Meeting people where they are and taking them where Jesus wants them to go
BOY!!!
It’s my great joy to introduce to you Owen Ryan Engstrom!
He is 7 lbs, 1 oz, and 19.75 inches long, and completely healthy! We are praising God and rejoicing in His goodness to us!
Join us in praising God!
Psalm 96:6-8
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
As we prepare for the arrival for baby #4 tomorrow, we’ve been doing plenty of work. We’ve also been asking friends with four kids about what to expect, and we received a ton of wisdom.
I’m thankful for friends, but I think Jim Gaffigan provides the best insight in the video below:
Tomorrow begins a lot of fun 
.
The 2013 Verge Conference was themed around Discipleship, and has given me plenty to think about.
As my family has grown and our church has continued to grow, my time is increasingly spoken for. It seems like there is always a person or a task that needs immediate attention.
I’ve been convicted about the necessity of being a faithful husband to Olivia, father to my children, elder of The Austin Stone, and missionary in my neighborhood. It’s overwhelming just to list those things out!
The good news of the gospel for me is that Jesus has already accomplished the work of my salvation, and has empowered me with the Word of God and the Spirit. I can be faithful to all of those things through Him.
My first calling, before all those responsibilities, is to be a disciple. Only out of my affection for Christ, study of God’s word, and obedience to His Spirit can I faithfully live out my calling.
But there’s more good news. Jesus also gave me a perfect example. He spent copious amounts of time ministering to both the masses and individuals alike. He pursued His heavenly Father with perfection, and used his public ministry to ensure he faithfully made disciples.
More and more, I need to be held accountable to bringing my wife, my children, and those I am leading into ministry with me. I continue to see in myself the ease with which I get lost in ministry. The crowds crowd out my discipleship of those closest to me.
Don’t let me replace discipleship with ministry – it’s my road to failure.
Here’s a brief history of our Christmas cards and Santa pics. So fun to see how our kids have grown!
2009 Christmas Card
2010 Christmas Card
2011 Family Santa Picture
2012 Christmas Card
2012 Family Santa Picture
Merry Christmas from the Engstrom family! We pray you experience the thrill of hope and rejoice in our Savior Jesus!
And here’s a bonus pic with Santa!
