Let Him Be God

I have read Dallimore's "Spurgeon" several times, but yesterday saw something I have never noticed before:
To an agnostic who one day accosted him and challenged his Christian beliefs, Spurgeon pointed out the failure of the unbeliever's organizations to take on any definite and sustained program of help to the thousands of needy around them. In contrast he pointed to the works that sprang from evangelical Christianity, and he closed the conversation by paraphrasing the triumphant cry of Elijah, vigorously asserting, as well he might, "The God who answers by Orphanages, LET HIM BE GOD!"

I am glad to say I feel much better than when I last posted...Dad has always said that exercise often improves illness and I must say I began to feel I had turned a corner right after walking a couple of miles in the wonderful, cold weather on Thursday afternoon...Friday, Dad and I went to the trailer park and cleaned the Dutch boys' house - needless to say, not needing too much attention....they were typically scrupulous with their surroundings! Maryanne surprised us with a fleeting visit that afternoon, then overnight and left a couple of hours ago - a treat for Dad and me! She came bearing lovely grandchildren and festive food so a great time was had by all!...Anna, Joshie and I made one of the spare rooms into a little market - using my emergency food supply - so that is all set up for when other grandchildren come to visit! After that, we went - sledding! You northeners must picture this...A man- made, but fairly precipitous hill, covered with short grass in the middle of North Shore, Chattanooga...COvered with children, sliding down on cardboard boxes, some even on sleds!!! Wished I had been able to take pictures to prove it to you...Seems to work as well as snow - fast and just as dangerous, potentially, as real sledding! Then home for both Maryanne and Grace....Little Emma was beside herself with fatigue, and cold, so had had enough of everything and everyone! Andrew still here but soon to go home, then rest for the old folks!

Church tomorrow, of course...Happy Sunday to all. Hope Aileen, and Rick and Susanna, had good days away!

.....

I am rather sick again today...A slight cold that is making me feel lousy. Can't remember the last time I have been sick twice in a few weeks-think maybe my sleep deprivation is wearing me down...Interesting that minor illness plays havoc with all body guages - can tell my blood pressure is way up - never happens if I take medication! I have one fuzzy, stuffy head! (and brain)

I had to cancel with Tom and Jeannette for both Tuesday and Thursday so went southeast just to take care of kids while Maryanne went to her first obstetrical appointment this morning - then home again after it, and to bed....Yesterday lay around at her house rather than here...This morning was able to spend some time with the children. Little Emma was roaring about the house with a Rastafarian cap and pink boots added to her Mimi-chosen outfit...Such a funny, silly little thing.

Not much to say about Bible study...We did "life stories" to open and did not move beyond that. It was helpful to get the measure of where the girls' needs are, so hope to address a few things that will be helpful next week. I must say I was surprised at the depth of family breakdown and destructive choices imposed upon the girls by others...Stayed overnight with Alicia in her "aunt's" most beautiful little chalet-type home perched on the edge of Lookout Mt.

Will see if tomorrow I am well enough to go and help Dad clean the little house recently vacated. I pray for strength!

Stuff

Our Sunday School teacher, Gerry, is teaching about Biblical child-raising. Yesterday, he presented an interesting Harvard study. I looked for it online but could not find it; however, this is what he told us. This study said delinquency could be reduced by 90% if the following four principals were implemented in a home:
1)A father's discipline must be firm, fair and consistent.
2)A mother must practice supervision of her home and family.
3)Parents must be affectionate with one another and with their children.
4)There must be a sense of family cohesion.
This is no great surprise to us as Christians. I think what impacted me was just how little children truly need and want. Don't they have a right to all of the above? To think so many get little or none of it is heartbreaking!


Grace and I were chatting yesterday as we walked mid-afternoon, and she had a very interesting observation to make - thought I would share it with you. Wayne has been preaching Sunday mornings from Revelation, from a typical (I believe) premillennial position. Of course, we do not see Revelation from this perspective, but Grace had an astute comment on why she disagrees. She feels that perspective is too "sci-fi"...She said, "In Scripture, prophecies seem so glitzy, but when they are worked out, they are so "ordinary"...for instance, Joseph had a dream that the sun, moon and eleven stars were bowing down before him, but when it really worked out it was an ordinary circumstance in that time and culture."...Shrewd, huh? Gives me something to think about.


I am reading through Matthew in my own Bible study...Read this morning about the multiple attempts of the Pharisees and Sadducees to trap Jesus through their questions. He answers them brilliantly, of course...And then moves on to his devastating critique of them. Boy, did they make a mistake on messing with Him. They took a tiger by the tail. What a great champion we have!

