GroshLink

we're receiving the building permit for our property and our first direct mail delivery.

In other news, we've been blessed by the family Sunday School Class offered by Greg's home congregation, Elizabethtown Brethren-in-Christ In addition, Baby Eden fell asleep in the nursery this morning, very much an expression of the grace of God as she has cried in nursery so much that we have had to pick her up during the Sunday service most every week of the past several months. We're mostly settled into Tom's parents house, only a few runs to the storage unit for various 'necessities.'

fall short . . . As many of you know, I am seeking to understand how professors professing their faith in Christ through their lives, words, and actions can by the Power of the Spirit have a widespread, redemptive influence on a an institution of higher education, particularly in small learning communities such as liberal arts colleges and state colleges set in the rural areas/towns (focusing initially on campuses in South Central PA).

Several weeks ago, my father taped for me the July 10 PBS History Detectives feature on Alternative Service Certificates which included an interview of David Eller, chairman of Elizabethtown College's Religious Studies Department. I had mixed feelings as I watched the story the other night as David had been recently arrested for allegedly arranging a sexual encounter with a 12 year old girl.

Yes, this was an insightful piece with regard to understanding alternative service and it gave me a deeper understanding of the tensions within Anabaptist traditions on how to engage in the larger culture (in this case in a war which one could place in the just war tradition). Yes, all of us sin and fall short. Yes, all of us can receive forgiveness and healing. Thankfully, police and NOT a young girl (just a few years older than Hayley and Ellen) was encountered the other day. Yes, this is an expression of God's common grace in action through the justice system.

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Just came across In Amish country, a recent piece from the Online edition of India's National Newspaper. Hard not to appreciate the outside perspective on the Amish as we return home to Lancaster County, PA, and consider our relationship to the world, the devil, the flesh AND the Word, the Spirit, the Father, and the People of God.

Although the Amish intersect w/the real world in daily life as they till, craft, weld, sew, sell, birth/raise children, live in community, etc, they come to much different conclusions w/regard to the stewardship of the creation and the common grace which the Father bestows for fulfilling our vocation as beings created in the creative and stewarding image of God to bless, guide, and develop the creation along w/her inhabitants. It is a great witness to see the primacy of community in Christ over radical American individualism in action, but this can be embraced w/o the radical separation and rejection of the good gifts of the creation provided through venues such as higher education.

Actually, Lancaster county and its people could be from another planet altogether. Such is the difference in the lifestyles of the Pennsylvania Dutch (a corruption of Deutch) who inhabit this region and the average American . . .

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On Tueday, we successfully waded through all the paperwork and enrolled Hayley & Ellen in Donegal Springs Elementary School for the fall! In addition the postmaster visited our property over lunch and gave us permission to place our mailbox. Last night Theresa's dad installed the mailbox, we should be able to start receiving mail tomorrow! Hope to be able to pick-up Milanof-Schock library cards on Friday morning. Turns out its One of the Best Small Libraries in America. We just found our first lost items in our storage unit -- special thanks to Alan, Carl, Eunice, and Jay for their great job packing! Praise God for the answers to prayers for the 'little concerns of life' which seem to become so big in our eyes.

We're in the packing . . . moving frenzy. Special thanks to Heather, Kristen, Melissa, Serina for helping w/the girls. Way to pack boxes (Amy, Amy, Jean, Maggie, and Nicole)! Loved the meal Lydia. Rob and Josh -- way to dismantle the boxspring and carry it out the front door. So much easier than when a few good men bent it up the stairwell :-) Alan, we very much appreciated your walk-thru packing assessment.

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A number of our fellowship gatherings have focused a considerable amount of prayer on the state of the mainline Protestant denominations and the future direction of the institutional structure(s) of the Body of Christ. Particularly, how is one part of an evangelical, faithful local congregation which is under the authority and/or in relationship to a larger fellowship seeking its own understanding?

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Please share w/us your favorite memories from our time w/you in 'da Burgh!

Check out a report on the recent faculty camp, In Thy Light We See Light, Theological Acuity and Academic Vocation. Our kids loved the well designed children's program and the open free time to play w/faculty and staff kids. Theresa and I enjoyed the opportunity to once again here the stories of how Cal DeWitt lives and works in the Light of Christ each day as he interacts with the book of creation and those God has placed in his class, university, field of research (Environmental Studies). For tapes/CD's of this year's presentations, email store at cedarcampus dot org or call (906) 484-2294. I would encourage faculty to place next year's dates on their calendar: June 16-22. I'll let you know when more details are available.

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That's the move date. Please pray for us as we're in the process of packing, wrapping up loose ends in 'da Burgh, and charting our path of transition, which will involve living w/our parents for the next several months and making connections with faculty at campuses in South Central PA.