Matt Raines's blog

April 15 always strikes a little dread in the hearts of the collective U.S. culture. Last minute filing. Late night post office hours. Check writing. Tax day.

Have you ever wondered about Romans 16 and why it is in our Bible? Paul spends an entire chapter giving his greetings to dozens of people with unusual names. Perhaps as you’ve read through the critical, doctrinal masterpiece of Romans you’ve wondered why this matters.

Rufus is called “chosen of the Lord” and his mother was like a mother to Paul. Ampliatus is one that Paul, “loves in the Lord.” Andronicus and Junias are some relatives of Paul’s who had to been to prison with him. Mary worked “very hard” for the Roman churches.

Are you catching a vision for what this camp will mean to Frontier Camp?

In 2nd Samuel 23 we find an account of David’s mighty men. These men were hand-picked for their fighting prowess and loyalty. The passage chronicles some of their exploits ranging from a single mighty man killing 800 men in one encounter to getting their king a drink of water from a special fountain behind enemy lines. 

This was a very, very bad sports weekend for me. In fact, it was a nightmare. First my favorite baseball team since childhood lost their second consecutive World Series despite coming within a strike of a victory, not once but twice. To make matters worse my Aggies (not only did I go to Texas A&M, I grew up close enough to Kyle Field to hear the cannon boom each time they scored) lost in overtime to Missouri.

I’m 39 years old and I cannot remember in my conscious lifetime a death attracting more attention than that of Steve Jobs. His passing has dominated headlines, internet posts and profile picture changes. Responses have ranged from thoughtful eologies to crass terms such as iDied. I suppose the reason for the fascination is that his innovations that included iPod and the mouse (I didn’t know that) are products that we use every day.

Last night I had the privilege of sitting on the front row of First Baptist Grapeland and watching 99-year-old Mrs. Estella Brown play the piano for the evening service. Keep in mind that this was not a one-time special music; she does this every Sunday night.

I had a great Veteran’s Day yesterday. We started with our full-time staff gathering around the flag pole here at camp (I’m not sure if we’ve ever done that before). We also had long-time summer staffer Lee Riddle with us. Lee will enter the United States Marine Corps in January. We prayed for him, our troops, our country, our leaders and praised God for our veterans. Keep praying for Lee Riddle, Alex Hight, and Robert Meyer as they soon will enter our military.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

In Ephesians 1:16 Paul says, “I have not stopped giving thanks for you remembering you in my prayers.” Similarly in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 he states this command, “Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Many of you joined in prayer for Logan Schaefer as he battled back from his serious wakeboard injury. The prayers were constant and they brought about a great victory. Let’s not forget what God can do as a result of our consistent prayers.