The End of an Era

After all the highways and the tears, the time for parting ways has finally come...

The Beast will be forever remembered by the boy who tamed its ferocious ways (and the thousands of gallons of gasoline it consumed!).








All things in this world must come to an end...

The Valley. Part II: Vision and Paradox

If the story ended with deafening emptiness of silence, all would be lost; but God is more faithful to me than I am to my sin.

As I began to question the Almighty, I was painfully reminded of God's response to Job after he poured out his complaint before the Lord:

"'Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
Now gird up your loins like a man,
And I will ask you, and you instruct me!
Where were you when I...'" (Job 38:1-4a emphasis mine)

Where was I when God laid the foundations of the earth? Where was I when the morning stars sang together with all the angels at the glorious dawn of Creation? Where was I when God spoke the sun into existence and its triumphant brilliance burst through the darkness of nothingness? Where was I when the imaginative Creator fashioned Man after His own likeness and declared the undeniable excellence of His masterpiece? Where was I when this same God stepped down into the realm of His own Creation and took on flesh to bear the penalty for my sin? Where was I, where was I?

It's interesting to note that God never answered Job's questions of "why" God did what he did. He only had to give Job but a shadowy glimpse of His character for Job to fall on his face and repent in dust and ashes.

It is here that we find the purpose for the Valley in our lives, for it is in the desolate emptiness and barren wasteland of adversity that God reveals Himself most to us. The Valley becomes the place of Vision.

The Puritans understood this fundamental reality:

Lord, High and Holy, Meek and Lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,

where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox

that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells, the brighter thy stars shin;
Let me find

thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
thy glory in my valley.

Though I stumble through the valley of uncertainty and despair, I am reminded by the psalmist to lift my eyes up to the one who holds things together by the Word of His power:

"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2)

I do not know how far I have to go or how long I have to wait, but I do know that I will walk through the Valley, if He wants me to.

And as I wait patiently on the Lord and earnestly yearn for His salvation and redemption, I prepare for the inebriating moment of liberation.

I prepare for...

The Valley. Part I: Silence

Life can be draining; circumstances, intimidating; and fears, overwhelming.

For the past five weeks or so, God has thrown a whole lot o' trials my way. Some are more obvious than others, but the point being that each has definitely taken its toll on my spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being. It became quite apparent about a week ago that I was intensely struggling in some of life's fiercest storms and desperately entangled with sin that I just couldn't seem to overcome on my own. And I couldn't (not in my own power, that is). I began to despair; desperately trying to find answers to impossible questions and wearing myself out to the point of total and utter exhaustion (just ask the Paasch's).

During this entire ordeal, I kept coming back to a fundamental question: "What can you do when what you feel begins to trump everything you've ever known; when the shroud of darkness begins to envelope your soul; when hope doesn't just seem remote or distant, but completely and utterly removed?" I couldn't help but scream inside, "Oh, God! Where are You?" David's bitterly honest words echoed the plea of my own stormy soul:

"To You, O Lord, I called
And to the Lord I made my supplication:
'What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness?
Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me;
O Lord, be my helper!'" (Psalm 30:8-10 emphasis mine)

Lyricist Dan Haseltin wrote these haunting words:

Take,
take 'til there's nothing
nothing to turn to
nothing when You get through
won't You break
scatter pieces of all
I've been
bowing to all I've been
running to.

where are You?

Did you leave me unbreakable?
leave me frozen?
I've never felt so cold
I thought You were silent
I thought You left me
for the wreckage and the waste
on an empty beach of faith
was it
true?

where are You?

Scream
deeper, I wanna scream
I want You to hear me
I want You to find me
I, I want to believe
but all I pray is wrong
and all I claim is gone

well, I, I got a question

yeah, I got a question

where are You?

Caborca Pics ('06!)

I know these are a little late in coming, but feel free to enjoy them none the less.

If the Son Sets You Free...

"Truly, truly I say to you, eveyone who commits sin is the slave of sin..." (John 8:34)

"...for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved." (2 Peter 2:19b)

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)


The seven days I spent in Mexico last week were some of the most joyous (and yet humbling) I have ever experienced. Although much of my time was spent in the technical ministry, a few times I was privileged to serve our great King by personally sharing the gospel with several people. The most memorable of whom was a young man (I forgot his name, so I will refer to Him as Mateo) living in a small, quiet village outside of Caborca.

That evening Lynn Paasch, Victor (a member of the Mexican team), and myself were assigned as a diagnostic team and we were instructed to go out into the village to 1) invite people come see the Jesus film that night and 2) to share the gospel with them directly both through the tapes and tracts as well as conversation. When we arrived at the last house on our route, we saw a small child sticking his face over a wall who was probably wondering why funny-looking gringos were walking up to his house. Victor, Lynn, and I walked over to the other side of the wall and there we found Mateo. After some brief introductions, Lynn asked me to share the gospel with him in English and she would translate.

My mind raced rather quickly as I wondered what would be an appropriate starting point to begin our immensely important discussion. And so I asked him the first logical question:

"Have you ever heard of Jesus?"

He had. After further inquiry, we discovered that he had been to church before but wasn't really into it. Hoping to keep our conversation direct and simple, I asked:

"Do you understand what Jesus did on the cross?"

