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.

Source

The Facebook Movie

Those of you who know me know that I am the anti-Facebook. I realize that it allows people to more easily keep up with one another, but I suspect that it is more often responsible for the proliferation of useless information and faux relationships rather than a tool for genuine human connectedness (see Neil Postman's books Amusing Ourselves to Death and Technopoly for further thought on that).

In any case, my aversion to Facebook doesn't really have much to do with my excitement about the upcoming movie, The Social Network. Rather, I am interested in it because the film was written by Aaron Sorkin, one of the most talented and creative people out there today. I've talked here before about my love of all things Sorkin, but I won't rehash a sonnet of wonder for Sports Night or a lament of loss for Studio 60 here, I'll just say that if anyone can write a great movie about a website (or anything), it is Aaron Sorkin. Additionally, the director is David Fincher, the director of such critically acclaimed films as Se7en and Fight Club. Needless to say, I am intrigued.

Facebook has a sordid history, with allegations that the founder, Mark Zuckerberg, stole the whole idea from some fellow college co-eds (the reality is that the claimed founders received a huge out of court settlement after suing Zuckerberg). Sundry co-ed malfeasance, ruthless conniving and general meanness are all rumors that surround the founder and his compatriots during the early days of Facebook. Some of it is true, some of it isn't and most of it is both...but it's all apparently in this film. Whatever this movie is about, it will be quite the interesting piece to watch.

The first trailer was released yesterday. Check it out below, and watch for The Social Network, hitting theaters on October 1, 2010.



Sources:
http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/techtonic-shifts/2010/05/13/as-facebook-takes-a-beating-a-brutal-movie-is-set-to-make-things-much-worse.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Social_Network

Quo Vadimus

Where are we going? That has been the question in this last week and a half; it has been such a roller coaster. We've been talking to a church in Missouri for the last few months, and I have been super excited about the opportunity. They're a 2 year old church plant affiliated with Acts29 and the Southern Baptist Convention, and situated in a unique area with a lot of needs and tons of potential for ministry. I had probably completed 2/3 of the process when I called them last Tuesday (the 8th) and they told me that they were going to go with another candidate. They encouraged me a great deal, but at the end of the day, it meant that we were back to square one.

I've really wrestled in the last week with getting back on the horse and searching for new ministry opportunities. For a few days I was just angry and frustrated, and then that gave way to discouragement and apathy. Kristen just moved into her third trimester, and while I am so excited about that, it makes the lack of any ministry opportunity loom more ominously in the foreground. I'm struggling once again with the reality that this will happen in God's timing, not mine, and that ultimately he is the one who will make it happen.

But, as always happens, the Lord put several reminders of his faithfulness in my path. My very good friend George emailed me after I sent him a discouraged email and reminded me that God is teaching me through this time, and that these minor difficulties will ultimately culminate in his glory. He said, "And you know that you can trust Him as He's never proven unfaithful. Not once." Of course I know this, but too often I don't really believe it. I need to believe it. Thanks for reminding me of that George.

Then, early this week, I sent my resume to several pastors that I had not contacted up to this point. The response was humbling and amazing...one of them immediately forwarded my resume to a church, another has a connection to a big church in this area that he was going to contact, and still another said he would even consider creating an internship for me until I found something more permanent. On top of all this, we got two incredible notes from my Grandmother on Thursday, offering to help us buy a pack n play for the baby, and encouraging us to persevere and remember God's faithfulness.

I am my father's son. I love to fix things, solve problems and do serious planning far into the future. I like to be prepared. But what that means for me is that too often I try to plan for God, to direct him in what I think is best rather waiting and listening to his leading. It's a lesson I have to learn over and over again, but God's faithfulness and his plan aren't always what I think or even want. Asking myself "Where are we going?" is a fruitless exercize in my own pride; I am learning once again that I have to ask the one who knows and patiently wait for his answer.