Baby videos

I'm putting up a couple of videos of Naomi Joy for the sake of those who don't have Facebook.

We have arrived at a fearful crisis

"We have arrived at a fearful crisis. Things cannot long remain as they are. It behooves all who love their country--who have affection for their offspring, or who have any stake in our institutions, to pause and reflect. Confidence is daily withdrawing from the general government. Alienation is hourly going on. These will necessarily create a state of things inimical to the existence of our institutions, and, if not arrested, convulsions must follow, and then comes dissolution or despotism, when a thick cloud will be thrown over the cause of liberty and the future prospects of our country."

Pretty well sums up the days in which we are living, doesn't it? These words may take us on the scenic route of getting at truth, but they do get us there. We all sense that we are at a crossroads as a nation, and that the future of our country hangs in the balance. We do not know which way the winds of politics will blow, but we do know that God is more than capable of turning our darkest nights into brighter days. As a nation we have been at crossroads before, and God has graciously allowed us to continue on--and sometimes even to grow stronger from the challenges. I trust that he will do so again.

Certainly when John C. Calhoun of South Carolina wrote these words in 1834, he was feeling the same sense of desperation that we feel today. His immediate fear was that Andrew Jackson was usurping powers not granted him in the Constitution and that the country would become subjugated to the whims of a single man. We need not immerse ourselves into the politics of 19th Century America to understand the issues or to know if Calhoun or Jackson was right. Our goal in these days is to consider those who have gone before, whether good or bad, and recognize the gracious hand of God in following years. Others have had mortal fears of our country's dissolution, and those fears have proven unfounded. America did not disintegrate with the presidency of Andrew Jackson. It may be that many future problems were born from the steps that he took, but these steps also may have given successive presidents the authority they needed to manage wars of frightful proportions.

We must remember that we only see small pieces of the intricate plan that God is unfolding. We do not know what will be ultimately good or bad for our nation or for ourselves. May we pray for the wisdom of God to live in these uncertain times, and the gracious faith to trust the Author of tomorrow's history.

Peach Picking

We are so busy right now we hardly have time to think; don't ask me how I have time to post this--it might have something to do with it being almost 1 AM and I've been working on paperwork till now. We did take time out today to drive about 20 minutes to our favorite peach place. It's a simple old farm with a Norman Rockwell landscape: fruit trees, rusting tractors, and worn-out buildings. But the peaches are large, tasty, and cheap (50 cents a pound; and as the old farmer told me last year, "We'll just round that down since we don't bother with quarters").

Are these peaches or grapefruits?

The kids like the chance to ride in the back of the van as we drive out of the orchard to get our buckets weighed. (Philip was just there for the picture.)

Peach juice on the chin makes for a happy boy.

Making sure the quality is good.

Peek-a-boo.

What is it with kids and ladders?

Sarah Beth kindly said, "I'll stop and smile for you."

My favorite part: the scale. It has to be a hundred years old (and I don't see any "PA Department of Weights & Measures" stickers on it). This year it was "about 70 pounds." They do take off about a pound each for the buckets. Now what are we going to do with them all?

What might we do in eternity?

These thoughts came to me as we were discussing our resurrected bodies in Sunday School this morning. I scratched them down in my journal as quickly as I could write. Although this is sanctified (I hope) speculation, I think it is helpful to consider the possible glories of eternity. So here goes.

"What if there truly is no edge of space, just as there is no end of time? What if the universe is unbounded? Imagine the thought of having endless time to explore endless space! To wander around the surface of stars that even now with telescopes look worshipfully beautiful as they whirl and twirl in all their exquisite colors? As the friends of Daniel were in the furnace and not burned, might our new bodies be made to visit stars--to "walk" on them--to explore the final frontier? God has made this universe so vast that humans can't even see all the beauty and glory he has created. Might he give his children the utter delight of enjoying him and the till-then forbidden places?

For now there are places of beauty too far or too bright or too much unlike us for us to survive there. Has he given us these things to remind us that he himself is untouchable? That there are certain things that are off-limits? To be enjoyed from a distance and to be yearned for--to want to experience first-hand but be denied--the Promised Land as viewed from Pisgah as it were. In eternity when we will be made new and able to see the glory of God without dying, might we not also be able to experience these now-forbidden things?"

How do we think of life after death?

As we continue to process and think through Jacob's health and the future, we find ourselves thinking more about eternity. This is due in large part to the fact that we know from a human perspective there is not a lot of encouragement we can give him about his future here. So we are trying to speak much of the glories of eternity. This of course makes us contemplate eternity more, as we sometimes draw blanks when it comes to expressing those glories of the future state. Perhaps you are like me and you think of heaven as being "good" and "blessed," but it all still seems a bit vague. What are we actually going to do there? What is it like? Scripture says it is eternal joy, but what concrete images can we give our kids to help express these things? Even the other day Jacob asked, "Is there anything fun in heaven?"

This has gotten me to reflect on the Bible's descriptions and how New Testament people spoke of life after death. From those reflections I think that we need to rephrase our speech. How many times haven't you heard the phrase that someone has "died and gone to heaven?" It always seems like they missed out on the rest of their lives. But the New Testament gives a much different perspective. Instead of teaching our kids that we will someday "die and go to heaven," we need the New Testament language, which is much more to the tune of "die and go to be with Jesus in heaven." Over and over again it is about being with Jesus and not so much about going to the place. Now that is something concrete that we can give our kids (and ourselves). If we know Jesus well here, then we have one certain known thing to anticipate in heaven--getting to know Jesus in person. That is the one constant between this life and the next.

I thought I would put down some texts that reinforce this theme.

1) Luke 23:43, "Today you will be with me in Paradise."

2) John 17:24, "I desire that they. . .may be with me where I am."

3) 2 Cor 5:8, "We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

4) 1 Thess 4:17, "caught up to meet the Lord. . .so we will always be with the Lord."

5) John 14:3, "I will come again and take you to myself that where I am you may be also."

6) Phil 1:23, "My desire is to depart and be with Christ."

7) Phil 3:30, "our citizenship is in heaven and from it we await a Savior."

Some of these reflections are drawn from John Piper's main theme in God is the Gospel, that Christ died not primarily to forgive us, but to bring us to God. Piper also demonstrates that if we could be happy in a heaven that had every earthly delight but did not have Christ then we would not be one of his true children. Being with Christ is what brings his children true delight and joy, not being in a wonderful place. And laboring to know him well now is the greatest preparation for death that we can make; for then we know something of what waits for us across the river.

So let's get our wording right as we look forward to the future. Let us speak of "going to be with Jesus"--and let us make every effort to communicate the beauties and delights and pleasures that are to be found in him.

. . .in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Psalm 16:11

Facebook

I just thought I'd let those of you who read the blog that I've transitioned somewhat to facebook. I tend to shoot up short snippets of the day or thoughts I've had (and the occasional picture) onto facebook and use the blog for more lengthy reflections or information. Just so you know that if you are on facebook you can find us, and if you aren't, you are missing some of the news we are sending out.

The Nearness of my God is my good

After a very trying day at work and what seems to be an endless succession of such days, I was much cheered by the words of Psalm 16 as we went through it this evening after dinner. I thought I would just post it here for others to reflect on.

Psalm 16

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life

in your presence is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

(ESV)