Thank you!

"It was a blast, God was truly exalted, seeds were planted for the kingdom, and we had a great time!" That is typically the answer given to the expected question, "how was your trip?" The experience that the seventeen of us shared in Albania this past month cannot be fully grasped in a few short paragraphs, but with God's help I pray the following will give a tiny glimpse into the ministry that God directed through us this past July, and is continuing as we speak.

Since last November God has been graciously molding the seventeen of us for His ministry this summer. Whether it was devotions from our team leader, team outings and meetings, or merely "hanging out," God's hand in the preparation of our team became more evident to us while we served in Albania than before we left. As the ministry exists, our primary focus was building relationships with students and peers, and then sharing with them the love of Christ exampled primarily in the message of His death and resurrection. As we were allowed to teach english at a foreign language center, the students in our classes were given the opportunity to hear the amazing truth of the gospel as we spent time with them outside of class. At the beginning of our first week of ministry, many of us were shocked with the fact that our first students were no more than 12 years old. This concern quickly disappeared when over 40 kids came to a youth rally we put together! After hearing worship music, a skit, a gospel presentation, and a real-life testimony from a team member, God's abounding kindness was exampled to us through the innocent and pressing questions of these kids. "Have you ever heard this before?" we asked. "I've been to a church before, but I've never heard about Jesus like this."

In the following weeks the ministry turned from ice cream with kids to coffee with teenagers and young adults, yet God's faithfulness was equally as prevalent. As countless opportunities for ministry opened up almost daily, it's clear that every situation was another opportunity to glorify our Lord still more. Almost every situation was another open door to share with people the glorious message of the cross. From playing basketball, helping at a pre-school, painting an orphanage, or even eating fast-food, God's sovereignty in the proclamation of His Word became more obvious with every passing moment. As seeds were planted, God's goodness and grace will only be illuminated still more through His people that remain in Albania.

Picnics, outings, evangelistic field trips, and every other means of spending time with people was the constant focus of every motion of our team, and our prayer is that the unchanging goodness of our God would not pass from our minds here at home. As jobs pick back up and school starts soon, it will be easy for us to quickly forget what we've learned in the past month. As God grows each one of us more for the advancement of His church, we will always remember the dear brothers and sisters on this team, and in Albania. We speak of "our team" as the seventeen Americans that left Los Angeles, but there are countless people across the globe that were invaluable to the effectiveness of God's ministry through us. To Robb, thank you for your faithfulness over the past thirteen years and your willingness to share this amazing opportunity with us. To Genci, thanks for your unfailing dedication to serving the church and our hearts in countless ways. To Peter, thank you for serving us during our time there, and all the preparation before and during our time in Albania. And to all of those who supported us in this unforgettable opportunity, THANK YOU, and grace to you on behalf of our team, and all those who have and continue to benefit from your ministry this summer. Lastly, it's the unfailing prayer of all of us that before all things our holy God and sovereign Maker would be exalted and worshipped more than ever before! Once again, thank you for everyone's patience and diligence in serving our amazing Savior in this way, we look forward to seeing all of your faces soon. "According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care of how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:7,10-11).

