A Grateful Heart

In preparation for Thanksgiving, our family has been collecting a list of things for which we are thankful. I set a quart jar, a pad of paper, pens and pencils on the corner of the kitchen cabinet with instructions to write down things as we thought of them and put them in the jar. At the end of the day on Thanksgiving, we pulled the slips out of the jar and read them aloud. The jar was full, but we when were finished reading, we still thought of things that we had forgotten to write down. We know that our ungrateful heart takes many things for granted, or we believe we are entitled or that earned others things of our own strength. Consequently, our list is woefully incomplete and we remain in prayer to our Lord to give us a more grateful heart.

The following is our list (in the order they were pulled from the jar):

Our house
Our family
God’s beautiful creation
Books
Abigail
Wonderful friends
Clothing
Shoes
Emma
Moon
Thunderstorms
Heidi
The McCoys
Sean
Rain
Weddings
Peyton
Water
Freezer meals
Mama
Grandparents
Nick
Daddy
The Blakes
Our nation’s heritage
Our fireplace
Animals
Lori’s trust
Knitting
Arms, legs, fingers and toes
Nurses
The Bible
The Bennett family
The Ragan family
Sewing machines
Home-made peanut butter
Food
Cats
Cookouts
Vision Forum
Being greeted enthusiastically when I get home
Home-made bread
Being homeschooled
Discipline
Christian brothers at work
Scrapbooking
Sense of feel
God’s provision
4^th of July fireworks
Salvation
Christmas
The Eastons
Our home and land
Computers
Grandpa Cody
Digital and video cameras
Grandma Cody
Honey bees
Martin Luther
The four seasons
God’s design for mother and baby
Morgan
Living in a free country
Fall colors
Snow
Our creek
John Calvin
Family traditions
Freedom to homeschool
Tools
Music
The peace that passeth understanding
Work and chores that help the family
Fresh milk
The Schenk family
The book mobile
Cars
Home business
Movies
Sisters
Our garden
Money
Wal-Mart
Popcorn
Hugs
Doctors
My children’s confidence
Jonathan Park CDs
Our glorious hope
Our chickens
The Mollohans
Contact lenses
Dishwashers
Grape jam
The Duggar family
Marshmallows
China One buffet
My husband, David
My job
Our homeschool group
Games, toys and playthings
Soap
My beautiful wife, Lori
Brothers
The Schrock family
The US Navy
Life
Washers and dryers
Pizza
Mountains
Stars
Medicine
Insurance
The Fry family
Parents
Meghan
Electricity
Nick
Our cuckoo clock
Sewing
David’s wisdom
Toyota
Hot fudge
Sense of smell
Flowers
Lori’s submissive and helpmeet attitude
The Sheets family
Forgiveness and grace
That food tastes good
Climbing hay bales
Trees
Mud boots
Thanksgiving
Baskin Robbins
The Myers family
4 wheel drive
DVDs
All the neat stuff in Grandpa’s basement
The US Marine Corps
Sense of sight
Hibachi restaurant
Lawnmowers
Lemonade
Lori’s gentle and quiet spirit
Freezers
Hospitals
Our memories
Sense of taste
Easter
The internet
My wife’s support
Neighbors
Clouds
Sense of hearing
Shower
My wife’s counsel
Coldstone creamery
Police officers
Refrigerators
Father/Son time together
David’s leadership
Hand-me-downs
Sunshine
David’s passion for spiritual knowledge
The Park family
Our warm and cozy bed
Grandpa Alderson
Telephones
Reading time with my family
Colors
Vacation
Bathtub
Sunny days
CHEO
Grandma Alderson
Father/Daughter retreat
The people in the NICU that helped Abigail
Daddy’s Boy Scout knowledge
Pancakes
Crafts
Science book and math book
Health
Vacuum cleaner
Musical instruments
Pain (a warning sign)
My bike and scooter
Christ
My mama’s pharmacist’s knowledge
The Tipple family
Eyeglasses
iPod
God
Pictures
Tractors and brush hog
Sacrifice of our veterans
Seatbelts
Hairbrushes
The Nolt family
The library
The US Air Force
Cupcakes
The zoo
The Amish bakery
TCBY
Giovanni’s
The Rhodes family
Climbing trees
Adventuring
Willow Tree angels
Soda
Chocolate milk
Lemon pie
Hand lotion
Flannel
Playing outside
Fresh eggs
Butterflies
Snacks
Sitting on the front porch
Firemen
Blankets and pillows
Naps
Mommy and Daddy’s love for each other
Visiting friends and family
Mouthwash
Clothesline
Grass
Cool breezes on hot summer days
The sky
Daddy’s blog
The US Army
Aldi

Christians in Culture (cont’d)

We have previously discussed “syncretism” and ‘sectarianism” as they relate to Christians in culture.  Limiting ourselves to this continuum sort of model presents puts us in a position of debating the gray areas somewhere between the two extremes.  Clearly, this model alone cannot give us a clear answer.

Now we will look at the issue from a different perspective.  In 1951, H. Richard Niebuhr published what has become one of, if not the most, influential Christian work on the topic.  Indeed Niebuhr’s Christ and Culture is one of the most important Christian books of the 20^th century on any topic and remains relevant more than 50 years since its publication.

Niebuhr proposed five different ways to categorize the relationship between Christ and culture:

1)  Christ against culture

2)  Christ of culture

3)  Christ above culture

4)  Christ and culture in paradox

5)  Christ as the transformer of culture

I will comment on the details of each of these positions in the next few posts…stay tuned!!

Dad’s Bible

After all that has been happening, we were finally able to get some much-needed rest this weekend.  The weather Saturday was drizzly (if that is a word!) and cold.  We were able to spend some time together, play some games, eat some popcorn and watch some movies.  Abigail has grown to the point where she will occasionally sleep up to 5 hours, so we also caught up on sleep.

