BRANCHES November 2013

BRANCHES
GREEN
BEAN
GRACE
THE FIGHT OVER
DINNER, A PICTURE
OF TRUSTING IN
GOD'S PROVISON
be a good gift getter
heyday highlights:
pictures from the event
NOVEMBER 2013 | southwood.org

SOUTHWOOD
contents
˜
ABOUT THIS ISSUE
The Redskins—one of the many team names under attack for being politically incorrect.
Yet one of the predominant images associated with the story of the “first thanksgiving” is
the Native American “Indian”—and modern day descendants don’t think as highly of the
event as it is often portrayed.
The United States’ formation provides the backdrop for our Thanksgiving Day celebration
which is the conglomeration of several unique “thanksgiving” traditions. Harvest
celebrations of early settlers from English tradition, Native American autumn feasts
of thanksgiving, and Puritan religious observances all seem to come together. But
thanksgiving celebrations were a norm prior to the Pilgrims encountering the “Indians.” It
was a common practice at significant ship arrivals, battle victories, and bountiful harvests
alike to give thanks, and make it an annual tradition!
While what we think of as being the “first thanksgiving” was far from being the first, and
certainly a bit one-sided in its celebration, there is no doubt that there was much to be
thankful for. And through the mystery of general revelation, all of these thankful parties
looked beyond themselves and recognized that they were blessed.
It’s easy these days for people of all faiths and cultures to share in their thankfulness, but
our challenge is in sharing our understanding of how God has and will continue to bless us.
Consider regularly this holiday season how you have been blessed and find opportunities
to share these blessings with others. On the following pages we’ll struggle together with
how God’s provisions should be met with a response of gratitude and contentment.
BRANCHES
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jonathan Barnette
DESIGNER Jacki Gil
COVER PHOTO
Taken by Jonathan Barnette of
Lyla Townsley at the dinner table.
CONTRIBUTORS
Will Spink
Carolyn Respess
Chad Townsley
Billy Spink
Sarah Niemitz
James Parker
PHOTOS
Kim Delchamps
Jonathan Barnette
Jacki Gil
1000 CARL T. JONES DRIVE | HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA 35802
(256) 882-3085 | WWW.SOUTHWOOD.ORG
Jonathan Barnette, Editor
JEAN F. LARROUX, III Senior Pastor
MELISSA PATTERSON Executive Assistant
ADULT MINISTRIES
SARAH NIEMITZ Director of Community Development/Assimilation
JAMES PARKER Chief Musician
WILL SPINK Associate Pastor/Shepherding
STUDENT MINISTRIES
KIM DELCHAMPS Administrative Assistant
NINA BANTA Director of Children
NANCY McCREIGHT Assistant Director /Children/Nursery
CHAD TOWNSLEY Associate Pastor/High-Life
WINNIE WINFORD Assistant Director/High-Life
MINISTRY SUPPORT
PAT TRAPANE Bookkeeper
JONATHAN BARNETTE Director of Communication
JACKI GIL Graphic Designer
JANICE CROWSON Director of Facilities/Finance
LYNDA CLAYDON Facilities
MIKE MARREN Facilities
ELIZABETH BUTZ Receptionist
2
3
8
14
7
12
4
5
5
7
7
10
15
about this issue
pastor’s note
REFLECT
green bean grace
The fight over dinner, a picture of
trusting in God's provision
the rare jewel of christian
contentment
Jeremiah Burroughs' classic treatise
on Christian contentment
RESPOND
question of the month
What is your favorite way to
prepare your Thanksgiving turkey?
5 questions
Pastor Billy Spink dicusses the
struggle to be thankful & content
RELATE
southwood by the numbers
session update
from the kitchen
Carolyn Respess' famous traveling
sour cream pound cake
be a good gift getter
Giving with a thankful heart as an
expression of grace
second mile wish list
The detailed list for
Santa's Secret Shop
heyday highlights
Some of our favorite pictures from
this year's HeyDay
all that is fair
Andy Gullahorn’s new album
Beyond the Frame
UPCOMING
EVENTS
November 17 & 24
Santa's Secret Shop
November 24
Deck the Halls: decorate the church
for Christmas
November 28 & 29
Office Closed: Thanksgiving Holiday
2 NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG

PASTOR’S NOTE
Look in the mirror before Thanksgiving…
Thanksgiving Day is one of those days that for most
people their favorite pair of elastic waist sweatpants
emerges from the top of the closet like a royal robe to
be worn to the feast. It is a day marked by good food,
football, family and friends. We usually fry a turkey at
my house or my neighbor’s home. The fried turkey is
usually devoured on the countertop in the kitchen by
family scavengers who eagerly push past one another
to get a hot piece of turkey "crust." We typically stop
during the meal together to give thanks for the food
and to ask everyone the same question, "what are you
thankful for?" Answers vary and teenage eyes usually
roll, but nonetheless we make the effort to remember
those things for which we should be thankful.
Our Puritan forefathers in the faith used to spend
time contemplating their faith, the work of Christ and
the application of Biblical truth to their own hearts.
You will notice all around town that the retailers are
preparing for Thanksgiving so I thought that we might
consider preparing too. My personal goal is to fast
one lunch per week during the month of November
to consider many things for which we could give
thanks this year! Now you know we’re not a "rulesey"
kind of church or a "have to" bunch of Christians
so take this with that understanding and know that
you don’t have to do anything during any lunch, but
this may be helpful for those of you who want to get
in the Thanksgiving spirit!
Week 1
Beginning Sunday, November 3rd
In your mind, walk around one room of your house.
Find one object that you can cue off of to answer this
question: How did God’s blessing make this possible?
You might cue off of a picture of your children or
grandchildren and think of God’s provision there or
you might see a special piece of furniture reminding
you of generations gone by. Regardless of what you
observe, try to consider every possible way that
God’s direct blessing was the catalyst for this in your
life. You will be thrilled at how easily your prayers of
thanksgiving will be informed by this contemplation.
Week 2
Beginning Sunday, November 10th
In your mind, walk around your heart. Look around
and observe what is there. Consider the things you
think about. For the lovely thoughts consider how far
they are from perfect and for the unlovely thoughts,
the sins that lurk in the dark places, consider what
those things actually deserve. Apply the Gospel to
everything you find. When you see "good" things,
specifically turn from them to the perfection of Jesus
and thank God that His obedience in this area never
wavered and is profoundly more beautiful than
anything beautiful in us. When you see "bad" things,
specifically turn from them to the atonement of Christ
and thank God for the finished payment made on the
cross for your sin. Some of those sinful things may be
very unsettling to consider, but give God thanks that
his grace covers sins so heinous we don’t even like to
think about them!
Week 3
Beginning Sunday, November 17th
In your mind, focus on someone you dislike. The more
this bothers you, the more helpful it will be. Spend
some specific time finding their virtues. Consider the
ways that they reflect the image of God. Make a list
and pray through that list thanking God for how he
has made them and how they really do show forth His
glory in ways you hadn’t considered before. For help,
go read Romans 5:10 and remember we were God’s
enemies and then read Zephaniah 3:17 and imagine
Him rejoicing over you, His former enemy. You find the
strength to love others in seeing the way He loves you!
Thanksgiving week
Beginning Sunday, November 24th
In your mind, go to your Thanksgiving meal. Write
down the names of each person who will be there.
List two things for each person: something you are
thankful for about them and something they bring
to the day that would be noticeably absent without
them. Pray through your list and thank God for the
blessing of the people, not just the food, you will
enjoy on Thanksgiving Day. Consider taking just
one of those people aside on Thanksgiving Day and
having the special experience of telling them how
much you love, care for and appreciate them.
After you’ve found those special sweatpants on
Thanksgiving morning, take a minute to thank God for
a month of time with Him. Contemplation will probably
feel more comfortable, more elastic waist-ish. If that is
true, then really thank Him! Our hearts are naturally
averse to intimacy with him. We are often "eye-rolling
teenagers" sitting at the table with Him wondering if
we have to pray or have to say what we are thankful
for. If time with Him has started to feel anything like
a comfortable pair of Thanksgiving Day sweatpants,
then it is only because He has been changing us, and
that is something to be profoundly thankful for!
For more from Jean, check out
his sermons at southwood.org
jean.larroux@southwood.org
@jflarrouxiii
NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG 3

southwood by the numbers
From volunteers to juice, this month's numbers are all about Nursery & Preschool.
20
Number of babies born to
Southwood families so far this year.
thirteen
Number of paid workers on Sunday morning. Volunteer
Having paid workers allows more Southwood
members to attend morning worship.
eight
teachers who teach
God's Word to one, two and
three year olds.
120
Number of children on
roll in Infants through
PreK 4's classes.
one hundred seventeen
Volunteers who serve on a rotational basis on the nursery
schedule. If you'd like to rock a baby on Sunday morning,
email nancy.mcreight@southwood.org
1,000
Distance in yards that the pagers reach before the
high-pitched, repetitive song starts playing—it's
supposed to remind you to return them!
512
Ounces of apple
juice served on a
Sunday morning.
4 NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG

elate
SOUTHWOOD
SESSION UPDATE CHAD TOWNSLEY
The Session of Southwood met for its stated meeting on October 20th.
Upon receiving and reviewing reports from each ministry committee and
the Diaconate, the Session was particularly encouraged by the the work
of the Community Development Committee as they recently decided
on benevolence funding for the 2014 calendar year. The Session is
excited to see how Southwood’s resources and relationships with our
ministry partners might impact the kingdom in the coming year!
Of great importance this month was the Session’s approval of the 2014
church budget. Approved unanimously, the 2014 budget is intentional
to continue Southwood’s caliber of ministry and more from 2013, as
well as give attention to a variety of facility and personnel needs.
The Session is extremely grateful to the Finance Committee as they
labored the past two months to produce and recommend the numbers
and details of the budget. Likewise, the Session is very excited about
a strong partnership with the Diaconate and their careful attention to
the budget. It is important to note that our Deacons whole-heartedly
supported and approved the budget. This strong partnership and trust
helped make the Session’s approval an even easier decision!
As is the stated practice from our by-laws, there will be a congregational
meeting early in the first quarter of 2014 to present the budget for
informational purposes. This meeting with be an opportunity for the
Session to present the approved budget to the congregation for
information and discussion. Approval of the budget stands as the
responsibility of the Session, working with the Diaconate. Please seek
out any elder or deacon with questions regarding the budget that arise
before the time of this meeting.
SOUR CREAM
POUND CAKE
from the kitchen of
carolyn respess
1 cup shortening • 3 cups sugar
6 eggs • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
3 cups flour • ½ pint sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla • 1 teaspoon
lemon extract or almond extract
Cream shortening, add sugar
gradually and cream well. Add 1
egg at a time, beating after each.
Sift flour several times, add baking
soda and sift once. Add flour
alternately with sour cream. Add
flavoring and pour in greased,
floured bundt pan. Bake at 300
degrees for one and a half hours.
Carolyn gave us this bit about her cake: "This I
call my 'traveling cake' as it travels so well by car,
postal service & long air distances. I shipped my
first two to Young Life youth in 1974 at a property
in the California mountains. Since then I have
shipped many from Charleston to San Antionio, and
even to Dubai. This cake has been enjoyed by many
at church picnics and suppers in the past. Many
lovers of this cake like to take a slice and butter
& toast it for breakfast. It's a favorite around the
Holidays each year!"
This recipe came from Mrs. Glenn
A. Hearn in the original Huntsville
Heritage Cookbook in 1967.
NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG 5

