Sunday, August 07, 2005

I must be doing something right!

We're back from a two week vacation to the St. Paul MN area to visit my parents. It was a nice relaxing visit. I didn't do much but watch TV, spend some time on the computer and basically veg out. Did a little reading, too. Played golf on a beautiful links style course in Ramsey MN--The Links at Northfork.

Unfortunately, my father spent half of our visit in the hospital. He had a bad case of gout. Since his kidney transplant two and a half years ago, severe pain such as he experienced last weekend cannot be ignored. He's home from the hospital now and doing quite well.

So on to what I might be doing right. And, of course, it is much more than myself. During children's moment at church this morning, my developmentally-delayed son Jesse (9) volunteered a response to the question, "Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?" Anytime Jesse volunteers an answer to a theological question we're prepared for anything from the insightful to the odd. I thought perhaps the question was beyond his understanding. I was wrong. His answer, clear and confident, was "For our sins." I raised my fist in jubilant celebration. He is paying attention. The gospel is seeping its way into his heart. I am deeply grateful for my wife, my church and the Lord for his growth in understanding.

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Divinity and humanity

August 6 holds a great deal of irony. Today is the 60th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb by the United States on the city of Hiroshima. Today is also a special feast day for millions of Christians--The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We celebrate the revelation of Jesus' divinity to his disciples . . . we remember humanity's enormous capacity to wreak war and carnage on one another.

But now you must get rid of all such things--anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive language from your mouth . . . Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
--Colossians 3:8, 14
Come Lord Jesus!