Archive for November, 2009

Giving Thanks

Posted by Todd Engstrom in personal on November 25, 2009

I’m sitting in the passenger seat on my way to the inlaws’ family thanksgiving and dwelling on this great American holiday, so I figured I’d jot down some thoughts. In no particular order:

  1. Most of the country is taking the weekend off to celebrate WHAT they are thankful for. What an incredible opportunity to show for WHOM we are thankful.
  2. Romans 1:21 – For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
  3. Thankfulness is generally a response to the provision of someone else and is a recognition of dependence. The greater the provision, the deeper the gratitude. The gospel is the greatest provision humanity has ever known.
  4. I tend to be more thankful for the physical blessings I have received than the provision of Jesus on the cross.
  5. Giving thanks is a natural component of worship.
  6. I’m thankful for new mercies each morning, because I am continually not thankful for what I ought to be.

Thank you Jesus for saving me, and I pray that is the legacy I leave in my family and my city.

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Lessons from a Razor

Posted by Todd Engstrom in austin stone, personal on November 18, 2009

As many of you know, I was in a South Asian country with two other pastors from The Austin Stone, and we had an unfortunate incident with some youth.  My friend who was attacked has written his reflections, and I highly encourage you to read them.  Here is a short snippet:

Unexpectedly, one of these youth sliced my left cheek with a straight razor. The wound was 5 inches long and an inch deep. It spanned from about my left sideburn to the left corner of my mouth. Fortunately, the two other men with me were physically unharmed. We ran for safety in the middle of the city, pleaded with locals for help, and finally ended up in the emergency room at a local hospital where a doctor stitched up my face with three layers of stitches.

…

The straight razor that scarred my face has become an altar of intercession for those South Asian youth who attacked us. My face is the sacrifice that was put on this alter. I doubt if any prayers have ever been lifted to the Father for those youth, that is, until they attacked us. Almost immediately, we began praying for them. Since then, thousands of people have interceded for them, for their joy. In this way, therefore, God turned their sin of unjustly attacking us into a great blessing for them.

I am so grateful for my friend, and for God’s provision and protection of us in a time of great need.  Please continue to pray that God would move around the world, and the church would remain resolved in her calling to preach the gospel in the face of great suffering.

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Home on the Range

Posted by Todd Engstrom in personal on November 11, 2009

After flying ~15,000 miles in the past 6 days, and sleeping for ~16 hours over that span, I’m officially home with my family.  I am grateful to God for the time I was able to spend with new friends, thankful for the power of Jesus to keep me and my team safe, and dependent on His grace to continue forward to share what I have experienced and learned.

The words to the great hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” have been playing in my head, so I figured I would share them with you as an encouragement:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

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A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Posted by Todd Engstrom in personal on November 9, 2009

Psalm 59:16-17

16 But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.

I am singing of God’s steadfast love, because He has been a fortress for me in distress.  To Him be all the glory, forever and ever, amen!

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