Family Pictures

We were thrilled this past Saturday to have some family pictures taken at our house by an amazing photographer in our area, Kari McGrath.

What a blessing to be able to preserve moments like this not only for us, but also, we pray, for future generations of our family. I trust that it doesn't seem too self-serving to have preserved them here, too, and that you will enjoy seeing them.

I could not recommend Kari more highly. If you are anywhere near our area, and have portrait needs, you won't go wrong working with her. Just click on the hyperlink above to visit Kari's website.

The Turgid Miasma of Existence - Part II

As I stated in the previous post, many passages from the Bible could serve equally well to teach, rebuke, correct, train, and equip us (2 Tim. 3:16-17) to face the minutiae and the mundane of every day living, but the following have been ever-present reminders in my own struggle these days with the turgid miasma of existence.

The writer of Hebrews said,

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-3, ESV).

Like everyone, we can get “weighted” down in life with a host of things; not the least of which is our own sin. We can stay “weighted” down by these things and struggle to even make it through the day without falling, or we can cast them off and run like a champion. The latter is God’s plan for His children.

And note that all the while, we are “looking to Jesus” as the supreme and only perfect example of how to run life’s race with faithful and joyful perseverance. Jesus endured what He did, according to the writer of Hebrews, “for the joy that was set before Him,” and is now “seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

We spend most of our time burdened down by the junk that is behind us, but God’s plan is that we would, instead, be buoyed up by the joy that is before us. You see, we’re not running from something, but for something – the prize – the finish line (1 Cor. 9:24-25). One day – not yet – but one day, we will have finished the course (2 Tim. 4:7-8) and be at home in heaven with Jesus. Until then. . .

We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses whose lives prove this race can be run with faith and perseverance to the glory of God (Heb. 11). From their example, and supremely from the example of our Lord Jesus, we are reminded that no one ever wins a race by starting well, but by finishing well. They did it, and by God’s grace, we can, too.

Earlier, the writer of Hebrews said,

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God (Hebrews 11:8-10, ESV).

Abraham's faith was unwaivering in the face of uncertainty. God called him to go to “a place that he was to receive.” In other words, he didn’t have it yet. And he went, “not knowing where he was going.” In other words, he had to depend on God’s guidance - not once in a while, not once a week, not even every day, but every step along the way. And so he went – “by faith.”

And notice how he lived – “in tents.” Now, that doesn’t mean too much until you read the rest: “For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” Abraham reckoned himself, as did all these men and women of faith, as a “stranger and exile” on the earth (11.13).

Are you noticing something of a pattern yet? If not, here it is: God’s people look forward. That is, our focus is beyond today. Our treasure is in heaven (Matt. 6:20-21). Our hearts are already home. Our joy is before us. And it is that forward look toward tomorrow which enables the faithful life we seek to live today.

This is no way means that we are unconcerned about the here and now. In fact, it means quite the contrary. Again, the forward look enables the faithful life (1 Cor. 15:19). It is that “bright hope for tomorrow,” to borrow the words from a cherished old hymn, which provides “strength for today” (Great Is Thy Faithfulness, written by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923).

We are born here. We live here. We work here. We marry here. We raise children here. Sometimes we divorce here. We are tempted here. We sin here. We are forgiven here. By God’s grace, we start over again here. We die here. Here is where we are, but here is not all there is.

Everything we do here, we do in tents.

Here is not permanent. Here is temporary. And like Abraham, we can live faithfully and joyfully today with an eye toward tomorrow. If we do, then. . .

the turgid miasma of existence

will be swallowed up by

The Triumphant Mindset on Eternity.

The Turgid Miasma of Existence - Part I

Recently a colleague and I were lamenting what we perceived to be some of the mindless routines of our vocation. This particular colleague is a great wordsmith and referred to our condition as “The turgid miasma of existence.” What I discovered upon further research is that this phrase was actually the title of an album released in the mid-1980s by an Australian rock band called Celibate Rifles. Never heard of them? Neither had I. With all due respect to Celibate Rifles, my interest is not in their album. What I am interested in, however, is that many people really do appear to view life in this way.

