Monday, May 22, 2006

Our Newest Addition

Hi All,

Beth and I returned home from Glendale Adventist Hospital on Saturday, May 20, with baby Austin in hand. Austin Henry was born on Thursday, May 18, just before 10 PM. He weighed 8.8 pounds, and was 21 inches long.

Austin Henry Busenitz


Austin's very proud parents


Ashley and Isaac meet their new brother


Our family is doing well. Thank you all for your prayers.

We are looking forward to seeing you all on Thursday night!

- Nate

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

No Men's or Women's Meeting Tomorrow

Although we have both a Men's Meeting and a Women's Meeting listed on our official Northpark calendar, we are actually not going to have either.

This is primarily due to the fact that, at 7:00 AM tomorrow morning, Beth is scheduled to be induced. So, Lord willing, we'll have a baby tomorrow sometime. (And thus will end the Northpark baby saga of spring 2006).

Anyway, enjoy sleeping in, men...

By the way, our schedule for June is as follows:
  • June 8 -- Bible Study

  • June 15 -- Men's Meeting (AM); GCC Elders' Meeting (PM)

  • June 22 -- Bible Study

  • June 29 -- Men's Meeting (AM); Women's Meeting (PM)
We'll see you on Sunday, and then next Thursday (May 25) for Bible Study!

- Nate

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Making Hard Decisions as Parents


Here are some basic principles for making hard decisions, submitted for our edification by Tim Kane. Please read and be encouraged!

When faced with a parenting decisions, use these principles to help think rightly about what choice you should make.

1. Principle of Expedience. Will it be spiritually profitable? Does it bring me closer to God or closer to the world? Will it cultivate godliness? Will it benefit me? (1 Cor 6:12 -- All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.) If you child is willing to sin or be sinful to get/do what they want you must not allow them. Young people do NOT understand the principal of moderation, it is all or nothing. Think of a dog attached to a choker chain that repeatedly chases a cat. It runs full speed until it reaches the end of the chain and then is snapped back off its feet. This is true of anything; movies, games, toys, friends. In all things, seek the Lord’s wisdom for discernment and a gentle prompting spirit to help you child through the situation.

2. Principle of Edification. Will it build me up? (1 Cor. 10:23 -- all things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.) We are slaves to our bodies…sleep, food, etc. and we need to train ourselves to be disciplined. Do the most difficult task first, Start with being on time; not forgetting; picking up after yourself… Say "NO" when you have every right to say "yes;" order water at a restaurant instead of soda…. (First Cor. 9:24-27 -- Do you know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.)

3. Principle of Excess. Will it slow me down in the race? (Hebrews 12:1-3 -- Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.) Do you/your children carry unnecessary baggage/bulk?

4. Principle of Enslavement. Will it bring me into bondage? (1 Co 6:12 -- see above) television, drink, drugs, food, tobacco, music, sports, money, coffee…Does/will it control me?

5. Principle of Equivocation.
Will it hypocritically cover my sin? (lust, evil desire) what is the motivation; ask God to reveal any secret hidden sin in yours/their lives. (Gal 5:13 -- for we were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another; 1 Peter 2:16 -- Act as free men and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as a bondslaves of God.)

6. Principle of Encroachment. Will it violate the lordship of Christ in my life? Will it violate or suppress your conscience? (Rom 14:2 -- One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables only.) You start with a clean slate in regards to conscience, what are you writing, allowing them to write on it? Keep in mind, wrong behavior is merely the outworking of a sinful heart. Don't just deal with the behavior, deal with the heart.

7. Principle of Example. Will it help other Christians by its example? The patterns, habits and actions in your life are being watch by other believers. (1 Cor 8:9 -- But take care this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.)

8. Principle of Evangelism. Will it lead others to Christ? (1 Cor 10:27-29 -- If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience sake. But if anyone says to you “This meat sacrificed to idols” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience?)

9. Principle of Emulation. Will it please Jesus? Would Christ say this ???? or do this ???? (1 John 2:6 -- the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.)

10. Principle of Exaltation. Will this lift up His holy name? (1 Cor 10:31 -- Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do ALL to the glory of God.)

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Our Son, "Eye-Sick"

Hey Everyone,

Below are some pictures of Isaac’s eye. We ended up taking him to the E.R. on Friday night (at the recommendation of a physician from children’s hospital who attends Grace Church). We were told that, since Isaac’s wound was so close to his eye, there could be complications.

He got the would by falling onto the corner of a hard plastic bin, or at least that’s what we think happened. He was playing in the other room, right before bed time, when Beth heard a thud and a cry. When Beth came into the room, Isaac was sitting next to the bin with blood pouring down his face. At first we weren’t sure if we needed to take him to the E.R., but finally decided that we should.

(This is what the wound looked like before we took Isaac in to the E.R. To be honest it usually looked worse than this, since the blood kept collecting all around his eye-lid.)

We got to the E.R. around 11:20 PM, and didn’t leave until almost 4:30 AM. In typical E.R. fashion, we kept having to hurry up and wait. Here’s a quick recap of our evening/morning…

  • At 11:45 we had our pre-meeting with the nurse, who took down all of Isaac’s info and then sent us back to the waiting room. Adam and Renee Bailie came by and visited us for a little while, which was a great encouragement.


  • At 12:45 we were called back to a bed, where a doctor came and looked at Isaac’s eye. The doctor said that Isaac definitely needed stitches, and that he (the doctor) also needed to see if any damage had been done to the eye. Apparently, he was concerned that Isaac may have punctured his tear ducts (which are right there), or scratched his cornea. In any case, the doctor confirmed our decision to come to the E.R., since he said that puncture wounds so close to the eye can be very dangerous.


