- I’m happy to say there has been a huge surge of activity on this blog over the past few days, including a fair number of additions to the “follower” list. So if you’re new to this space, then “Welcome!” I hope you’ll visit on a regular basis – DEREK
- Here’s today’s weekly short video-post, “Smile, You’re On Video!” Please take a look and feel free to share around.
oday Rebekah is home again. She’s been up in Connecticut for a week, visiting with our daughter, Naomi, her husband, Craig, and David (THE one and only grandchild).
Rebekah says David is a hoot and a half, which I already know from the extensive Skype sessions we’ve been enjoying. He’ll be 18-months in a couple of days, and (no surprise considering his extra-twisty DNA) David has already developed a profoundly independent mind of his own.
So you can be sure that Rebekah has enjoyed a lot of one-on-one time with David. You can tell by the big smirk all over his face that “Grandmama time” has been just fine with him.
CREATIVITY: The other part of Rebekah’s visit was to help Naomi get the nursery ready for “Baby, Part-Deux, the Adventure Continues.” Yes, Rebekah-Mae is expected to make her debut appearance around the end of June. The (former) guest room has been completely remodeled from the ground up, including several hand-made items Rebekah worked on over the past couple of months.
Rebekah painted, went to Ikea, assembled furniture, painted some more, went back to Ikea, went to the hardware store, and hung stuff where Naomi wanted it.
The result really is quite splendid. But Naomi and Craig could put Rebekah-Mae in a cardboard box, line it with an old sheet, and stow her in the guest room “as is” – and she’d be fine, because she’s going to have all she needs to thrive. She’s being born into a family that loves her, and her parents are prepared to do absolutely anything and everything in their power to make sure she learns and grows in a safe and stimulating environment.
STIMULATION: And boy will she ever be stimulated with an older brother like David bouncing around!
And so I’m thinking about how complex it can be to raise a young family in the 21st-Century, and at the same time I realize how straightforward and uncomplicated the task really is.
A new child is very much a metaphor for how we all live, and how we all could live. We really do make a complicated mess out of the most straightforward things so much of the time. But at the heart of it all, we know that what really matters is love, and what really matters is guarding our relationships like they are the most precious thing in the world… and that would be because they really are.
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 4:32-5:2)
It’s such a simple equation, and yet it breaks down so much of the time. Why is it that we devote so much time and effort to the unimportant, and at the expense of love? There is a better way; won’t you let Jesus be your guide?
– DEREK
PS – Here’s today’s weekly short video-post, “Smile, You’re On Video!” Please take a look and feel free to share around.
So very true. Thanks for the reminder.
What a beautiful post (video/smile and photos included)! Thank you, Derek.
Thanks much, Gail. Lot’s to smile about!
Derek, I read this, and thought about you, and where you might be on a pastor talking like this. You can see his name, and I really am not familiar with him at all. Is he on?
This avoidance of the difficult things of Scripture — of sinfulness and hell and God’s notable severity — is idolatrous and cowardly. If a man or a woman who teaches the Scriptures is afraid to explain to you the severity of God, they have betrayed you, and they love their ego more than they love you.” -Matt Chandler ….BOOM!
So why did you think of me when you read that? Because you value my Biblical insight? You certainly do find some interesting preachers to listen to! You introduced me to that Sprong guy… Now this! –
Sent from my iPhone
Hmmm, why did I think of you? Yes, YOUR insight. LOL, G
Matt Chandler – wow…Yep, Jesus aint all cookies and milk and just love Me and each other. Just because you love Jesus and your fellow human – dont get you off the hook come Judgement Day. Nice quote Gary.
God is fearsome and awful and there will be a price to pay – even for believers.
Grace is a beautiful thing, Tim. It’s not that Jesus “gets you off the hook” judgment day, it’s that Christ’s “New and Living Way” takes fear out of the equation. Matt Chandler can rant his brains out, but I’m 100% secure in accepting – and living into – the grace and forgiveness that Jesus gives. Paul said it well in Corinthians, “All of God’s promises are a resounding ‘YES’ in Jesus!”
In my readings I have found some controversy over what Paul really wrote and what was forged in Paul’s name…11 of 27 New Testament book are thought to be forgeries. If I remember correctly, the 2 Corinthian books, “probably were” written by Paul.
So thats good!!
About seven of the “Pauline” books are 100% agreed to be his. Others aren’t so much forgeries as written “in the spirit of” Paul (probably between 90 and 100 CE). IT wasn’t until a few hundred years later that – for example – Hebrews was tied to Paul (Ignatius – who lived from around 30CE to around 110 CE – said “Only God knows who wrote Hebrews!). Questionable attribution is always part of the conversation, but – just as some artists painted “in the school of ____” so writing is sometimes presented that way. The decision in the 4th Century to settle on “the Cannon” was based on the contribution of those writings to the developing understanding of what it meant to be a Jesus Follower. Consequently, those books are “authoritative” in the same way. The study of the evolution of the New Testament is very interesting…. – DEREK
It appears Matt Chandler was spot on. As far as grace is concerned, legalism and hyper grace are both wrong. Balance is needed.