Because of grace,

Morgan Pixley

2 Screwdrivers, an Outlet, and a Hubcap

Walking through the market yesterday my friend Roger said, "look at that guy over there, all he has to sell is 2 screwdrivers, an outlet, and a hupcap - what's his secret? How does he get by?" As I sit here watching a missionary's Land Rover get pelted with rain, I can't help but think about the state of the church here in this tiny post-communist nation. I hear many people here, many university students, speak about getting an education - or even going to America in order to get a "better life." It is a glorious but tragic reality that outside of the grace and sovereignty of our Great God there will be nothing better. Someone once said, "for a believer, earth is the only hell we will even know. While for the non-Christian, earth is the only heaven they will ever know." Life is not going to get better. Your country is not going to get better. Nothing in this world is ever going to "get better." As the song says, In Christ Alone our hope is found. Some say I'm pessimistic. Others tell me that I can't say these things to an unbeliever because it will "make them feel hopeless." I surely hope so. It should be our prayer that every unbeliever would realize, truly understand, the gravity of their decision to rebel against their Creator, and to be reconciled to God! Paul said in 2 Corinthians that it's as if God were pleading through us! Friends, our team is witnessing here everyday the utter depression of an entire nation. The devastating effects of a people told that there is no God. I have an endless list of people willing to explain to me the absurd notion that God doesn't exist, and the earth and all things in it came about by a random act of a cosmic lottery. It is absolutely disgusting, even sickening, the hopelessness seen on the faces of the children here. But to what end? Do we throw them a few bucks and say, "have a good day?" Do we walk around like gods expecting for everyone to listen to the Americans - simply because by some incomprehensible act of grace we, children of the Devil, were allowed to grow up in a free and prominent nation? By no means. It is mine and the prayer of everyone on this team that we would only seek to example the love of Jesus to these people. Whether they are 8 years old or 80, the reality remains the same. If they do not recieve Jesus Christ as their King, are supernaturally transformed from self-serving, self-loving, self-worshipping people into ones that seek to know God, and to truly worship Him as God, they will die and be sentenced a punishment that has not yet been paid for. As I write this I can't help but get mental pictures, knowing so many of you are at this very moment praying for us, and specifically for the ones that God is ministering to through our team. On behalf of all of us, and Grace Church of Tirana, thank you, thank you, thank you! One week from today the 17 of us will be going back to America, but these people are staying here. There are about 6 men ready to be trained, starting this September, to teach and preach the word. These are Albanian men who understand the importance of being trained to bring the truth of the Bible in their own tongue, to their own people. Pray for them, and pray for Southeastern European Theological Seminary. Praise be to our amazing God and His Son who paid our penalty on our behalf - because we couldn't do it for ourselves. Soli deo gloria!

Morgan

"But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?" (Romans 10:14-15).

Aquadrom

Why do we have trials? Why does God test our faith? James 1:3 tells us that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. This idea is what the 17 of us are learning as we speak. In the past week we have come to realize that not everything is going as smoothly or easily as we had anticipated - not due to God being unfaithful or unkind - may it never be! - but merely because in our own pride and self-righteousness, we assume that we will always know the best way or the right decision to make. A few of us even in the past hours have learned by God's grace that with a team the size of ours, there will always be insurmountable ideas, opinions, and suggestions on what or how to do something. Sitting on the back porch of the Lincoln Center a few moments ago brought about a discussion between a small group of us that in every situation, without regard to the circumstances or possible consequences, we cannot seek to make decisions without first remembering that our primary objective in every situation is to FIRST bring all honor, worship, glory and exaltation to our Savior and King, Jesus Christ. There is no time in life, no situation that warrants any higher priority or thought. I echo once again Jonathan Edwards by proclaiming that our team wants to be "Resolved, that [we] will do whatsoever [we] think to be most to God's glory" (Crossroads). Some say that decisions involving other people must first take into account other's feelings or sensitivity. The Biblical reality remains the same, though it is our first priority to even eat and drink to God's glory (1Cor 10:31), these two concerns cannot be divorced from one another, rather they exist in what Pastor MacArthur calls a "divine tension." The concern for the glory of Christ and the consideration of others' sentiments is not divided, but unified in the reality that we can exalt Christ by considering other's feelings and ideas. I pray this mindset that God has put in the hearts of our team would echo throughout the next 2 weeks, and that we would continue to remind each other daily of the abounding grace of our Lord, first exampled to us on the Cross at Calvary.

Thanks to all of you for your continuing prayer and loving support of our team. It is our prayer that God's Word would continue to dwell in your hearts for His worship above every other priority that so easily creeps in due to our filthy depravity. Soli deo gloria! 2 Cor. 5:16-17

- Morgan P

Miredita!

Howdy from Tirane, Shiptare (Tirana, Albania)! As I write this we are soon going to be splitting up, some of us to visit the ABC Clinic (missionary hospital) and some to the Albanian version of Chinatown, haha. After that we are all meeting at the Tawainese building for pool and bowling. As random as this sounds, it is our mission and goal to build relationships with the Albanians and consequently share with them the love and grace of our Savior. For security reasons hopefully understood, I can't get much more specific than this.

As we have only been here now for 2 days, there is unfortunately not much to share, but I assure you in the next few days a lot will be happening as classes start tomorrow morning! As schedules change and plans get rearranged, we all have to remember as our awesome STM Coordinator once said, "the magic word in STM is flexibility." Our hope and prayer is that God would continue to exalt His amazing Name in our own hearts and also in our attitudes and character. As a team it's our mission to be without blemish and above reproach as ambassadors of the gospel.

It's coming up on the time that we're heading off for the clinic, so I'm going to have to leave very soon. PLEASE know that we are all praying for y'all, that your hearts would be admonished and grown by the Holy Spirit speaking through His Word. It's now time to leave, so please come back in the next few days for more updates! Soli Scriptura!

