GroshLink

"Take time. Give God time to reveal Himself to you. Give yourself time to be silent and quiet before Him, waiting to receive, through the Spirit, the assurance of His presence with you, His power working in you.  Take time to read His Word as in His presence, that from it you may know what He asks of you and what He promises you. Let the Word create around you, create within you a holy atmosphere, a holy heavenly light, in which your soul will be refreshed and strengthened for the work of daily life." -- Andrew Murray, The Secret of Adoration.  Quoted in They Found the Secret by V. Raymond Edman (Grand Rapids, MI:  Zondervan, 1984), p. 118.

I don't often have the opportunity to listen to Humankind, but recently I tuned in and received the blessing of hearing Millard Fuller share the Christian vision of Habitat for Humanity.  What a testimony! For an excerpt click here. 

NPR's Remembrance of Habitat For Humanity Founder Millard Fuller (All Things Considered, February 3, 2009) shares the story of his transformation:

... Fuller was a country boy from Lanett, Ala., who started raising pigs at age 6, launched a marketing business, became a lawyer and was a millionaire by the time he turned 29. He began having health problems and his marriage was breaking up, so as Fuller told the National Press Club in 1996, "After spending most of my adult life in the pursuit of success in law and business, I wanted to make my life count for something of more lasting value. So I made a radical change. Linda and I divested ourselves of our wealth and sought a very different kind of life — a life of Christian service."

Fuller believed people of faith must put their faith into practice. He and his family moved to Zaire in 1973 to build homes, and in 1976, he returned to the U.S. and started Habitat for Humanity with his wife. Fuller said the key principle was to build simple, decent houses. ...

But it's hard not to grieve over the allegations of sexual harassment and the fight for control of Habitat for Humanity, which led to Fuller's departure from "his" nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry (after which he founded The Fuller Center for Housing).  I guess we'll never know the truth as to what happened.  At this time, leave these issues to the judgment of God.  But I am going to place Bettie Youngs' The House That Love Built on my to read list.  Anyone have a copy which I can borrow?

So have you thrown away the recipes or regularly modify/build upon what you were given? My uncle, who caters, attests to the value of Michael Ruhlman's* ratio approach, interviewed in NPR's Throw Away The Recipe; Learn The Ratio Instead.  Maybe this approach explains the complex nature of replicating Mom's recipes, one learned on the farm and the other as a hospital nutritionist (who brings chemistry concerns to the table). 

Theresa thinks the concept is interesting and could be taught in a basic home economics course. ... I'll have to pass the story along to my friend Toby, who has the classic "Lord of the Rings" story on recipes/ratios.

*He knew Michael Ruhlman from his days as part of the undercover educational work of CIA, i.e., Culinary Institute of America ;-) Note:  My uncle is a graduate of the CIA.

As I mentioned in Circumcision of the Heart, I'm preparing for The Brethren in Christ Theology of Salvation, taught by Dr. Luke L. Keefer, Jr.  They Found the Secret, by V. Raymond Edman, is among the required readings. 

Over the course of the next several days, maybe it will be weeks, I'll share some quotes from They Found the Secret and then move onto the other required readings.  Note:  Since I'll be writing some papers on salvation and testimonies of the work of God, I'm interested in any comments you have regarding the topic as a whole, the specific quote given, and/or the author of the quote.  Let's begin with Andrew Murray's (1828–1917) response to a time of trial/testing as recorded by Amy Carmichael (1867–1951).

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After listening to NPR's Are Dairy Farmers A Dying Breed? (Morning Edition, July 24, 2009) and Dairy Farmers Reel As Raw Milk Prices Plunge (Morning Edition, February 5, 2009), I spent some time contemplating the loss of a way of life and it's wider ramifications. Join me in praying for friends in South Central PA who are dairy farmers.

... USDA economists project this year's average milk price paid to dairy farmers will be the lowest since 1978. ...

The dairy industry has gotten some help from Washington. The USDA has subsidized farmers with more than $5 million in aid over the past few months to make up for some of the income loss. The feds have also paid dairies cash bonuses to export powdered milk.

Back on his [California] ranch, Mendoza says if he can ride out this downturn, he'd think about reopening in a few years as a small organic dairy. He could make more money per gallon for organic milk.

Otherwise, he might try and earn a buck renting his scenic farm to dairy industry advertisers. He thinks if they can take pictures of happy cows grazing near the ocean, it might encourage consumers to drink more milk.

HT to Greg Veltman for this excellent ad.  Let Lord Byron's (1788-1824) poetry into the mix of the 21st Century stage.  Much to be found at BBC's Poetry Section.  Enjoy.

As you may know, this week’s Emerging Scholar's Week in Review is up, click here. In case you haven't checked it out, I'd encourage you to watch Stephen Colbert's interview of Matthew Crawford, author of Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work. HT to Derek Melleby's Shop Class as Soulcraft for drawing my attention to this piece.

