Life and likesuchas...

I haven't posted in a while because I'm going through one of those periods where I feel like there's nothing to post. Inspirational thought has left me for the time being, and there's no real news to report. Right now, it feels like we're somewhere in here:

We're just waiting, waiting, waiting. Something might be coming soon, but for now, we're still just standing in line.

Shut Down all the Garbage Mashers!

You know that scene in Star Wars: A New Hope when Luke and Han Solo have just rescued Princess Leia from the clutches of Darth Vader? In their haste to escape, they find themselves in a giant trash compactor, filled with all manner of filth and some sort of one-eyed, tentacled thing that wants to eat them. Just as Han defeats it with a shot from his blaster, the walls begin to close in.

"SHUT DOWN ALL THE GARBAGE MASHERS ON THE DETENTION LEVEL!" Luke screams to C-3PO and R2-D2. Just as their fate seems sealed, R2 comes through in the clutch and our heroes live to fight the Empire another day.

Someone asked me recently how my life has been going, and I responded that I feel just like Luke Skywalker must have in that moment. The walls seem to be closing in on all fronts, and right now it seems like there is nowhere to go. We were talking the other day about our little boy, now four plus months old; he'll be crawling soon and walking before we know it (he seems to want to now!) and there's no room for it. We can't baby-proof anything...there's nowhere in our apartment for it. We only sleep in bed together one night a week, and when we do have a day together, one of us is exhausted from working the night before.

We could move to a larger apartment, but that would cost more money that we don't have, and would mean that we would have to commit to a year-long lease. One of us could look for a new job, but that would mean new insurance and some of the jobs I have looked at require commitment to hang around, at least for a little while. We've maintained an uncomfortable flexibility for a while now in the hope we would soon be moving, but nothing has yet materialized. Now we're faced with a decision...should we make some commitments (maybe a new job and a new lease) to stay here? Or should we hold tight, hoping that an opportunity with a church comes through soon?

I don't know, but I know that the Lord is faithful, and that at some point, the walls will stop closing in. I just wish I knew when that will be...

It's Official

I feel old. I know I'm not old, but I feel like it. More on this later.

My New Year Resolution

I'm not big on New Year resolutions. Too often, I find that I'm trying to externally patch some problem by simply resolving to stop rather than dealing with whatever deeper root cause. This being the case, I too often fail at whatever I am undertaking because I'm attempting to treat a symptom rather than the problem.

All that to say that I have a New Year resolution of sorts this year, and it's one that I would recommend to everyone. Timothy Brister, in collaboration with The Resurgence, has begun a project called "Partnering to Remember." The goal this year is to memorize the entire book of Philippians beginning on January 1, to be completed by Easter Sunday (April 24). The Resurgence has created a very helpful PDF that divides the text up into small chunks of 5-8 verses for each of the sixteen weeks. The sections of this PDF are sized so that they can be cut and taped into a Cahier Moleskin for maximum portability and ease of study.


I know that memorizing and entire book of the Bible seems daunting, but what more worthy way to spend your spare time? I'm a little nervous that I won't be able to stick it out for 4 months, but why let that stop me? Come January 1, I'll start on the most ambitious memorization project I've ever undertaken. Tim Brister:

Let’s face it. Memorizing Scripture can be a difficult discipline, especially memorizing long passages of Scripture. In our fast-paced lives of multi-tasking with any number of things vying for our attention, there is a real danger for the Word of God to get squeezed out of our daily lives. More than any other time, Christians need to partner together for the purpose of internalizing Scripture, encouraging one another to abide in the words of Christ, and remembering the weighty truths that center us in God’s work in our lives.

I encourage you to join me on January 1 as I begin to memorize the book of Philippians.

Merry Christmas!!!

I enjoyed this...

100 days and counting...

For those of you who follow our baby blog, you'll know that yesterday marked the end of our first 100 days with Aiden. We've been chronicling the journey in pictures, and so I thought I would post the entire slideshow here for everyone to see. I can't wait to see the Lord's faithfulness in all of our lives over the next 100 days, and beyond.

