they that wait ...

On Columbus Day weekend, we spent an afternoon in Gloucester Harbor taking in the sights which includes a 2001 stature that honors the wives of the fishermen who have sailed out of Gloucester and never returned. It reminds all of us of the courage of these women who have, for centuries, accepted the risks, raised kids and displayed that quiet strength that's all about doing the right thing because it is the right thing. There is no movie like The Perfect Storm that chronicles their lives. Only their families know.

There is a second statue, an older statue, erected in 1923, that celebrates the courage of the fishermen who sailed from Gloucester harbor from 1623 to the present. The names of 5368 men who are known to be lost at sea, who never came home, are listed on bronze plaques that surround the statue of a fisherman at the wheel. The names tell the story of the immigrants who came to this corner of New England to make a life in the schooners and dories of Gloucester. It is a testimony of men who could pray, "Oh Lord, Your sea is so great; and my boat is so small."

Each of us faces an uncertain tomorrow. No one has been promised tomorrow, and we do not know the challenges that it may bring. Jesus told us "do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:33-34). He challenges us to live each day one at time and to trust our heavenly Father for the needs of today and tomorrow. It is a willingness to wait upon the Lord that gives us real strength and a confidence that even though the sea is so great and our boat is so small, His eye is upon us.

The prophet Isaiah encouraged the children of Israel at a dark time with these words. They remind us of where our sufficiency is and where our confidence must be anchored.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Keep the faith!

Memorial Sunset

This weekend we spent a lovely afternoon in Plymouth and acted like tourists. We saw the sights and took the harbor cruise which I highly recommend. As we were returning to the dock, we saw the Forefathers Memorial from the deck of the ship as it overlooks the city. After taking yet another look at Plymouth Rock, the statue of Massasoit and the statue of Governor William Bradford (one of Candace's ancestors), we took the short drive up to Memorial Park. This was the image that greeted me -- a memorial silhouetted against the sunset. The Lord is so gracious to us as He shows us the work of His hands painting the perfect backdrop for this moment.

When you get a bit closer, you can see that the large figure that crowns the monument is Faith who is surrounded by statues representing Liberty, Morality, Education and Law. Candace and I were both amazed by this vision and understanding that Faith is the crowning achievement of our forefathers and it rests upon the virtues of liberty, morality, education and law. That it is not a thing apart, but the outcome. It is worth recognizing that liberty is not separated from morality, education and law. It is also compelling that these very American virtues are so intertwined.

Faith depends upon the liberty to follow your conscience; it is the outcome of a desire to know the truth (education); it is the fruit of a desire to live according to the truth (morality) and it learns from the law. Candace and I wondered if such a monument (this one was erected in the 1890's) could be built today or if political correctness would mute such a statement.

This memorial honors the Pilgrims and the faith that drove them to seek a new land where they might see the Gospel lived out. While it is a lovely thing to honor those brave men and women, we should not forget that the reward that they desired most was to hear these words when they passed on from this life ... Well done, good and faithful servant ...

Keep the faith

when you're out of step ...

While we were on vacation in Dennisport I spent some time watching sandpipers on the beach. They ran into and out of the waves as they were searching for a bit of food buried under the sand. They shared their beach with several ducks and sandcastle "architects." It didn't seem to matter to them that we were loitering about their home; they just kept doing lunch.

Unless you've been fully off the grid for the last few weeks, it's hard to escape noticing that the debate over health care has become heated with lots of misinformation from both sides of the issue. When you listen, you can't help but hear a lot of fear and frustration bubbling to the top. So much of the public debate has become rude that I wonder if anyone is listening anymore. Sometimes you feel like you've landed in a country where being gentle is considered a sign of weakness. Jesus didn't think so "... learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29

As I've watched the process, I am reminded of a group of people who were exiled from their homes and were struggling with how to live in a strange land where they could no longer sing the songs of Zion. The prophet Jeremiah gave them this word from the Lord ... This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." (Jeremiah 29:4-7)

God calls us to pray for the peace and prosperity of our nation even when it isn't feeling like home. He calls us to be about living, to be productive and to seek His blessing for the nation, especially when the politics and policies aren't your first choice. I suspect if we prayed with the same intensity that the town hall meetings have demonstrated, we'd see revival fall. Let's bring the passion into the prayer closet and see what God can do. As the old song says ... His eye is on the sandpiper, and I know He watches me.

Keep the faith

don't forget simple pleasures ...

June has been something of a disappointment weather wise -- dull, grey and rainy. It never felt like the beginning of Summer.

Well, July promises much better things. This afternoon Candace and I took a walk at Colt State Park in Bristol. Because it's on the bay, someone is always flying a kite -- or at least trying. Kite flying and summer just seem to go together -- like Astaire and Rodgers, like Martin and Lewis, Batman and Robin or Big Poppi and the Redsox.

