I think I resemble that remark...
From the Aspen Times..
There is a great amount of interest in this year’s presidential elections, as everybody seems to recognize that our next president has to be a lot better than George Bush. The Democrats are riding high with two groundbreaking candidates — a woman and an African-American — while the conservative Republicans are in a quandary about their party’s nod to a quasi-liberal maverick, John McCain.
Each candidate is carefully pandering to a smorgasbord of special-interest groups, ranging from gay, lesbian and transgender people to children of illegal immigrants to working mothers to evangelical Christians.
There is one group no one has recognized, and it is the group that will decide the election: the Angry White Man. The Angry White Man comes from all economic backgrounds, from dirt-poor to filthy rich. He represents all geographic areas in America, from urban sophisticate to rural redneck, deep South to mountain West, left Coast to Eastern Seaboard.
The rest of the article...
http://www.aspentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?Dato=20080209&Kategori=ASPENWEEKLY06&Lopenr=198091324&Ref=AR&template=printart
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Progressives
This election season, everyone is talking about change. We have to change the way things are done. You have to have hope...and change. There is no great detail about what the changes are. Just a promise to change seems to be virtue enough.
It reminds me of going to Disney World. The princesses sing "you have to belive." All your dreams come true if you only believe. Tinkerbell flys over, the fireworks go off and everyone goes nuts. My quesiton is, believe in what?
The current candidates seem to be very Disneyesque. You just have to believe in change.
WHAT?
I usually do not identify myself as a "progressive," because I do not agree with much of the change that "progressives" spout. However, it has occured to me that we all want progress. We all want change for the better (not just a change). If being a progressive is wanting to progress towards a better way, then maybe I am a progressive too.
However, it is sometimes necessary to make a u-turn if you want to make progress.
You missed your turn 10 miles back. What are you going to do? Keep heading down the interstate at 85 mph? Probably. You aren't going anywhere, but you are getting there fast. You are making "progress." It feels good. Lets change drivers. That feels even better! That place you wanted to get to seems less appealing now that you are MOOOOVING down the highway baby.
The problem is, that you aren't going anywhere. There is just a lot of activity and a lot of energy being expended.
Our country, our churches, our society is heading down a path. Where is that path taking us? Is it taking us to a place that we want to go? Did we miss our turn 10 miles back?
I think we did.
I think that we need to turn back. We need to get on a path that leads to the place we all want to go. Our country has a constitution that is not a living and breathing document. Judges are making interpretations that our founding fathers never intended. Our government has seized powers that are not granted by the constitution. Our tax system is unethical and unconstitutional.
Our churches have relinquished their moral authority in our society. The blood and the cross are hardly mentioned. People are not repenting because there is nothing to be ashamed of.
Our schools (and colleges) are becoming social engineering laboratories rather than institutions of learning.
As a conservative that believes in God, the Bible, and the US Constitution, I think that this country needs to make a u-turn back to the old time Religion. We need to make a u-turn back to the government that our founding fathers envisioned. We need to make a u-turn back to an education system that educates rather than indoctorinates.
Only by making a u-turn can we make the progress that we all want. A bright future for our children's children depends on us. The new progressives.
It reminds me of going to Disney World. The princesses sing "you have to belive." All your dreams come true if you only believe. Tinkerbell flys over, the fireworks go off and everyone goes nuts. My quesiton is, believe in what?
The current candidates seem to be very Disneyesque. You just have to believe in change.
WHAT?
I usually do not identify myself as a "progressive," because I do not agree with much of the change that "progressives" spout. However, it has occured to me that we all want progress. We all want change for the better (not just a change). If being a progressive is wanting to progress towards a better way, then maybe I am a progressive too.
However, it is sometimes necessary to make a u-turn if you want to make progress.
You missed your turn 10 miles back. What are you going to do? Keep heading down the interstate at 85 mph? Probably. You aren't going anywhere, but you are getting there fast. You are making "progress." It feels good. Lets change drivers. That feels even better! That place you wanted to get to seems less appealing now that you are MOOOOVING down the highway baby.
The problem is, that you aren't going anywhere. There is just a lot of activity and a lot of energy being expended.