SOUTHWOOD
respond
BRANCHES
Question of the Month
What is your favorite way to prepare
your Thanksgiving turkey?
Everyone has a favorite turkey prep
tradition. This month find out the favorite
method at Southwood.
Baked
Stuffed
Turducken
Fried
Smoked
Roasted
27%
17%
3%
15%
15%
23%
Mission Partner Pr
Justin is one of the many mission partners supported by your tith
Southwood’s benevolence budget. He grew at Southw
Theological Seminary in Charlotte and is an ordained teach
He has spent the last six years teaching at Westminster Chri
cross country and soccer. He is passionate about working
a short term missions trip with World Harvest he felt par
students in South Sudan.
Justin is going for three years to Mundri, South Sud
Mission team and partner with the local church as a
in 2011 following twenty-two years of war, South S
country, but it is made up predominantly of youth
by the war and are in great need of spiritual a
will be sharing the Gospel and mentoring
equipping them to be leaders in their familie
Mission Par
How Yo
To keep up with Justin over the next three y
Sixteen years ago Huggy An and his wife
time a ministry to UAH students. Speakin
like a hurdle for the Ans, but God used it
specifically for international students a
ministry for over 10 years, recognizing t
to our own college campus through the
• Pray for Justin’s on-going support.
• Justin asked that we pray for God to g
him a deep understanding of his ow
and an overwhelming thankfulne
God’s grace to him Christ.
Mission P
InFocus currently holds a Bible study
through field trips, bowling night, m
students who attend the Bible study
and some do not believe God exists
and have strong, often opposing vie
will cover a general foundation of
fall and move to the person of Jes
follow other religions have strong
staff to have patience and a deep
Good News effectively. Personal
this Good News to students, and
Over 26 years ago, Second Mile D
Terry Heights and Hillandale neigh
Christ, a reconciliation between a
uneducated, the fortunate and less
programs: Pride for Parents (which
Thrift Store), Second Mile Preschool
Pride for Parents seeks to empower
the dignity of purchasing or earn
Christmas presents. Each Christma
find new, unwrapped toys at reduc
work for store credit to purchase gi
their parents receive the greater gif
Express Grace w
Sharing a meal crosses cult
needs host families to inv
Thanksgiving. The students
register to join a host fam
contact sarah.niemitz@sou
How
• Pray that the parents shopping at
Neighborhood Store would see Chri
love exhibited around them and
drawn to Him as the true gift giver.
To learn more about Second Mile
JU
SECO
BE A GOOD
GIFT GETTER
SARAH
NIEMITZ
It’s here—the Christmas article in November. You know the one; it usually
opens with the verse “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts
20:35) and goes on to describe the Christmas giving project. But WAIT!
Keep reading because you may be surprised.
Have you ever watched a young child opening presents? It’s usually an
excited flurry of paper, shouts of excitement, and maybe a “thanks, this is
the best!” when the toy is finally revealed. You will almost never hear an
“oh guys, you didn’t have to....” Children are not concerned about whether
the finger-painted Christmas tree picture they gave you measures up to
the brand new train set you gave them. The obvious disparity in value
brings no overshadowing guilt—they are just too excited!
I am not sure when it happens, but as we grow up something switches.
Suddenly, when someone gives a gift we say things like “oh, you shouldn’t
have,” or “gosh, I did not get you anything nearly this nice.” Our joy in
receiving their gift is overshadowed either by guilt because we did not
offer a present of equal value or by the prideful sense of having been the
better gift giver this year. If we’re honest, we all do this! It’s why we have to
set “gift price limits” for family gift exchanges. We know we will feel guilty
if we walk away with a thirty dollar gift in exchange for our ten-dollar gift
card, or we will be mad if it is the other way around. Whether we compare
the face value or the thoughtfulness of the gift does not matter—the fact
is that we are always vying to make sure we give the “appropriate” (or
maybe even the better) gift. The Jesus Storybook Bible paraphrases the
story of Jesus’ interaction with little children from Matthew 18 and 19, Mark
10, and Luke 18. The apostles are arguing over who is more important in
God’s coming kingdom—each comparing their personal qualifications to
see who offered most. Meanwhile, little children have gathered anxious
to see Jesus, but the apostles quickly turn them away. Jesus is too busy
with important people like adults to be bothered with little children—after
all, children do not have anything to offer the kingdom! “But” the story
continues, “[the Apostles] had forgotten something. Something God had
been teaching His people all through the years, that no matter how clever
you are, or how good you are [...] none of it makes a difference. Because
God’s love is a gift and, as anyone will tell you, the whole thing about a
gift is it’s free.”
The Jesus Storybook Bible describes the little children in this story as “gift
experts” who “knew all about getting gifts.” You see, they did not come
to Jesus thinking they had something to offer the kingdom. Instead, they
came with great anticipation to see Jesus himself! Jesus welcomes these
little children and then tells his friends something astonishing. He says that
His kingdom—this big grand kingdom they have been scheming to rule—
belongs to the little children! He goes so far as to say “whoever does not
receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Mark 10:15).
Jesus knew that the secret lay not in being the best gift giver but rather in
being the best gift receiver. It seems the children have it right: Christmas
really is about GETTING a present. The truth is, we will never be good gift
givers unless we are first good gift receivers.
6 NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG

