A Boomer in the Pew

A visit from Flat Stanley's brother - Flat Will

Recently I received a visit from Flat Will.   Flat Will is a friend of Ms. Johnson's First Grade Class, in Raleigh, NC.

About a year ago, we received a visit from Flat Stanley, who was a friend of my granddaughters class, in Stockbridge, Michigan.

When Flat Stanley visited, he didn't tell me that he had a brother!

Well, the two of them must have been talking, because the first thing Flat Will did, when he walked in the door, was run out back to climb this Saguaro!

Flat Stanley must not have warned his brother, Flat Will, as Flat Will very quickly found out that this Saguaro was filled with very sharp, and prickly spikes!

"Youch", we heard Flat Will scream from the backyard!

After we calmed Flat Will's throbbing hands, and feet, we told him of the ancient Hohocam peoples that used to collect the red flowers that the Saguaro will grow each spring.

Hohocam families, in the spring, would venture out into the desert with very long sticks, and knock off the red Saguaro flowers to eat.

Just like we have a tradition to hunt for Easter Eggs, the Hohocam children would go hunting for Saguaro flowers each year.

Flat Will was also hoping to see a rattlesnake.  He said that he wanted to ride a rattlesnake! 

We are thankful that we didn't see one, I am not sure what Flat Will would have done!

Well, that was Flat Will's short visit with us.  I hope that his report back to Ms. Johnson's First Grade Class, brings wonder, and adventure to her students.

The Boomer appears on Albert Mohler's Radio Program - Rethinking Retirement

Dr. Albert Mohler recently held court, on his Albert Mohler Radio Program, a dialog encouraging people to rethink retirement.

I figured I had a few insights to offer on this topic, so I called into the live show.

Low and behold, I got on the program.  If you care to listen, I can be found at 21:50 minutes into the program.  I was a little tongue-tied at the onset, but I hope I encouraged a few people to give thought to reconsidering the American idea of retirement.

Here is a 32 page report, from Dr. John Piper, entitled "Rethinking Retirement".

Frederick S. Leahy's, "The Cross He Bore" - Strengthened To Suffer (Chapter #3)

"Praying at Gethsemane" by He Qi.

This post is part of a 13 day series, joining other Christian bloggers from around the world, reading together Frederick S. Leahy's classic, "The Cross He Bore".

This third chapter of Leahy's text still find us in Gethsemane. 

I found this quote particularly noteworthy:  "Gethsemane is not a place for hurried theological tourism:  it is a where the believer must linger, watch, and pray."

It doesn't escape my notice that the disciples are all sleeping, while Christ is experiencing near death horrors.

We have also learned that, at Gethsemane, the Father has now gone silent, and the beautiful relationship between Father, and Son, has been disconnected.

Thankfully, as Christians, we will never bear this cup, but there are certainly times when we feel abandoned, scared, and all alone.

As I type this, my mind recalls friends, and family, who are currently facing health challenges, a sense of deep loss from a broken relationship, financial strife, and some with a deep sense of feeling lost in this world.

It seems that Christ has two things to teach us as we face life's challenges. 

First of all, although Christ found silence from the Father, as we seem to experience, nonetheless, he was a man of prayer.  The Scriptures are full of promises that the Father hears our prayers.

Secondly, we see angels dispatched from heaven to comfort the tormented Christ.  I have never seen and angel, that I am aware of, but again, the Scriptures are full of examples of their ministry of comfort to us.

Today, I will purpose to pray for my friends, and family, and ask that God might attend to their prayers, send them comforting angels, make them profoundly aware of his love, and awaken a deep internal yearning to learn more of their Creator, and his desire for their lives.

For my Twitaholic Twitter Friends

About the National Debt

J.I. Packer speaks to new Christians

JI Packer Speaks To New Christians from Mike Anderson on Vimeo.

Frederick S. Leahy's, "The Cross He Bore" - Prayerful Submission (Chapter #2)

"Gethsemane, The Hour is Near", by Anthony Falbo.

This post is part of a 13 day series, joining other Christian bloggers from around the world, reading together Frederick S. Leahy's classic, "The Cross He Bore".

Here we see Christ, in the Garden of Gethsemane, being comforted by angels.

But what exactly was it that made our Savior "very sorrowful, even to death"?

An agonizing entreaty - the "cup" that was given to Christ, by the Father, was that he, the sinless Savior, would have poured upon him, the full wrath of a holy, just God.

I don't begin to understand how Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, becomes man, and dwells with us on earth. 