Our country, our churches, our society is heading down a path. Where is that path taking us? Is it taking us to a place that we want to go? Did we miss our turn 10 miles back?
I think we did.
I think that we need to turn back. We need to get on a path that leads to the place we all want to go. Our country has a constitution that is not a living and breathing document. Judges are making interpretations that our founding fathers never intended. Our government has seized powers that are not granted by the constitution. Our tax system is unethical and unconstitutional.
Our churches have relinquished their moral authority in our society. The blood and the cross are hardly mentioned. People are not repenting because there is nothing to be ashamed of.
Our schools (and colleges) are becoming social engineering laboratories rather than institutions of learning.
As a conservative that believes in God, the Bible, and the US Constitution, I think that this country needs to make a u-turn back to the old time Religion. We need to make a u-turn back to the government that our founding fathers envisioned. We need to make a u-turn back to an education system that educates rather than indoctorinates.
Only by making a u-turn can we make the progress that we all want. A bright future for our children's children depends on us. The new progressives.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Evelyn is Recovering Well
Evelyn told me last night that she is "back to normal." That is good because we have some sort of lesson or practice nearly every day starting this week.
It was nice to take a sabbatical from all things outside the home for a few months. I think the kids enjoyed it too.
It was nice to take a sabbatical from all things outside the home for a few months. I think the kids enjoyed it too.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Homeschooling
Since I am the only one that ever reads this blog, here is a link that will help me next time someone asks me about homeschooling.
The Bitter Homeschooler
The Bitter Homeschooler
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Turn it up
I remember when I was in high school I had a Lynyrd Skynyrd album. All their pictures were on the back. My mom asked me which one was Lynyrd. I didn't know. I guessed the lead singer.
This was back in the day when audiophiles worried about the quality of their needle and the wow and flutter of their turntable. I had some spare tubes lying around just in case one blew. That Freebird solo would really stress the old tubes - especially when you turned the volume up to "11" (a gratuitous "Spinal Tap" reference).
I soon learned that Lynyrd was not the lead singer. No one was named Lynyrd. I only suffered mild humiliation from my wise and worldly next door neighbor for that one. He let me off easy. I considered him to be extremely wise and cool solely because he was one year ahead of me in school. He knew all about Lynyrd Skynyrd...and other cool bands.
Thirty years later...
I found my Gold and Platnium CD when we moved. It has all the best from Lynyrd Skynyrd. Sweet Home Alabama, Gimme Three Steps, Free Bird.... an audio feast.
My car stereo doesn't have an "11." In fact, there aren't ANY numbers. I keep turning and turning and turning... it just spins around and doesn't get ANY louder. No bother. By the looks and gestures that I am getting at stop lights and gas stations, I am sure that everyone is enjoying my Gold and Platnium with me.
A glorious week.
I also had Max McClain's CD in the car with me. He's the guy with the deep voice and the British accent that reads the Bible on the radio. He is very expressive. A nice presentation.
I get in the car a few days later. A guy a the gas station is forcing me to listen to his "music." I feel violated. WWJD? I decided to get even. A battle of the bands. Make his ears bleed. I know just the song to counter his "onslaught on humanity" so loosely called "music."
Turn it up.
As I am digging in my console... there it is. Gold and Platinum...Disc 2 (the best one).... broken... no shattered....
It had been crushed by the Word of God.
Evelyn thinks that it was a divine intervention in my life. Kind of like when all the pagan idols in the Old Testament kept falling down before the ark of the Lord.
I don't know. What do you think?
This was back in the day when audiophiles worried about the quality of their needle and the wow and flutter of their turntable. I had some spare tubes lying around just in case one blew. That Freebird solo would really stress the old tubes - especially when you turned the volume up to "11" (a gratuitous "Spinal Tap" reference).
I soon learned that Lynyrd was not the lead singer. No one was named Lynyrd. I only suffered mild humiliation from my wise and worldly next door neighbor for that one. He let me off easy. I considered him to be extremely wise and cool solely because he was one year ahead of me in school. He knew all about Lynyrd Skynyrd...and other cool bands.
Thirty years later...
I found my Gold and Platnium CD when we moved. It has all the best from Lynyrd Skynyrd. Sweet Home Alabama, Gimme Three Steps, Free Bird.... an audio feast.
