Good Quote!

It is time to be sent, not to talk, do sermons or pray about being sent.
Ed Delph, Church @ Community

Reconnecting With an Old Friend

Have you ever lost contact with a precious friend that you long to reconnect with? Over the years I had tried to track down Matt Park to no avail—yet I persisted because the memories of our past fellowship and budding friendship compelled me to press on. Matt and I met in 1999 while I was living in Harrisonburg—technically we met at the church we attended, Grace Covenant; and we immediately found common ground. We were both campus pastors of our respective ministries. Matt is of Korean descent and was the campus pastor of Agape Christian Fellowship (primarily consisted of Asian students) at James Madison University. Later we ended up working together at a Christian bookstore so we spent considerable time talking, laughing and praying. Matt was a great guy who was devout in his walk with the Lord and possessed a hunger to grow in all that the Lord had called him to pursue.

In June of 2000 I left Harrisonburg to attend Christ For the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas. Somehow in the shuffle I carelessly lost both his phone number and email. After moving back to Virginia in 2003 I tried to track him down, but was unsuccessful. Yet over the years I would feel this deep longing within to reconnect with my brother. Looking back on this I believe it was the Lord who put this ache within my heart to keep looking.

On Monday, January 14 I decided to Google him even though I had done it before with no success—remember, it had been over seven and a half years since I had any contact with him. However, this time I came across a website of an Asian ministry in northern Virginia that had promoted a guest speaker by the name of Pastor Matt Park. Hmmmmm…that could be the guy! Immediately I sent my information to the person in charge of the website, explaining who I was and why I was looking for Matt Park. I included my contact information.

The following day as I was checking my voice mail after work, I instantly recognized Matt’s voice as he expressed excitement and shock that I had somehow managed to track him down. It wasn’t until Wednesday that he and I were able to converse together on the phone, which was a wonderful reunion of sorts. Now we have communicated a number of time via phone, email and Facebook.

I was so excited to learn that he is married to an amazing woman-of-God from Toronto—and that they are expecting twins! Matt was working as a mortgage loan officer during the housing boom, but is now pursuing new opportunities in the northern Virginia area. Over the years he has maintained a busy schedule of ministering up and down the east coast.

I've pulled up a few stories from his website in order to “introduce” him to you. As you read through his blog, it is very clear that he has quite a quirky sense of humor—my wife and I were rolling a few times. Remember Proverbs 17:22—A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. First I’ll start off with something more heart warming before rolling out the funny stuff!

One of My Fondest Childhood Memories: i moved into a new neighborhood when i was 5 1/2. the kid next door came out w/ a Star Wars card that came in Wonder Bread. i asked him what that was and he said it was a movie. my dad then took me and my neighbor to watch it. i felt so cool.

Awww…what a nice story! The next story demonstrates the integrity that is consistent in his life; and his commitment to be a witness for Christ.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

i was coming out of starbuck's in centreville after picking up my weekly copy of the real estate section of the post and i saw a girly-looking wallet on the ground. it was one of those big bi-folds w/ weird design on the outside. it was all wet cuz of the snow. i couldn't find a phone number in the wallet. the guy had a miami license and wisconsin and conn. IDs. there wasn't any cash, but there were a lot of credit cards and some bank stubs and a bank's letter w/ a PIN number. the balance was in 6 figures. i was like, 'hmmm', not the avg. person. dude, i looked at the driver's license and it said James C. Butler. there was a wizard's schedule in the wallet too. i looked at the license and the guy was listed at 6' 7". lo and behold, on one of his credit cards was written 'caron butler'.

i called one of the credit cards alerting them of the find. the rep calls him and gets his wife on the line for a 3-way call. i give her my number and we decide to meet back at the starbuck's. on my way a dude calls me telling me he's supposed to meet me to get caron's wallet back. i pull up and there is a black, pimped-out escalade and a dude standing out there. i call the number from my caller ID to make sure it's the right dude and i give him the wallet. i was sure to tell him that there was no cash in it. i also gave him a copy of 'More than a Carpenter' w/ my contact info. i wrote 'God bless you and your family and John 3:16' in the book. i told the dude that i was a christian pastor. he hands me a hundred bucks and i told him not to worry about it, but he insists that i take it. it would be crazy if he wasn't a believer and actually reads the book. who knows? maybe he'll call me. we could talk about the Lord, i could spank him in one on one and then he can take me to Il Mee buffet. maybe i should've told his wife that i won't give it back unless the wizards make the playoffs this year.