Turgid refers to something that is dull, boring, tedious, or monotonous. Miasma refers to something which clouds, obscures; a haze, a fog. My friend paraphrased “the turgid miasma of existence” as, “The unchanging cloudiness of every day life hanging over us.” Do you know anyone who feels like that? Did you happen to see that person in the mirror this morning?

To many people, it seems, life is more about existing than living; more about surviving than thriving. Robotically, we progress through the checklists of the day as if in a fog that obscures the things which are most important.

• We are productive but not passionate.

• We are fruitful but not focused.

• We are efficient but not effectual.

• We are creative but not content.

• We are hurried but not hopeful.

• We are worried but not wise.

• We are successful but not secure.

• We are good but not great.

• We accomplish but don’t apprehend.

• We are active but not alive.

• Our days are filled but not full.

We do our jobs. We meet our deadlines. We get through the day. Still, something is missing. Our busyness doesn’t seem to make us better. Our actions never seem to bring us closer to attaining the things we most need. Then we get up tomorrow and do it all over again. The turgid miasma of existence.

Is this the kind of approach to living that God intends for those who are His by grace and through faith in Jesus? I would suggest that the answer to that question is a resounding, “No.” Though scores of passages from the Bible could be brought to bear upon this question, in Part II, I will reference but a few.

This Next Story Is Disturbing

My wife and I sat down to dinner last night and also had the television on to watch the local evening news. In central Kentucky, most folks are either channel 18, WLEX, channel 27, WKYT, or channel 36, WTVQ folks – and some take that loyalty quite seriously, I might add. I wouldn’t say that we maintain that level of loyalty to one, but do tend toward channel 18, WLEX.

I had never contacted a media outlet with either a suggestion or a grievance – until last night. After hearing what we heard, both my wife and I agreed that – whether what we viewed as problematic was intended or unintended – somebody had to say something. As a result, I sat down to draft and then send an email to the management of WLEX, which you can read below.

Perhaps you will conclude upon reading that what was really “over- the-top” was my response. However, I would like to know your thoughts.

Dear Lex18 Management,

First of all, I would rather watch Lex18 news than any other station in Lexington. However, I found a portion of the Lex18 News at 6:00 P.M. on Monday, September 9, 2008 a bit disconcerting.

There was a story about a three-year-old child who had been left by his (or her) mother in a hot van on Saturday for nearly 45 minutes. Then there was a report regarding the ongoing investigation of a Clark County child who had been beaten and scalded to death. Following that was a story about a deadly crash on Interstate 75 which included the decapitation of an eight-year-old boy from Illinois. Though each of these stories was tragic, they are not what I found most problematic about that portion of the newscast. No, that came next.

After those stories, the anchor was sure to state that the next story “is disturbing.” You know, one of those, “the next story contains images that might not be suitable for all audiences” kinds of disclaimer. What followed was a cruelty to animals report about the discovery of a trash bag full of dead puppies on US 60 in Bath County; which, presumably, had been run over many times along this heavily traveled road.

Please don’t misunderstand – I think cruelty to animals in any form is a crime. The story was disturbing. What I take exception with, I suppose, is the fact that the discovery of a bag of dogs was preceded by a warning of disturbing content, but a child left in a van by its mother, the beating and scalding of a ten-year-old, and the decapitation of an eight-year-old were preceded by no such warning as to the nature of their potentially disturbing content.

I’m certainly not asking for a retraction or even an on-air explanation. I just don’t get it. Was it just sloppy writing? Was it just insensitive reporting? Whatever it was, I cannot believe that it was what it appeared to be; namely that a story about a bag of dogs was more disturbing than the others.

Interestingly, I did receive a response from the webmaster at WLEX within an hour, but not really. What the email indicated was that my response was not delivered for “security reasons.” I’m not sure what that means, but it doesn’t sound good! I promptly sent the email to another contact address on their website, but have yet to receive a response. When (and if) I do, I will post it here.

Again, perhaps I’m making too much of this. Perhaps it just hit me at the wrong time. I’m not sure, but I do know that it troubled me. What do you think?