Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
–James 4:7-8
I am trying to catch up on my bible reading. I fell behind last week. It is a lot, but I am forging ahead. (And it is all pretty great.)
Meanwhile Sunday was the first Sunday in Advent. The year is racing to its conclusion! They have, of course, started playing Christmas music intermittently on the Christian radio station, which can be irritating, but I liked this rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. (A banjo always adds a lot.)
This was very interesting: “Operation Pedestal: Two Lessons for the Contemporary Spiritual Battle From the Relief of Malta 1942”
Anne, of course, has something good to say about being thankful. “It is the gracious passage of time that makes difficult moments endurable. It is the effulgent light of eternity that makes all the difficulties of the present tolerable.”
And this is a good article about a fellow St. Louisan and Presbyterian who died last week: “When grief holds hands with gratitude.”
Grace and peace to you!
The painting is The Penitent Magdalen by Georges de La Tour, circa 1640.
This article got me thinking about babies and our children and how frivolously we speak of them in and out of the womb.
Indeed, “there is clearly more going on than just a remarkable natural process. It is mysterious and miraculous that a creature would be able to reproduce itself.” Entirely new beings! As a grandmother I have relished watching my three grandchildren grow and change and progress. I paid attention to this with my own kids, but I was always so busy and distracted that I probably didn’t notice all that I should. A grandmother can focus more.
It is amazing to see Katie’s vocabulary expand and her ability to express herself increase daily. She is so similar to her mother and her aunt in looks and demeanor, and yet, she is her own little person.
Of course, our twins, born three months prematurely and spending three full months in the NICU, really are modern-day miracles. Even at a pound and a half, they were fearfully and wonderfully made. The fact that they are bright, healthy, normal kindergartners blows my mind every day.
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:13-16)
The other day I quoted from an article where the author said that we live in an age marked by infantile ingratitude. Don’t fall into the trap of being ungrateful. Be grateful for your parents who bore you and to the God who created you. As Walt Whitman wrote, “As to me I know of nothing else but miracles.”
Another Saturday night, January 1738-39, I had such a sense, how sweet and blessed a thing it was, to walk in the way of duty, to do that which was right and meet to be done, and agreeable to the holy mind of God; that it caused me to break forth into a kind of loud weeping, which held me some time; so that I was forced to shut myself up, and fasten the doors. I could not but as it were cry out, “How happy are they which do that which is right in the sight of God! They are blessed indeed, they are the happy ones!” I had at the same time, a very affecting sense, how meet and suitable it was that God should govern the world, and order all things according to his own pleasure; and I rejoiced in it, that God reigned, and that his will was done.
My lunch date was canceled yesterday so I was able to tune into the committal service at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor for Queen Elizabeth on the BBC.
It was remarkably humble and solemn.
As soon as the choir of men and boys began to sing, although I am no royalist, the tears came and I sobbed, surprising myself. Sitting alone, I had a good cry.
And the solitary piper doing the slow walk…
Well, this old (former) Episcopalian was quite moved.
And I have to say that I was mighty impressed to read that David Beckham had stood in line for thirteen hours waiting with his fellow countrymen to pay his respects to his queen. Isn’t it surprising when a celebrity acts well?
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. 14 For he knows our frame;[a] he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. 17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, 18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. 19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! 21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! 22 Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Psalm 103: 13-22
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Elizabeth. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.Amen.
…whom I will miss especially because she always reminded me of my mother and now that connection is gone.
We toasted daughter #1 and celebrated her birthday yesterday…
And we toasted all those brave souls who died on September 11, 2001. Last year I included a video in a blogpost about a fine young man who died in one of the towers helping others and I encourage you to watch it again. Lest we forget.
Yes, there was a lot of toasting, but some events call for that. L’chaim! In the midst of life we are in death (BCP).
This reminder of the Budweiser ad that only aired once in honor of 9/11 is cool.
And I liked this article about taking up your cross daily. “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me,” Jesus says.
For when we cease to worship God, we do not worship nothing, we worship anything.
–G.K. Chesterton
What do you worship? Yourself? Science? Social Justice? It’s an important question.