tner Profile
felt called to volunteer with InFocus, at the
g English as their second language seemed
as a gift —leading them to focus the ministry
t UAH. Southwood has supported the InFocus
hat God has brought the foreign mission field
se students.
on Friday evenings and reaches out to students
ovie night and cultural exchange events. Many
have never seen a Bible or heard of Christianity,
at all. Others have been raised Hindu or Islamic
ws on god and the Bible. Therefore the Bible study
Christianity and Biblical perspectives on God this
us and His teachings in the spring. Students that
feelings about Christianity—requiring the InFocus
knowledge of these differing religions to deliver the
contact is the best way to meaningfully demonstrate
this is where InFocus needs help from you.
artner Profile
evelopment began serving alongside Huntsville’s
bors. Their ultimate goal is to bring about, through
ll people—the rich and poor, the educated and
fortunate. They serve the community through three
includes the Neighborhood Store and the Baby
, and Parent Initiative.
parents to provide for their families—giving them
ing credit for school supplies, clothes, and even
s, they open Santa’s Secret Shop. Here parents can
ed prices, and they even have the opportunity to
fts for their children. Children receive presents, but
ts of dignity, choice, and ownership.
ith InFocus this Thanksgiving
ural and language barriers in a unique way. InFocus
ite 2 international students each to their homes for
may need to be picked up. Around 20 students typically
ily for Thanksgiving dinner. To offer your home please
thwood.org
You Can Pray
the
st’s
be
ofile
es and offerings through
ood, attended Reformed
ing elder in our Presbytery.
stian Academy and coaching
with students, and following
ticularly called to minister with
an to work with the World Harvest
youth pastor. Seceding from Sudan
udan is not only the world’s youngest
s! Many of these youth were orphaned
s well as physical healing. Justin’s role
students, particularly young men, and
s, communities, and churches.
ears, visit namingthewind.wordpress.com
u Can Pray
ive
n sin
ss for
• Ask God to make the hearts of the Mundri
youth receptive to the Gospel of his grace.
• Pray that God will use the church in
Mundri to profoundly shape the identity of
this young country.
STIN HUSTON
• Pray that God would use even this
small step of empowerment to strengthen
families.
Mission Partner Profile
How You Can Pray
The Republic of South Sudan is only
2 years old, separating from Sudan in
2011 following decades of civil war due
to cultural and religious differences.
Natural resource exports such as
oil, teak, copper, iron, and gold form the
basis for their economy, and over 83% of
the population lives in rural villages.
72% of the population is under the
age of 30 and over 50% of that
population is under the age of 18.
Pray for the InFocus ministry Pray that the students come to InFocus
team to have spiritual wisdom and Bible Study consistently, especially for
compassion to deliver God’s Good the students with different religious
News to the students effectively. backgrounds.
Pray that the students are softened to the truth of Christianity.
Countries represented by InFocus
students currently attending Friday
night bible study: China, Taiwan,
India, Iran, Japan, Korea and Brazil.
Other events have drawn students
from Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Nigeria,
Afganistan, Vietnam, Malaysia,
Thailand, Russia, Gambia, Jamaica,
Jordan, Bangladesh, Burma and Syria.
Express Grace
with Second Mile
this Christmas!
Bring new, unwrapped toys to
Southwood’s Sanctuary November
17th and 24th! These toys will be
donated to Santa’s Secret Shop. For
a wish list please visit our website
southwood.org/santa
INFOCUS MINISTRY
The Mission Partner
Profile postcard is a
new resource to help
connect with and
pray for our partners
in the mission
to Experience &
Express Grace.
Look for yours in the
mail each month!
If you're not a member, and
you would like to receive
this resource, email
missions@southwood.org
SANTA’S
SOUTHWOOD
SECRET
SHOP
WISH LIST
Girls Stuff
[] Dora the Explorer:
dolls & DVDs
[] Baby Alive (any variety doll):
learn to potty, goes to
doctor, etc.
[] Make up Kits/Hair kits
Development, please visit www.secondmile.net
ND MILE DEVELOPMENT
Jesus also knew that children are not only good gift receivers, but they are
also good imitators. Have you ever watched a little girl grab her purse to “go
to the grocery store?” Or maybe you have seen a little boy start his “lawn
mower” to take care of the yard. Mowing the yard is not a chore for little
boys—it’s a privilege! They take real joy, not pretend “I ought to love this
but I don’t” joy, in imitating their daddy. Giving gifts is the same. It is our
childlike way to imitate our daddy. It is a privilege, not a chore!
BOYS STUFF
[] Axe Bodywash Kits
[] Legos: Star Wars,
Transformers & Star Trek
This Christmas, instead of trying to outdo your friends and family as the
best gift giver, practice first the art of being a gift receiver. Put down your
finger paintings, photo books, bundt cakes and homespun righteousness,
and run with excitement to the Christmas tree. Tear open His gift to you in
Christ and revel in excitement. Then, and only then, grab your wallet and
go imitate your daddy.
For the third year in a row, Southwood is collecting toys for Santa’s
Secret Shop. Part of Second Mile’s Pride for Parents, Santa’s Secret
Shop gives parents the chance to purchase new toys at reduced
prices. Parents can even work to earn store credit for gifts. This
not only empowers them to provide for their own families and
choose specific presents for their children, but also offers
encouragement as they work alongside Neighborhood Store
employees and other parents during the holidays.
Take a look at the Wish List to the right. You
can bring your new, unwrapped toys to the
Southwood Sanctuary November 17th and 24th.
Please give batteries separately.
MORE Stuff
[] MP3 players for Boys & Girls
[] Scooters: Tinkerbell,
Transformer, Dora the
Explorer
[] V-tech educational toys
[] Bicycles & tricycles (up to 26”
bikes): for girls & boys
[] Alabama & Auburn items
NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG 7

highlights
From the smallest
baby to the most
seasoned cook
and everyone in
between—thanks to
everyone for making
HeyDay great!

