Weekly Whirlwind...

Last week was an exciting time celebrating the launch of Gary Haugen and Victor Boutros' new book:

A note from The Locust Effect team:

The response to The Locust Effect this week has been incredible. Books have been flying off the shelves and booksellers everywhere have been unable to keep up with demand.
Excitement has been so great that a second donor even joined in to double the launch week offer. So, for every copy of the book being purchased in the U.S. (both hardcover & e-book), IJM will get $20, up to $80,000 total. This is enough to fund 17 rescue operations.
We think we’re about halfway there. However, because of the tremendous amount of demand at bookstores around the country, we want to ensure that the book will be available again for everyone to get a copy and get to our ultimate $80,000 donation goal.
For this reason, we are extending the offer through next week, Saturday, February 15.
 Order your copy today and help:
www.locusteffect.com
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 Last Thursday, we had the great privilege of hosting our favorite Brit, Steve Timmis.  He is a real favorite with our kids, which may or may not have to do with the gift he brings…
Real Cadbury Chocolate straight from England the size of our ottoman!  Ha ha.  
 Tony was on cloud nine getting to hang around with some of his favorite people… Russell Moore, Steve Timmis, Matt Carter, Dhati Lewis and Danny Akin… Southeastern Seminary hosted the 20/20 Collegiate Conference… The theme for the weekend was "Ekklesia" (i.e. the Church)…  I was able to live stream a little of the Friday panel discussion after the kids were in bed….
 On Saturday, I had the honor of leading two breakout sessions titled, "The Church Engaging Modern Day Slavery and Violent Oppression…."
 I spent a little while praying over those who would fill these seats in those two sessions… that God would grant us grace to "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God." ~Micah 6:8
 It was not the lightest topic, yet it is one where we do have hope… Why?  Because, we trust in the Living God whose character is justice and mercy… And, He invites us to join Him in His work of justice…
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Following the two sessions, I bolted home to pick up my crew (which, by the way, a special shout out: THANK YOU Donna & Erica for holding the fort down all day so I could teach!!!) to catch Joshua's basketball game.  After it finished I decided to treat my crew to Happy Hour at Sonic...



 After getting home, getting kiddos situated, dinner ordered and babysitter ready to go (another necessary shout out: THANK YOU Rachel for keeping my crew so we could visit with the Imago Dei elders over dinner!), we headed to Durham to enjoy dinner together.  In the words of Tony, Steve Timmis is one of our 'yodas' in ministry.  At Imago Dei we often say (which was borrowed from Timmis), "The Church is not an event you go to but a people you belong to."  Another way Timmis' ministry has impacted us is that of showing hospitality.  One of the things he says is, "Our home is not our refuge.  That is idolatry.  Jesus is our refuge." 
Here is a snapshot of our time together Saturday evening… 
Visit the Imago Dei website to hear Steve's message Sunday from Colossians 1 here…
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Finally, one more quick story to cap off the weekly whirlwind…  Monday morning a few ladies had the opportunity to get together and celebrate a birthday.  What a gift of God's grace in giving us the Body of Christ… the Church…  
 Some secret snapshots I took to try and capture the sweet fellowship between these precious women who encourage me so….

 Happy Birthday, Missie!  
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother (or sister:) is born for adversity."
Proverbs 17:17

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