(1) Frontline’s Roommate Connection

This is the best place I know to find a Christian housemate in Northern Virginia and D.C. Many of of Grace Church’s members have found a place to stay at Frontline’s Roommate Connection for Christians looking for housing.

(2) “Housing Available” Page at Grace D.C.

Our friends at Grace Presbyterian Church in D.C. post a list of homes available and Christians looking for a housemate at their “Housing Available” page.

These two sites are good options to find a place to stay so you can join in and help our Bible church make Christ known in the City of Alexandria. God is at work in exciting ways gathering worshipers inside the D.C. beltway, and we invite you to come be a part of his work here!

Justice Sunday Presentation

The horrendous news that three young girls were kept as captives in a house in Columbus, Ohio, has gripped the nation and grieved our hearts. We learned that there are modern day slaves in our own cities and towns in America.

The news of Amanda Berry’s dramatic escape is a vivid reminder that human slavery is still a clear and present danger. Did you know that:

• Worldwide, nearly 2 million children are trapped in the commercial sex trade;
• There are an estimated 27 million slaves in the world today–more than any other time in history. (Source: www.ijm.org)

Justice Sunday at Grace Church of Alexandria

Because of ongoing injustice in the world, join us for Justice Sunday at Grace Church of Alexandria this Sunday, May 12, 2013. A Grace Church member who works for International Justice Mission (IJM) will present the work of IJM and show from Scripture what we can do as God’s people about grave injustices being perpetrated against children, women and families.

Come learn how to pray for and get involved in efforts of Christians that led to good news like these recent IJM headlines:

• “Desperate Call From Slave Trapped in Brick Factory Leads to Freedom For 50″
• Man Convicted For Assaulting 11-Year-Old Girl With Disability
• Justice Secured for 16-Year-Old Aveline

Speaking Up For Those Who Cannot Speak For Themselves

Scripture proclaims the heart of God for captives, starting with us who were spiritual captives to sin, Satan, and darkness. Through the glorious cross, the Son of God provided a way of escape from our spiritual bondage. And then, the Bible summons us who have experienced God’s redemption to do something about the plight of humans in slavery and captivity.

Seek justice, 
rescue the oppressed, 
defend the orphan, 
plead for the widow.

- Isaiah 1:17

Join Us For Justice Sunday, May 12, 2013

We cannot usher in the ideal conditions of Christ’s kingdom for him, but we can show what he is like and minister his mercy by standing up for the oppressed. So please join us this Sunday, May 12, to discover specific ways you can reflect God’s heart for the mistreated and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Here you can download the song to your iPod, print free sheet music, watch a video of the song, and read the lyrics:

Download “Come Praise and Glorify”
Purchase and download the .mp3 here.

Free Copy of the Sheet Music
Print the sheet music here.

Watch “Come Praise and Glorify”

VERSE 1
Come praise and glorify our God
The Father of our Lord
In Christ He has in heav’nly realms
His blessings on us poured
For pure and blameless in His sight
He destined us to be
And now we’ve been adopted through
His Son eternally

CHORUS
To the praise of Your glory
To the praise of Your mercy and grace
To the praise of Your glory
You are the God who saves

VERSE 2
Come praise and glorify our God
Who gives His grace in Christ
In Him our sins are washed away
Redeemed through sacrifice
In Him God has made known to us
The myst’ry of His will
That Christ should be the head of all
His purpose to fulfill

VERSE 3
Come praise and glorify our God
For we’ve believed the Word
And through our faith we have a seal
The Spirit of the Lord
The Spirit guarantees our hope
Until redemption’s done
Until we join in endless praise
To God, the Three in One

© 2011 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Dispatches From the Front, Episode 6: The Power of His Rising is out, and it’s only $5 for a limited time at WTSBooks.com! This is the missions film we showed a pre-release of at Grace Church of Alexandria‘s Missions Seminar in April. In it, Tim Keesee reports about creative missions efforts–such as coffee growing, baking, and aviation–to get the gospel into difficult-t0-reach regions in South Asia.

We’ll also have copies of this on the GraceBooks Table available on Sundays at Grace Church for $5.

Trailer – Episode 6: The Power of His Rising from Frontline Missions International on Vimeo.

Description:

Over two billion people in the world have no access to the Gospel—no Bible, no church, no Christians, no hope. Since many of them live in countries closed to traditional missionaries, how will they hear the Good News? One way is that Christ is calling and equipping men and women with skills—professionals—to use their talents to reach people who are hard to get to. The Power of His Rising is an inside look at how this is unfolding in South Asia, where baristas and bakers, pilots and farmers are a force for the Gospel! It’s an amazing journey by land, sea and air—down crowded streets and remote rivers—to find light shining in darkness and persecuted believers singing because of Jesus! Dispatches from the Front opens yet another window to see Christ at work in the world through His endless life and relentless grace!

More about episode 1, episode 2, episode 3, episode 4, and episode 5 here.

“I don’t expect my children to think and live like me–I want my children to think and live like Jesus.”

I was deeply convicted when I read this clear statement by father and Christian leader Israel Wayne a few days ago in an article entitled “Passing the Baton.” It got me assessing my heart as a parent.

In my mind, what would constitute successful parenting of my son? What are the ambitions I have for him? Will I be disappointed if he chooses to be a mechanic, or a writer, or a soldier, and not a pastor like me? Am I ok if he ends out listening to different music, loves baseball instead of soccer, or is an outdoors guy rather than wanting to be reading indoors like me? Will I feel that I have failed if he ends up worshiping at a church that has different affiliations than the one I pastor in Alexandria, Virginia?

After reading this article, I am praying that my great ambition for my son will be to treasure and follow and be like Jesus, even if he ends up being different than me.

If you’d like to think more about parenting to help your children think and live like Jesus, I recommend Israel’s article “Passing the Baton.“ In writing to parents who home educate their children, Israel identifies several common barriers to healthy parenting which he regularly sees in Christian homes. As someone deeply involved in the home education movement (I worked here), I too have seen this, but in Christian families of all types, not just those who have chosen to educate at home. These barriers appear in any Christian home. They include:

• Controlling parents;
• The belief that honor equals obedience;
• There is no appeal when conflict arises;

What are Israel’s solutions? Among others, they are:

• Expect them to be adults, not dependent children;
• Maintain peace; don’t lose your child over non-essentials.
• Don’t expect children to maintain all of your values. Be a realistic parent!
• Pass the baton to them….and let go!
• Become a fan. Keep on encouraging them even though they have imperfections.

I encourage you to take 5 minutes to read the article and assess your aspirations for your child. May we desire above all for them to reflect Christ’s glory in the world, even if they live a little differently than their parents.

“Passing the Baton” appeared in the Spring 2013 issue of The Virginia Home Educator.