What a story! For those of you that don’t know anything about basketball, Caron Butler is an All Star forward on the Washington Wizards and he is one intense dude on the court! Are you ready for a funny story? This one is probably my favorite!

SNAKE ROAD KILL-i was just driving home from the grocery store at around 10:30 at night. i made a left and a snake slithered in front of my car. that jonk was about my arm and a half! in a split second i had to decide whether i wanted to hit it or swerve. so i hit it. i looked back and it was convulsing. i hate snakes and i thought, 'cool. i'm just gonna let it die in pain' and i was gonna keep going. dag, but i felt like i had to take care of business. i ended up u-turning at a light and then u-turning at another light to put the thing out of its misery. thud. thud. i got it w/ both passenger side wheels. i looked back and now it was coiled up in attack position! oh, my goodness. how many times am i gonna have to hit this thing? i turned around and came back. i was debating whether to go real fast and then try to skid on it or go ultra-slow. either way, i was afraid it would get stuck in my tread and then cause my garage to stink. i opted to go medium speed over it w/ the front tire. i sped up and then i slammed on my brakes to skid on it w/ the rear. that combo did the trick. some birds and squirrels owe me for hooking them up w/ tasty meal. i then drove off road and drove over dirt, skidding a few times to get the meat out of my tread.

Did you like it? I cried when I first read it. I can't wait to use it when I am preaching! *smile*

Here is one that reveals Matt’s ideal retreat. You might want to put on your coat before reading it.

My Ideal Retreat-being in the Arctic tundra (minus wind) on a personal glacier in a jumbo,
pimped-out igloo w/ an outdoor hot tub, bbq grill, unlimited supply of diet
coke and bb-gun w/ a scope. being able to chill in the presence of God praying,
reading the Bible, reading books, listening to messages and watching cool
Christian DVDs w/ matt redman and darlene in separate igloos to lead worship

Matt is notoriously known for wearing shorts and sandals without socks in sub-freezing weather. Here is an excerpt from another posting that amplify this odd trait:

hope you are keeping warm. for me, I LOVE IT!!! i'm not even wearing socks w/ my slippers. it feels great lettin' the dawgs out to breathe. i love the looks and comments i get from people when they see me in my shorts and bare feet when it is like 25 degrees. a little girl said to her mom, "mommy, what's wrong w/ that man?" in my head i was like, uh, more than you know. one little girl said in a really little girl voice, "he's wearing slippers!" i was like, no fake, smarty.
Back to some serious stuff. Here is some good advice he gives to his readers:

Father's heart for his precious children, no next-door neighbor's kid's here. some crucial factors in your growth- find the right church while your there, find the right church where you go next/ the Word & prayer- no shortcuts, no substitutes/ solid friendships in Christ, discipleship, mentoring/ serve.

some random authors off the top of my head-Jerry Bridges, Brennan Manning, Che Ahn (Into the Fire), John Wimber (Power Evangelism, Power Healing), Mahesh Chavda, Keith Green, Neil Anderson, John Bevere, J.I. Packer's Knowing God; Jack Hayford.

some random worship resources-Passion; Hillsongs/United Live; Vineyard; Sovereign Grace; Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Charlie Hall; Jason Upton; Watermark; Starfield; Third Day; Mercy Me

Well I should probably end with a special story about Matt. Actually I think I am going to conclude this with Matt’s greatest accomplishment:

40 day fast. Followed by Greatest Mistake. Eating pho and spring rolls right
away instead of slowly re-introducing solid food into my system.

You gotta love this guy! Thank you Lord for reconnecting me with this precious man-of-God!

For the Cause,

Brian Francis Hume

Hidden treasures...

We must read our Bibles like men

digging for hidden treasure.

J. C. Ryle

A Great Source of Edification: Reading Biographies

Jaeson Ma wrote a great blog posting today on the significance of reading biographies and autobiographies of great men and women of God whose lives made a difference in their generation. Although I have not yet met Jaeson, we have communicated a few times through Facebook. I believe God is raising him up in this hour. On his blog Jaeson shares how he has been inspired as he engages the biography of Watchmen Nee. It is worth reading: Watchmen Nee-Spiritual Discipline.