He slowly shook his head.

I immediately began a brief explanation of sin and forgiveness, emphasizing that sin wouldn't just give him a bad life, but if it was never atoned for, then he will spend eternity in hell. From there, I spoke of God's holiness and why He MUST judge sin. And, of course, this led the way to the Good News that God offered forgiveness and reconciliation to him if he repented and believed that when Jesus died on the cross, his debt was paid in full.

Mateo seemed very open to hearing the gospel message even though there were times that I felt I wasn't communicating very clearly, but Lynn did such an brilliant job of translating and continuing the conversation after I had finished. Shortly afterward, we exchanged goodbyes and handed him a few tracts.

Please, continue to pray for Mateo and countless others who heard gospel during our stay in Mexico. Ask that God would open their eyes to the seriousness of their sin, and their need for the Savior.


By the way, I was able to snap a quick photo of Mateo at an opportune moment because I saw an immensely strong parallel between his bodily position and his spiritual condition. In the picture, it seems as if Mateo is imprisoned behind bars, anxious and longing for freedom from his helpless estate. In reality, he's just leaning a against a wall. But spiritually speaking, Mateo is enslaved to his sin and in bondage to the devil; he is lost and without hope. He desperately needs Christ to tear off his shackles of sin and give him a new life and new heart. Mateo needs a Savior.

There is a powerful application for those of us who have already repented and believed in Christ:

"But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Romans 6:17-18)

Praise be to our great God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that we are no longer slaves to sin, but obedient and humble servants working in the service of His Kingdom till death takes us to be with Him forever and ever.


privileged to serve,

Jonathan David Roberts

Gloria a Dios, Hallelujah!

As most of you know, I've spent the last week on a mission's trip in Caborca, Mexico. Twenty-some people from EVBC and about ten girls and guys from a church in Hermosillo came together to witness God do great things and to make His gospel known to the nations. There are loads of stories to share and many memories to recount, but right now I'll just share what I learned and how the trip fared from my perspective.

The first two days were the most humbling for me because that's when I believe that God did the most work in my own heart. I was just SO overwhelmed by His goodness, grace, and mercy. This really hit me one night when we where driving back to Diamante from an evening spent sharing the gospel with a community outside of Caborca. The words of a familiar song kept ringing in my mind:

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure;
That He should give His only Son,
To make a wretch His treasure.

I just couldn't believe that God, knowing how desperately wicked my heart is, would still choose to step into His own creation and suffer the most searing loss to rescue you me from where my sin would certainly have led me. These words also pressed heavily on my heart:

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

God really used a series of events and experiences to chip away at parts of my heart that had grown hard and callous because of my sin. After spending so much time in God's word, seeing God's people serve Him so joyously, and witnessing many come to repentance and faith in Christ, my heart was just overflowing with both sadness and joy. I couldn’t help but ask God, “Why choose me Lord? I’m such a poor reflection.”

One of my favorite moments on the entire trip happened the night that we spent in Campo Rocio (I think. It may have been a different one). I was on the technical team that night, doing most of the behind-the-scenes work and I volunteered to sit on top of the van and take care of the projector. Now, for those of you who haven’t heard stories from the past trips must understand that this is by no means an easy position. Since we used the projector to shoot a movie (either the Passion or a Jesus film for kids) onto the side of the RV, someone has to sit on top of the van during the entire length of the film to make sure it doesn’t fall off or anything. And since any movement will shake the picture, you don’t have much freedom in terms of mobility. This can become quite uncomfortable, especially when the cold start to bite. I thought it was hilarious cause when I jumped off of the van after we were done; my feet were so numb that I didn’t feel ANYTHING when they hit the ground.

Anyway, it was totally worth it, because after the film was over, Pastor Alfonso gave a clear presentation of the gospel and asked for those would wished to receive Christ and learn more of what it means to follow Him, to come forward. I think I counted about 30 or 40 people. It was incredible! But I think the best part was when one of the Christians from the camp came forward and said he wanted to sing a song. That night we heard the doxology (Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures hear below, etc…) sung in Chol (a local dialect). It was beautiful.

Like I said before, this is just a small sample of God’s unbelievable goodness to us. It would take a considerable amount of time to recount all that God did this past week. But for even the smallest of amount of grace, I am eternally thankful.

Mi Corazon, entona la cancion,
Cuan grande es El, Cuan grande es El.

Acapella

This weekend I celebrated New Year's Eve at Eli and Heather's joint. It was fantastic; we played games, ate loads of good food, and I got the chance to play with Micah!!! Good stuff...

Anyway the most memorable part of the night (for me anyway) was when we (Casey, Kayce, Jerry, and Tim) were all gathered around in the kitchen and somehow we randomly started singing hymns. To this moment I'm not sure how it all began, but it was so amazing. As soon as we were finished singing one, someone would immediately pick another hymn, and we'd all jump in (although some of us knew more of the words than others ;) ). Even though we were slightly off key half the time and managed to butcher a couple beautiful melodies, I was deeply moved.

I was reminded how much I love the hymns; they have so much to say about our faith. Two hymns in particular that we sang remain poignant in my mind: Be Thou My Vision and How Deep the Father's Love For Us.

I encourage you to read over them and let the words sink in...


How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr's, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom


Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:T
hou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

-John