospels.

It begins by saying this is the good news.

Mark jumps right into the ministry of John the Baptist. By 1:16 Jesus is already calling his first disciples.

Chapters 1 – 8 provide a record of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, where he established himself as a teacher and miracle-worker

A turning point occurs in Chapter 8 when Peter confessed that Jesus is the Messiah. After this confession Jesus focused more intently on his closest followers. He warns of his coming death /resurrection, and taught them about the cost of following him. Chapter 8-10 continues this focus and teaching as they travel towards Jerusalem.

Chapters 11 – 13 contain Jesus’ teaching in Jerusalem over the last week of his life.

Chapter 14 contains the Last Supper, Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, and arraignment before the Sanhedrin.

Chapter 15 describes his appearance before Pilate, his conviction, his being mocked, as well as his crucifixion, death, and burial.

Chapter 16 then provides a brief account of Jesus’ resurrection.

Mark records honestly how people responded to Jesus

Mark 3:20-21 – Jesus’ own family wanted to have him committed. [no dressing up Jesus here to make him look better—his family thought he was crazy.]

1) Some believed he was the messiah

-The friends of the paralyzed man in 2:5

-The bleeding woman in 5:34

-Jairus in 5:23

-Syrophoenician Woman in 7:29

-Blind Bartimaues in 10:52

-The Roman centurion at the cross 15:39

2) Some were confused

-You would think the disciples would be among those who believed, but they are portrayed throughout the gospel as confused and slow to learn.

-Note Jesus’ responses to them in 4:13, 4:40, 6:37,52, 6:49-0, 7:18, 8:16-21.

-The disciples didn’t understand Jesus’ teaching about his death and resurrection in 9:10

-They were shocked by his teaching on wealth and heaven in 10:22-27

-They fought over their comparative importance in 10:35-45

-They rebuked people when they brought their children to Jesus in 10:14

-Mark is clear: the disciples were confused and slow to learn.

3) Some were antagonistic

-Some clearly understood what Jesus was saying, and they opposed him.

-The teachers of the law charged him with blasphemy in 2:7

-The Pharisees objected to his eating with sinners and his statements about the Sabbath (2:16,24)

-The Pharisees and Herodians began to plot to kill Jesus in 3:6

-Jesus’ family thought he was crazy in 3:21

-The teachers of the law said he was demon possessed in 3:22,30

-The Gerasenes asked him to leave their region in 5:15-17

-His hometown residents were offended by him 6:4-5

-Herod worried about him 6:16

-The Pharisees kept challenging him 7:5

-The chief priests and the teachers of the law joined the Pharisees and Herodians in the conspiracy to kill Jesus in 11:18

-They challenged him publicly in 11:23-33. His response exposed their intentions in 12:1-11

-The liberal Sadducees take their turn at him in 12:18-23

-The plotting continued in chapter 14:1-2

-When Judas decided to help these conspirators in 14:10-11, the whole story turns in a tragic direction.

-The opposition engulfed Pharisees, Sadducees, Jews, Gentiles, foes and even friends.

A note on the “messianic secret”

Throughout the first half of Mark’s gospel, Jesus occasionally attempted to hide his identity as the Messiah (1:25, 1:34, 1:44, 3:12, 4:11-12, 5:39, 5:43, 7:36, 8:26, 8:30). Why? I think it was a teaching method.

Possibly His purpose was to shield himself from the attention of the crowds long enough to teach the disciples what the Messiah had really come to do. He was reeducating them and pointing them to particular scriptures that taught about the Messiah but had gone unnoticed. We see in 9:30-31 that after his Transfiguration that he left with the disciples and didn’t want anyone to know where they were so he could teach them. Once the disciples were reeducated, the “messianic secret” evaporated. We see Jesus is teaching publicly who he is in chapter 12.

What was this secret that led first to confusion and then to opposition? It is the centerpiece of Mark’s Gospel: the truth about who Jesus is.