The Alternative Chronicle

My brother is a writer and the editor for The Alternative Chronicle, a website for serious lovers of film and music. Writing from Los Angeles, many of the films reviewed may only be seen by the rest of us in some obscure video store after a very limited release, but that shouldn't dissuade you from visiting the site. The writing and film criticism is top notch, and in addition to excellent reviews of more familiar films like The Social Network, there's plenty you've never heard of to be discovered on their site.

What pulled me to the site recently is their ongoing roll-out of a best in genre list of movie musicals. The introductory post can be found here, with upcoming lists from a number of the collaborating writers and a final, yet-to-be-released top 10 list. If you love musicals, you're sure to see some of your favorites along with some unknown to you. Besides the current musical list, the site serves to remind me that there is much more out there than the headlining blockbusters that are standard fare at your local movie theatre. Check out The Alternative Chronicle and see what great films you've been missing!

UPDATED: The list of top 10 musicals is now online here, as well as all the individual writers' personal lists.

Hobby Lobby Heresy

I'm pretty sure this isn't what Paul meant when he wrote this in his letter to the Romans. Just sayin...

Road Trippin' with the Boy

Last week, we drove from Louisville to Chambersburg, PA to spend Thanksgiving with the Locke side of the family. Normally a not-so-ambitious undertaking, the drive is a beautiful tour through West Virginia and Western Maryland that takes about 8 hours. But this time, we had a complication...it was the first trip for our boy, just a week shy of 3 months old.

The packing was excruciating: did we remember burp cloths? Do we have enough diapers? Are the wipes where we can reach them? Then there was the planning. When will we feed him? What about stopping to change him? What will we do if he just screams his head off for 8+ hours?

Fortunately, our fears were without merit. As it turns out, Aiden loves to ride in the car (or more accurately, loves to sleep in the car). Kristen had to wake him up to feed him, and he was otherwise happy as a little clam.


Thinking ahead, Kristen bought this toy bar so that in his rare moments of wakefulness, he could entertain himself. He seemed to enjoy it once he realized he could hit the various parts and they would spin and make sounds.

He did great with feedings too! We ended up scheduling it so that he only had to eat twice on the trip, and once was with a bottle while the other coincided with a lunch and gas stop (I could see in his eyes that he wanted my Hush Puppies at Long John Silvers). Of course, the last hour of the trip, he was fussy, but who doesn't want to wail and scream after 9 hours in a car? As it turned out, the trip only took us an hour longer than sans Aiden, and we consider that a victory to be sure.

It was a great trip, and when I say that, I'm including the traveling. We were blessed with safe driving and a great time with family. And now Aiden has been inducted into the tradition of the Groves Family road trip. There will be many more to come!

Turkey Psalm

Thanksgiving inevitably brings about the question: "What are you thankful for?" While I could fill pages and pages with my answer this year, I was struck this morning by my daily reading in Psalms. Perspective is critical in any discussion of thankfulness and blessing, and this Psalm brings it to me. Have a happy thanksgiving, remembering the unending faithfulness of God!






²²for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

²³The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
when he delights in his way;
²⁴though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the LORD upholds his hand.

²⁵I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
²⁶He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.

²⁷Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you dwell forever.
²⁸For the LORD loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
²⁹The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell upon it forever...

³⁹The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
⁴⁰The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

- Psalm 37:22-29, 39-40

Psalm of the Day

I enjoyed reading this Psalm late last week and dwelling on the symbolism in my thoughts over the next few days. So I thought I would post it for all of you to read and think about as well.

1Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

3The voice of the LORD is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the LORD, over many waters.

4The voice of the LORD is powerful;

the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;

the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

6He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,

and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. 8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;

the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth

and strips the forests bare,

and in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

10The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;

the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.

11May the LORD give strength to his people!

May the LORD bless his people with peace!

