More on my Grandfather...

Over the last few weeks since my grandfather's death. I've been shocked about some of the great things I've learned about him. I always knew Grandpa was a humble man...he never talked much about his time in Africa, other than about some of the great animal stories (lions, crocodiles and snakes, in particular). He never really said much about his ministry. Grandpa and Grandma (who passed away last April), were missionaries in both Sudan and Ethiopia to the the Nuer (pronounced "Nooair). I knew that they helped run a medical clinic, grew fruits and vegetables and generally did what we would consider now days as pioneer mission work. Until today however, I wasn't aware of how succesful his mission work was. Today, I received this email from a couple of pastors in Ethiopia. I've done a little bit of editing in order to make it a little more understandable to American readers:

We have heard that Charles Jordan has gone to the Lord three weeks ago. We know that you might have been in difficult time in remembering his good rest and celebrating the Lord’s birth. We did not hear it on time. However; we want to assure you that father Jordan his now with the Lord. He had completed the tasks that God assigned him to do on the earth. Jordan and his family were the founders of the Nuer Christian faith in Ethiopia. It had been tremendous job that God had assisted them to accomplish. His good rest is not difficult to you alone but also to those of us Charles Jordan and his family brought the Good News. But we know that Charles Jordan and his wife will meet us some time in Heaven because we all are guests on this earth. He has rested and he is now with the Lord Jesus Christ.

He and his wife started a small Congregation at Adura late in 1961 at mission station and that Congregation had grown up to 142 Congregations in Ethiopia Nuer with a total membership of 68,872. He was the first Pastor ordained for the Nuer in Ethiopa and now there are 48 pastors working for the Nuer Congregations. They have achieved their goals in accomplishing the tasks they were given by God. In Roman Chapter 14: 8 says “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” This is a very important message to all of us.

As we remember the good rest of Charles Jordan, we as the Congregation in Gambella celebrated Charles Jordan’s good rest on Saturday December 22, 2007, where 1500 people attended the service dedicated to Charles Jordan’s good work in Nuer Congregations. The Congregation reflected upon his work in Adura and many who knew Charles Jordan particularly the first converts Nuer Christians spoke about good work of Charles Jordan and his family. Everything was remembered for them. In that meeting, collecting was made and it was decided to raise fund for Jordan remembrance. The Congregations decided to raise fund in order to do something for Jordan’s remembrance. The final decision will be made in Synod executive meeting that will take place at Matar (one of the Presbyteries in Wanthao) in February 2008. We will let you know about it. We want to encourage you to help us in prayer that this vision will be reality. The Congregation s said that Jordan had challenged their lives and want to remember him.

We just want to tell you that we are with you and would like to assure you that Jordan is now with the Lord in this season of the year.

Please send us pictures of Jordan if any when you come down here.

Thank

James Gatdet & Rev. Matthew

Family Worship and Unattentive Children

Ligon Duncan has given some great advice for family worship, especially to young families over on A Cross Centered Blog:

The TSS mailbag is filled with excellent questions from readers. One such question comes from Phil, a man striving for a consistent family worship schedule despite an unattentive little child. What to do? Dr. J. Ligon Duncan has written about family worship and so I passed the question along to him for his advice. He kindly responded with this excellent perspective:

My own answer is you start family worship as soon as possible, as soon as one is
married, and continue it after children come along, no matter how young the
children are (and the younger the better). The point is not for the youngest
children to be able to comprehend (or even to sit still during it!). The point
is impress upon them, by paternal example the priority of God and his word in
all of life. Read the whole thing here

My Kids are Disgusting!!....

.....at least 3 of them are. I just finished watching Nolan, Gideon and Haddon have graham crackers for lunch. They were dipping them in ranch dressing and enjoying it!

Interview with CJ Mahaney on Biblical Manhood

This comes from the Sovereign Grace Ministries website:

At a recent regional conference of Sovereign Grace churches, Steve Shank interviewed C.J. Mahaney about biblical masculinity. Questions covered topics such as…
What counsel do you have for young men facing peer pressure and temptation? What does it mean to be a young man in the making?
How can fathers train their sons in godliness?
How do you make sure you are growing as a man?
How can men develop friendships characterized by honesty, accountability, and encouragement?
Download MP3 (right-click and select “Save Target As” or “Save Link As”)

More Difficulties with Family Worship

Confession time. I'm ashamed to admit that quite often I just feel too tired (or maybe it's lazy), to engage with my kids in a quality time of family devotions. I think I've made "quiet time" (the time when mom and dad finally have some peace and quiet) an idol. So often, I just rush through it to get it done, or worse yet, just skip it altogether because things have just been too hectic. Also, it just seems sometimes like it's a war, just to keep everyone quiet and sitting down. Lord, please forgive me. I know that I so often go into this time with a "just get it done" attitude. What does this teach my children about the importance of spending time with God? The crazy thing is when I don't approach it in this way, I walk away being so blessed. It's amazing how much more the boys pay attention when they can see that I'm not rushing through it in an aggravated state of mind.
This month we are using Noel Piper's advent calendar as a devotional tool for our boys. I would link to it, but I know that they are sold out this year and I think they are looking into a re-design for next year. Each evening, up through Christmas morning, the boys will take turns putting a figure on the calendar.

Charles Jordan, 1917-2007

Today, a legend died--my Grandfather. Why do I call him a legend you ask? Well here's why: The guy spent 25 years in Sudan and Ethiopia as a missionary. I don't know every single one of the details of everything he did over there. But I do know that many of the believers over there know who he is. Besides that, a few years ago, I ran into a lady who knew him while he lived here in Tennessee. She told me that she has never known anyone to have such an incredible prayer life. Upon thinking back on it myself, I believe the guy may have spent 5 hours per day in his prayer journal. The rest of the day, he spent in his garden. Grandpa was a gardener like no one I have ever known. In his early retirement years, he had a garden that was probably an acre in size, and he grew every vegetable that has ever been known to man and probably a few that no one has ever heard of.
Grandpa was also loved the local church. He was an elder in one of our local PCA churches for many years. He was always involved in church activities in one way or another.
Grandpa was a sinner saved by grace. Later in his life, he privately shared with me some of his downfalls when I had gone through some great downfalls of my own. His sharing these things with me, gave me great hope in my savior's forgiveness and his desire to work through sinful and broken people. For that, I am most thankful. He will be missed greatly.