Jesus on Jesus

If you listen to Jesus’ own words in Mark’s Gospel, you will find he did teach about matters of morality. However, that is not mainly what he taught about. The main thing he taught about was himself.

Except for the name Jesus, the title “son of man” is the most frequent phrase used to refer to Jesus in Mark.

Jesus uses it to refer to himself in 10:45 for instance.

He uses it again in 2:10 and 14:62 as he teaches that he is more than a normal human and is the Messiah.

What did the “son of man” come to do?

A) Bear Authority

-He taught with authority (1:22)

-He casts out demons. Evil spirits obey him. (1:27, 3:15, 6:7)

-He has the authority to forgive sins (2:10)

-He has the authority to be the Lord of the Sabbath (2:28)

B) Suffer

-He taught he must suffer much and be rejected (Mark 9:12)

-At the Last Supper he tells the disciples what has been written about him must happen (14:21)

-He was to be betrayed into the hands of sinners (14:41)

-Mark 8:31

-Mark 9:31

C) Return to Judge

-Promises to rise from the dead (8:31, 9:9, 9:31, 10:34)

-Promises to return (8:38, 13:26, 14:62)

-Jesus knows who he is

In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus knows who he is

1) He is David’s greater son [Uses Psalm 110 to teach about himself. CF with Mark 12:36, 14:62]

2) He is the suffering servant [Uses Isaiah 53 to teach about himself. CF specifically with 10:45 and above passages]

3) He is the one who will come again to bring judgment [Uses Daniel 7:13-14 to teach about himself. CF with 8:38,13:26,14:62)

This is Mark’s teaching about Jesus: God came in the flesh, was rejected, and will come again in judgment.

What about Jesus and You?

At the very beginning of the book Mark writes about the gospel, the good news. 1:1

What is the good news?

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45.

Referencing Isaiah 53, Jesus teaches that he was God come in the flesh both to be rejected by people and to give his life as a ransom for all those who would repent of their sins and believe in him.

What we can learn from Peter

Jesus laying down his life as a ransom was good news for Peter. Throughout the gospel we see that Peter leads the disciples in confusion, confession, cowardly denials, and bold promises. In chapter 14 we see Peter’s three-fold denial of Jesus, BUT, we also see Peter’s weeping (v. 72). In these tears we can see hope.

Repentance begins with realizing the weight of your sins and the greatness of your need. It can come like a thunderclap. Then it can cause showers of weeping. If it is godly sorrow, it brings change.

If you want to see Jesus for who He is, you must see yourself for who you are. And if you are seeing clearly, you will weep.

May god give us eyes to see the truth about ourselves, and then the truth about Jesus who came to lay down his life as a ransom for many as we teach this book. This was the good news for Peter, and it is the good news for us too.

Steps for Inductive Bible Study

Steps for IBS: Observation, Interpretation, Application

By Ben Durbin in Leadership Cell

Step 1: Begin with prayer

Step 2: Identify context

What goes with the text

Look at the surrounding verses, chapters, book

Step 3: Look for the obvious

Write out obvious facts, details, or ideas

Observation Questions:

Who is the audience, the author, the main characters

What are the main events? What is the major idea? What are the people like? What does he talk about most.

When was this written? When did it take place? When was it received?

Where did this event occur

Why was it written? Why did he say that, go there, or respond that way? Why is so much or so little space given to a topic.

How did this happen? How is it done? How is this truth illustrated

Step 4: Meditate on the passage and observations and pray some more

Step 5: Identify key words (anything used multiple times), topic, or theme

Step 6: Keep in mind a few rules of interpretation

Seek the full teaching of God's word for any topic you find. (e.g. -- the bible has a lot to say about prayer)

Interpret Scripture with Scripture (Start with the author's writings, and expand out)

Remember: The New Testament interprets the Old

That which is said multiple times interprets that only said once

Clear interprets unclear

Does what you are concluding fit into the whole of the Bible? Does it reject teaching of the Bible--if so, try again. Meditate on it. Work it out.