Truth

A quick addendum to yesterday's post...Was reading on a site called ChinaAid about a Christian in prison in that country - pretext for his arrest? Terrorism! Again!

In any case, have been thinking about the Bible study I will do with Alicia and her friends tomorrow night, and have decided to deal with Bible study itself - why is it important. This is how I will start. I am going to have them close their eyes and will turn out the lights..(and meditate? Not on your life!)...Will then say "We are blind people in a dark room. The fundamental fact of existence is God, but in terms of us and our knowing God, THAT - our blindness in darkness - is the fundamental fact. This leads inevitably to a certain view of Scripture. Think about it"....I will then light a match, ask what theology that implies, a flashlight and what it implies, finally switch lights on again and ask about that.. How I want them to see that EVERYTHING in Christian life- and especially in this case, truth- is external, extrinsic, alien, foreign, borrowed. If they "get" that firmly, nothing much can ever challenge a secure biblical faith. And it all rests on that devastating view of human nature the Bible so clearly portrays...As Wylie says in the History of Protestantism, that - not the five solas - is the heart of Protestantism. The "solas" flow necessarily out of it! May God grant me success in portraying this convincingly to them. May he give them ears to hear at the deepest level possible...Later in the week, I will outline the rest of what I want to present...

USSR

Had another rough night last night so spent a few hours reading a book by a Ukranian man who spent time in the Gulag during the 1930's. Interesting to see so much confirmed from my reading of Solzchenitsyn and Wurmbrandt...One thing that interested me was that the main pretexts for arresting people and sending them to slave labor camps were "nationalism" and "terrorism!"...The author eventually escaped to DP camps in Europe as the Nazis entered the country during WW II, then on to Canada, where he saw his chief calling as sounding the alarm about Communism...His liberation from the camps had been miraculous. His old Orthodox mother prayed steadfastly to "St. Nicholas", then went to Moscow and ended up being ushered into the presence of a very high official who sent release documents!...Interesting tale!

as Usual

I spent the day at Maryanne's yesterday as usual for Wednesdays...We did the usual Goodwill tour in the morning, then she went out to have her hair done in the afternoon....Another rather restless night for me eventually, but did some very serious reading (The Long Winter) on the sofa to pass the time...Arrived at Tom and Jeannette's by nine to care for the children while she went to her obstetrical appointment...read Oliver Twist to the younger children (abridged), made them lunch then played various games, made cookies with them...Meanwhile, listening to Jeannette count off contractions as she waits for Joy to appear....Off home with a quick stop to see what Dad is doing at the little house the boys recently left at the TP...Home again to catch up on internet...Life as usual....Hope to write tomorrow, prepare more of Bible study for Monday night....

Completely off topic, a quote from Lucy Maud Montgomery: Pastors should bring their best clothes to the city and their best sermons to the country...

Stuff

Things could not have gone better at court yesterday. The magistrate was very professional and fair; David and Ellen, and Danny worked well with us. I was entirley honest about not having a precise dollar value we are behind, giving every benefit of the doubt to D & E in my estimate. She said no and gave an amount several hundred dollars higher, saying they will do everything they can to pay us back. She wept at times from stress...know they are down to their last less than one hundred dollars...We will certainly make it as easy as possible to repay us - letting them take the time they need to do so. Pray for them! We chatted with the magistrate and he said that what we have heard - that people are living in cars, in the woods - is likely true. The situation is extremely grim...While on that topic, Dad asked whether or not he fears violence in the courtroom. He said, "Not with this baby", lifted up his pant leg - and there was a gun strapped to his calf!

When Josh and I went to pick up Anna from the bus stop today, she asked how we were getting home. I told her we were walking. (It is a very cold day) She hesitated a moment, then said, "Mimi, that is impressive!" Ha! Ha! How I love children!

Monday - late!

Dad has trundled off to work so I am sitting here ready for bed with blue fuzzy bathrobe wrapped around me -cool in here with thermostat turned down for the night...I am tired - the old, familiar buzzing noise, congested sensation in my head from fatigue,still, my mind is relatively alert...Will get up early tomorrow, then off to Jeannette.s - haven't heard from her so assume she has not had the baby yet....Will leave mid-afternoon in order to be at Magistrate's court to evict David and Ellen and Danny - fun and games! Next, off to Maryanne's overnight, then again until Thursday and Ryans...Busy! In the meantime will be preparing for a BIble study Alicia wants me to teach to some Covenant girls - rotating topic depending on their interests - should be challenging. Will do that Monday nights up on the mountain, then stay there overnight, with Alicia...Thus, will only be alone in this house one night per week...Interesting the way that has worked! Do pray we will win a favorable judgment, be able to collect our money....Will let you know!