- Psalm 29

Paul, Prayer and Persecution

A week ago, I preached on Philippians 1:18-26. If the reference doesn't automatically jog your memory, it's the passage where Paul proclaims "to live is Christ and to die is gain." I spent a great deal of time unpacking that main idea, but it's what Paul says just before this famous quotation that I've been thinking about this week.

"Yes, and I will rejoice, 19for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death." (Philippians 1:18b-20)

In this long sentence spanning two and a half verses, Paul states that he will rejoice and have confidence despite his circumstances (he was writing this while imprisoned, most likely in Rome and possibly awaiting execution) because all was being worked out for his deliverance ("salvation" is a better translation, to mean something like "the Gospel is being worked out in me") and that ultimately, God would be glorified. But I think what is most interesting (and applicable) is how Paul knows all this will turn out for the Gospel and God's glory.

Paul says "through your prayers and the work of the Spirit of Jesus Christ." The English translation seems to separate these two things, simply listing them as a series, but Paul was expressing a much closer relationship than that. Both the prayers of the Philippians and the work of the Spirit are grammatically organized to emphasize their unity and interrelation. As Gordon Fee says, "the Philippians...are inexplicably bound together with him [Paul] through the Spirit. Therefore, he assumes that their praying, and with that God's gracious supply of the Spirit of his Son, will be the means God uses yet once more to bring glory to himself through Paul and Paul's defense of the Gospel."

This Sunday is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Across the globe there are thousands of believers who are facing persecution; they are imprisoned, beaten, separated from the ones they love all because they claim the same God for their Father that we do with relative ease. They are living today the same life that Paul was living when he wrote this letter to the Philippians, and we are those bound inextricably together with them. Our prayers are not just an expression of our sadness at their predicament or a plea to the Father for their comfort, but much more than that.

The work of the Holy Spirit allows them to rejoice in their circumstances and have the surety that Paul expresses: the Gospel is being worked out in their lives, and God is being glorified. And the means that we have a critical role to play: we are called to pray for the persecuted church, knowing that our prayers are a means by which the Holy Spirit works in their lives. As Moises Silva says, "The Spirit's help itself is...manifested through the koinonia [common fellowship, unity] of fellow-believers." They are not just people we don't really know, but a part of the same body that we belong to, members of our family, our brothers and sisters.

So pray, not just on Sunday, but begin to pray daily for the part of the body of Christ that suffers daily for the Gospel. Pray knowing that your prayers have an effect, that through the Spirit, the joy your persecuted brothers and sisters have in the midst of these dark hours and their certainty of God's glory in their situation is directly related to your prayers. And pray that He would hasten the day when their faith shall be sight and all that is broken will be made new.


For prayer updates, click here or go to persecution.com to sign up for email prayer updates.

Parenthood

"I'm becoming pretty obsessed about parenthood right now," said my wife yesterday. Was she referring to the all-consuming, late night feedings, or the constant stream of laundry, or perhaps the way a baby takes over your entire schedule? An involuntary obsession with parenting might be a good way to characterize our lives right now. But that's not what she was talking about...she was talking about the show Parenthood on NBC.

We've watched it from the beginning (it's in the second season now) and I have to say that it is without a doubt one of the best shows on television. It follows the lives of four very different siblings and their children as they navigate the crazy world of parenting. One of the siblings is a single parent, another has just recently met his 6 year old son for the first time, yet another has an autistic boy and the last struggles to balance her high-powered career and her family.

It sounds a little formulaic, right? Maybe a little cheesy...well, it's not. Check out this video clip:



Parenthood has an authenticity to its writing and a depth of talented acting that is rare on television, especially on NBC. Nevertheless, the show has underperformed in ratings. So, watch it. The multiple plot lines and large cast mean that it migh take an episode or two for you to really get everything that's happening, but it will most definitely be worth it. Parenthood has all the ingredients for a good, solid show with talented actors and excellent writing. But it also has the intangible that takes the show from good to great; it has a moment. The drama draws you in an compels you to continue watching...you will laugh, cry, struggle along with the characters. It really is a great show. Check out Parenthood at 10pm Tuesday nights on NBC.

