January 30, 2008

• Naphtali News: What I've Been up To

  Taking a little break from my series on Solomon's Temple to let you know some of what I've been up to . . .

  1. Christmas Worship

  We traveled to San Antonio to spend Christmas with family there. I was honestly relieved that we would be out of town over Christmas since we had no home church here and figured being out of town would be a little easier on me. We attended worship on Christmas Eve and all was well -- well, until "Silent Night" was sung (the next to last song that night). That was enough to open the floodgates of tears. To explain: "Silent Night" was THE song that was ALWAYS sung in our old congregation to conclude each and every candlelight Christmas Eve service, so that brought back lots of memories and raised lots of questions in my mind. "Oh, God, where are You now?" Even as I held a lit candle during the hymn and we celebrated the Light of the world coming into the world, the Light almost seemed like darkness to me. . . If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

  2. Opening Christmas presents

  Some of the top presents included an Amazon gift certificate (believe it or not, still not used) and a fun pair of socks which my daughter knitted for me.

  

  3. Eating and Drinking

  While in Texas:

  Eating excellent Mexican food at a restaurant near El Mercado, the Mexican marketplace.

  Drinking coffee. At the hotel where we stayed the coffee was less than spectacular, so it was handy to have both a Starbucks and a bagel shop within walking distance.

  We were also served up lots of tasty coffee at my husband's aunt's home -- and given our choice of fun Christmas/Holiday themed mugs.

  

  Yesterday:

  After having lunch with a friend, we shared dessert together--a piece of some very fudgy French silk pie. No wonder I wasn't all that hungry for dinner last night...

  Today, Tomorrow and ...

  Due to the cold weather, our Bible study today was canceled, but I had already picked up a couple dozen bagels to take for a snack, so I'll be getting my fill of bagels. I've already had a chocolate chip bagel this morning and whole wheat bagel with lox and cream cheese for a late lunch.

  4. Let It Snow!

  While in Texas I really enjoyed being able to get outside and walk most everyday without having to get bundled up. And I even had some time to sit outside and read, something that's been all but impossible during most of the winter here. We've had more snow in Wisconsin this year than I can remember since moving here in the early 80's. Our snowblower has gotten quite a workout. And after it snows I get excited when the city snow plows do not leave big piles of snow in front of our driveway. (This snowblowing routine is getting a bit old.) A few days ago (when the temps were up in the 30's and 40's) I got excited while out walking; through the sound of Charlie Hall in my earbuds I heard some birds chirping away in a tree. I quickly looked up in the hope there might be some robins to be seen, but alas it's still too early for that –– the official start to Spring it's still is almost two months away, but it is coming.

  

  
  5. Lamenting the Lambeau Loss: "There's Always Next Year"

  Many of us cheeseheads thought this might be the year for Brett and the Pack to make it to the Super Bowl. In the meantime our Super Bowl party will go on as usual. The consolation to that is that there's a lot less stress involved in the actual game watching since your heart is no longer hanging on every play. And when the game becomes boring, it's easier to sneak away from the t.v. area and catch up with old friends you haven't seen in a while.
  6. Mother of the Bride Dress Shopping

  Our daughter's wedding is just over two months away. I finally went shopping on Saturday with a friend (thank you!) and I think we have found THE dress, but I have a few other places I want to check out to be sure. I have never been one for fashion/coordinating clothing (most of the time you'll find me donning blue jeans), so I was happy to have someone along to help.

  7. Reading
  
  I am continuing to dabble in several books and have even finished some, including "The Pilgrim's Progress." Here's a little nugget from John Bunyan:

  The Fire of Grace
  
  Then I saw in my dream that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand and led him into a place where was a fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it, always casting much water upon it, to quench it, yet did the fire burn higher and hotter.
  
  CHRISTIAN: What means this?
  
  INTERPRETER: This fire is the work of grace that is wrought in the heart. He that casts water upon it to extinguish and put it out is the Devil. In that thou seest the first notwithstanding burn higher and hotter, thou shalt also see the reason of that.
  