It is August now and our summer has been a hot one. I am thinking how nice it would be to be floating in a lake in Maine with my Massachusetts cousins (see above). Alas, I am not. Sixty or so years have passed since that picture was taken–hard to believe.
Happily, the temperatures came down this weekend to a very respectable low eighties. It was overcast, but pleasant enough to sit outside on the patio and contemplate the passage of time. I was happy that daughter #1 could join me for happy hour.
I spent a good part of Saturday attending an online auction where I was glad to see some vigorous bidding on “brown furniture.” This meant that I didn’t get anything, but c’est la vie. I was glad to see that there is still a market for tall case clocks. The prices are still amazingly low compared to twenty years ago, but they are, nevertheless, more than I am willing to pay for a rescue. I did buy a nice wing chair for $25. I mean, nobody wants a wing chair these days. Nobody but me.
On Sunday we went to church and were joined by the boy and his two wild monkeys. They checked their depravity and behaved, but when we got home they let loose and wreaked some havoc. (Note that our wing chairs took quite a beating.)
At some point the havoc moved outside (thankfully).
I am out of breath just looking at these pictures! When the wee babes headed home, daughter #1 also headed back to Jeff City, and the OM and I crashed for awhile before heading back to church that evening to celebrate the assistant pastor who is leaving with his family for a new job in Tuscaloosa.
Sunrise, sunset.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us; The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.
Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners.
Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.
Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those to whom in Thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth.
In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. (1928 BCP)
I hope you all had an uplifting Fourth of July and that you were able to celebrate with family and friends. We had the gang over for a barbecue and then we headed to the Kirkwood High School parking lot where we set up camp for the local fireworks display and waited for sundown.
We agreed that the display was not as good as the one in Jeff City, but the company was stellar and the boy had stocked the cooler in his truck with bevvies.
The wee laddie immediately made friends with the family in the next car over and was ready to depart with them at the close of the show, once again earning his title as the Friendliest Boy in Town.
By the way, he also won the prize for the best shooter in his age group at lacrosse camp last week, rocketing shots at 17 miles an hour. His father was pleased and proud. Not bad for our 30-pound (when wet) 5-year old wonder boy.
He has also advanced to off-roading in the Power Wheels Raptor.
Lottie, who is too timid to drive, is nevertheless a terrific backseat driver, as you can see. (“Slow down! Cramp it! Stop!”)
Meanwhile I have caught up with my Bible reading, on which I had fallen embarrassingly behind during my vacation. Phew. I am halfway through the year and halfway through the Bible.
I am really enjoying it and highly recommend it as a daily habit.
We all growl like bears, And moan sadly like doves; We look for justice, but there is none; For salvation, but it is far from us.
Isaiah 59:11
Well, here are a few links to read if you feel like it.
I hear you. “I have been delighted to discover that the closer I draw to God, the less I want of the world.”
Don’t be a Jellyfish Christian. “Mark what I say. If you want to do good in these times, you must throw aside indecision, and take up a distinct, sharply-cut, doctrinal religion. . . . The victories of Christianity, wherever they have been won, have been won by distinct doctrinal theology; by telling men roundly of Christ’s vicarious death and sacrifice; by showing them Christ’s substitution on the cross, and his precious blood; by teaching them justification by faith, and bidding them believe on a crucified Savior; by preaching ruin by sin, redemption by Christ, regeneration by the Spirit; by lifting up the brazen serpent; by telling men to look and live — to believe, repent, and be converted.” (J.C. Ryle, Holiness, 328)
The heat has been turned up and they are forecasting that our flyover high will hit over 100 degrees today. Yippee.
Daughter #1 returned from her conference in San Antonio and I picked her up at the airport. She stayed for the weekend because she has a work thing today, so we were able to indulge in a good bit of patio sitting and a few estate sales over the weekend. We also attended the home and garden tour presented every June by Historic Saint Louis. There are 25 homes on the tour and this year we picked two we had never visited.
First we visited the Hawken House in Webster Groves. It was the home of Christopher Hawken, the great-grandson of Niclaus Hachen (Hawken) who came to America from Switzerland about 1750, settling in York County, Pennsylvania. His father, Jacob, came to St. Louis in 1807, where he began crafting the famous Hawken Rifle in a shop on the Mississippi Riverfront.