Note: For the original New Atlantis essay of the same title and various links related to the author/book click here. In the ESN Week in Review I ask,

Alongside being a member of the knowledge making community, do you have skilled, manual competence (in some form)? Do you at times enjoy, even relish, the cognitive demands of manual, blue-collar work? What are your thoughts regarding whether academic labor is understood and/or accepted in our wider culture?

 

Not sure if I'm ready for the political satire of In the Loop. But while digging into the American introduction to Armando Iannucci,* I found this dinner conversation clip from “The Armando Iannucci Show" quite a trip. Ever wonder how some people seem to drive popular dinner conversation ;-)

*Offered by The NY Times.

We're away with the ferries: THE controversial first Sunday ferry service left Lewis for the mainland yesterday - to a mix of PROTESTS and CHEERS.

It is good to find that Sabbath-keeping reaches public conversation somewhere in 'the modern world.'  But how do followers of Christ practice and go about encouraging Sabbath-keeping?  In what manner does Sabbath-keeping extend beyond the people of God?  Some questions for the day.  Have some other tasks to attend to, hope to share reflections later.  Earlier I posted some links related to the topic at Sabbath-keeping.

 

I've been going non-stop for almost an entire week.  Pray for a time to rest. 

1. God the Father renewed connections w/His Body in 'da Burgh.  As always, the Spirit opened some surprise connections ;-)
2. The Lord provided safe travel there/back. To God be the glory!
3. Pray for Lily's complete healing.  The fever has passed, but she still has a diaper rash along with Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease.
4. On Monday, Theresa had a great day out w/her sister and mom.  I had the blessing of 2 young women from our local congregation helping with care of the 4 girls.  If you want to know about Theresa's shopping run, drop her a note ;-)
5. On Tuesday, I had a several hour conversation w/a representative of the Christian Medical & Dental Association. Lord willing, this fall will include a deeper connection with their work at PSU-Hershey Medical Center.  Note: Pray for our whole family to be good hosts for Christian Medical Society's July BBQ/Social next Wednesday.
6. Office: over the past two days I've assembled the IKEA shelving, emptied some boxes, & hung some pics. Wow!  I'm starting to "feel" like I am "home," at least for a time. ... Come Lord Jesus, Come.
7. Year-end financial numbers should be completed by the end of the week.  God has provided!  He alone is our true refuge and strength.
8. If you're not subscribed, periodically check Emerging Scholars Network Blog for new posts/comments.
9. If you're in Central PA, don't forget that we're having a Prayer Gathering for the Fall Mission on Thursday, June 30, 7pm, Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ.  For more information, drop us an email.
10. Gotta get Lily.  She just woke up from her nap and Eden's being "a little mommy."  More later ...

 

In case you haven't heard Obama has tapped Francis Collins for directing the National Institute of Health (NIH). Time for the hearings ;-) As I've posted on the Emerging Scholars Network Blog, the NPR piece lays his credentials, faith, and embracing of the two out in the open. I wonder how many hits there will be to BioLogos (which the NPR article links to) over the course of the next several days? Looking for a summer read for beach? Well if you haven't picked up Collins’ The Language of God, now is the time (or at least catch the NPR interview) so you can talk about it with your family, neighbors, and colleagues ;-)  

You may remember, I have a number of posts on Francis Collins.  They can be found at More Language of God.  And if you have lots of time in the car, don't forget to download Collins' presentation on Science as Worship (introduced by Kathy Tuan-MacLean) at Following Christ 08 (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministry Conference). Duration: 56:26.

Eden's facial nerve surgeon called to discuss with us his recommendation of a gold weight in her not fully functioning eyelid to enable her to close it fully. We're exploring the steps necessary to go ahead with the surgery.

Pray for discernment, patience, and the ability to calendar well as we have conversations with other physicians involved in Eden's care, explore insurance coverage, and time our trip to Pittsburgh (where the facial nerve surgeon is located).  Pray for this procedure to truly improve Eden's ability to use her eyes without creating unexpected, adverse effects.

Please pray for my weekend visit to Pittsburgh.  While in town, I'll reconnect with several local congregations, friends, and donors.  Please pray that these meetings will be fruitful. With regard to the local congregations, I am visiting Memorial Park Church's Saturday 6 pm worship and Allegheny Center C&MA's 11:10 am Sunday worship. If you're from one of these congregations (or just in the area) and would like to connect, drop me a note.  On Saturday, I'll hang out at Memorial Park's Clayton Center after the service.  On Sunday, I'll catch a 12:15 pm lunch at the Union Place Cafe' before heading to the 1 pm Missions Team Meeting.