Be sure to take at least one day this Summer to, as they sang in Mary Poppins, " ... go fly a kite." It is an opportunity to remember being a kid when Summer lasted forever and seeing your kite soaring in a blue sky made your day. But there are a few rules on kite flying. One, it's not about whose kite flies higher or longer. Two, it doesn't matter how many times the kite lands in the water. Three, it's a good day if you have functioning kite when you're done.

Next week we're heading back to Dennisport for vacation -- swimming, kite flying, taking pictures of the Cape, hanging out with my grandchildren and children, barbecue and walks on the beach. A full week with one agenda -- have fun. The simplest pleasures are the the most satisfying -- don't forget to fly a kite before September.

Keep the faith

Richard

rebuilding ...

I just returned from a week's stay in Dresden and had the opportunity to explore that city. It was extensively bombed in the final days of the second World War and spent the following forty + years as part of the former Soviet block. After the reunification of Germany, Dresden began to rebuild. The Frauenkirche (Our Lady's Church) is the jewel of that rebuilding campaign. It has been restored to much of its former glory as the pictures that I took show. Even the statue of Martin Luther has been given its proper place.

The interior takes your breath away. There is a cross made from the bent and twisted steel from the original church that is the only reminder of the darker days. It is an impressive demonstration of the desire of a community to restore and rebuild. Most of the money that financed the rebuilding came from private contributions. When you sit in that church and take in its beauty, it is hard not to think about how much all of our lives need rebuilding. It is encouraging to know what would have seemed impossible in 1945, has been done and that the city is not a prisoner of those painful times.

We all have choices about rebuilding -- right now our nation is rebuilding its economy; and many are rebuilding dreams that were broken. Dresden tells us that it is possible to choose to restore, rebuild and put the bad days behind us. The people of Dresden choose to remember the beauty that was once there. That is the great message of the Frauenkirche -- that restoration is possible.

There is another Rebuilder who specializes in broken lives. Just this morning our pastor reminded us all that Jesus said "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). The apostle Paul tells us that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The most amazing thing about God's rebuilding plan is that it is all about grace and mercy. He rebuilds because He loves us -- not because we deserve it, but because He chooses to do so. All He requires of us is that we choose to walk in His plan, listen to His voice, and let Him change us into the image and likeness of His Son.

Dresden shows us what men can do when they choose to rebuild. A redeemed life shows us what God can do when He rebuilds.

Keep the faith!

Richard

the chief end ... lessons from a boarder collie

This weekend we went to the Rhode Island Highland Festival. Along with big men wearing kilts and throwing heavy things, bagpipers, and musicians, there was a demonstration of sheep herding by boarder collies. The trainers take the herding instincts of the dogs and extend them so that the dogs are happiest when they are bringing the sheep to the shepherd and miserable when they don't have sheep to corral. Anyone who has spent time with a boarder collie knows that they really want to heard something! They will heard sheep, cows or children -- whichever is available.

This is a dog that knows what it was born to do. This dog is happy only when it is doing just that. The dog thrives on it's master's approval and is quite content with its place in the pack. As I watched the dog working the sheep, I could not help but remember the words of the Westminster Shorter Catechism -- "What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." For generations, children grew up memorizing these words and building them into their view of the the world.

I love the directness of the question and the comprehensiveness of its simple answer. We are here to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. If we had some of the persistence of these boarder collies who know what their purpose and pleasure is, we would find this world a far, far better place. The message from God's Word is also so plain and uncomplicated -- "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts." Deuteronomy 6:4-6.


Keep the faith

living in the shadow ...

On Memorial Day we went to visit Fort Adams in Newport. It sits on a piece of land that commands the approaches to Newport harbor which explains why a young nation built it in the early 1800's. Fort Adams never fired any of its cannons in anger, but was one of the nation's largest coastal forts.

This picture was taken from one of its walls that looks out over the Mount Hope bridge. You will notice that the lighthouse on Rose Island appears to be set in the shadow of the bridge and almost seems out of place. But the lighthouse (built in 1869) was there long before the bridge, and it still stands. For over 100 years, it was home to the lighthouse keepers and their families.

It would be easy to look at the size of the Mount Hope Bridge and believe that it was the "big deal" here. However, life is lived out in smaller pieces and in smaller places. The fact that the lighthouse is still standing some 140 years later and is a neat place to spend a summer's day should remind us that being faithful in the task set before us has its own grandeur.

Marriage has a quality like that -- building a home that stands strong, shelters its children, is a refuge from the storms and a lighthouse to the community counts for so much more than how grand the house is. Knowing what you are all about and faithfully doing it has a beauty all of its own. It's all about foundations and commitment.

Jesus told us about the value of strong foundations and following the path of wisdom ... "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." (Matthew 7:23-25)


Keep the faith!