It reminded me of a posting that I wrote last year with a few recommended biographies that I had read up to that time. Check it out here: The Dead Still Speak. I had quoted Winkie Pratney concerning the need to read biographies:

"Read biographies of God’s great men. Try to read at least one book a month. These dead still speak. Time proves a man’s work. Dwell on the lives of those who had power with God and prevailed. Look for secrets of their Christian walk. What did these men have that you can develop?"

For Christmas I received a number of books including two biographies: Out of the Depths of Sexual Sin by Steve Gallagher; and the fascinating account of a former slave trader turned preacher, John Newton by Jonathan Aitken. I finished Gallagher's book within two days—now I am slowly devouring the story of John Newton whose life had such a tremendous influence during his era. It is a book that I've enjoyed immensely.

Many of you may recall his brief appearance in the movie Amazing Grace, which examines the life of William Wilberforce, a Christian abolitionist who brought the slave trade industry to its knees during a life-long battle. Interestingly it was John Newton who penned the famous hymn that we have all heard, Amazing Grace. Larry Kreider, president of The Gathering, wrote, "Not long ago I watched the movie Amazing Grace and was deeply moved by Albert Finney's portrayal of Newton, the repentant ex-slave trader. Today I have read John Newton: From Disgrace to Amaing Grace and found it to be the most engaging and edifying biography of my spiritual journey."

I will do a write up on each of these books in the coming days.

Also please share any recommended biographies or autobiographies that you have read. I'm always searching for new biographies to read!

For the Cause,

Brian Francis Hume

UNASHAMED

Here is something that I had saved on March 28, 2007 that caught my eye today. It is titled "Unashamed" and it was written by an anonymous author. Enjoy!


I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me – my banner will be clear.

What Does it Mean to be Great?

In the last posting I recommended my readers to prayerfully consider looking back over 2007 as articulated by Doug Phillips on his blog. The goal was to record the highlights of the past year and more specifically, to be able to discern the hand of God in our lives.

My wife and I have taken this challenge head-on and so far we’ve gone through our calendar that Aneta utilizes to record events of our lives, which includes dates, getaways, important meetings, get togethers with friends, etc. Also I have gone through the first two month of my journal for 2007, recording the highlights—these would include key Scripture verses, new people that I met, prophetic dreams, significant messages, musings, outstanding books that I read, meaningful conversations that I had with people—among other things.

I have also encouraged the young adults that attend our TNT community group to do likewise as we spent our last meeting going over possible themes to examine for 2007. They also came up with some additional ideas and thoughts that I will share as we go through this process. I am hoping to have a framework in place once I complete this assignment in the coming weeks. As my beautiful wife wisely noted, having a framework in place will also allow us to be more intentional in 2008 as to what we should be mindful of and record.

The next few days I am going to put “unedited” portions of my journal that I’ve come across that reflect some musings that may be of insight to you. The first is recorded from Saturday, February 24:

What does it take to be great?

What does it mean to be great?

Perceived greatness is not the same as actual greatness—meaning, we may perceive one to be great based on our perception of them. However, this perception may possibly be based upon faulty assumptions that define greatness within the framework of externalities; failing to take into account the intrinsic fabric of greatness. True greatness emanates from an inward core that represents the fusion of integral components: humility, love, persistence, commitment, and a servant-orientation. Actual greatness consists of outward behavior and actions that are aligned with the internal core values of that person—that is, values that are biblical. Are all called to greatness? The answer is found in another question: Are all called to Christlikeness? Yes, of course; therein is the secret of greatness: It is the byproduct of a life consumed by the quest for the Reality of Christlikeness to be evident/demonstrated in all aspects of our lives.

Philippians 2:1-13

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Journal entry ends

In closing, it isn't greatness that we seek in of itself, but rather it is Christ unveiled through us as He really is. As the Scripture indicates, the man Christ Jesus was a servant. Greatness emanated from him because serving the Father's mission was his ultimate motivation. As Christ served the Father's purposes, he met the needs of mankind, thus serving their needs in the process.

I better end it here, I could write all night! Check back daily for I will try to post something each day as I progress through this assignment. Once I complete this, I will start a series on "The Crux of Biblical Leadership."

For the Cause,

Brian Francis Hume

Please Forgive Me...

This post was originally an article written by Doug Phillips of Vision Forum. However, a believer was kind enough to post a comment that pointed me to a number of other blogs out there showing Doug Phillips to have strong racial prejudices that were inconsistent with biblical truth. My own heart was grieved deeply due to my ignorant “endorsement” of a ministry that openly recommends reading authors who are racists. I will not tolerate this—and I do ask my readers for their forgiveness in for my ignorance. I should be more responsible to search out those whom I recommend on my blog. Indeed it is a lesson well received!

