AARON AND AUDRA ARE MARRIED!!!

I couldn't be more thrilled or happy for them. The whole day went smooth and when the time came, everything went off without a hitch. We were so amazed having felt all 6 months like there were just too many details to maintain. But so many people helped out and now it's all over! Well, the wedding that is - but the marriage of two of my best friends (and future siblings) is just beginning! It was funny watching Aaron toy with his ring, pulling it on and off and twisting it incessantly, trying to get used to it. I can't wait to see what God has in store for them now. Praise God for his blessings that are never ending. As Audra said to me in one of her numerous thank-you notes: "Sometimes I can hardly contain all this joy."

Do I believe God exists because it's true? Or because it's convenient?  I've been considering this question of late but not for the first time.  I just can't ever seem to decide the answer for sure.  My family and friends and church - my entire lifestyle in fact - makes this Christianity thing more easy than hard.  I really don't know persecution or suffering; I'm very safe in my padded bubble.  So how do I know that I would believe in God if my context wasn't so encouraging? What if all this spiritual reinforcement was suddenly gone? 

God makes sense to me; His Word explains the world in a way that gives me a satisfying purpose.  I can't stand the thought that we all just appeared here for no reason and have nothing to look forward to.  But just because the Bible provides me with purpose doesn't mean it's true.  And even if it makes more logical sense to me than any other theory, I'm not satisfied with mere intellectual ascent.  My reasoning is so flawed and inconsistent; it scares me to depend on that. I desperately want to be convinced by something outside of myself.

I believe that that something is the Holy Spirit but I can't explain how He works to enable me to believe that God is real. This can be frustrating when I have moments of doubt but on the other hand, if my human logic could understand the Holy Spirit, then He wouldn't be safe to trust either.

The dilemma is this: I want, by nature, to trust myself - my reason. But I fail myself and am therefore forced to trust in something outside myself.  It's risky but it's the only way. I pray that if one day the Lord takes every earthly safeguard away from me, that His power will suffice. 

Does anybody know of some passages where God promises to keep us? 

Today we had our work Christmas party.  It was kinda fun seeing all those familiar faces all in one place at the same time. I love the volunteers; I have a great job.

This week I got into a conversation with some of my volunteers about church denominations. Yeah, as is usually the case, it was a depressing conversation.  I learned that the CRC in general views the URC like the PRC in the sense that they both broke away from the CRC because they thought they alone were right and the CRC was wrong.  The guys jibbed me with comments like "You're from the elite group."  I don't think they have anything against me personally but they seemed a little bitter about the denomination I belong to.  And you know what, they're not exactly wrong.  There are people - lots of them - in my church who consider themselves better Christians simply because of that label.  I know because I was one of them once.  When my dad took our family out of the CRC I naturally developed a proud attitude about our new stance.  But now I'm ashamed.  I'm not ashamed of the truth or of the need to continually be reforming back to Scripture as the devil tries to tempt us away.  But I am ashamed that I had no regard for my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ; I was content to just segregate and not even try to discuss issues. I love people and I don't want to fight the ones I love.

Tribute to Historic Events

Ever notice how R. C. Sproul likes to use "unfamiliar" words in his writings?  Not only is his English vocabulary impressive (2nd only to Charity's in my opinion), he's also one of those people who knows other languages's words too.  In a devotional of his that I'm reading, I learned that there is a distinction in Greek between ongoing history (chronos) and historical events (kairos) that impact the flow of history.  In English we might use the words historical and historic to make this distinction. 

"Every event that takes place in June is historical, but not every event is historic.  Historic events change the course of history and become the cause of future celebration, mourning or memorial." 

He gives examples of historic events like: the exile, the birth of Jesus, the cross, the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the first human steps on the moon.

As I read I began to think about this in terms of Christmas.  Jesus' birth was one of those historic, life-changing events that caused "future celebration."  For all of you out there who have been jumping down my throat about not being festive enough, I want you to know that I want to celebrate Christmas!  I just don't like how congested the season has become.  There's just too much going on; the holiday is out of control. Does anyone really know what they're celebrating anymore or are they just celebrating celebrating?  I think Christmas should be celebrated but it's the how that I'm not sure about yet.  A worship service is cool.  But I can see how requiring church on Christmas almost adds another sacrament to the Bible and that could be dangerous.  But gatherings with fellow believers is a must I think and sacrificial giving could be a good way to celebrate too.  That reminds me, I need to get a bulletin announcement out about donating to this year's Lord's Storehouse dinner. It's the 27th, so start saving up canned goods and things and we'll put together some great gift bags. 

Anyway, I also thought about my dad and how his death changed the flow of my life drastically.  I've been watching old home videos and it makes me miss him so much.  I decided that I want a regular celebration or mourning or memorial of him every year.  I want to celebrate that his finished the race and also as Andy pointed out to me, I want to celebrate the sanctification that took place in me because of his death. I want to mourn his absence and not forget that he was/is a part of who I am.  And I want to remember him - what he liked to do and the times when he was happy.  So I'm going to start with initiating a new tradition because again against popular belief, I do like traditions!  Every Sept. 27 I'm going out for breakfast at Bob Evans and I'm ordering a short stack of blueberry pancakes and side of sausage links and I'm saving one and rolling it up in a napkin and (until I get my own dog again) finding a cute dog to give it to. 

Rebellion Against Facebook

So I want to go see one of these super amazing plays that show in Pennsylvania. My volunteers go all the time and this week some of them were telling me how amazing the theatrics are. "You literally watch Jesus ascend into Heaven," one said. I didn't say anything, only smiled at him.  But I silently asked myself: "Why does the idea of seeing an actor impersonate Jesus bother me?"  I know it bothers the denomination of churches of which I am a part. But I also know that that reason alone isn't legit. 

I was violently sick this morning and still a little queezy now, but I'm writing because I've been thinking lately that I've nearly stopped researching the Bible. So this is the first of a series of entries that I intend to make time for simply because, physical health aside, my spiritual health depends on it. The "series" has no real theme; only the questions that come to my mind while I work in the midst of the "Christian Reformed Traditionalists Turned Trendy."

"Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man." - Acts. 17:29

I read about 6 passages like this and came away with the impression that God is so holy that any man-made image of him is just unsatisfying. It seemed irreverant to me to try to pictify that deity.  God made God visual once but no man can ever make him visual again.

But even if I have a personal distaste for man-made images of Jesus, does that make it wrong to pictify him? Not all images are idols in the sense that they are worshipped, right? There is that phrase: "Seeing is believing." And then the studies that show that what is seen with the eye makes more of a lasting impression than what is heard alone. Does a picture of Jesus, then, make him more believable or his message more memorable? I guess I would have to conclude that while it is possible for one to make a picture of Jesus without sinning (i.e. worshiping an idol), if one's objective is to "help" the Bible do it's job then that act is a sin.  In fact, I think it would be like adding to the Bible.  So, in the end, it always comes down to the heart.