- Morgan
(Job 1:21)

15 till Take-off!

In a recent survey conducted by a major news journal the question was asked, "if there is one word that you would consider sums up your essential identity, what would that word be?" Of over two million people surveyed across the United States not one single person replied, "Christian." In fifteen hours 17 people, including myself, will be leaving LAX for the tiny nation of Albania. Please continue to pray that above every thought, every desire, every action, that God would be exalted in our hearts and with our lips without concern for situation or consequence. Though many people see what we're doing as worthy of praise and glory for ourselves, I pray that our attitudes would not be one of pride or self-worship, but only of the grace and mercy that our Father has given us first through His Son. Any mindset other than Biblical humility will not only be useless, but counterproductive for the sake of the gospel. Once again, all of the money and financial support that we have received has been an overwhelming blessing to our hearts, but your prayers are exceedingly invaluble as we minister in the coming weeks. Thanks again to all of you who have and continue to support this team, may God richly bless you and your families while we are away. Soli deo Gloria!

- Morgan

"I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:23-27).

"For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:11).

Contemporary Ethics: No Such Thing

Ethics, as defined by Merriam-Webster Online, are "the principles of conduct," or, "a guiding philosophy" (MW Online). As modern culture progresses, it is only fitting that a culture so steeped in hedonistic self-worship would approach the issue of ethics in a manner that seems to change with the times, and vary depending on circumstance and situation. Many times we hear about human ethics, business ethics, ethical education, and so on. There is even an entire organization devoted solely for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA.org). As the world so quickly turns to self-glorification and various forms of idolatry on a daily basis, it is far too easy to see how this term has been so easily misconstrued. In order for one to claim to have a truly Biblical worldview, he must be uncompromisingly set in the same manner that the great Puritan pastor of the Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards, once stated: "Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory." The purpose of life and all existence for that matter is endowed by our Creator. Each human's purpose on this earth is not unique, however each is responsible and will be held accountable for how he handles it. In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul states, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God" (emphasis added) (1 Cor. 10:31). The seriousness of Paul's message is found not only in his use of language, but in the very words themselves. Eating and drinking to God's glory? There is no prescribed method in Scripture for how one is to do this, but rather it is a condition of the mind, which ultimately starts in the heart. What college do I go to: where can I most glorify God? Should I date this person: can I glorify God more? Should I go out to eat or make a sandwich at home: what will most glorify God? For anyone to truly claim a Biblical worldview, they must have this attitude, this mindset, this purpose. What will most glorify God in any situation or circumstance; regardless of the consequences. This is the only time any decision or practice can legitimately be labeled ethical.

Thanks Jan, thanks a lot.

Recently I had a brief conversation with a lady I work with, she's Mormon. She boldly proclaimed to me as we closed the store one night, "you know what turned me off about Christianity? One time I was watching the 'Christian' channel on TV, and I saw a lady wearing big diamond rings and pink hair, and she was begging me for money... that's when I became Mormon." After explaining to her that people like Jan Crouch, and most of the people on TBN--the "Christian" channel--are not preaching the true gospel, she still wouldn't believe it. Friends, this is the impression the world is getting about Christians. Though its more prevalent today than ever, Satan doesn't need Playboy or Marilyn Manson anymore, he's got Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, T.D. Jakes, and a truck-load of other false teachers, just pick your poison. Satan isn't working hard to infiltrate the church anymore, he has way more than his foot in the door. Rather, it appears that many times he's the very one speaking from the pulpit. Let's pray that God would continue to raise up His men to boldly yet humbly proclaim the inerrant truth from the Word of God, to "be ready in season and out of season," (2 Tim. 4:2) and that He alone would be exalted through the repentance of sinners. Later in the night another girl asked me, "you're a Christian right?" to which I replied, "only by God's grace." I pray that the Lord would continue to grow our hearts more in tune with His Word for His Worship, always seeking to proclaim His wonderful Name above all things! Soli deo gloria!

"For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:11).

Skype!

Recently my friend Genci told me about an internet program that would allow he and I to talk through the internet, just as if it were a telephone- absolutely free. At first I had reservations: the quality will be bad, it'll be complicated, etc. Recently I was over at my friend Josh's house, and I noticed that he too had this program. "Oh yeah! It's great, watch this..." Ring, ring... hello? Just like that his dad, all the way in the tiny village of Polokwane, South Africa, answered. The connection was so clear it was as if Mr. Beakley (Josh's dad) wasn't even on a phone, but sitting across the dinner table! All you need is a microphone connected to your computer ($14.99 at Wal-Mart) and of course speakers. It's as easy as that! Thanks Skype for connecting us all for free! www.skype.com

Bam!

