boston commoner.

welcome home

It is a bittersweet thing to say goodbye to any brother or sister in Christ. It is bitter because we love each other; it is sweet because we know that we will indeed see one another again, even if not in this life. Donatille has been with us at the International Baptist Church of Boston for almost a year while studying in the city. She will soon be returning to her homeland, Burundi, a country rocked by political upheaval and ethnic cleansing. The following is her testimony of God’s grace as He’s worked it out in her life through circumstances frightening beyond most of our imaginations. God’s grace has not only saved Donatille from the eternal consequences of her own sins, but has saved her physically from those who would kill her, as well as emotionally from what most of us would consider a natural response of hatred towards those who would delight to kill her people. Her broad smile and warm, transparent personality betray no lurking bitterness against life’s often cruel circumstances. She herself has said that “Where there was hatred, there is now an [opportunity to share God’s love].” As conditions in Burundi continue to move towards greater stability, Donatille has heard stories about small groups who have been able to communicate the gospel across the ethnic lines that would otherwise separate them most violently. We hope you are encouraged by her testimony of God’s great power in the midst of human conflict. (more…)

So, I got a comment on my blog this …weekend, I believe it was…from a Pastor Greg Linscott, now an administrator over at sharperiron.org. Mind you, it was only this weekend that I’d heard of sharperiron.org, but the name “Linscott” rang a bell. I’ve seen his comments recently over on Pastor Bixby’s blog in conjunction with the fundamentalism discussions. Not that I go around memorizing the blog comments of perfect strangers, or anything, but you tend to get familiar… Anyway, Pastor Linscott not only made me aware of the sharperiron discussion boards, but let me know he sends his regards to my pastor here in Boston (he’d seen our new church website); turns out Pastor Bill was an old prof of Pastor Linscott back at Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary. Small world. In fact, Pastor Bill seems to know all sorts of people whose names have been popping up in the blogosphere lately. Such as…”Gunpowder” Bauder? Pastor Bill sat next to him in class back when HE was a student. “I knew he’d written that article before anyone told me it was his,” said Pastor Bill during a recent Friday night Bible study for which we’d chosen to discuss the rather ubiquitous-in-certain-circles “Fundamentalism Worth Saving” article. Don’t worry, folks, Pastor likes “Ol’ Gunpowder” a lot. It’s just interesting, that’s all. Especially the previously-unknown epithet ;o) Thanks for revealing that, Pastor. I’m sure Gunpowder thanks you, too. I hope someone from Central stumbles upon this blog… You never know… (more…)

In posting the following, I am not trying to make any enemies. But something doesn’t sit well. In fact, it’s making me sick… (more…)

Yet another addition to the sidebar: Melita Matzko’s Boston Photos.

We call it a phlog.

Melita takes fabulous photographs, and as you’ve already noticed, I’ve made good use of several of them (see sidebar pic, for one). She updates regularly–enjoy!

I would like to direct your attention to the sidebar, where you will notice a new heading, “my church,” under which you find the link to our new church website. Austin Matzko deserves major kudos for taking so much time to design our new site, and so has earned the lofty title of “webmeister.” I’ve been waiting a long time to post this link, since our other site was somewhat outdated. I hope you guys enjoy visiting us, and do it often; we hope to post more news about what’s going on in Boston, along with photos, so that you all can get to know us better. If you’re looking for me in the photo on the homepage, I am the kind-of-blond in the middle, giggling with her eyes closed, serious and as photogenic as ever (ha). You’ll notice, however, that we have plenty of wonderful people capable of looking a camera in the eye who make up for my general deficiencies in this area. They are even more friendly and better-looking in real life! Visit us sometime!