For worship on Sunday morning, I decided to use Dad’s bible.  We had given him this NASB bible only last year to replace his previous bible which had become tattered.  He had also expressed a desire for a better translation since his daily reader was merely a paraphrase.

This is the inscription that we wrote on the inside cover of this bible:

Dad,

It is very difficult to describe the impact your life has had on those who have known you.  It is impossible to even understand the impact your life will have on those who will only know you by the stories that are told and the growth of our family’s faith – generation by generation.  We commit to be faithful to the gospel in this bible as you have modeled for us and to teach our children to do the same.  The impact of your godly life will not be completed until the saints are gathered unto Him that saves us by His grace.  To Him be all the glory!

David, Lori, Morgan, and Peyton

September 9, 2007

It was another reminder for us to see beyond the years of our existence and look toward the fulfillment of God’s promise.  He will be victorious and His people redeemed.  National elections, economic downturns, wars, or any other activity of man will not prevent God’s will from coming to pass.

America Has Spoken

Please note that the link to Abigail’s page has been moved to the list of links on the sidebar under the “Family” category.

How often does the Lord grant us our desires?  I believe He gives us what we want much more often than we realize.  The trouble is we often don’t recognize it because we do not properly consider all of the implications of our desires.  Sometimes, our distress is the indication that God granted our wish, but we did not realize our desire was not what was best for us.

As a parent, have you ever allowed your children to experience the full effect of the consequences of a poor choice?  Those are lessons the children seldom forget.  Similarly, I believe that the Lord grants us our desires at times even though He knows that our choices bring us greater harm than good.  The harm that we experience in these circumstances is a means of discipline for us.

Consider the nation of Israel at the end of the times of the judges.  They wanted a king like the nations which surrounded them.  The Lord knew that sorrow and misery would come to Israel from that desire; and in the 8^th chapter of 1^st Samuel, He instructed Samuel to warn the people of the effects of their wish.  The prophet concluded a long list of grievances the people would have with:

“And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.”

But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us”. The Lord’s response was “Obey their voice and make them a king.”  Much trouble would come to Israel as a consequence of the Lord granting them their desire.

I am reminded of a short story called “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs which was required reading when I was in public school.  I cannot necessarily recommend the story, but there is a great truth in the warning it contains regarding things for which we wish. 

The story tells of Mr. and Mrs. White, an elderly couple, and their adult son.  The Whites come into possession of a “magic” monkey’s paw – grisly sounding perhaps, but essentially little different from the common rabbit’s foot often seen on key chains.  The paw could supposedly grant those that possessed it three wishes.  Despite dire warnings from its previous owner, the family keeps the paw and the old man wishes for 200 pounds (the story is set in England).  His wish was soon granted in the form of compensation from their son’s employer after their beloved boy was killed on the job.

I will not share the gruesome details of the remainder of the story, but the lesson has stuck with me ever since I first read it decades ago.  Foolishness brought tragedy to the family.  They thought their wishes would bring them satisfaction and joy, but the result was quite the opposite.

Like the nation of Israel and the White family, many Americans are giddy with joy in believing they have realized their wish-come-true in the election results on Tuesday.  I am not convinced that the choice was made with a clear understanding of the consequences.  In fact, I am convinced of the opposite and; like Israel and the White family, the choice was made based on the faulty wisdom of man and the rejection of wise council.  I am saddened by the lack of fear of God and the disregard for biblical standards that has unfolded during the recent political procedures.  However, unlike many people that are dissatisfied with the results of the election, I am not living in fear of dreadful changes in national policy that will lead America down a terrible path.  The reality is that the election is evidence of the degree to which the American conscience and moral foundation has already fallen.  Our choice of leaders is not an indicator of the direction we will go – it is an indicator of where we have already arrived!

In spite of it all, I remain confident in the promises of our Lord.  He remains sovereign on the throne and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  God’s will is perfect and to Him be all the glory.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Perspective

What an amazing few days this has been!  Most of you reading this are already aware of the situation with Lori and Abigail.  I want to share with you an encounter that the Lord orchestrated yesterday with an amazing couple.

Mothers of babies in the NICU are encouraged to provide mama’s milk for their children.  The hospital provides easily recognized bottles for this purpose, so the hallways and elevators between the mother/baby wing and the NICU are often witnesses to parents (usually dads) performing this delivery mission.

Yesterday, I encountered a man carrying these bottles and walking beside his apparent bride.  These two had a presence of contentment and joy that made it easy strike up a conversation.  Within moments, I was amazed and praising God along with them.  What made this encounter so meaningful was the fact that their baby had been born at 24 weeks — 3 weeks less than the conventional 27 week “age of viability.”  Baby “B” weighed in at less than 1 pound.

During the conversation, Mrs. B explained her attitude and expressed her confidence that the Lord is sovereign and that Baby B’s life, regardless of its duration, would glorify God.  Indeed, through her short life several people had been reminded or made aware that there is a greater authority, a greater purpose, a greater love that can only be expressed through miracles.  We prayed together right then in the middle of the hallway of the NICU, because we could not wait for privacy to express our praise and thankfulness to a wonderful loving God.

As of today, Baby B is still with us, but struggling.  Her father shared tears with us today as he described urgent moments that should remind us all of the thin thread that suspends us all above our eternal fate.  I am thankful for having met this family and for the privilege of fellowship with them.  I am thankful for the perspective that I see being lived out in the lives of godly people such as Mr. and Mrs. B — that this life is not to be lived for ourselves, but for the purpose set before us by a loving God and to do so with joyful gratitude.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.                                                            Psalm 100 (ESV)

Introducing Abigail’s Page

Visit Abigail’s Page for the latest on our recent precious blessing!