My car stereo doesn't have an "11." In fact, there aren't ANY numbers. I keep turning and turning and turning... it just spins around and doesn't get ANY louder. No bother. By the looks and gestures that I am getting at stop lights and gas stations, I am sure that everyone is enjoying my Gold and Platnium with me.
A glorious week.
I also had Max McClain's CD in the car with me. He's the guy with the deep voice and the British accent that reads the Bible on the radio. He is very expressive. A nice presentation.
I get in the car a few days later. A guy a the gas station is forcing me to listen to his "music." I feel violated. WWJD? I decided to get even. A battle of the bands. Make his ears bleed. I know just the song to counter his "onslaught on humanity" so loosely called "music."
Turn it up.
As I am digging in my console... there it is. Gold and Platinum...Disc 2 (the best one).... broken... no shattered....
It had been crushed by the Word of God.
Evelyn thinks that it was a divine intervention in my life. Kind of like when all the pagan idols in the Old Testament kept falling down before the ark of the Lord.
I don't know. What do you think?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
God has a Plan
Every Christmas season we tell our kids the Christmas story.
Its not what you think.
We start in Genesis - and it takes weeks. Sometimes its at breakfast or dinner. Sometimes its at bedtime. We have a few visual aids that the Children can stick to a flannel Christmas tree when we are done with a certain segment. The idea is to put baby Jesus on the tree by Christmas.
Its the middle of January, all the Christmas decor is put away, and we are still a long way from putting baby Jesus on the tree.
I am doing the story telling this year and I have found myself reverting to a common theme, a commonality that ties all the Bible stories together. "God has a plan." Each one of these characters plays a vital role in the greatest story every told. God used each of them to accomplish His ultimate purpose.
In Jeremiah God famously tells the Israelites:
When I think of God's "PLAN" I always think that it is something grandiose. I keep wondering when "God's plan" for MY life is going to kick in.
As we have told the stories of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Daniel, Ruth, Boaz, David, Solomon, and so many others, it has struck me that "God's plan" may be very mundane - even painful.
What did Issac do? He just lived his life and had a set of twins - he even failed at maintaining order in his household. His kids HATED each other. His younger son lied to him as he lay dying. Yet Issac's life is essential in God's plan. The Messiah is coming through his bloodline. His great purpose in life was to continue the bloodline.
"Well done my good and faithful servant."
"Huh? What did I do? I just took care of my sheep."
"You lived and had a family."
"But I was a terrible father."
"But my purpose was accomplished."
Jacob had a pretty rough go of it too. He had to work 14 years to earn his wife. She couldn't have children, but when she did have a child, he was a little bratty - so much so that his step brothers faked his death and sold him into slavery. Imagine the heartache of losing an only child (by that wife). Then the drought/famine - the worries of taking care of his family. Then having to send his beloved Benjamin to Egypt, only to have him imprisoned...Then you have to leave the land you love and move to Egypt to live among strangers. This man's life was one tragedy after another. Yet God's purpose was accomplished. "Well done."
What did Boaz do? He ran his (very successful) business and married a pretty little widow that came and lay at his feet one night during the harvest. They had a child named Jessee who had a child that eventually became the king of Israel (David).
"Well done my good and faithful servant."
"Uh.. thanks. "
I always thought I had to be a David, a Joseph, or a modern day Dwight Moody, Billy Graham, or a billionaire tycoon to accomplish God's purpose in my life.
I am coming to realize that it is ok to be an Isaac or a Boaz. Maybe I will never know what part of God's plan was accomplished just because I lived, married, and had children.
God may never bless me with that knowledge. But by faith, I carry on, knowing that His ways, His thoughts, are higher than mine. By faith, I know that God has a purpose and a reason for my life. By faith, I am going to have baby Jesus on that tree by the end of this month.
By faith, I know that when I see Him face to face I will finally understand and hopefully.... yes hopefully... he will say "well done."
Its not what you think.
We start in Genesis - and it takes weeks. Sometimes its at breakfast or dinner. Sometimes its at bedtime. We have a few visual aids that the Children can stick to a flannel Christmas tree when we are done with a certain segment. The idea is to put baby Jesus on the tree by Christmas.
