My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well. She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind. (Proverbs 23:26-28 ESV)

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 ESV)

In a society enamored with sexual innuendoes, promiscuous lifestyles, homosexual agendas, pornographic images, and perverted pleasures, the Scriptures remind us of the destructive and deadly ways of sexual immorality. The believer must be vigilant to obstain from sexual immorality (any form of sexual pursuits or practices outside the marital covenant) while pursuing the will of God: holiness, honor, and sanctification. God desires us to experience supreme pleasure, which is only discovered and enjoyed in Him, by observing His ways. The above texts remind us and instruct us to pursue holiness and purity, a needed reminder and word of instruction in a world opposed to His perfect ways. May the God of all grace and mercy enable us to remain pure and holy while being surrounded by a society that praises sexual immorality. 

The Nut Cracker Adventure

Kimberly and I enjoyed some "culturization" this afternoon as we attended the "Nutcracker" at the Duke Energy Center of Arts in Raleigh, NC. We both agreed that our first adventure of attending a Ballet was enjoyable and educating. Thanks to Papa B (Dave Black) for sending us as well as April and Blaire Roberts for keeping the Fab Five (Nathan, Michael, Rachel, Abigail, and Caleb) that Kimberly and me may enjoy an evening of entertainment alone. Would I attend again? Most certainly! Though a few years ago I would have never gone :) This ol' country boy is learning to love the Arts as an expression of God's Creation. 

Christmas adoption

Christmas is always an exciting time for our families as we, together, celebrate the Incarnation of our King, Jesus Christ. The past 6 years have been filled with joy as we have added a child ever 2yrs since 2007 when Nathan, our oldest son, was born. The Father gave us Rachel in 2009 and then Caleb in 2011. All three brought us great pleasure and excitement was we experienced the beauty of life entering the world. This year we are excited, not about one addition, but rather two additions to the Bradsher nation as The Father has blessed us with Michael and Abigail, pictured in the the middle below. We are currently in the adoption process awaiting the final court date when, Lord willing, all will be finalized. I thank my God for such a wonderful, beautiful Christmas gift - having a part in exemplifying to the world the "reason for the season." Yes, the "Reason for the Season." How is adoption the reason for the Christmas season? Luke recorded Jesus stating the reason for His Incarnation (physically becoming a man), "for the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] has come to seek and to save the lost." Jesus was born to die for the redemption of man. Paul says such another way in Ephesians 1:5, "having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will," the Christ of God was born Jesus the man in Bethlehem so that we who once were not in God's family could become a member of God's family, a forever child of God. Thus, Jesus Christ was born, Christmas, for our eternal adoption. Though our adopting Michael and Abigail is not eternal, our willingly and joyfully embracing them into our family, making them our children, at least in part exemplifies the grace of God shown to us as He adopted us into His family. We celebrate Christmas this year in a whole different light as we are reminded of His willingly and joyfully adopting us into His family. From the Bradshere nation to you: Merry Christmas!

Christmas reminder

Wonderful Christmas reminder of the experience of the "Babe in a Manger" as The Christ of God, the eternal one, becoming man, the Incarnation, for the purpose of glorifying God by redeeming man. He encountered the supreme discomfort to provide the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Read this for greater detail: http://paroikosmissionarykid.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-ultimate-paroikos.html. 

Translating the manger

Wondering how necessary it is to be accurate in translating the text of Scripture to the culture while maintaining the integrity of the message? I am reminded that each word translated from the original needs to reflect the context and the meaning of Scripture. Check out this post for a great interpretational reminder. http://wycliffeusa.wordpress.com/tag/mbe/

Investing in a young life for the Kingdom

Meet Abishek. A young man who lives at the Peniel Gospel Missionaries Children's home in Bagdogra, West Bengal, India. Seeking to provide the children of missionaries an education, the Peniel Gospel Team provides the children of missionaries sent out by the PTG lodging, food, and education while their parents are in the field. Travel is difficult, provisions are slim, and education is mostly unavailable in the villages the missionaries are reaching, thus PGT provides the basic needs of clothing, food, and education for the children while the parents are in the field, all for the futherance of the gospel in India. The overall planin of PGT is to utilize all their resources to train and send church planters out to reach the unreached villages. Their prayer and desire is that these missionary children will use their biblical and secular education to reach the nation of India with the gospel. Interested in partnering with them in this endeavor? You can provide for a student at the PGT missionary home for $35/month - about the cost of a McDonalds meal for 5. For some this would be a sacrifice. For others this would he 1/2 or less of your monthly cable/satellite bill. Nothing more eternally rewarding than investing in God's kingdom. Email me if you are interested. joelbradsher@gmail.com

Christian forgiveness exemplified

Go here: http://www.cnn.com/video/standard.html?/video/us/2013/12/20/ac-intv-widow-forgives-after-husband-killed-in-libya.cnn&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29&video_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2Fm2yzlHOKRe to hear the widow of Ronnie Smith, teacher martyred in Bengazi for the gospel, testify concerning the Spirit of God working in her to forgive the men who murdered her husband. Forgiveness such as she is experiencing only comes through the indwelling of the Spirit of God, it is a supernatural forgiveness only extended through the grace of God. 

Feast

Feeding 5 kids, Kimberly and myself demands a lot of meat. Thankful for the Father supplying venison in abundance last night as I successfully bagged 2 does. The Family, biological and church, gathered to aid in cleaning the kill to refrigerate for the later feasting. Thanks Ed and Shannon for "helping a brother out" when going at it alone would have been overwhelming. 

Married to a Jewel

The writer of Proverbs 31 was instructed, quite possibly by his mother, that a virtuous wife's worth is far above rubies, "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." I confess that I have found and married a Jewel; for, my wife, Kimberly Newton Bradsher, is indeed worth more than rubies. She faithfully trains 5 children daily, 3 biological and 2 adopted, while serving her husband and keeping the home. She works with her hands when sewing, cooking, cleaning, tending the horse farm, designing our future house, and then homeschooling our children. Her desire to faithfully serve the Kingdom of God excels far beyond mine in many ways. We share a passion to reach the nations with the gospel. She treasures Jesus above all else, rarely being distracted from the tasks at hand. I am thankful to my God for allowing me to marry a wife whose worth is "far above rubies!" I pray that if you have not found a Jewel to marry, that the Father will send one your way gentleman - though I am not so sure there are any quite like Kimberly :). 

Laying it all down

A Must Read!
http://www.worldmag.com/2013/12/a_life_laid_down

Jamie obviously saw his gift of teaching and his training, as a teacher, as an opportunity to proclaim Christ to a nation in desperate need of the Light of the Gospel. We should and must be willing to utilize all our gifts, talents, resources, and training as an opportunity to serve the King both here and abroad. However, I will say, that now more than ever we need occupationally trained teachers, mechanics, engineers, architects, electricians, etc. to trade in the supposed comforts and safety of the US to serve in a country, such as Lybia, for the greater purpose of the King. Are you willing? What hinders you? Why not spend your life glorifying the King in this manner. I pray, that God will raise up from the church young men and women who pursue their education for the purpose of laying it all down for the gospel. (Philippians 3:1-11).