For the Cause,

Brian Francis Hume

The Incarnation: A Christ-Centered Christmas

Colossians 2:9—For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,

As Christmas speedily approaches, it is urgent to find the means to sustain a Christ-centered approach to the holidays—especially in the midst of chaos. As studies have shown previously and life experiences attest, the Christmas season can be one of the most stressful times of the year: shopping for family, friends and extended relatives; attending Christmas-related parties and social function; sending cards to everyone on your list; traveling to spend time with family; putting up Christmas decorations—one can be extremely busy, surrounded by people, yet feel depressed and alone. This list goes on, but the notion is well taken—it is too easy to neglect the worship of Christ during the holiday season that heralds his birth. How can we ensure that we do have a Christ-centered holiday season that truly honors Christ? What steps must we take to ensure that we don’t allow this time to bypass us as we run to and fro to accommodate cultural expectations of what Christmas should be?

I want to propose that ruminating upon the doctrine of the Incarnation might just be the necessary means to truly celebrate and honor the Incarnate Christ during a holy-day that is supposedly dedicated to the birth of Christ. Let us begin this study by examining the following verse:

Matthew 1:16—and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Note that the writer of Matthew was writing his gospel specifically to a Jewish audience as evident by his meticulous detail in the genealogy of ensuring that the reader understood Jesus came from the lineage of David and Abraham. Verse 1 of Matthew 1 reads, “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham.” This messianic thread would be of keen interest to the Jewish reader. From Abraham to Jacob the father of Joseph, the Scriptures mention 39 fathers—yet it does not record Joseph as the father of Jesus. It explicitly records Joseph as “husband of Mary” (denoting a lawful union)—furthermore, it reads of Mary, “of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” Jesus is recorded in Scripture as being born of a woman—affirmed by the wording, “of whom” which in the original Greek text is in the feminine gender. The implication in this seemingly insignificant detail is astounding—Jesus was born of a woman whose seed was not the progenitor of a human father.

Luke 1:35—The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

This was the response of the angel to Mary, a virgin. It would not be the seed of man that would conceive the God-child, but it would be by divine origins—the Holy Spirit. This New Testament passage is the direct fulfillment of several well known Old Testament prophecies, most notably the following:

Genesis 3:15—And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

The word offspring is also the Hebrew word used for seed. In other words, the seed of woman would bring forth the means of crushing the serpent’s head. Now obviously biologically speaking, the woman has no seed; for this comes from the man (the sperm)—hence it again points to the Incarnation as the Holy Spirit is the source of the seed.

Another verse that predicated the virgin birth is Isaiah 7:14—Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7—For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Incarnation

The term incarnation is derived from a Latin word, incarnre, which means “to make flesh.” The implications of this doctrine states that Christ Jesus in whom “God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him” (Colossians 1:19)—thus Christ Jesus in being fully God, was also fully human. Again this was delineated in the passages above as Scriptures clearly demonstrate that the seed of man was not the progenitor of the God-man, but it was the Holy Spirit. Being born of a woman by the Holy Spirit ensures that Christ Jesus would have a human nature (note I didn’t say sin nature) without relinquishing or forfeiting his deity. Jesus Christ was fully man and fully God. Indeed it is as Paul asserts, “the mystery of godliness” is in full display in the man Christ Jesus. (I Timothy 3:16)

The incarnation stands as a declaration of the fervent and holy love of a Triune God that is remarkable and worthy of our consideration. The Incarnation was intended to be a means of dispensing grace to fallen man through the Lord Jesus Christ; a conduit of divine love expressed through the Father’s heart; and the securing of eternal salvation through the Cross. The crux of the Incarnation is found in the Cross. A Son was born to die—this is the Christmas message. There is no atonement apart from the Incarnation—likewise, the Incarnation isn’t complete apart from the atonement. James Denney, author of The Death of Christ (1902) writes, “the New Testament knows nothing of an incarnation which can be defined apart from its relation to atonement…Not Bethlehem, but Calvary, is the focus of revelation, and any construction of Christianity which ignores or denies this distorts Christianity by putting it out of focus.”