BEST THEME
Nascar & Lightning McQueen
Chili Cook-off Winners
PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Smokin' Hot Chilis
JUDGE'S CHOICE
Larroux Dats
MOST UNIQUE
The Bowl-less Chili

green bean grace
by Chad Townsley
Dinner (and most meals for that matter) have recently become trying
times at the Townsley home. This is because feeding our two year old
is a battle of the wills—a true showdown between parent and child over
chicken nuggets, green beans, applesauce and the variety of foods we
try offering to our stubborn (and picky) eater. Despite her hunger, my
wife and I cannot get her to eat. Just this week, these meal-time battles
became particularly physical with my daughter twisting and contorting her
body, precariously dangling from her booster seat to avoid food coming
anywhere near the proximity of her mouth. As a parent, I have become
flabbergasted by this classic behavior. I want her to understand that I am
providing for her. I want her to eat at each meal. I was really hoping she
would skip this portion of childhood.
Despite her strong will and frustrating persistence, there is an element
of my daughter’s behavior that I do, however, appreciate. Allow me to
explain: threats by my wife and me that she will not have the opportunity
to eat again for the rest of the night and/or that she will be punished in
other ways do not phase my daughter. Displayed in her persistence not to
eat is the assumption (and trust) that we will continue to provide her with
food. She displays a knowledge, belief and trust that when she awakens
in the morning, there will be just enough food for her needs—she knows
that we will not let her go hungry. I wish that this was my heart as I look
towards God the Father as he provides for my needs. Always skeptical that
my spiritual and physical needs will be met, I look for other ways to cope
and provide for myself. I do this instead of leaning towards the Father’s
promised care for all my needs. The same was true for the Israelites as
Moses led them through the wilderness in Exodus 15-17. It was here, in
an acute environment of need, that God tested his people to see if they
would trust and obey him. Three times, twice with water and once with
solid food, the doubt of God’s people is exposed as they question God’s
goodness, care and love. Here are some observations regarding this Old
Testament account and how it applies to us today:
We are more like the Israelites than we might like to admit.
We are told in the text that God’s people grumbled and complained in the
wilderness, sure that God brought them there so that they might die of thirst
and hunger. The skepticism, worry and doubt of the Israelites is palpable.
What makes their complaint even more striking is that they are just three
days into their journey into the wilderness. Moreover, their complaints are just
one chapter separated from a joyous song of praise to the Lord from Moses
because of his deliverance and kindness to his people, stating, “Who is like
you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome
in glorious deeds, doing wonders? You stretched out your right hand; the
earth swallowed them. You have led in your steadfast love the people whom
you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy
abode.” (Exodus 15:11-13) Aren’t our hearts a lot like the Israelites? We long
for the Lord to provide, he does so with kindness and mercy, we notice one
day, we forget the next. This, I believe, is the state of the Fall which is so
often a roadblock for strong fellowship with the Father—our keen ability to
forget and doubt his goodness. The Lord is so regularly kind to me, yet I so
regularly lose sight of it. He shows me his love and favor on a daily basis,
yet I constantly lose focus. With reminder after reminder, my memory still
seems challenged to trust and believe in his providence. Therefore, as we
consider what it means to be thankful, we must first realize that our behavior
is very similar to that of the Israelites, who sing songs of joy one instance
and then struggle mightily to believe what we just sang moments before. We
grumble over our circumstances, complain over our cares and question the
very character and faithfulness of God in the process.

Thanksgiving should be just as much about God’s patience
as it is about God’s providence.
With the thanksgiving season upon us, we will soon gather with our
friends and loved ones to celebrate and be thankful for all that God has
provided us. We will recognize the literal and proverbial bounty that is
before us and rejoice over what God has given to us. Let me suggest
an additional angle to this year’s Thanksgiving Day—recognizing the
patience God showed us by not delivering his wrath and justice. At
every Thanksgiving meal, it is good for us to recognize all that God
gives us (i.e., spiritual and material needs, blessings of many kinds). As
well, we should recognize all that he did not give us (i.e. his judgement
and punishment for our sins and shortcomings). In his dealings with the
Israelites, God could have swiftly condemned his people due to their
disobedience. Instead, he showed them great patience despite their
impatience. He showed them love despite their hatred, and he showed
them compassion despite their indifference to him. Like the Israelites,
we also deserve God’s displeasure. We should thank him and praise
him because he has chosen to bear with us despite our sins. In God’s
providence, America has a day where we celebrate as a country all the
good things we have been given. As Christians, everyday should be
thanksgiving day as we celebrate the patience and forbearance that
God has shown and continues to show us.
Through his provision of water and food, God is doing
more than simply providing for the needs of his people.
We cannot miss that as God provides for the Israelites in Exodus 15-17,
he does so as a test of the people’s trust and belief in him. The text
explains that God provided for the people precisely what they needed
—no more and no less. As he kindly provided, he did so asking that each
person only take what is required for each day's needs. This offered the
Israelites an opportunity to trust God to provide anew each day. This is
daily dependence on the Father—that we look to him focused on his
power and care to meet our needs. We must not, at Thanksgiving or
beyond, presume upon our own ability to provide, save or manage our
resources. God’s word makes it clear that our needs are met solely by
God and that he is loving and kind to meet them by his means, in his
timing. Everyday is an opportunity to believe and trust in this truth.
God’s blessing is not dependent on our obedience.
This is the amazing news of the gospel—that we cannot change how God
feels about us. Like the Israelites we regularly mess things up. However,
God does not determine his blessing and provision based on our ability
to keep his commandments. The account of Exodus 15-17 is referenced
in Jesus' ministry a number of times—the clearest being Christ calling
himself the “bread of God from heaven which gives life
to the world.” (John 6:33) God’s richest blessing
and greatest expression of his love, compassion
and patience is Jesus Christ—the bread of life,
the manna from heaven, which has been given
to God’s people for their salvation. Jesus
explains that all those who come to him
will not hunger or thirst. He provides
for our daily needs by his grace and
perfect obedience. He satisfied our
greatest need of salvation by his
perfect sacrifice through death on
the cross. This holy sacrifice means
that our standing with the Father
will never change—something
certainly to be thankful for!
So, as my daughter kicks,
screams, and fights to eat
her dinner, I will continue to
provide her with the food she
needs. As her father, I will certainly
continue to bear with her in love and
patience. I will keep feeding her just
as I also offer her my unconditional
love and favor. I understand her sin
and the sinful heart from which her sin
originates. In light of these things, I
want her to be thankful for me in the
same way that I should be thankful to
God—for being a father who does
not give up on stubborn Israelites,
who teaches me his patience as I also
learn his provision, who wants me
to trust and believe in him and who
does not make my obedience the
determining factor of my salvation.
This is the God we thank on the a
Thursday each November. This is
the God we worship each Sunday
morning, and this is the God who
wants our hearts dedicated to
dependence on him.