Ad of the Year (or Century)

In a season of campaign ads that were at times as vitriolic as they were laughable, as irrelevant as they were aggressive, this ad for the 2010 Winnipeg mayor's race stands alone. (by the way, I did a little research and I'm pretty sure this is the real-ish deal)

One Year

It was a year ago today that I started sending out resumes for ministry positions, and I'm honestly not sure how I feel about that. In the last 365 days, we went from a family of two to a family of three, I added an M.Div to the end of my name and we've seen the nature of our ministry in Louisville change and taper off. The last year has been a mix of incredibly exciting events and difficult challenges, a pattern that I am sure won't change much in the coming months.

It's tempting to be discouraged when I remember how optimistic I was as I sent off my first resume on November 2, 2009 to New Hope Baptist Church in Pelzer, SC. It really does seem like that was forever ago, and in moments of weakness I wonder when this time of waiting will ever end. But God has been so faithful in our lives over the past twelve months. I think about the incredible ways that God has provided for us financially, the deep and enriching relationships that have ministered to us in the last year and the story of Aiden's birth.

When I look back all of this, how can I not trust that the Lord will continue to be faithful? As we begin to face the possibility that Kristen may have to return to work in a few weeks and wonder how we might be able to make that work, He is faithful. As I wait to hear back from the many churches still holding and considering my resume, He is faithful. As this time of waiting stretches past one year, God will continue to be faithful. Please pray with us that we would remember, celebrate and trust in this truth.

²³Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
-I Thessalonians 5:23-24

Psalms

For a long time, I didn't really like asparagus. It's not that I really had any experience with it, but it was green and a vegetable, so I pretty much rejected it out of hand. But a few years ago, I ate some and all of the sudden I realized that not only do I like asparagus, I love it. Now, I look forward to every time I get the chance to have some.

I tell that story because reading Psalms has followed roughly the same trajectory for me as my relationship with the delicious green stalk. I have always gravitated to the epistles for their theological and didactic nature and to narrative because it so beautifully illustrates the unfolding of the message of the Word. But I'm not really one for poetry, and I had never really gotten into the book of Psalms.

Per usual, the impetus for me to step out of what I was comfortable with was my wonderful wife, who has been enthusiastically enjoying the Psalms on her second read through the Bible in a year. I was skeptical, but I had finished an epistle and a narrative recently, so I took the plunge and started with Psalm 1. I was stunned...how had I been missing this the whole time?!?! The beauty of the text is intertwined with great theological truths about the nature of God, man, sin, redemption...I could go on and on. I'm not sure that anything I have read so clearly reveals so much about the nature of God.

I've been reveling in Psalms ever since. It's been an incredible encouragement in this time of uncertainty and Kristen and I have decided to memorize this passage to keep our minds and hearts focused on who our mighty God is:

6Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 7The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
8The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. 9Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

- Psalm 28:6-9 (ESV)

I encourage you to check out Psalms if you have not already. And keep your eye on this blog, as I intend to start up blogging with more regularity in the coming weeks.

I'm still around...

I realize that I haven't posted here in a long time, and for you two people who still read this, I'm going to get back to it soon. I've been busy over on our baby blog since Aiden was born, but I'll be back here soon. For now, I'll direct you to the newest feature on our baby blog, 100 Days of Aiden. We're taking a picture of him every day and posting them up for 100 days. It should be interesting!

The Reckoning

Recently, I saw one of my favorite artists, Andrew Peterson, live in concert. His new album, Counting Stars was released recently, and it's been my most played album of the last two weeks. I would highly recommend it and any of AP's music; he's talented and insightful, and his heart for God shows through in his work. This particular song is the final song of his new album and probably my favorite.