Nor do I begin to understand this sacrifice.  A sacrifice on behalf of the Father, and the Son.

What the Scriptures tells me, however, is that Jesus Christ became sin, though he was without sin, and bore the full fury of God's wrath, in my stead.  The only way to even begin to have an understanding of this sacrificial love is to prayerfully asks the Holy Spirit to teach us.

The awful silence - the Trinity enjoy perfect relationship with each other.  I don't understand what that means.  I can only imagine.  They had no need of us.  However, the Father, as a gift to the Son, put into place human beings that might love the Son, and these human beings, being image bearers of the Father, might bring glory to the Son.

When the cup was handed to Christ, in the Garden of Gethsemane, that perfect relationship was severed.  Christ become sin!  The Father, being pure holiness, will have nothing to do with sin.  In fact, his righteous wrath is reserve for sin's destruction. 

When Christ asked the Father to remove the cup, provide another way, there was no answer!  Silence! 

Not only was Christ starring at infinite, and powerful wrath, but he was now completely severed from the most precious, and perfect of relationships.  It grieved him deeply.

The unwavering obedience - "Yet not what I will, but what you will". 

I don't know about you, but when I force myself to look upon, and meditate on Gethsemane, I am melted.  When we begin to understand, how can we do anything but find ourselves also prostrate?

This is most holy ground.  Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, laid aside his glory, and obediently gave his life on my behalf.

Do you believe that? 

If you do, dear friend, please press on to understanding.  You will never be the same again.

Forgiving a Killer - A Slain Pastor's Wife Speaks Out

Pastor Fred Winters was shot, while preaching in his pulpit, last week.  Here is a most touching interview, with his wife, showing compassion, love, and forgiveness to his killer.  [HT - my friend, Barry Wallace]

Frederick S. Leahy's, "The Cross He Bore" - Man of Sorrows (Chapter #1)

"Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane", c 1650, by Giacinto Brandi.

This post is part of a 13 day series, joining other Christian bloggers from around the world, reading together Frederick S. Leahy's classic, "The Cross He Bore".

Here is a link to Mark 14:32-42, for a glimpse into Christ's sorrows at Gethsemane.

Gethsemane is a holy, and sacred place.  I never understood that until I was 51 years of age. 

Somehow the understanding of what happened there never made it into my affections.  Sure, I understood with head knowledge, but true love lives not in the head, but in the heart.

What is it that would make the Christ shudder with terror such that he nearly experiences death?

What happened there, that would make him sweat drops of blood?

Certainly he knew the cross was before him, this was no surprise.  What was it that knocked Jesus Christ to his knees in holy terror?

If you can't answer that, then may I implore you to gaze into Gethsemane until you do?  If you do not find yourself weak in the knees, then my friend, you do not understand Gethsemane.

Below is a recording of C.J. Mahaney, giving us rare glimpse into Gethsemane, in a message called "The Cup".  Please set aside an hour and give it a listen, and then share your thoughts of this recording as well as the text.

Do you ever find yourself wrestling with your faith?

I have found myself wrestling with this guy quite a bit over the past year.

The interesting part of this wrestling match is that it is within myself.  A wrestling match of natures.  A wrestling match of my fallen nature, with my renewed spirit.

A battle for the mind.  A battle of the will.  A battle of worldviews.

For 52 years, I have accumulated a worldview from my experiences, relationships, and studies.

Now, as I journey through the Scriptures, I find that my worldview, in many cases, is in direct conflict with what I am reading. 

Some things are fairly easy to accommodate. 

Some, however, require a great wrestling match.  Furthermore, my opponent, in this wrestling match, is a strong, heavy, and very determined dude!  In more than a few cases, we have wrestled for weeks. 

In many cases, I have prevailed.  In some cases, we are still at a draw.  In a few cases, yet to be unfolded, or perhaps in my capitulation, he still remains the victor.

Frankly, I wish I didn't have to do battle with this guy all the time.  It is very wearisome.  However, that is our task.  Right?  Go do battle with this 450 pound behemoth.

Sometimes, I think I have won the match, only to find this guy arising from the mat, grabbing me by the hair, and dragging me back into the ring.  He is a very determined opponent!

Here are a few of the ongoing battles:

• Are you Totally Depraved?  Seeking to understand Total Depravity.
• Is God a Megalomaniac?  Still very carefully seeking to understand this.
• Help, I confused!  Before regeneration, what did dead mean?

If you have any lifelines,  to these quandaries, please feel free to click the links and throw them my way!

Have you come across this guy in your path?