GroshLink

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After living exclusively on breastmilk every day of her life, Lily ventured into the world of solid food on Monday.  She had her first taste of whole grain rice cereal mixed with formula.  And the verdict?  Lily hated it!  After tasting it a few times she started to gag.  That's when I gave it a rest.

But I mixed up some more later in the day and although you wouldn't know it by her disgusted facial expressions, Lily liked it better than the first time.  Eventually she started to open her mouth when I put the spoon in front of her.  But she still grimaced when the food went in.  But boy, was she cute!  Mouth open wide with those two little, new teeth peeping out from the bottom gum.  And eyes screwed shut, nose wrinkled up (Note: click on the photo for larger size to see expression).  Hey, it's not my cooking.  I won't take it personally.  And Eden loved the show ;-)

Lily's sitting pretty well on her own now too.  All of a sudden she seems so much older...

Check this out.  I received the below email from my subscription to www.davidmbailey.com.  Great to watch a godly, passionate musician in process!

So I changed my strings and finally started to do a little picking.... grabbed the stack of new lyrics Code-named "40 days of Modern Psalms & Ancient Hope."  Day 10 floated to the top and here it is - raw and unpolished.

In case you missed David's story, visit the earlier post Cancer has returned to David Bailey.

Pray for me this week as I

1. celebrate 13 years of marriage with Theresa Ann Ginder (January 6).  What a joy our years together and growing family have been and continue to be!  Remember the snow storm ;-)
2. bring a new computer on-line.
3. connect with Nate Yoder, Bishop of the Brethren in Christ's Atlantic Conference, to discuss possible shared ministry opportunities.
4. develop materials for the Mid-Atlantic Graduate Student Winter Retreat, February 13-15
5. dig into Emerging Scholar Network and Faculty Ministry Catalyst resources and how I might use them in the Mid-Atlantic
6. explore faculty ministry opportunities at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.
7. read-up on the Oracles of Science for next week's study as part of the Central Pennsylvania Forum for Religion and Science
8. bring some of these items and more into the next week ;-)

The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective. Unless a man starts on the strange assumption that he has never existed before, it is quite certain that he will never exist afterwards. Unless a man be born again, he shall by no means enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. -- G. K. Chesterton

I came across the above quote in Harry Plantinga's January 2009 CCEL Letter. AND it struck me as a valuable word as I consider new year resolutions as a particular, whole person who should never forget that he is part of a specific community and ministry nestled in the larger Biblical story. 

The Rice family shared with me at Following Christ that cancer has returned to David Bailey, visit Music and Lyrics at david m. bailey: Home. I've found David's material a great encouragement not only during our family's walk with my cancer, but also through the various dark valleys our family has faced with Eden, Elise, and in the fall out of my cancer treatment (where my levels of energy and focus have varied and I've come to see myself only sustained by the grace of God the Father through His various means).*  Please join me in taking a few minutes to meditate upon some of David's 2008 Survival Lyrics and uplift him in your prayers.

What a joy to read my faculty friend Miller's description of N.T. Wright's plenary expositions at Following Christ 08. Note: He also had a good word share regarding his personal conversations in the Natural Science and Mathematics Track. To God be the glory as His Spirit alone prepares the hearts of His people to graciously receive and apply the Word God!  

NT Wright does read from his script...but the content is quite good, and people listen well...and he had a great audience there...they smiled, and laughed at every subtle nuance that i missed...who wouldn't love to teach to have students like that...just reading part of john 17 where Jesus says, "I want them to be with me" ...and i was thinking how much at home I felt with those at this conference...how much they reflect the glory of God by their humble attitude, alert minds, humor, and desire to honor Christ in their careers...and when Christ returns, they will be even more like Him...i began thinking, what will it be like to be with people like this for all eternity...i sensed their love for each other...no feeling of competition as the Holy Spirit seemed so present (there had been prayer for three years in preparation for this conference)...there was a light hearted joy pervading the place...

O God of our fathers, and Lord of mercy, who has made all things with your word, and ordained man through your wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which you have made, give me wisdom that sits by your throne so that I might understand what is your will and be saved. For I am your servant. Amen. -- Cyril, ninth-century apostle to the Slavs.

Note:  For a glimpse into the roots of the Gospel among the Moravians, which is the Grosh family's ethnic/religious roots, visit a recent Christianity Today article Translating the Gospel in Eastern Europe: Early missionaries Cyril and Methodius gave the Slavic people an alphabet and a chance to worship God in their own language.  Tilling, planting, and watering the seed of the Word of God with joy and across generations, even in the face of great obstacles.

In case you haven't already read it, here's a link to an InterVarsity webpage article on Following Christ 08. At the bottom of the article is a link to audio for the conference. ... more to be added shortly.  Please take time to download and prayerfully consider MaryKate Morse's opening presentation on Why Aren’t We Flourishing?.

As a member of the intercessory prayer team, I (Tom) prayed for MaryKate before (and while) she challenged fear among delegates as they journey in higher education.  I rejoice in having the opportunity to stand with MaryKate,  as she called delegates to receive

the noble heart, so we can choose good over evil no matter the cost. This is what it means to be fully human and flourish.  It's ultimately not about our carefully reasoned and planned success, but a lived life in Jesus Christ. ... God did not give me a spirit of fear ... but of power, love, and a sound mind. And I'm fully human when I live out of that promise.  

Delegate after delegate shared with me the power of MaryKate's message, enabling them to wrestle with, confront, and cast out fear on the front end of the conference.  As I listened to her presentation this morning I gave glory to God and was reminded how messages such as MaryKate's benefit an audience much larger than academics, so whether or not you are in higher education, take and eat.  May this be a piece of bread which you take from the Groshlink table as you offer 2009 to the LORD.

Note:  MaryKate Morse is Professor of Leadership; Spiritual Formation; Director of Strategic Planning/University; Director of Hybrid and Special Programs/Seminary at George Fox Evangelical Seminary.