Follow the literal sense. You typically want to go with the "obvious" meaning and not a "hidden" message

Look for the authors intended meaning

Step 7: Make your interpretation (only 1)

How was this relevant to the original audience?

What are the key words phrases, or themes

What was the author's purpose of intent

What are the key truths/and or principles

What is the TIMELESS truth!!

Does your interpretation fit within the context of THIS passage

Does your interpretation harmonize with the whole scripture

Step 8: Check your conclusions using reliable study aides

Concordance -- cross references / parallel passages

Bible Dictionary -- word definitions and meanings

Commentaries --- input from professional students of God's Word

Bible foot-notes -- study bibles can include all of the above

Step 9: Make your application(s)

Tip 1: Start with your discovery of God's word

Tip 2: Accept God's truth and work it out into daily living

Tip 3: Be Specific: application must be personal and measurable to each individuals life.

Tip 4: Practice: maturity isn't measured by how much we know, but by how much we actually live out.

The application questions

How did this message apply to the original audience?

What are the similarities between us and them?

How does the meaning of the passage apply to me?

What are the theological principles of the passage?

What truth(s) am I to embrace, believe, or order my life by?

What changes should I make in my belief, in my life?

How can I practice what I have learned from this passage everyday?

Step 10: Pray before you share

Evidences of Grace

Evidences of Grace since our last Member’s Meeting

The Bridge Community Church

We exist to make disciples who make disciples

by helping people believe it, grow it, send it

[ IT is the GOSPEL]

• · Believe it --- evidences of grace

o 12 baptisms Dec. 19^th 2010

o 15 baptisms April 10^th 2011

o 14 baptisms July 30^th, 2011

o 7 baptisms September 18, 2011

o 48 total baptisms this year!!!

o ***Prayer goal for the next year = 96 baptisms

o 18 baby dedications this year!!!

o I believe we had our first child that was dedicated at The Bridge baptized this year. Elijah Yount.

o ***Our prayer goal is to keep having and adopting babies who take over the county! Little Bridge Kids for the gospel everyhere.

o GROWTH in BK - we expanded BK into two celebrations bringing the gospel to more children.

o GROWTH in celebrations – we are seeing larger crowds at 9:00 AM and an increase in overall attendance.

o CA – we are bringing the gospel to more people via CA than ever before. This year CA has ran in the prison, jail, csc, at the journey in Herky, and at The Bridge. Our largest CA ever is taking place right now.

o Night in Bethlehem – 1100 people through the doors to hear about the good news of Jesus

• · GROW IT – evidences of grace

o New cell families – Brian & Sarah Dunlap, Zack & Jen Mills, Ronnie & Angie Buckingham, New leadership cell, Ladies daytimer cell/ Juanita Gray, Stan & Christina Jackson, Bismark/Brown cell, Fredericktown/Bollinger, Derek & Tiffany Barker youth cell.

o The Leadership cell is training potentially four new cell starts right now.

o *** Our prayer goal is for 10 new cell starts this year, and 100 new people in cell.

o Two elder tracks going strong. Elder Track #1 recently finished a workbook with 20 sessions on Bible doctrine.

o Three secret church simulcasts on Salvation, OT Survey, and NT Survey. (These can be used as cell resources). Financial Seminar – cell resource

o Sermon Series: We finished 1 Corinthians and made it through Spiritual Gifts, Are You Smarter than a Corinthian, and From Death to Life among other mini-series in the letter, A Global Christmas – helped feed kids and pay teachers salaries at an Orphanage in Haiti, Habbakuk, Always True (cell resource) Into the Light (1,2, 3 John), Currently on part 9 of Mark.

o Two Night of Worship celebrations where we joined together to sing our hearts out for King Jesus.