A Son was born of a virgin woman in relative obscurity—would die on a Cross so that you may find life eternal by faith in Him. The Incarnation made possible the atonement whilst the atonement allowed the Incarnation to find its overarching purpose. In closing, I want to leave you with the words of Charles Wesley that speaks of the grandeur of the Incarnation: “Our God contracted to a span; Incomprehensibly made man.” May the Lord himself bring fresh revelation this Christmas as you behold the glory of the Incarnate Son, "Incomprehensibly made man!"

The Language of Love

What is your language of love? In other words, what do you enjoy receiving that blesses you tremendously!? What makes you feel loved? We all have something that really affirms us and blesses us more so than other things. For some it may be quality time spent together with people or receiving a letter written that expresses the heart.
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For couples, it is paramount that they know their spouse's language of love! And for husbands out there who love football, don't assume that just because you like to watch football that your wife is going to want tickets for Christmas to watch the season finale between the Redskins and the Cowboys!

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Learn the language of love of those within your immediate circle. Be intentional about opportunities to speak their love language!

If you have been reading my blog for an extended duration, you should by now know my language of love.

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Well...do you!?!

For me it is the gift of receiving books! Those that know me well are well aware of my fondness of books! One of my favorite quotes is by Yoshida Kenko (1283-1350): "To sit alone in the lamplight with a book spread out before you, and hold intimate conversation with men of unseen generations-such is pleasure beyond compare..." I understand fully the sentiments expressed by the author of this quote.
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Every Christmas for the past ten years, my mom's gift to me has been to purchase books that are on my most wanted list. She knows my love language! This year I had a little difficulty selecting books because I had some topics of interest, but I didn’t necessarily have specific books within that given category—an example would be the topic of Christology. I’m hesitant to simply pick out any book on Christology without having conversed with someone who is well

rehearsed in good books within this vein. Nothing is worse than paying big bucks for a book that isn't worthy of such an investment!

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Here is a list of books that I ordered today that I am eagerly awaiting to get my hands on. Some of them were recommended by others. A few I simply choose as I perused through several websites reading book reviews.

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Secrets of the Secret Place by Bob Sorge—this book has been recommended to me by several different people over the years. I have several other books by the author and I have been thoroughly impressed with his work thus far.

The Grand Weaver by Ravi Zacharias—I have not read anything by this well known apologetist of the Christian faith. Nonetheless, I have listened to his teachings and have been blessed by them.

Wesley Gold by Ray Comfort

John Wesley: A Biography by Stephen Tomkins—I have been stirred to read more of the historical accounts of past revivalists such as John Wesley. Currently I am reading a two volume set on the life of George Whitefield by Arnold Dallimore, which has been superb! I want to also read more extensively on the lives of other great men and women of the Christian faith.

Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem—This book was also recommended to me by numerous believers who had read it themselves.

The Radical Cross by AW Tozer—Over the years I have enjoyed a number of Tozer's books. One of the earliest books that I read was The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer, which ignited a hunger in my heart to pursue God as a young believer. I love reading books that are written by theologians who "theologize" on their knees—a theology of the head and the heart. This book will supplement another book that I am currently reading by John Stott called The Cross of Christ.

Out of Depths of Sexual Sin by Steve Gallagher—I had read another book by the same author several years ago called At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry, which is a blueprint for helping men come out of sexual addictions. This new book that I've ordered is the biographical account of Steve's journey coming out of a life of sexual sins, perversion and hard-core pornography. Check out Steve's ministry, Pure Life Ministries.

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I also selected two business books that examine the 100 year history of the UPS—along with its business acumen. Several months ago I had a significant dream involving an UPS truck. These books will allow me to better understand what I believe the Lord is saying to me through the dream.

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Driving Change: The UPS Approach to Business by Mike Brewster and Frederick DalzellBig Brown

Big Brown: The Untold Story of UPS by Greg Niemann

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There are a few more books that I am expecting, but I think this list is sufficient to give you an overview of what I am going to be reading the next few months! Please feel free to share any book recommendations that you want to pass along. I'm all ears!

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Make sure this year you know the love language of those whom you are purchasing gifts for!

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Also I will be starting at the beginning of the year a series on leadership that I am currently writing. So far I sense that the Lord has given me some fresh thoughts and ideas concerning this topic. I'll keep you posted!