Its the middle of January, all the Christmas decor is put away, and we are still a long way from putting baby Jesus on the tree.
I am doing the story telling this year and I have found myself reverting to a common theme, a commonality that ties all the Bible stories together. "God has a plan." Each one of these characters plays a vital role in the greatest story every told. God used each of them to accomplish His ultimate purpose.
In Jeremiah God famously tells the Israelites:
- "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (KJV)
- "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)
When I think of God's "PLAN" I always think that it is something grandiose. I keep wondering when "God's plan" for MY life is going to kick in.
As we have told the stories of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Daniel, Ruth, Boaz, David, Solomon, and so many others, it has struck me that "God's plan" may be very mundane - even painful.
What did Issac do? He just lived his life and had a set of twins - he even failed at maintaining order in his household. His kids HATED each other. His younger son lied to him as he lay dying. Yet Issac's life is essential in God's plan. The Messiah is coming through his bloodline. His great purpose in life was to continue the bloodline.
"Well done my good and faithful servant."
"Huh? What did I do? I just took care of my sheep."
"You lived and had a family."
"But I was a terrible father."
"But my purpose was accomplished."
Jacob had a pretty rough go of it too. He had to work 14 years to earn his wife. She couldn't have children, but when she did have a child, he was a little bratty - so much so that his step brothers faked his death and sold him into slavery. Imagine the heartache of losing an only child (by that wife). Then the drought/famine - the worries of taking care of his family. Then having to send his beloved Benjamin to Egypt, only to have him imprisoned...Then you have to leave the land you love and move to Egypt to live among strangers. This man's life was one tragedy after another. Yet God's purpose was accomplished. "Well done."
What did Boaz do? He ran his (very successful) business and married a pretty little widow that came and lay at his feet one night during the harvest. They had a child named Jessee who had a child that eventually became the king of Israel (David).
"Well done my good and faithful servant."
"Uh.. thanks. "
I always thought I had to be a David, a Joseph, or a modern day Dwight Moody, Billy Graham, or a billionaire tycoon to accomplish God's purpose in my life.
I am coming to realize that it is ok to be an Isaac or a Boaz. Maybe I will never know what part of God's plan was accomplished just because I lived, married, and had children.
God may never bless me with that knowledge. But by faith, I carry on, knowing that His ways, His thoughts, are higher than mine. By faith, I know that God has a purpose and a reason for my life. By faith, I am going to have baby Jesus on that tree by the end of this month.
By faith, I know that when I see Him face to face I will finally understand and hopefully.... yes hopefully... he will say "well done."
Monday, January 7, 2008
Three Gifts
Perhaps the biggest epiphany we had during the Christmas season was that we could give them gifts at other times of the year.
It just hit me like a ton of bricks. I can buy stuff next month on sale and by then I may not want it anyway. I don't have to go out and get all the other kids one more stupid gift that they will never play with just because Jonathan has eight gifts and they only have seven.
What freedom! What euphoria! No more Christmas Eve shopping!
The number that we decided on was 3. Thats right. Just three things to open on Christmas morning. Thats 15 presents under the tree. Thats IT. No more.... well maybe something little in the stocking..... but thats IT.
One of the kids wanted a go-cart. Lets wait til' spring! Why spend all our $$$ in December? One kid wanted a transforming monster thingy that slimed. " Are you SURE thats in your top 3?" mu-hah-hah-hah (I laughed silently because I HATE those things....)
Another kid complains. "Only three gifts? awwww man."
"That's right. Three gifts. Baby Jesus only got three gifts. You think you are better than baby Jesus?"
The kids still got stuff from grandparents, cousins, and friends. Christmas was still a crap fest. You know what I mean. After all the dust settles, there is new crap (and a few nice things) everywhere. The kids made each other some very creative gifts out of toilet paper rolls, glue and string (if that helps you imagine what a crap fest looks like).
My hope is that as the years go by, our three gift policy will bring some sanity to the gift giving process and be a lasting tradition that helps us remember the extravagance of the Gift that was given to all of us.
It just hit me like a ton of bricks. I can buy stuff next month on sale and by then I may not want it anyway. I don't have to go out and get all the other kids one more stupid gift that they will never play with just because Jonathan has eight gifts and they only have seven.
