Poetic Justice - Now and Then

Jacob and Ryan were instructed to get ready for bed. Jacob, as stealthy as a six year old can be, throws some objects into the doorway of his bedroom. Mom questions - no answer. Mom investigates - a couple of die cast miniature airplanes have been thrown on the carpet. Mom questions again, "so you will step on them", is the answer given in a bratty voice.

I assume this is an attempt at humor from a six-year-old. It is a good thing Dad did not hear, for there would have been a quick readjustment of his sense of humor. Mom, with motherly intuition, waits for him to finish brushing his teeth. He has a disagreement with his brother, forgets about the trap he has lain, walks down the hall in bare feet and steps on a plane with full force. Jacob immediately cries out in pain and the volume of his cries double when he observes his mom unsuccessfully attempting to suppress her laughter.

Poetic Justice.

The Pharaoh of Egypt has a plan to break the divine strength that has multiplied the Israelites from 70 to two million. He instructs the midwives to abort on the "birth stool" the innocent sons of the Hebrews. His plan fails. He commands his nation to throw the new born boys into the Nile - death by drowning. His plan is thwarted, for God has a greater plan.

God is not mocked: Within a generation, a cry arises from Egypt that would turn your spine cold as the Egyptians discover their own eldest sons have all been killed by God.

The final separation from Egypt occurs when a Pharaoh, surrounded by the might of his army, has the life leave his body after the water from the Red Sea fills his lungs; death by drowning.

Poetic Justice.

Stop and Listen.

A story from the Washington Post:

Joshua Bell emerged from the Metro and positioned himself against a wall beside a trash basket. By most measures, he was nondescript—a youngish white man in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a Washington Nationals baseball cap. From a small case, he removed a violin. Placing the open case at his feet, he shrewdly threw in a few dollars and pocket change as seed money and began to play.
For the next 45 minutes, in the D.C. Metro on January 12, 2007, Bell played Mozart and Schubert as over 1,000 people streamed by, most hardly taking notice. If they had paid attention, they might have recognized the young man for the world-renowned violinist he is. They also might have noted the violin he played—a rare Stradivarius worth over $3 million. It was all part of a project arranged by The Washington Post—"an experiment in context, perception, and priorities—as well as an unblinking assessment of public taste. In a banal setting, at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?" Just three days earlier, Joshua Bell sold out Boston Symphony Hall, with ordinary seats going for $100. In the subway, Bell garnered about $32 from the 27 people who stopped long enough to give a donation.

How often we do this with God; if only we would stop and listen, for beauty would transform our soul.

A Conversation

As I was watching the Democratic Convention last evening, Jake asked me if I was going to vote for Obama. "No", I replied. "Why", Jake asked.

I ended up having to explain abortion to a six-year old. He had trouble comprehending how a doctor could kill a baby that was inside the tummy of its own mommy. "Why would a doctor do that?" He had greater trouble comprehending that it was the mommy and daddy's idea to do this. I found out abortion is a great way of explaining evil: people can rationalize what is obviously an horrific act (especially in the eyes of a child - someone a little closer to being in his own mom's womb) by becoming so self-centered that their own desires are more important than the life of a little one.

John Piper gives some of his thoughts:

A prayer by Miller

Donald Miller, a member of my brother and sister's church in Portland, author of Blue Like Jazz, will be giving the closing prayer at tonight's Democratic National Convention.

I will traveling for work and may have to tune in.

Update: Here it is...

Steven Curtis Chapman and Family

I can not imagine losing a child; I can imagine the loss would be compounded if your son was at the wheel of the SUV that ran over your daughter. There is a god who is even bigger than this tragedy. The Chapman family gives testimony:

An Upcoming Trip

I have an airline voucher soon to expire and combined with some frequent flyer miles, Susan and I will be traveling to Minneapolis in late September to attend Piper's Desiring God Conference titled The Power of Words and the Wonder of God. One of the six speakers, Mark Driscoll, will be speaking on using controversial words (Driscoll has some experience on this subject):

Patrick's Point 2008

Some photos:

J.I. Packer and Mark Driscol

Packer sits down with Driscol: http://theresurgence.com/node/1080

The Fourth of July

A video clip (Papa's firecracker dance) and a couple of photos from the Crummett family in Eugene:

Nate:

Jacob:

The cousins, minus two, July 4, 2008:

Last year the cousins, minus two, July 4, 2007:

Don't be a Me Monster