It catches me off guard each time I hear it...I find myself choking on the words as I am reminded of the transitory reality of all that I too often trust as permanent. I've often struggled with articulating my feelings about what Andrew calls "the reckoning" but this song gives words to the desires of my heart. I can't be reminded often enough that there is a great coming reality when the curtain will be lifted and we will look God full in the face, and I too long for that day.



I can see the storm descending on the hill tonight
Tall trees are bending to your will tonight
Let the mighty bow down
At the thundering sound of your voice

I can hear the howling wind and feel the rain tonight
Every drop a prophet in your name tonight
And the words that they sing
They are washing me clean, but

How long until this curtain is lifted?
How long is this the song that we sing?
How long until the reckoning?

And I know you hear the cries of every soul tonight
You see the teardrops as they roll tonight
Down the faces of saints
Who grow weary and faint in your fields

And the wicked roam the cities and the streets tonight
But when the God of love and thunder speaks tonight
I believe You will come
Your justice be done, but

How long until this curtain is lifted?
How long is this the song that we sing?
How long until the reckoning?

You are holiness and grace
You are fury and rest
You are anger and love
You curse and you bless
You are mighty and weak
You are silence and song
You are plain as the day,
But you have hidden your face—
For how long? How long?

And I am standing in the silence of the reckoning
The storm is past and rest is beckoning
Mighty God, how I fear you
How I long to be near you, O Lord

How long until this curtain is lifted?
How long is this the song that we sing?
How long until the reckoning?

And I know that I don’t know what I’m asking
But I long to look you full in the face
I am ready for the reckoning

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

No, it's not Christmas, although that's great too. It's SHARK WEEK on the Discovery channel. For 23 years, Discovery has been paying homage to the apex predator of the ocean, the creature that strikes fear in the hearts of us mere humans.


I love sharks...I love their beauty and raw power. Watching a Great White breech is possibly one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. I still grab Kristen and say, "Look at that!" every time they play a slow motion shot of one, flailing in the air after jumping fully out of the water. It truly is amazing.

So tune into Shark Week, all this week on Discovery, and enjoy one of the most stunning works of God's creation.

Liberty Across the Pond

Your Freedom: Britain's liberty is at stake - it is time to have your say

By Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister
Published: 6:30AM BST 01 Jul 2010

During their 13 years in power, the Labour Government developed a dangerous reflex. Faced with whatever problem, legislation increasingly became the standard response. Something needs fixing? Let’s pass a new law.

And so, over the last decade, thousands of new rules and regulations have amassed on the statute book. And it is our liberty that has paid the price. Under the cover of pretending to act in our best interest, the state has crept further and further into people’s homes and their private lives. That intrusion is disempowering. It needs to change.

The Coalition Government is determined to restore great British freedoms. Major steps have been taken already. ID cards have been halted. Plans are underway to restrict the storage of innocent people’s DNA. Schools will no longer be able to take children’s fingerprints without their parents consent.

But we need to do more. The culture of state snooping has become so ingrained that we must tackle it with renewed vigour. And, especially in these difficult times, entrepreneurs and businesses need our help. We must ensure we are not tying them up in restrictive red tape.

So today we are taking an unprecedented step. Based on the belief that it is people, not policymakers, who know best, we are asking the people of Britain to tell us how you want to see your freedom restored.

We are calling for your ideas on how to protect our hard won liberties and repeal unnecessary laws. And we want to know how best to scale back excessive regulation that denies businesses the space to innovate. We’re hoping for virtual mailbags full of suggestions. Every single one will be read, with the best put to Parliament.

It is a radically different approach. One based on trust. Because it isn’t up to government to tell people how to live their lives. Our job is to empower people, giving you the freedom and support to thrive. That belief is right at the heart of this Coalition. And both coalition parties recognise that Whitehall doesn’t have a monopoly on the best ideas.

So, finally, after years in the wilderness, freedom is back in fashion. This is our chance to redraw the boundaries between citizen and state. It’s your chance to have your say.

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