Music by the Lake

Paul and I have been busy with mortgage stuff, a house walk-thru, looking at appliances for the house (because it's a new house, we don't have a stove, fridge, dishwasher, or washer & dryer), getting our last doctor's visits in before our insurance runs out, getting new health insurance, and finding treasures for our new house on Craig's list and then driving to look at the finds (we got a really nice dining room table with 6 chairs for $150!). We have been anything but bored. Its actually been a lot of fun to hang out together, as being in Westminster and working for the Y afforded us very little time to spend together.
Last night Paul and I took a break from business and went to Furman University where they have "Music by the Lake" every Thursday night. We sat on a blanket on the grass and enjoyed hearing a live orchestra play themes from John William's famous music while we snacked on blueberries and cherries. It was a perfect night. it was a lot of fun listening to the music from Indiana Jones, Jaws, Star Wars, and many more.

Paul and I have really enjoyed this time off from work and school. I don't think we have ever, besides our honeymoon, spent this much time together. We have had so much fun just hanging out and being with each other all day, every day.

Transitions, . . . and Stuff

Yesterday was our second Sunday worshiping at Grace Baptist in Greenville, and although we've enjoying our time in Greenville, both Sonja and I miss being at FRBC in Philadelphia. Its kinda funny how churches do Sunday worship differently, and how things that I used to consider distracting or kinda weird become endearing and wonderful as you get used to them. I know that this will eventually happen at Grace Baptist (GBC), but it makes me miss FRBC a lot. At the end of the morning service, we celebrated the Lord's Supper, and it was so good to be reminded by the bread & juice that Christ died for us, so that not only is our sin atoned for, but also that in Christ's death and resurrection, we are freed to walk in a new way of resurrection mode of living. It was also sad, because it was our first communion not with our fellowship at FRBC in a very long time.

Last night Sonja and I took the evening to go out to Furman Campus, walk around the lake, and spend some time talking about the struggles of moving, the joy of being together, and the ways we need to work on our marriage. We also spent some time discussing the end of II Thessalonians 2, where Paul, in the midst of his discussion on the man of lawlessness, keeps reminding the Thessalonians that the truth is not simply something to be believed, but the truth is something which is to be loved, the only alternative to which is to take pleasure in unrighteousness.

The truth of which Paul speaks, as he notes in the passage, is probably generally referring to the traditions and teaching which Paul passed on to the Thessalonians both in his letters and in his verbal teaching, thus probably centering both on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, as well as the implications which flow out of that "truth".

As I was thinking yesterday, it struck me that the truth of Jesus' resurrection is quite a fact. I believe it to be the lynchpin of Christianity, for without his resurrection, his death is quite meaningless (as Paul notes in I Cor. 15). However, according to Paul, the truth is not simply something to be believed, but something to be loved (2 Thess. 2) and something to be obeyed (obedience of faith- Romans).

Drinking the juice and eating the bread reminded me that participation in the resurrection of Jesus offers both comforts and joys to us as it places demands and necessities on us as well. We, in union with Christ, have been raised to walk in resurrection life now. While we await heaven and all its glories, we live now on earth, following Jesus as his disciples.

I Cor. 5:14-15- For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

As Christians, we live now, for Jesus. Sonja and I spent a long time discussing our fears of the future- missing friendships in Philly, the thought of a monthly house-payment, the adjustment of a new church and worship situation, the sadness of missing Sonja's family, the ugliness of the selfishness we each bring to our marriage. The only thing which makes this bearable, and even commendable, is the reminder that Jesus has died and been resurrected for us. If we are to not only believe this fact, but love it, it must come home to us. We are here to serve Christ. If we lose that focus, I don't how we cannot be discouraged.

Moving here really drives home the question, not only of why we are here, but of why and for what we now live. Its easy to get into a groove where you just do what you need to do to get by (i.e. schoolwork at Westminster), but every now and then you get a jolt which takes your breath away, and makes you ask, "Why the heck are we doing this?"