Being from the south, it's kind of expected that people learn how to cook, at least enough to keep them from starving in college! Last night my mom taught me how to make an extremely easy but awesome Italian Baked Chicken. I can't give away the secret recipe, but let me say this- bam! I felt like Emeril Lagasse, only with a southern accent, haha. This delicious meal was started and in the oven in less than 3 minutes- no kidding. For a taste of my new specialty, come on over and I'll have to make it for you! Praise be to our Lord for boneless, skinless, chicken breasts- they make life SO much easier! Y'all have a great rest of the week!

"And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

AlbertMohler.com

Hey guys! I recently added a new link to the sidebar on the right. It's a link to www.albertmohler.com. This is the site of Dr. Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. I'd encourage anyone who reads my blog (which isn't many, so thank you very much whoever is reading right now, haha) to click over there whenever you think about it. Before you write off Dr. Mohler as being a stale seminary professor, read a couple of his blogs and you'll see that he is anything but dated. His insight isn't mere opinion, but daily wisdom from the word of God on very relevant issues today. Thanks again for reading!

Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America's Youth

Forgive me if I can't stop raving about this book by recent graduate of UCLA, Ben Shapiro. It's absolutely staggering the quotes, facts, and statistics that are accumulated in this book regarding the obscenely one-sided, liberal, nature that is found so often in the modern realm of academia. In one paragraph Shapiro writes,

Liberal Democrats dominate the university scene... the percentage of Democrats teaching in the university system closely parallels the percentage of communists in the Cuban government... At Williams College, there are only four registered Republican professors on campus out of two hundred professors. At Brown University, registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 54-3; at Berkeley, 59-7; at Stanford 151-17; at the University of California at San Diego, 99-6. Stanford's History Department has twenty-two democrats but only two Republicans. Cornell's has twenty-nine Democrats and zero Republicans. Dartmouth's has ten Democrats and no Republicans. At the University of Colorado at Boulder, the English, History, and Philosophy Departments have a combined sixty-eight Democrats, and not a single Republican. At that same university, 184 of the 190 social science and humanities professors identified themselves as Democrats.

It's also amazing how far left some of these professors can go. Regarding the topic of economic theory, Shapiro goes on to write,

Professor Richard Sklar of UCLA described socialism as a "great idea" and communist dictator Mao Tse-Tung as a "great leader." Implementation of socialism has resulted in more deaths than all the international wars of the twentieth century combined. Is socialism really a "great idea?" Mao caused the deaths of millions of his own people. Does that constitute great leadership?... An assigned article for UCLA's Geography 5 course in Winter 2001 stated, "'market-oriented' systems of production and distribution do not have a good track record of feeding people, nor in tackling the underlying structures of poverty which consign over one quarter of the world's population to hunger." That's a surprise. Last time I checked, non-"market-oriented" systems had starved twenty million people in the USSR, thirty million in China, and millions more thoughout the world. Guess I must have missed the part in America's history where its market-oriented system killed millions of citizens.

Regarding social and ethical controversies, Shapiro again writes,

UCLA Professor Kenneth Schultz says, "Republicans have not historically been the party of human rights." Oh. So all that stuff about Lincoln and the slaves was a big lie?

It's truly amazing how far left today's universities, specifically professors, have shifted. In a final statement Shapiro writes, "On a wide variety of issues, the professors hew to the party line, and that means Right can do no right. It's no coincidence, and it's an educational travesty."

Thanks again for reading- y'all have an awesome weekend!

Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?

I'm convinced that procrastination is slowly ruining our lives. And I blame my depravity for that, because if I wasn't a sinner, I would always have my priorities in order! Should I work on that essay or watch basketball? Oh, I should work on the essay- but click, on comes the NBA Playoffs! It's amazing how much of a grasp pleasure and pointless wastes of time take up my attention. Thank the Lord that He resets our minds to focus on Him, because if our salvation were up to us, I'm confident that we'd put that off until the last minute as well. Soli deo Gloria! 1 Cor. 10:31

Hey!

Hey thanks so much for reading my blog! I hope y'all enjoy it! Thanks again- hope to talk to you guys soon!