  So he had him about to the other side of the wall where he saw a man with a vessel of oil in his hand, of the which he did also continually cast (but secretly) into the fire.
  
  CHRISTIAN: What means this?
  
  INTERPRETER: This is Christ, who continually, with the oil of His grace, maintains the work already begun in the heart by the means of which, notwithstanding what the Devil can do, the souls of His people prove gracious still (2 Corinthians 12:9). And in that thou sawest that the man stood behind the wall to maintain the fire; this is to teach thee that it is hard for the tempted to see how much this work of grace is maintained in the soul.

  

  
  A view from the Edgewood College library.
  I think you can see why I like going here to read.
  An added perk is that they allow you to carry in coffee to drink there.

  I finished Lloyd-Jones' commentary on Romans 7.1-8.4. Last year we had studied Romans in BSF (which was my second time doing that study) and by the end of the study I thought I had made strides in my understanding of Romans, yet now I can see how those strides were but baby steps . . .

  Along with reading the book of Jeremiah, I am reading H.A. Ironside's Commentary on Jeremiah (originally written in 1906). I had only read bits and pieces of Ironside here and there and was not very familiar with him. This is not a heavy duty commentary; we read in the Preface: "This book is not written for the critical scholar, but it is put forth in the hope that is may be suited ministry for the sheep and lambs of the flock of Christ." So far I have seen God answer that prayer. Lots of good food for this sheep who is all too often treacherous like Judah. It's actually a type of commentary closer to my learning style and way of thinking since I really have difficulty digesting a lot of detail. Although Ironside does provide some much needed historical background to fill in the gaps, he pulls out the major ideas and themes of the book and really gets to the heart of God for His people as expressed in the book of Jeremiah. We see a just, holy and righteous God rebuking and chastening His idolatrous, sinful children who forsook Him, played the harlot and chased after other gods. But we also see a God of compassion and great grace who agonizes and grieves over His wayward children and continues to extend His open arms of mercy to them and calls them to return to Him. Sometimes we overanalyze the Word of God and neglect to ask simple questions such as: "What do I learn about the heart of God through this passage?" and "What do I learn about the heart of men and my own heart?"

  I'm also slowly reading through Lloyd-Jones' "Sermon on the Mount." The message of the Beatitudes cuts deeply into the hard, uncircumcised heart. Quick and powerful and sharper than any twoedged sword...
  
  I am finding that the book of Jeremiah and the Sermon on the Mount fit so well together. Judah in perpetual backsliding, was unable to live circumcise their own hearts and were powerless to live holy lives. In contrast, we see Jesus who has come to live the perfect life the nation of Israel could not live (nor could any of us). That is the life Jesus describes for us in the Beatitudes, the life none of us can live while bound to sin or through our own strength, but praise God that through the indwelling Holy Spirit the power of the resurrected Jesus regenerates us, circumcises our hearts and empowers us to begin to live that same kind of life. Romans 5:10.

  I am continuing to reread Andrew Murray's "Waiting on God!" How I struggle with impatience and waiting. Murray led me to this gem in the Word of God: "Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ" (II Thes. 3:5). What a wonderful assurance to know that the Lord Himself will not only lead me into His love but into the patience of His own Son!

  8. Finding Buried Treasure

  • From a used CD store in San Antonio:

  Derek Webb's "She Can and Must Go Free" and "Passion: The Road to One Day."

  • In the bargain bin at a Christian bookstore:

  Charlie Hall's "On the Road to Beautfiul." I would say this is now the CD that is getting the most playing time. Next in line is Leeland's "Sound of Melodies," which my son left in our car, so I get to listen to that. That's one I definitely want to pick up and have noticed it is now on sale.

  • At a church library used book sale:

  Redpath's "Faith for the Times, Part III" (the third book of three which Redpath wrote on the book of Isaiah);

  Stott's commentary on Galatians;

  Donald Grey Barnhouse's "The Cross through the Open Tomb";

  Tremper Longman III "How To Read the Psalms" (a book I'd borrowed from our last pastor, so knew it was a worthwhile resource to add to my library);

  and a Martyn Lloyd-Jones' book "Enjoying the Presence of God," a book I had somehow overlooked but which my husband had spied for me. He's always looking out for me. Ecc. 2:9-11.