What freedom! What euphoria! No more Christmas Eve shopping!
The number that we decided on was 3. Thats right. Just three things to open on Christmas morning. Thats 15 presents under the tree. Thats IT. No more.... well maybe something little in the stocking..... but thats IT.
One of the kids wanted a go-cart. Lets wait til' spring! Why spend all our $$$ in December? One kid wanted a transforming monster thingy that slimed. " Are you SURE thats in your top 3?" mu-hah-hah-hah (I laughed silently because I HATE those things....)
Another kid complains. "Only three gifts? awwww man."
"That's right. Three gifts. Baby Jesus only got three gifts. You think you are better than baby Jesus?"
The kids still got stuff from grandparents, cousins, and friends. Christmas was still a crap fest. You know what I mean. After all the dust settles, there is new crap (and a few nice things) everywhere. The kids made each other some very creative gifts out of toilet paper rolls, glue and string (if that helps you imagine what a crap fest looks like).
My hope is that as the years go by, our three gift policy will bring some sanity to the gift giving process and be a lasting tradition that helps us remember the extravagance of the Gift that was given to all of us.
No Greater Joy
It gives me great joy to see my children walking in truth and speaking truth to one another.
Imagine my thrill when I overheard my precious 9 year old call out to his younger brother. "Hey, I want to share a scripture with you!"
It was such a proud parent moment.
The precious 9 yr old had been reading his one-year Bible faithfully as a part of his daily homeschool routine. Finally, I thought, he has begun to internalize the timeless truths of God's Word. As the Holy Spirit spoke through the written word, my son must have been so overwhelmed with the power, the majesty, the beauty of God's Word that he just couldn't contain himself. His only response was to worship God and proclaim the word to his little brother.
I listened intently from the other room.
"Listen to this," says precious. "Make her drunk, for she has defied the Lord. Let Moab wallow in her vomit;" (Jer 48:26)
Hysterical laughter from the other room. They are literally rolling on the floor.
Sigh.
Who needs "Captain Underpants" when you have the Holy Word of God.
Evelyn HATES Captain Underpants. I mean REALLY hates.
Imagine my thrill when I overheard my precious 9 year old call out to his younger brother. "Hey, I want to share a scripture with you!"
It was such a proud parent moment.
The precious 9 yr old had been reading his one-year Bible faithfully as a part of his daily homeschool routine. Finally, I thought, he has begun to internalize the timeless truths of God's Word. As the Holy Spirit spoke through the written word, my son must have been so overwhelmed with the power, the majesty, the beauty of God's Word that he just couldn't contain himself. His only response was to worship God and proclaim the word to his little brother.
I listened intently from the other room.
"Listen to this," says precious. "Make her drunk, for she has defied the Lord. Let Moab wallow in her vomit;" (Jer 48:26)
Hysterical laughter from the other room. They are literally rolling on the floor.
Sigh.
Who needs "Captain Underpants" when you have the Holy Word of God.
Evelyn HATES Captain Underpants. I mean REALLY hates.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
The storm surge
The calm eye of the storm passed as the final guest left the house.
It was so hard to leave Tallahassee. The funeral was only yesterday.
I loaded Evelyn and all the kids in the van and I went back into Howard and Shannon's house one more time. As I did the final sweep, I couldn't resist sitting at the beautiful piano. I played an old Dolly Parton / Whitney Houston song - "bittersweet... memories..." The words of the song were echoing in my mind... "I will always love you..." as I sat there under a portrait of Howard and his family.
I cried a few of tears thinking about my family. I thought about my grandmothers and other relatives who could welcome my baby Grace into heaven. They could tell her stories about her daddy when he was a little baby like her. Then they could tell her stories about "little boy Barry." That would be sweet.
Then I thought about Howard. Howard is there too. Howard left a wife, a little girl and a baby girl.
As I looked at Howard's portrait, I just wished with all of my heart that he could be there with my relatives to welcome baby Grace into heaven.
Something about him having a little girl to hold and my little girl having a daddy to hold her... something about that just really got to me. I sat at the piano and cried buckets and buckets of tears. After all our family had been through, I finally had my weeping and wailing moment there in the privacy of Howard's living room.