Simone Beth'el Hume

I want to announce the recent birth of our firstborn—Simone Beth’el Hume. After an intense labor (the Epidural started waning towards the end), our little Simone was born on Monday, November 26 at 8:07pm. As my dad and close friends can attest, Simone made her entrance well heard to those anxiously waiting nearby in the lobby.

Without question it was one of the most amazing experiences in my life. Simone’s size was somewhat of a surprise considering that our doctor was concerned two weeks prior that she might be too small—however, 9lbs, 1oz (20 inches) is anything but small! That is a big baby especially for someone Aneta’s size!

Simone is absolutely gorgeous and has already stolen her daddy’s heart! Now Aneta and I are adjusting to life with our precious Simone. We have been blessed having Aneta's mom with us from Poland. She is a tremendous help to us—I’m not sure what we would do without her. There are times when we’ve been exhausted and she has stepped in to allow us some much needed rest!

Overall the past ten days have been nothing short of life changing. When Aneta gave birth to Simone Beth’el Hume, it started a chain reaction of understanding concerning the Father’s heart for me. Within one week I had a greater revelation of the Father’s heart for me than in the previous fifteen years walking with the Lord. Let me share a few of the highlights.

While Aneta was pregnant, I would often pray over Simone while also speaking tenderly to her, “Simone, this is your daddy speaking. Daddy loves his little Simone.” Almost every night I would speak these words to her prior to our bedtime—which coincided with her active movement in the womb. We knew she was awake during these times when I would bless her, pray over her and speak tenderly to her as her loving father.

Once she came out of the womb in the delivery room, the nurses plopped her naked body on a nearby table with a strong lamp shining on her to provide warmth. My heart was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude as I wept—meanwhile Simone continued to cry out fervently, a sound that was so pleasing to my ears. As the nurse worked on her I inched up closer and closer until my head was within two feet of my newborn daughter. Quietly, but assertively I spoke, “Simone, this is your daddy speaking. Daddy loves his little Simone.” Immediately the flailing arms were stilled whilst silence subdued this holy moment—Simone looked up over her head in the direction of my voice as if she recognized that voice. It was a poignant moment that I will never forget. It brought so much pleasure (and tears) to my heart to see my daughter respond to the sound of my voice.

Then I was permitted to hold Simone in my arms for the first time. As I held her, I kept whispering over her: “You are my daughter, whom I love; with you I am well pleased!” You may recognize this statement as the words spoken by the Father over Jesus as he was commissioned for his public ministry.

Mark 1:11 – And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

That night as I held Simone for the first time, I thought I saw much of myself in her—yet I wasn’t sure if tt was just my own fabrication. However my wife came to the same conclusion. She even told her mother over the phone that Simone looked much like her daddy. Her mother assured her that probably wasn’t the case. Yet one of the first things she told Aneta after seeing Simone for the first time, “She looks like Brian!” In the days since that initial affirmation, I’ve had numerous people tell me the same thing. One friend that I’ve known since middle school wrote, “[M]aybe it's just because I know you, but I see a lot of her daddy in her!”

So what is my point in this?

When others tell me that they her daddy in Simone, it pleases my heart. This has given me a glimpse of how the Father feels when his image is clearly demonstrated in our lives. Christ reveals the Father—when others see Christ in us, they also see the Father. It brings such deep pleasure to the Father’s heart when His image is clearly visible in our lives. In the beginning, God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,” (Genesis 1:26) Can others see Christ in you? Are you consistently demonstrating a greater measure of Christlikeness in your life?

Also I have had another tendency during the past week that has enabled me to capture a glimpse of the Father’s heart for me. There are moments when I am working, preparing dinner or writing—and I’ll have a strong desire to stop what I am doing so that I can simply gaze at my little Simone as she is sleeping. My heart is warmed as I look down into her crib while she is peacefully sleeping. Likewise, the Father simply enjoys looking down upon his sons and daughters who bear his image. This has increased my confidence in the Father’s desire for me.

These life changing moments elucidate the reality of the Father’s love for me. In the midst of working from home between changing diapers and learning the fine art of butt pasting, I’ve gleaned powerful insights into the Father’s heart for His sons and daughters! I hope you’ve been encouraged from my own experiences here. I’ve had to write this on the run as I juggle a number of different responsibilities.

Also keep me in your prayers as I prepare to preach this Sunday at Novum Baptist Church outside of Culpeper, Virginia. The Lord has given me a strong message on the Incarnation of Christ. Blessings!

For the Cause,

Brian Francis Hume