Please also pray for Theresa and the girls during my absence. She'll pick up Ellen and Hayley from Kenbrook on Friday ... then take the 4 girls to visit her family's cabin.  At the cabin, she'll hang out with her parents, her sister, and her sister's 3 boys ;-)

Check out the below email from the Central Pennsylvania Forum for Religion and Science for a few on-line resources regarding and an upcoming lecture on The Scopes Trial in History and Legend. Hope to see some of you Monday, 7pm, Pine Street Church, Harrisburg, PA. If you're not able to make it, but interested in my notes, let me know.   

The topic moves from Europe in the late 1600s to America in the 1920s, as we consider what really happened at the Scopes trial -- one of the two or three most famous trials in American history. Two huge "stars" of the day, former presidential candidate and the great defense attorney Clarence Darrow, faced off in a large courtroom in Dayton, TN, as hundreds of reporters and a live radio broadcast communicated events world-wide. It was a media circus before such things were common. The trial was very loosely presented in a Broadway play of the 1950s, "Inherit the Wind," and a subsequent film in 1960 starring Spencer Tracy as Darrow and Frederic March as Bryan. Anyone familiar with either the play or the film will find that the real story makes an interesting comparison -- this is a case in which facts are actually better than fiction.

William Jennings Bryan

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Over the course of the past several weeks, I've been reading Psalms for Young Children [Marie-Hélène Delval, Arno (illustrator). Grand Rapids, MI:  Eerdmans, 2003] with the family over dinner and some breakfasts.  Eden, Ellen, and Hayley have all taken to the pictures and memorizing the first couple selections.  Below are a few samples for your reflection this morning as you joyfully offer this new day in submission to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To God be the glory!  May His will and ways advance through all aspects of our lives and those with whom we have opportunity to be share our lives.

"When I listen to you, God, when I do what you ask me to, I am like a tree planted by a river, a tree full of fruit with leaves that are always green."  -- Psalm 1 from Psalms for Young Children (Eerdmans, 2003).

"God, when I'm in my bed at night, I think about you.  And then I'm not scared of anything.  I can fall asleep quietly and in peace. -- Psalm 5 from Psalms for Young Children (Eerdmans, 2003).

"From the time that I wake up, God, I talk to you. You listen to me and protect me. You know that I love you!" -- Psalm 5 from Psalms for Young Children (Eerdmans, 2003).

"People are so small next to you, God. You put the stars and the moon in the sky, and the birds in the air above the cows and horses in the fields, and the fish that swim in the seas. You created all the beauty in the world!" -- Psalm 8 from Psalms for Young Children (Eerdmans, 2003).

"God is like a rock, strong & powerful.  God is like a warm, dry place during a storm.  He protects me from things that might hurt me.  When I ask for God's help, I feel safe. -- Psalm 18 from Psalms for Young Children (Eerdmans, 2003).

"Let's clap our hands and shout with joy, because God is a great strong king! Blow the trumpet of our king! God is king of all the earth. Let's celebrate with songs!" -- Psalm 47 from Psalms for Young Children (Eerdmans, 2003).

"Everyone sing praises to God!  Let's praise God with guitars, drums, trumpets!  Or tap your feet and dance!  Hallelujah!"  -- Psalm 150 from Psalms for Young Children (Eerdmans, 2003).

A few weeks ago Christine Sine mentioned her summer series on How Spiritual Are We? I've not had time to write specifically on the topic, but recently I've been reading a number of articles on sanctification in preparation for The Brethren in Christ Theology of Salvation with Dr. Luke L. Keefer, Jr.  And this has reminded me of the How Spiritual Are We? learning/writing project.  My initial answer to the question is totally spiritual, i.e., 24/7.  But then the question becomes spiritual in what manner, in relationship to what/whom?  As followers of Christ (both as individuals and the Body), do we live lives in and with evidence of the Spirit, i.e., the fruit of the Spirit?

Following Christ demands daily embracing and living in the reality of the circumcision of the heart, which involves the way of the cross & the resurrection. When does one's walk with the One Who Is begin?  A crucial first step is the acknowledgment of how much one falls short through the Fall, i.e., not just short of perfection but how much darkness lies within me personally and can only be addressed by the Great Redeemer who brings cleansing Light.  This involves a mysterious blend of the Father, Son/Word, Spirit, scriptures, people of God, and a decision to cast aside the old/broken for the new/redeemed.  Furthermore, this is revisted in some complex manner moment by moment in the light of eternity.  Sanctify your people through your truth, your word.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

-- Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, v.4, http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/comethou.htm

Tired.  Still processing.  Time to rest.  More thoughts later, in particular with regard to how one learns humility through deep relationships (e.g., marriage), raising children, stress, and difficult incidents in one's life. 

P.S.  What better place to share these thoughts than a blog ;-) I'd encourage you to take a few minutes to read Surprised By Community: the Spirituality of Blogging.