o Women’s events – Beth Moore, Priscilla Shire, Mother’s and Others (MOMMY RHAPSODY)… Man UP , Youth Ski Trip, One Initiative, Couples Retreat

o Added Lance to full time pastoral staff. Re-explain prophet, priest, king

• · Send it – evidences of grace

o Camp Pennuel Mission Weekend

o Joplin Mission Trip

o Nicaragua Mission Trip

o Youth 3MT Mission Trip

o Youth Costa Rica Mission Trip

o Tim – India, Goldsmith’s to Haiti

o Advent Conspiracy

o Arnold cell and movement towards a second campus

o New Volunteers – large increase in BK workers, first Impressions volunteers, new cell leaders, new musicians, CA workers, missional cell

o *** Our prayer goal should be to see at least one new volunteer each weekend. There are 52 weeks a year.

o We have several families considering picking up and moving to Arnold to help with the launch of our second campus.

o Internet –

§ our videos have been watched in 114 different countries

§ We average 65,000 hits a month on bridgelife360.com

§ There were 102,000 hits in the month of December alone

§ On Vimeo there have been 39,000 videos viewed alone. We also put up videos on three other online venues

§ Top videos with partial plays = All Because of Jesus off the old DVD, The Christmas NOW

§ Top videos played all the way through last year = Mommy Rhapsody, Shadows

§ Top sermons watched actually happened last September, but were watched most since OCT. 1) Tough Love – Divorce and Remarriage 2) Tough Love – Good Sex, Bad Sex)

o Our cells are on mission as well!!!

o ** Pray for the upcoming scheduled mission trips to Haiti, Liberia, and Nicaragua this year. Also pray for those that are not scheduled yet locally, state-side, and with our youth.

o *** Pray for our Advent Conspiracy season this year and the offering. Where should we focus internationally with these funds? India? Haiti? Nicaragua?

Becky and I are going to Haiti

Friends and Family,

Becky and I have decided to go on mission to Haiti this fall, together! Our faith community (The Bridge Community Church) supports New Hope Missions International and their church planting efforts and schools in northern Haiti. We will be going in partnership with Tennessee Valley Community Church, which also supports NHMI. While we are there we will work on NHMI's fifth church plant/school location (pouring concrete) in addition to some other exciting opportunities.

Mission Opportunities:

• I will encourage and train the five pastors from NHMI's five churches (5th currently being built/constructed)

• Becky will assist in medical clinics with people from our church, TVCC, and the NHMI crew in the areas the churches are located

• Others from both churches will assist in the medical clinics and/or pouring concrete for a new church

• We will get to meet and spend time with the children from the schools and share about Jesus via VBS types of activities

• We will assess and be praying about the possibility of sponsoring children in the new church/school location. We are considering bringing this possibility up to our faith community as the advent conspiracy emphasis this year. We hope to assess the need,viability, and appropriateness of this.

• We will visit one of the current churches in need of an expansion project due to growth and assess future possibilities

Becky and I are asking for your prayer and support. We could really use your prayers as we prepare to leave.

Pray specifically for:

• The pastors of the five churches, their families, and lives

• The construction of the (fifth) church to go smoothly while we are there
• The medical clinics to be safe and ran well

• Gospel conversations to develop in the medical clinics, at the construction sites, and in the schools

• My time in teaching/training the five pastors
• Safe and healthy travel for our team (7 from our church, 14 total)

• Our financial needs to be met. Total cost for our family will be around $2200 for this trip. We are saving and working extra. Pray for God's provision in and around these times

• The financial needs of those traveling with us to be met

• Our children while we are gone

Thank you for partnering in prayer and support for us and the Haitians we will encounter. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I left the dates off of this note because of its public nature.

Others from our church attending to pray for in addition to Becky and I :

1) Michael Goldsmith

2) Melissa Goldsmith

3) Tisa Ayers

4) Bill Janes

5) Chris Guthrie

We do not want to make this trip without the prayers of our friends and family! Begin praying today!