You will recall that the coveted Hawken Rifle was the “gun that settled the west,” since it was prized by so many famous westward explorers and trappers, including Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Kit Carson, John Fremont, Jim Bridger, and Robert Campbell, the famous St. Louis fur trader.
Anyway, Christopher’s wife, Mary Ann Kinkead Eads, was the eldest of three daughters of Granville O. Eads and Lucinda Sappington. Lucinda was the only child of Thomas Sappington (of the Sappington House) and his first wife Mary Ann Kinkead. They built the Hawken House in 1857.
The beautiful home was moved (intact) about half a mile to its present site when it was threatened with demolition in 1970. It was the first home in Missouri to receive federal funds for restoration, which matched the amount raised by the citizens of Webster Groves and is listed on the National Historic Register.
The informal parlor where (allegedly) Ulysses Grant played cards with Mr. Hawken.
Next we ventured to Overland to visit their historic circa 1850 Log House…
…which was likewise moved from another location (in Wildwood) under threat of demolition. This small group of local preservation enthusiasts, however, moved the cabin piece by piece and rebuilt it on the present site themselves! This project took eight years to complete. I was very impressed. The museum features exhibits of Overland and the Overland Trail, displays of antique toys, accessories, and firearms. As Overland is part of the Ritenour School District, the OHS displays memorabilia from the district.
The two historical societies with homes we visited could not be more different. Webster Groves is a large, prosperous town with a lot of privileged residents, while Overland in North County is a small, working class municipality. However, both have residents who are interested in history and actively work to promote its preservation. I find this heartening and I salute them!
In other news, I stayed after church again to help set up for VBS and to have a tour of the campus so I will know where I am going on Monday. There were over a hundred volunteers–men, women, teenagers! My dread was somewhat assuaged, but I tell you, I am kind of freaking out. At first I was just worried about being too old and decrepit to do this, but now I am wondering if I am even up to leading my eight ten-year olds in devotion time. I tell myself that until recently I was the director of an institute at a large university for many years, and I can handle this…but can I?
Truly this is the most beautiful time of year to be in flyover country. Everything is blooming.
And the grass is green. However, pollen is also at a peak, but what ho, who am I to complain?
During the Covid lockdown, I started to “worship” via Zoom at the Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, Virginia and to follow their rector’s daily devotional. Even though I have since left that denomination for good, I still read Paul Walker’s daily devotional. Yesterday he had something interesting to say:
Unfortunately, I don’t think everyone has two journals. There are a lot of people (even people I am fairly close to) who are only concerned with their Clark journal. But time’s a-wasting! The night is far spent…we need to attend to our Lewis journal. Who are you? What do you believe?
This is helpful from the late great David Powlison. “Your true identity is who God says you are. You will never discover who you are by looking inside yourself or listening to what others say. The Lord gets the first word because he made you. He gets the daily word because you live before his face. He gets the last word because he will administer your final ‘comprehensive life review.’”
The Florida room is open for business! Come on over!
In the meantime, today we remember Jonathan Edwards who died on this day in 1758. His words resonate today.
Though Christian fortitude appears in withstanding and counteracting the enemies that are without us; yet it much more appears in resisting and suppressing the enemies that are within us; because they are our worst and strongest enemies and have greatest advantage against us. The strength of the good soldier of Jesus Christ appears in nothing more than in steadfastly maintaining the holy calm, meekness, sweetness, and benevolence of his mind, amidst all the storms, injuries, strange behavior, and surprising acts and events of this evil and unreasonable world.
Jonathan Edwards, The Religious Affections
Today also marks the 88th anniversary of the first Masters Tournament in 1934 (held March 22-25) at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The winner was Horton Smith who hailed originally from Springfield, Missouri. He won the event with a 20-foot birdie putt at the 17th hole (now the 8th hole), and finished at 284 (−4), one stroke ahead of runner-up Craig Wood. Smith served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII. After the war, he became the golf pro at the Detroit Golf Club in Michigan, where he remained until his death. The Masters is coming up April 7, so stay tuned.
We also wish a happy birthday to William Shatner (1931), Orrin Hatch (1934) and Billy Collins (1941).
And a shout-out to daughter #2 and Baby Katie who are on spring break.
dual personalities 