Photobook Project

Recently I've been working on a photobook project with photos I took with student leaders from 456 in December. This has been a personal project that I hope we can use to spread the message and vision of 456 as far as the Lord will carry it. I'm not really wanting to pursue a carrier in photography, but I couldn't resist the chance to use what I have to spread this message. This is a picture-book, to say the least, and each page contains a small paragraph about prayer in school. It will be a great way for our supporters to connect to what we are doing and to share our vision over a fun and creative medium.

As an exclusive treat, here's a look at the cover image for the photobook:

Right now we're in the final editing stage of some of the text and hopefully soon we'll have a solid draft to send to print!

UPDATE (1/28/2011): We have our proof copy and are making some final adjustments to the layout! It should be available the first week of February!

365 Days of Marriage!

Molly and I just celebrated our 1 Year Anniversary!!!

One year ago today Molly and I entered into a glorious covenant before the Lord to be marriage as long as we live! 365 days later, all I have to say is that this girl is awesome! She reminds me constantly of Proverbs 31:10-31 and seeks the Lord with all of her heart.

All marriages are different, but the common denominator of successful marriages is submission to the leadership of Jesus. Jesus has led us so tenderly and has provided for us in every way! We are so thankful!

And I am so thankful for my beautiful bride! I had no idea marriage could be this amazing, and truly Molly has made my life exponentially better! Other than salvation, I have no greater gift than Molly. I think some of God's paperwork must have mixed up in the matchmaking section of heaven because I scored way out of my league!

And now there is another Bloom on the way! I couldn't be more excited!

In such a culture of anti-marriage sentiment and abortion, I hope our marriage sends a message to Satan's door. God is raising up a generation that won't settle for our culture's idea of love. Marriage is worth it.

Parenting A Generation of Deliverers

I've been reading Hebrews 11 and was stopped at verse 23 which reads:

"By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict." - Hebrews 11:23 (NIV)

And I thought to myself about the responsibility that was given to Moses's parents the moment he was born in those dark days. The NIV translation of this verse is actually a bad translation; whereas the words "no ordinary child" should be "a beautiful child." But according to Acts 7:20 where Moses' parents saw that he was set apart by the Lord from birth, I think that "no ordinary child" works just fine. He was set apart by the Lord as a deliverer in the darkest days.

As a soon-to-be parent, I believe we are raising up a generation of "no ordinary children." There is a responsibility given to the parents of that child, or of that generation, to foster that calling. Think of Zechariah and Elizabeth who parented John the Baptist knowing he would become the man in Isaiah 40... In Egypt there was a death edict over that generation but Moses was born to parents who "were not afraid of the kings edict." They saw that Moses was set apart and they risked their lives for that calling. Had that not happened, the rest of Hebrews 11 would not tell of the great faith of Moses, the deliverer of Israel.

Therefore, I want to be sensitive to who I am bringing into the world. In days like these, you never know...