God bless,

Ben and Becky Durbin

BELOW is a Photo from a recent backpack challenge we participated in with NHMI

Reading List

I haven't updated my reading list in a while so I am sure I'll miss a few. Here are some of the books I've read recently or have been reading through (e.g. the Dever books are still in process).

• Radical Together by David Platt
  
• Always True by James MacDonald
  
• Epistles of John by James Montgomery Boice
  
• Redemption by Mike Wilkerson
  
• Rid of My Disgrace by Justin and Lindsey Holcomb
  
• The Message of The New Testament by Mark Dever
  
• The Message of The Old Testament by Mark Dever
  
• You Can Change by Tim Chester
  
• Reverberation by Jonathan Leeman
  
• Downpour by James MacDonald
  
• Finally Alive by John Piper
  
• One-to-One Bible Reading by David Helm
  
• Christian Beliefs by Wayne Grudem
  
• Theological Clarity and Application (workbook) by Scott Thomas
  

Bible Reading:
I currently read a chapter from Psalms, Proverbs, Acts, and Mark a day.

Teaching 1 John

We begin a study of 1 John tomorrow with our faith community at The Bridge. Here is an outline that I put together to plan ahead with our teaching and celebration teams. Maybe you will find it useful for your personal study as well.

Psalm 16 and God's Goodness

A quick look at how the Psalmist in Psalm 16 believed that God is good so we don't have to look elsewhere.

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

God is good so we don’t have to look elsewhere for refuge.

2 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."

There is nowhere else to look for good but in God!

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

God let’s his goodness shine through his community.

4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

God alone is good and other gods only lead to sorrow.

5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

God is good so we don’t have to look elsewhere for a portion of good!

6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

God is good so we need not look elsewhere for sovereignty or for inheritance.

7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

God is good so we don’t have to look elsewhere for counsel or instruction.

8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

God is good so we don’t have to look elsewhere for a path or direction.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

God is good so we don’t have to look elsewhere for gladness.

God is good so we don’t have to look elsewhere for security.

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

God is good so we don’t have to look elsewhere for a future.

11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

God is good so we don’t have to look elsewhere for eternal pleasure!

God is good so I don't have to look elsewhere

For many, following Jesus is like finding yourself driving in front of a police officer and grumbling about it. That officer doesn’t care if you’re happy about driving the speed limit. He doesn’t care if you’re mumbling under your breath how you hate to drive the speed limit. He only cares if you obey the road rules. We often treat God like that police officer, begrudgingly “doing the right things.” But God is not interested in our mere obedience, as though it merits us anything. Time after time, God shows us Himself as our motivation.

Many of us never experience true freedom from sin because we try to conquer it with simple brute force. We try to change our actions without ever changing our hearts. We pull the weeds but leave the roots. We have not truly tasted and seen that God is good so we believe in the goodness of momentary fleeting pleasures that moth and rust will destroy (Matthew 6:19).

Have you thought of sin in terms of believing that God isn’t good enough? What difference might it make in your life to fight sin with something better?

Join us this week for truth #3 in our series Always True for, "God is Good So I Don't Have to Look Elsewhere"

-pastor ben

Do you want to read ahead???

Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 135:3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Genesis 1-3

Preaching truth to my own heart

I put this together last week for a study guide that goes along with the sermons for our new series, "Always True." Today, I got to preach it to my own heart.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

God sets up kings and kingdoms and knocks them down. “He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names” (Psalm 147:4). He has counted every grain of sand on every seashore. He knows the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30), He knows when a sparrow falls from the sky (Matthew 10:29). He spoke and out of nothing came everything. He declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), in fact, He is the beginning and the end (Revelation 21:6). He redeemed the Israelites from slavery by slaying the firstborn, and He has freed us from slavery to sin by bearing our punishment. He has set the captives free and brought water from rocks.

No problem is too big for Him and no detail is too small.

He Himself reminds us that with Him all things are possible (Genesis 18:14, Matthew 19:26). Nothing is too hard. No problem we are facing is beyond His concern, care or ability. He is God and He is great.