I hoped Howard would hug Grace and tell her that he was a friend of her daddy. I hoped he would sit her on his knee and tell her stories about her daddy coming over to the house and playing the guitar and leading Bible studies. "I sat in your Daddy's Sunday School class and we argued about what the Bible meant." Now Howard knows who (if either of us) was right. I will have to wait.
Howard could tell Grace all kinds of stories about her mommy too. They grew up together. He could tell Grace what a beautiful, kind, godly woman her mother was.
I hoped Howard would also tell Grace all the stories that he never got to tell his little girls.
I cried some more. Bucketfuls. More wailing and weeping. I don't know if it was for Howard or for Grace, but I loved them both.
As I close the door for the final time, Whitney and Dolly are in my head... I will always love you ooooo I uh I.... will always love you....
It was so hard to leave Tallahassee. The funeral was only yesterday.
I loaded Evelyn and all the kids in the van and I went back into Howard and Shannon's house one more time. As I did the final sweep, I couldn't resist sitting at the beautiful piano. I played an old Dolly Parton / Whitney Houston song - "bittersweet... memories..." The words of the song were echoing in my mind... "I will always love you..." as I sat there under a portrait of Howard and his family.
I cried a few of tears thinking about my family. I thought about my grandmothers and other relatives who could welcome my baby Grace into heaven. They could tell her stories about her daddy when he was a little baby like her. Then they could tell her stories about "little boy Barry." That would be sweet.
Then I thought about Howard. Howard is there too. Howard left a wife, a little girl and a baby girl.
As I looked at Howard's portrait, I just wished with all of my heart that he could be there with my relatives to welcome baby Grace into heaven.
Something about him having a little girl to hold and my little girl having a daddy to hold her... something about that just really got to me. I sat at the piano and cried buckets and buckets of tears. After all our family had been through, I finally had my weeping and wailing moment there in the privacy of Howard's living room.
I hoped Howard would hug Grace and tell her that he was a friend of her daddy. I hoped he would sit her on his knee and tell her stories about her daddy coming over to the house and playing the guitar and leading Bible studies. "I sat in your Daddy's Sunday School class and we argued about what the Bible meant." Now Howard knows who (if either of us) was right. I will have to wait.
Howard could tell Grace all kinds of stories about her mommy too. They grew up together. He could tell Grace what a beautiful, kind, godly woman her mother was.
I hoped Howard would also tell Grace all the stories that he never got to tell his little girls.
I cried some more. Bucketfuls. More wailing and weeping. I don't know if it was for Howard or for Grace, but I loved them both.
As I close the door for the final time, Whitney and Dolly are in my head... I will always love you ooooo I uh I.... will always love you....
God's Grace
A Service For Grace Marchman
Welcome: Rev. Marty Smith
Song: Lisa Mitchel, Come to Jesus
Testimony: Barry Marchman (Father)
We knew the storm was coming. It was as if we could hear the distant rumblings and see the lightning flashing across the horizon. We knew it could be bad.
Like the leper in the Gospels crying out to Jesus, we cried, “God if you are willing, you can deliver us from this storm!” We hoped he would say, as he said to the leper, “I am willing.”
He did not.
As the weeks went on, the clouds got thicker and more ominous with each visit to the doctor. At first it was just a cleft lip and palate, then a whole host of problems. The storm was definitely coming.
We thought of Jesus praying in the garden the night before his crucifixion. His storm was coming. “God, if there is any other way, please let this cup pass from us.”
He did not.
“Yet not what I will, but thy will be done.”
The storm was coming. When we moved to
He did not.
The doctor suggested that we terminate the pregnancy.
We did not.
We felt that it would be a much harder pain than the pain we now bear. We felt the most God honoring “choice” was to give her every chance at life. What if she was one of the 2% that could survive? We had to give her a chance.
The storm was coming.
We thought of Paul as he was being tormented. He cried out to God, “Please remove this thorn in the flesh.”
He did not.
“My grace is sufficient for thee, Paul.”
“My grace is sufficient for thee, Barry, Evelyn.”
“My grace is sufficient for thee.”
One more ultrasound. The storm clouds darkened. The rumblings grew louder as the dreaded day came. We still prayed… “God if you are willing…”
My grace is sufficient for thee.