As Sonja and I have wrestled with the struggle of leaving our family and friends from the north, we've concluded that there's only one good answer to the "why" question. We believe we're serving Jesus. Otherwise, its not worth it. But if we are serving Jesus, and he does promise to reward us (as Bob read yesterday in Eccl. 12:12, and also in Revelation) then we can seek to please and serve him, knowing that he sees and will reward. He gave himself for us. Now we give ourselves for him by serving his people. Just some thoughts which are giving us hope amidst difficult times. Hope you find encouragement as we have from not only believing, but loving and obeying the reality of Jesus' resurrection.

We Got "Blue Shutters!"

Paul and I started house hunting bright and early the day after we moved. We saw lots of houses, took a break for lunch, and then visited this house. Paul instantly said that this was 'the house'. I was distracted by the bright royal blue shutters, but I liked the house as well.

Every house that we looked at after that we compared to "Blue Shutters". No house could match up to "Blue Shutters". We went back with the camera and took pictures to send to mom and dad. They thought it was a great deal. It was a brand new house and was one of the least expensive houses on the block. It had everything we wanted. It was only 5 minutes from the church, it backed up to a park so we could have the youth group over to play, it had a gas fire place, 4 big bedrooms all with walk-in closets, a really big family room and... a front porch! We decided we wanted to make an offer but wanted to pray about it first. We spent a lot of time in prayer that night and the next morning. The next day we got a call saying the house had just sold! Paul and I knew God had shut the door, and although a little disappointed, we did not want the house if God didn't want us to have it. So we praised God for shutting the door and got excited about what God was going to provide for us.

For the next 4 days we searched and searched, starting early and going all day trying to find the perfect house. Then my dad found a house 20 minutes from church and e-mailed us the link. Paul and I went to look at it and really liked it, although it would need LOTS of work, and we pictured having fun working on fixing it up. But it was 20 minutes away. We prayed and asked God for wisdom because we wanted to be close to the church. We remembered that we moved to South Carolina to serve and minister to people and we just didn't feel at peace about living so far away. So we prayed again. The next morning we got a call saying that the deal did not go through with "Blue Shutters" and that if we still wanted it, it was ours! We went to look at it again and we both knew, this was the house for us.

We signed the papers today and will be closing on July 14! "Blue Shutters" is our new residence!

"Blue Shutter" Tour

Trucks, Trailors, and Trips: The Adventure Begins!

Monday, June 9, I picked up our 22 ft, (16 ft. bed) rental truck from Penske, behind which I would be towing my Acura, loaded with more stuff, and with two bikes on top. As it turned out, Monday was the hottest day so far this year for Philadelphia (99 degrees)! In spite of the temperature, we had an amazing turnout of friends who skipped work, despised the heat, and helped us pack and organize our moving van. Matt B., Janice, Charles (Bill), Tim, and Sonja & I all worked our tales off, packing goods, carrying boxes, and lugging assorted treasures down from our second/third story apartment, while Gabe endured the oven of the cargo bay, organizing and fitting together the puzzle of boxes so that we could jam all our stuff into a far-too-small moving-truck. With the help of Thea, Aaron, and Ethan Williams, after two days of intense moving and intense heat, we finally finished loading up our truck.

Here is a picture of Sonja and I standing in front of our lengthy and overloaded beast of truck & trailor!
At 3:30 am, early Wednesday morning, I loaded our 3 quail, Miley, Matt, and Molly, and our two fish into the cab of the truck, along with some snacks, and hit the road. Surprisingly the truck got pretty good gas mileage, (I only filled up twice on a 30 gallon tank), and it took me about 12 hours to make my way down from Philly to G'ville. Besides a scary incident involving an 18 wheeler trying to pull over on top of me, and the fact that the truck only had an AM/FM radio, it was a pretty good trip.

I was met by Blake, Ryan, John, Tyson, and Drew, who made quick work of unloading all of our goods into a 10 x 10 storage space off Pelham Rd. What a blessing it has been to have friends willing to help us both load and unload all our goods!

Sonja, with the help of her sister Sarah, drove down her heavy-laden car later on Wednesday, and got in just before midnight.