  • At 1:45 we were taken to another bed where Isaac would receive his stitches. This bed had the monitors and equipment the doctors needed to perform the procedure.


  • At 2:45 the doctor and nurses administered a sedative to Isaac so that they would be able to work on his eye (with the stitches) without him interfering. They allowed me (Nathan) to stay in the room, and I watched as the doctor closed the wound with five stitches. Beth (who was having tons of contractions…which made us a little nervous) decided to go wait in the waiting room. The doctor also checked Isaac’s eye and noted that everything looked good (no punctured tear ducts or scratched corneas). He said it was a close call, but everything appeared to be fine. We are so thankful to the Lord for His goodness!


  • At 3:45, Isaac started to really come out of his sedated state. He was pretty wigged-out (tired, incoherent, scared, and cranky)… but he pulled through okay.


  • By 4:15 or so, they released us and we were on our way home. Actually, we were on our way to pick up Ashley from a friend’s house. We made it home by 4:45.


(Here's what Isaac looks like post-stitches. We now like to refer to him as "Scarface.")


So this morning we are in recovery mode… drinking lots of coffee and constantly reminding Isaac not to touch his stitches. Although the events of last night were not what we had planned, we are praising the Lord for His kindness to us and to our son.

Thanks for you prayers!
- Nate

Friday, May 12, 2006

Roman Catholic Resources

Since this came up last night at Bible study, I thought I'd put up a few links for those who are interested:

1. Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries

2. Monergism Articles

3. Christian Witness to Roman Catholics

4. What Every Catholic Should Know

5. Just for Catholics

I hope you find these helpful. Remember to pray for Marty and Megan as they interact with Catholic family members this weekend.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Of Things that Begin with a "Th"

Hi Everyone,

I'm just checking in to give you a mid-week update. Interestingly, everything in my update begins with a "Th" ... so it is nicely alliterated for your reading pleasure.

1. Th.D. -- I am continuing to progress in the doctoral program here at TMS. As you know, this involves taking several comprehensive tests (9 total) on various areas related to theology. I've already taken the Bible Knowledge Exam, which (by God's grace) I passed (thank you for your prayers). Next Tuesday I will be taking the Church History Exam, which means I will be intensely studying for that over the next few days.

2. Thursday -- Don't forget that we have Bible study scheduled for this Thursday at 7:30 PM at the Norton's house. Lord willing, we will see you there.

3. Third Child -- Beth's due date is quickly approaching. We expect that she will go into labor sometime in the next two weeks. So if you could pray for our family as we plan for this adjustment, we would certainly appreciate it. Most of you already know what it's like to go from two to three, so you can identify with what we will soon experience.

4. Thirsting after God -- If you have a couple spare minutes, check out this chapter from Donald Whitney (from his book Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health). I think you'll be encouraged.

Alright... see you all on Thursday night!

- Nate

Monday, May 08, 2006

Another Reason I'm Thankful for Our Bike Patrol

So... we walked out of our pastoral/ministry staff meeting today (around 11:30) and there were at least six helicopters flying overhead, just east of the church.

Turns out there was a shooting just a block or so away from Grace. You can read about it here. You'll probably see something about it on the evening news.

So I got on Google Earth to find out just how close the 13000 block of Burton Street is (where the incident occurred), and, well, it's only about two-tenths of a mile away.

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

I guess there's just never a boring day in the San Fernando Valley.

- Nate

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Our Men's Meeting

This morning we had a wonderful time together with the Northpark men.

Like last time, we discussed the principles of a godly husband/father. We noted a few important truths, including:

1) As leaders of our families, we are responsible before the Lord for setting the spiritual tone in our homes. While only He can do the work of sanctification in the hearts of our family members, we must still be faithful influences toward godliness in their lives. Moreover, the spiritual temperature of our homes will never rise above our own personal level of devotion to the Lord. The question is, when our spouses and our kids look at our lives, do they see an example of Christ-likeness?

2) Spiritual leadership must be proactive, not just reactive. In other words, we need to take intentional steps to lead our family in Christ-likeness. We can't just spend our time responding to problems. (Tedd Tripp referred to this as focusing on "formative instruction" rather than just "corrective discipline.")

3) Our love for our wives should not be a "give and take" kind of love, but a "give and give" kind of love. After all, that is the kind of sacrificial love that Christ had for the church. Christ's love for the church was so great that He gave Himself up for her in order that she might be saved. When we sacrifice our own preferences in order to serve our wives, we--in that small way--reflect the love of Christ.

Speaking of a sacrificial love for our wives, don't forget that tonight is the ladies' meeting (at the Norton's at 7:30). Please do what you can to allow your wife to come.

- Nate

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

A Real Cubbies Car

Well, for those of you who remember my earlier post, here's what a real Cubbies car looks like:

Notice...
  • The rubber tires (which actually roll on a dual axle suspension)

  • The genuine steering wheel (which turns)

  • The personalized California license plates

  • The life-like body styling and paint job

  • The doors (which open and shut)

  • The interior room (which holds up to four 3-year-olds)

  • The dual exhaust system (complete with dry-ice exhaust)

  • An authentic metal-plated bumper

  • Realistic taillights and trunk hatch

  • And no less than five windows
The car also included a fully operational sun roof (not pictured).



And you all thought I was exaggerating earlier...

- Nate

P.S. Just to put this all in perspective, my colorless box car was to Dave's pink bug as the state of New Mexico is to the state of Alaska... small, brown, and ultimately unremarkable.

P.S.S. If anyone in our study is from New Mexico, I take it all back (and apply my analogy instead to Nevada, South Dakota, or the pan-handle of Oklahoma).

Monday, May 01, 2006

Our Northpark Family Night

Here are a few pix from our Northpark Family Night last Friday. Enjoy!








Is this a good looking Bible study or what?

- Nate