“God you can heal her.”
My grace is sufficient for thee.
When the storm hit, it came crashing like a category 5 hurricane.
Evelyn’s water broke a little after midnight on Christmas Eve. Her contractions were close together. It was time to go. The neighbor did not answer her phone. We made another call, then another. The 20-year old son of one of our dear friends was just down the road. We had to leave. I woke up Jonathan (9) and told him to wait by the door until Michael got there. We were scared to leave, but we HAD to go. Jonathan was brave. As we were pulling out of the driveway, Michael arrived. Jonathan did not have to be brave and we did not have to worry. God’s grace was sufficient for us.
The cord was cut and Grace did not cry. She had no heartbeat and she was not breathing. She was given CPR and she finally responded. She was stabilized and taken to the newborn ICU. The doctors confirmed what we had seen in the ultrasounds. Her body was not able to function on its own. The storm was raging, but God’s grace was sufficient for us.
Evelyn’s heart’s desire was to be able to hold her baby – if only for a few minutes. Her desire was met abundantly more than she could imagine. All five children and one set of grand parents were able to meet little Grace. The children were allowed to spend as much time as they wished loving on her – they rubbed her little head, poked her little toes and talked so sweetly to her.
After they left, we had a photographer come and take pictures of us holding Grace. We knew that we did not have much time. Just as the umbilical cord shrivels at birth, there is also a passage in the heart that shrivels at birth. The doctor had told us that when this passage was closed, that no amount of oxygen could sustain her. This little passage was doing the job of her missing artery and allowing her a few precious hours of life.
After the pictures, Evelyn and I went back to our room with Grace and held her and cuddled her as her heart beat got slower and slower. We were so thrilled that she could respond to our voices and to our touch. We showered her with our kisses and our tears. As we held her, the storm raged. God had given us Grace and his grace was sufficient for us.
The doctor come in one more time and listened for a heart beat. Silence. Grace had slipped away. The storm was raging, it was tearing at our hearts, but God’s grace was sufficient for us.
We held her for quite a while, but soon realized that our little girl was not with us. We squeezed and held her broken earth suit as if she were still in it ---- but of course she was not. It was like the many times that I have found a little one-zee in a drawer and picked it up and squeezed it as if one of our babies were still it - letting the happy memories bask over me while holding the empty shell. It was the same way with Grace. We held her empty shell and wept. We clung to each other – and to grace - and we finally gave our little girl to the nurse to take away. But really she had already flown away. The storm in our heart was intense and painful. We took comfort in the fact that her Grandmother Joyce, Grandmother Brown, Grandmother Marchman, Grandmother Kitty, Pappa and so many others were there to greet her and welcome her in to the arms of Jesus. She was now God’s Grace.
As we gather together today, we are in the calm eye of the storm. The joy and peace of being surrounded by those that love and care for us gives us great comfort. Thank you so much for your presence today. Your outpouring of love means so much to us. Thank you. We feel your love and we are blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. One of the worst parts about moving from
We are so blessed to be a part of the body of Christ where total strangers to us – people we have only known for six weeks or so have taken such good care of us. As soon as we moved, we met several families – all in the same Sunday School class that have walked this same path. It was a miraculous coincidence – the hand of God moving in and around our lives. He continues express His grace to us through this precious group of believers. In first John, we are told that we can identify the true Christians by their love for one another. We were so pleased to report that the body of Christ – the sweet love and fellowship between believers - can be found outside our precious circle of friends here. Our God is a big God and we have found that he can love you where you are. His grace finds you - and it is sufficient.
We are not angry at God. Quite the opposite is true. Our faith has been strengthened through this trial. We have been overwhelmed by his grace and the love of his children each step of the way.
We know that this is just the eye of the storm. In the days ahead, there will be more grief...and more grace.
We covet your prayers for our family.
We take comfort in these passages:
Is 55: Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace:
1 Samuel 3:18 (Eli says upon hearing that his sons would die): “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”
Rom 8:28 All things work together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Others…..
Thank your for being here today to celebrate with us the life of our little Grace.
Our faith and our peace is that
From this day and forever more she will be.... God’s Grace.
Song: Lisa Mitchel (softly)
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
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