SOUTHWOOD
reflect
THE RARE JEWEL
OF CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT
JEREMIAH BURROUGHS (PURITAN PAPERBACK EDITION)
WITH COMMENTARY BY WILL SPINK
One of the great English puritans, Jeremiah Burroughs, wrote what has come to be
regarded as the classic treatise on Christian contentment. Most of us struggle with
discontented, ungrateful, complaining hearts, which makes one of the few excellent
books on this topic very valuable. Only excerpts are printed below; but while it is weighty
and thought-provoking, it is not too long (about 200 pages) to dive into the whole book.
Defining Contentment
Burroughs offers this description early on in the book: “Christian
contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit,
which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly
disposal in every condition.” He then unpacks this description phrase
by phrase, including the following explanation of “God’s disposal”:
“That is to say, the soul that has learned this lesson of contentment
looks up to God in all things. He does not look down at the
instruments and means, so as to say that such a man did it, that
it was the unreasonableness of such and such instruments, and
similar barbarous usage by such and such; but he looks up to God.
A contented heart looks to God’s disposal, and submits to God’s
disposal, that is, he sees the wisdom of God in everything. In his
submission he sees his sovereignty, but what makes him take pleasure
is God’s wisdom. The Lord knows how to order things better than I.
The Lord sees further than I do; I only see things at present but the
Lord sees a great while from now. And how do I know but that had
it not been for this affliction, I should have been undone. I know
that the love of God may as well stand with an afflicted condition as
with a prosperous condition. There are reasonings of this kind in a
contented spirit, submitting to the disposal of God.”
Unfolding Contentment
Burroughs then moves to an outlining of why contentment is a
mystery, which begins as follows: “There are several things for
opening the mystery of contentment. The first thing is, to show that
there is a great mystery in it. It may be said of one who is contented
in a Christian way that he is the most contented man in the world,
and yet the most unsatisfied man in the world; these two together
must needs be mysterious. I say, a contented man, just as he is the
most contented, so he is the most unsatisfied man in the world. You
never learned the mystery of contentment unless it may be said of
you that, just as you are the most contented man, so you are also the
most unsatisfied man in the world.
“You will say, 'How is that?' A man who has learned the art of
contentment is the most contented with any low condition that he
has in the world, and yet he cannot be satisfied with the enjoyment
of all the world. He is contented if he has but a crust, but bread and
water, that is, if God disposes of him, for the things of the world,
to have but bread and water for his present condition, he can be
satisfied with God's disposal in that; yet if God should give unto
him Kingdoms and Empires, all the world to rule, if he should give
it him for his portion, he would not be satisfied with that. Here is
the mystery of it: though his heart is so enlarged that the enjoyment
of all the world and ten thousand worlds cannot satisfy him for his
portion; yet he has a heart quieted under God's disposal, if he gives
him but bread and water. To join these two together must needs
be a great art and mystery. Though he is contented with God in a
little, yet those things that would content other men will not content
him. The men of the world seek after wealth, and think if they had
thus much, and thus much, they would be content. They do not aim
at great things; but if I had, perhaps some man thinks, only two or
three hundred a year, then I should be well enough; if I had but a
hundred a year, or a thousand a year, says another, then I should
be satisfied. But a gracious heart says that if he had ten hundred
thousand times so much a year, it would not satisfy him; if he had
the quintessence of all the excellences of all the creatures in the
world, it could not satisfy him; and yet this man can sing, and be
merry and joyful when he has only a crust of bread and a little water
in the world. Surely religion is a great mystery! Great is the mystery
of godliness, not only in the doctrinal part of it, but in the practical
part of it also.
“Godliness teaches us this mystery, Not to be satisfied with all
the world for our portion, and yet to be content with the meanest
condition in which we are.… A little in the world will content a
Christian for his passage. Mark, here lies the mystery of it, A little in
the world will content a Christian for his passage, but all the world,
and ten thousand times more, will not content a Christian for his
portion. A carnal heart will be content with these things of the world
12 NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG

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for his portion; and that is the difference between a carnal heart and
a gracious heart. But a gracious heart says, 'Lord, do with me what
you will for my passage through this world; I will be content with that,
but I cannot be content with all the world for my portion.' So there
is the mystery of true contentment. A contented man, though he is
most contented with the least things in the world, yet he is the most
dissatisfied man that lives in the world.”
Attaining Contentment
After expounding further the nature of both contentment and a
murmuring spirit, Burroughs concludes with practical application of
how to attain contentment. Of his 10 things to “consider,” the third
is my favorite: “The consideration of the abundance of mercies that
God bestows and we enjoy. It is a saying of Luther: ‘The sea of God’s
mercies should swallow up all our particular afflictions.’ Name any
affliction that is upon you: there is a sea of mercy to swallow it up.
If you pour a pailful of water on the floor of your house, it makes a
great show, but if you throw it into the sea, there is no sign of it. So,
afflictions considered in themselves, we think are very great, but let
them be considered with the sea of God’s mercies we enjoy, and
then they are not so much, they are nothing in comparison.”
Of his 12 “directions” to attain contentment, the first is the place
to start: “All the rules and helps in the world will do us little good
unless we get a good temper within our hearts. You can never make
a ship go steady, by propping it outside; you know there must be
ballast within the ship, to make it go steady. And so, there is nothing
outside us that can keep our hearts in a steady, constant way, but
what is within us: grace is within the soul, and it will do this.”
Finally, he offers this in concluding his directions: “My brethren, to
conclude this point, if I were to tell you that I could show you a way
never to be in want of anything, I do not doubt but then we should
have much flocking to such a sermon, when a man should undertake
to manifest to people how they should never be in want any more.
But what I have been preaching to you now comes to as much. It
countervails this, and is in effect all one. Is it not almost all one,
never to be in want, or never to be without contentment? That man
or woman who is never without a contented spirit, truly can never be
said to want much. Oh, the Word holds forth a way full of comfort
and peace to the people of God even in this world. You may live
happy lives in the midst of all the storms and tempests in the world.
There is an ark that you may come into, and no men in the world may
live such comfortable, cheerful and contented lives as the saints of
God. Oh, that we had learned this lesson.”
THE FREEDOM OF
SELF-FORGETFULNESS
BY TIM KELLER
In this short and punchy book, best
selling author Timothy Keller, shows
that gospel humility means we can
stop connecting every experience,
every conversation with ourselves
and can thus be free from self
condemnation. A truly gospel
humble person is not a self hating
person or a self-loving person, but a
self-forgetful person.
A GOSPEL PRIMER FOR
CHRISTIANS
BY MILTON VINCENT
By showing how you can preach
the gospel to yourself each day, this
book will help you savor the glories of
God's love and experience the lifetransforming
power of the gospel in all
areas of life. Use this book to preach
the gospel to yourself on a daily basis,
and be amazed at the differences it can
make in your life.
THE WOUNDED HEALER
BY HENRI NOUWEN
The Wounded Healer is a hope-filled
and profoundly simple book that
speaks directly to those men and
women who want to be of service
in their church or community, but
have found the traditional ways
often threatening and ineffective. In
this book, Henri Nouwen combines
creative case studies of ministry with
stories from diverse cultures and
religious traditions in preparing a
new model for ministry.
THE PRACTICE OF THE
PRESENCE OF GOD
BY BROTHER LAWRENCE
Discover how to practice God's
presence at all times and see His glory
in every facet of life. Includes Spiritual
Maxims—two classics in one!
NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG 13

SOUTHWOOD
respond
I have agreed to answer these questions on the ground that I
publicly confess I am not a particularly contented or grateful
person. Maybe I give the appearance of contentment because I
have stayed in the same home for 25 years, in the same church
for 32 years, and with the same wife for 37 years. I suppose that
says something about me, but please realize I struggle with being
grateful, satisfied and content—probably just like you!
Why is gratitude so vital to the
Christian life?
Gratitude is vital to the Christian life because it reveals the
focus of our trust and confidence. If we truly believe in a God
of grace and faithfulness, we will recognize that all we have
flows to us from His generous hands. But,
if grace is only a “church word,” (i.e. one of
those words used frequently around church
people but ultimately devoid of meaning),
then we will inevitably trust in ourselves and
find the expression of gratitude to be absent
or self-centered. Whom we thank says a lot
about whom we ultimately trust—ourselves
or God.
What aspects of
American culture make a
heart of contentment and
gratitude challenging?
The American culture is designed to defeat
a spirit of contentment and gratitude. The opportunity to have more
of what we want, faster than ever before, creates an appetite for more
of whatever it is we want and an inability to be patient for things we
desire. I recently was stopped on an interstate highway as construction
forced traffic to crawl at a snail’s pace. My reaction was to resent the
delay, the lost time, the added minutes as if I had a right to a delayfree
trip and deserved an apology from someone for the lost time I
encountered. We are an entitled generation—a generation governed
by a mindset that expects to experience all that it wants at whatever
pace it demands. That’s a sad commentary.
Why is it that affluence and
discontentment seem to go hand
in hand?
If you’ve ever been on a missions trip, you have probably been
surprised to see how much of the world has so little to call
their own. At the same time, however, they seem to be fairly
content with the little that they have. We, on the other hand,
have so much of the world’s goods, yet we are among the least
contented people on earth. When I collected baseball cards,
it wasn’t enough to have one rookie card of a particular player.
I had to have as many as I could get. What is it you collect? If
we looked into your closet, would we see the evidence of a
contented person or the evidence of a person driven to have
more, newer and better? (That analogy works equally well for
your tool box, golf bag, or whatever you collect!)
?
FIVE
questions
Pastor Billy Spink
discusses the struggle to be
thankful & content
How would you counsel or
encourage someone who is
dissatisfied with his/her
life situation?
Counseling the dissatisfied can be a delicate task. Some of
us should be dissatisfied if our lives reflect a wasting of God’s
resources and opportunities. The parable of the talents should
encourage us to be faithful stewards using and investing
the talents God has entrusted to us. On the other hand, a
dissatisfied person may well be doubting the goodness and
kindness of God. He may be neglecting the blessing God has
extended to him because he is jealous
of what someone else has or does.
Counseling the dissatisfied must begin
by determining the root cause of the
dissatisfaction. Ultimately, we must not
be satisfied until we can echo the words
of Asaph: “There is nothing on earth that
I desire besides you” – Psalm 73:25.
What are some
specific things we can
do to develop a
spirit of gratitude?
Developing a spirit of gratitude is not
difficult if our eyes are fixed on Jesus. If
we study the Scriptures, read books, and enjoy music that point
us to Christ and the gospel, we will find ourselves grateful for
all that we are and all that we have in Christ. It is also helpful to
spend time with brothers and sisters in Christ who can encourage
us to be grateful and will be bold enough to point out signs
of a complaining spirit. Teaching children to write thank-you
notes is probably an archaic pursuit, but it helps build in them
the principle that acknowledging another’s kindness is a worthy
practice. Finding a family or community to serve will also remind
you that many have far less than you possess. You don’t have
to travel far to find a need to meet! Finally, I would recommend
something I still struggle to do: Pray for the grace of giving.
I believe you will learn the beauty of gratitude when you reflect
on the God of grace in giving to those who don’t deserve your
kindness. (That final suggestion may take a moment to digest, but
it’s well worth the effort.)
WHO IS BILLY SPINK
AND WHY ASK HIM?
Rev. William (Billy) Spink, Jr. has
been the senior pastor of Riveroaks
Reformed Presbyterian Church (PCA)
in Germantown, Tenn., for 32 years. He
has been the father of Southwood’s Will
Spink for 31 of those years.
14 NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG

elate
SOUTHWOOD
ALL THAT IS FAIR
BEYOND THE FRAME
JAMES PARKER
The providence of God is often thought of in terms
of physical needs. Do we have enough bread to eat
or water to drink? God has made a world that has
everything we need. It has sunlight to warm us and
rain to cool us. The sun and the rain feed the plants.
The plants provide food for us, and they contribute
to the air we breathe. The air expands and contracts
and falls back to the earth as rain again, filling our
oceans, becoming the water we drink. Gravity holds
it all together so we don’t float away or disintegrate.
God built it all to work together, sustaining itself
through all the interactions creatures and created
things share. But often, we overlook the fact that he
also has placed us into interdependent relationships
with each other. God designed that our bellies
would be fed and our thirst quenched through all
that he has made, but also, that our hearts and our
minds would also be fed and shepherded. He has
provided other people in our lives as a means for this
to happen. Beautiful and complicated relationships
with other broken people that challenge us, mold us,
and push us to become more fully human.
This type of providence is difficult and nuanced. It
is not something that is obvious, like the sun, or the
rain, or gravity. It comes about slowly over time.
And our benevolent creator uses husbands, wives,
children, friends, and even complete strangers to stir
us. The hard part is that we must be open to him in
these relationships. We must be listening to others,
to ourselves, and to the still small voice of God that
bubbles up through longing, pain, joy and humor.
need the counsel of scripture. We need the solitude
and simplicity of prayer. We need encouragement
and wisdom from others. And we need hope that our
struggle will not end in despair, but that it will change
us for the better.
Andy Gullahorn’s new album Beyond the Frame,
points in this direction. Gullahorn is an amazing lyricist,
and his melodies are wonderful and memorable.
There are other artists who also have these skills, but
Gullahorn is unique. His music reveals an honesty that
is rare. Most of us don’t want anyone to know exactly
what’s happening in our hearts. Andy’s music stands
against that innate urge to be guarded. He leaves
himself cracked open and exposed to the world. The
song I Will is a great example of this. In the liner notes,
it has the caveat “written for you, the listener.”
Sometimes people think it's better
Feeding you an answer
To what you can’t understand
But if you want someone who
Will just cry with you, I can
Some say there’s nothing they’re ashamed of
They cover up the tracks from
The hell where they’ve been
But if you’re looking
For something broken, I am
The truth is we’re all gonna take a last breath
That’s not the only sad death
We are meant to feel
If you need a friend to
Do some dying with you, I will
We’re all in the same boat. And at the end of
the day, we have each other, in the boat, with
us. There’s no sense in hiding from ourselves
and everyone else. We’ll just be paddling by
ourselves. Beyond the Frame is an encouraging
call to be brave in your relationships because
what you risk will be worth it. Human beings and
the Grand Canyon can’t be captured completely
in pictures. There’s a bigger story beyond the
frame, and it leads us to a richer and deeper
understanding of ourselves if we’re willing to go
there. I Will is the opening track on the album.
The last track, Grand Canyon, ends with the
repeated line “but the story isn’t over yet....”
So how do we learn to listen? How do we stumble into
self-awareness and openness? The only answer that
makes any sense at all is simply to practice. But often,
the simplest answer is by far the most difficult. It is a
courageous and dangerous undertaking to practice
being broken in a world full of broken people. We
Nothing. All you hear is silence
Feels like you’re alone and
Drifting off of the map
But many souls have gone
Down this road you’re on
At least I have
The story of God’s providence isn’t over yet.
The world He made is complex and beautifully
broken. Get this album and let it remind you
of the hope we have that our hearts, though
broken, were made to be filled. It will save you a
fortune at the therapist's office!
AFFLUENZA: THE ALL-CONSUMING EPIDEMIC
Overconsumption in our culture is an epidemic. It
is a tragic fact. Even more tragic is how rampant
it is in the church. The irony is unfathomable. We
have a Lord who feeds even the birds without barn
or storehouse, yet we run unfulfilled from thing to
thing, constantly tethering, untethering, and retethering
ourselves to false gods. Affluenza: The All-
Consuming Epidemic is a book by John de Graaf,
David Wann, and Thomas Naylor. In the book,
affluenza is described as "a painful, contagious,
socially transmitted condition of overload, debt,
anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit
of more." It is a prophetic word about the state of
our culture. And if the book is too long for you, its
subject matter was used to create a PBS special that
is worth watching. (Find it here http://www.pbs.org/
kcts/affluenza) I would challenge all of us to take
inventory of our consumption. Would Jesus worry
and thirst for what he doesn’t have, or would he
simply pray, “give us this day our daily bread?”
NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG 15

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