  Not a bad deal for $ 3.50! I am so glad to have found these treasures, but I am sad that the library is no longer keeping them for others to check out and have to ask, "What do people read these days anyhow?"

  
  

  9. Can This Old Dog Learn New Tricks?
  
  God has been reminding me (once again) how I must come to the end of my own sufficiency, strength and confidence. For some reason I continue to think that I can bring dead bones to life (both my own and those of others), but God gently reminds me again and again that I must let His Holy Spirit do the work that only He can do. I often become frustrated with myself and others, and then I begin to get the bright idea that I can and must help God along, which leads to scheming and manipulating on my part. Over the past couple weeks God has sent me several reminders of the need to pray and wait on His Holy Spirit to do His work. One of these reminders came through a study on Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones (Ezekiel 37). Another came at a funeral service. The Bible in the casket was open to Luke 8. I asked a relative why the Bible was open to where it was; the response I received was, "Psalm 34 was one of his favorite Psalms." Duh. What? Psalms? Excuse me, the Bible wasn't open to Psalms. We both walked over and looked at the open Bible. "I don't know why it was open to that page." Well, I knew. Near the beginning of Luke 8 is where we find the parable of the sower. That was yet another reminder to me that planting seeds is my job, but God alone brings the life, the growth, the increase. In addition, the entire testimony of that deceased saint (who is now living in Glory!) was a life of planting seeds wherever he went. So this old dog is chewing on all those meaty bones...and they're ones I should chew on daily. II Cor. 1:9-10; II Cor. 3:5; John 15:4-5; etc. Thank You, Living God, for continuing to breathe into me and bring my dead bones to life through Your Word and Your Spirit.
  
  
  10. "Is this heaven?"
  
  After having heard three meaty sermons three weeks in a row at three different locations, I am asking, "Is this heaven?" "No, it's Madison." Thank You, Jesus, for graciously feeding me with angels' food even when I stubbornly continue to insist on testing you.
  
  
  11. Still plucked up . . . yet planted . . .
  
  While we are continuing to visit different congregations Sunday mornings, I am thankful that we have found a temporary home of sorts on Sunday nights. Most Sunday evenings we have been attending an alternative worship service geared to youth but open to all ages. The music is contemporary (lots of Crowder), the atmosphere intimate, the lighting subdued, usually a movie or You Tube clip is shown related to evening's theme, the messages are short, the Lord's Prayer recited, the Body and Blood of our Lord shared and the peace passed. It is a place where we have met Christ, so that is why we continue to return. This anchor is keeping me a bit more sane than I might be otherwise during this time of transition.
  
  I am so thankful for my many friends (old and new) who are planted in various parts of the Body of Christ in places near and far with whom I continue to maintain relationships. Christ's Body is so much bigger than a single congregation in a single city. And I am most thankful for a husband who continues to bear with me and show me Christ's unconditional love day in and day out.
  
  It is odd because in the past couple weeks as I look ahead to the time we might be settled in a church home, I find I am beginning to get cold feet. I am having mixed feelings about settling down in one place. On the one hand, I have a desire to settle down and I do know that God wants each of us to be planted in a particular congregation. On the other hand, I feel some hesitation and have many questions about doing so. A sober reminder of the baggage I still carry which I need to check with God so He might cleanse and redeem it all.
  
  In retrospect, in spite of my times of lamenting and whining and weariness in going from place to place, I can say that I really have appreciated visiting so many different worship services for I have gained a somewhat bigger perspective on what is going on in the larger Body of Christ here. Most of the time since I've been a Christian, other than when we were between churches (as we are now) or when we were traveling out of town, I was almost always in my home church, so I rarely had the opportunity to see what was going on outside those four walls on any given Sunday morning.
  
  I continue to look to God to lead us in His way and His time. Isaiah 30:21; Ecclesiastes 3:1-11.

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