God is great, so we don’t have to try to be in control.

God is gracious so I don't have to prove myself

Whether it is at the bus stop or in the office, we often are motivated by a need to prove ourselves.

We want to prove ourselves to others.
We want to prove ourselves to God.
We want to prove ourselves to ourselves.

When the gospel declares that God is gracious we nod and say, 'Yeah I know that!' but do we really?

In our current series, "Always True" we are studying four truths that remind us that there is sometimes a gap between what we 'know' and what we 'believe'. To figure out if we really believe this week's truth that "God is Gracious so we don't need to prove ourselves!" we need to look at our hearts, and the outflow of our hearts - our lives.

If we believe he is gracious then we will not feel the pressure to defend ourselves or to prove ourselves. But, if we think of our life as a series of trophies then we feel the pressure to continue to perform and to prove ourselves worthy. But the truth is that we are not worthy. We are unworthy. Still yet, God in his graciousness has given us life in Jesus. "God saved us and called us to a holy life- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time." (2 Timothy 1:9-10).


Join us this Sunday for, "God is Gracious so I don't have to prove myself!" at 9:00 or 10:45 at The Bridge.

This is a special Sunday as we are celebrating baptisms during our 10:45 celebration and baby dedications during our 9:00 AM Celebration. I'll see you there!


-pastor ben


Do you want to read ahead for Sunday?


Scripture Speaks of Grace

1 Peter 5:10 – God of all grace
John 1:14-16 – Grace upon grace
Acts 15:10-11 – Grace frees us from religion
Romans 3:23-26 - The grace of the cross justifies us. Romans 11:5-6
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 – Comfort and hope comes from grace
2 Timothy 1:8-12a – A grace given purpose.
Romans 12:3-8 - Service only by God’s grace. – God’s grace kills pride!



The Lost Sons
Luke 15:11-32

Child of God

I remember my father singing a chorus he had written in churches and youth camps a lot while I was growing up. The chorus he wrote was called "Child of God." It was more of a prayer that still today strikes a chord in my soul.

Tonight, I was picking around on the guitar and decided to write verses to it. While I have written 20-25 songs, I'm not sure that I have actually finished a song in the last two years. So...enjoy! I recorded the tune on my Sony Vaio lap-top. Top Quality for sure! :-) Who knows, maybe I'll rediscover the guitar.


Child of God
by Roger and Ben Durbin

CLICK TO LISTEN to me play this at 11:30pm to my laptop!

Verse 1:
I was sitting in that old church, all the family gathered round.
I was wishing I was outside, with my feet high off the ground.

I remember grandpa preaching, and grandma praying loud
And mom and dad were singing as tears fell to the ground.

They sang..

Chorus:
Lord I want to be the child of God you'd have me be
Help the world to see, more of you and less of me
Make my light to shine. Show the way to friends of mine.
I want to be the child of God, you'd have me be.

Verse 2:
Now I am a grown man with two girls all my own.
Four blue eyes look up to me, and see more than they should know

Sometimes I want to give up, and walk a road all my own
But I look down beside me to the little hands that I must hold..

And sing..

Chorus
Lord I want to be the child of God you'd have me be
Help the world to see, more of you and less of me
Make my light to shine. Show the way to friends of mine.
I want to be the child of God, you'd have me be.

Bridge:
I pray one day You take them, and call them both Your own
& that old song my daddy sang...
Please God let them make it all their own...

And sing

Chorus
Lord I want to be the child of God you'd have me be
Help the world to see, more of you and less of me
Make my light to shine. Show the way to friends of mine.
I want to be the child of God, you'd have me be.

The Bridge Builder

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fear for him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim, near,
"You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again will pass this way;
You've crossed the chasm, deep and wide-
Why build you this bridge at the evening tide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today,
A youth, whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building this bridge for him."

by Will Allen Dromgoole

What legacy will you leave?