Jesus, in Matthew 22:44, quotes Psalm 110:1: The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet. John Calvin’s stated the following regarding Jesus’ words.
“The LORD said to my Lord. Here the Holy Spirit puts into the mouth of all the godly a song triumph, that they may boldly defy Satan and all the ungodly, and mock at their rage, when they endeavor to drive Christ from his throne. That they may not hesitate or tremble, when they perceive great emotions produced in the earth, they are commanded to place the holy and inviolable decree of God in opposition to all the exertions of adversaries. The meaning therefore is: whatever may be the madness of men, all that that they shall dare to contrive will be of no avail for destroying the kingdom of Christ, which has been set up, not by the will of men, but by the appointment of God, and therefore is supported by everlasting strength. Whenever this kingdom is violently attacked, let us call to remembrance this revelation from heaven; for undoubtedly this promise was put into the hand of Christ, that every believer may apply it to his own use. But God never changes or deceives, so as to retract what has once gone out of his mouth.
“Sit at my right hand. This phrase is used metaphorically for the second or next rank, which is occupied by God’s deputy. And therefore it signifies, to hold the highest government and power in the name of God, as we know that God has committed his authority to his only-begotten Son, so as to govern his Church by his agency. This mode of expression, therefore, does not denote any particular place, but, on the contrary, embraces heaven and earth under the government of Christ. And God declares that Christ will sit till his enemies be subdued, in order to inform us that his kingdom will remain invincible against every attack; not that, when his enemies have been subdued, he will be deprived of the power which had been granted to him, but that, while the whole multitude of his enemies shall be laid low, his power will remain forever unimpaired. In the meantime, it points out that condition of his kingdom which we perceive in the present day, that we may not be uneasy when we see it attacked on all sides.” –Commentaries, vol. 17, 69-70.
On Tuesday August 7th, a five-month old boy, Joel Gray, tragically died in the Nashville area. I can only begin to imagine the guilt and grief that the parents feel, given the gut-wrenching circumstances surrounding Joel’s death, and how hard it must be for them. I pray that, in ways beyond our understanding, the Lord will bring them a measure of peace. Joel was the youngest of four.
On Friday night, a few days later, Deborah and I were in our basement with our four children. We had come inside, after enjoying the unseasonably cooler temperatures and breeze of an August evening, to be treated to a makeshift play by our two oldest boys (8 and 7 years of age). Deborah was sitting on the floor with her back against a toy box/bench, with Noah (7 months old) on her right. He had his binker and a sizable stuffed animal to keep him occupied. I took a seat on the bench to Deborah’s left. The boys attempted to recruit their two-year-old sister for her part as the princess, and she was initially willing, but then when they turned the lights off to imitate a dark theater, she protested and eventually came and sat with Daddy. After about two scenes, which maybe took five or so minutes, it became clear the play needed a bit more planning, and maybe even a script, so I encouraged the boys to put a little more thought into it, and then present it to us again. It was time to get ready for bed and read anyway, so bringing the production to a halt was not a great tragedy.
What happened next I will never forget, and it is hard to describe how slowly time moved, and yet how quickly things happened, and how many thoughts raced through my head. I looked down, hearing Deborah cry out, as she lifted up Noah who was obviously choking. She raised him, arms up, thinking this would help and he would catch his breath again. A few seconds went by, but he was still choking, and his coughing became more restricted. His face reddened deeply and his body went limp. I moved down to the floor, and whether I took Noah from Deborah or she handed him to me I do not know. She was panicked, and, by now, Noah had even stopped coughing. In a flash, the reality of my son dying in my arms was tangible, and I knew the ambulance would never arrive in time. Thankfully, I remembered some of the training I had received years ago, and positioned Noah on his stomach on my left hand with his head pointing down. With my right hand I struck him on his back a few times, and, as I was doing so, remembered “finger sweep.” Deborah had dropped to her knees in front of me in silent and desperate prayer. Noah’s airway still seemed blocked. I sat him up, and reached my left index finger as far back into his throat as I could. Honestly, I do not know if I touched anything or not, but Deborah immediately recognized Noah was breathing again. He coughed a little, was drenched in sweat, and melted into his mother’s embrace. Shaking, sweating, still in the shock of the moment, eyes welling with tears, we thanked the Lord for sparing Noah’s life. As Deborah rocked him in her arms, he gurgled a bit, and soon was smiling as usual. I imagine the whole ordeal lasted all of sixty seconds. Maybe more, maybe less, but the fragility of life was so pronounced, so visible, so real. Death was so close, so very close, and was mercifully turned away just in time.
The Lord saved Noah’s life. I do not doubt that for a moment, and continue to be deeply grateful that He did. Deborah and I conversed and reflected later, trying to piece things together. We have absolutely no idea what Noah choked on. When Deborah set him down she did not see anything else there but the two items she gave him. And we were both right there next to him, and yet how perilously close Death came! The Lord who gives breath (Genesis 2:7; Acts 17:25) gave Noah breath again. Such moments compel faith to engage in self-examination; to be thankful; to seek the Lord’s face in prayer that He might use such moments to instruct and deepen faith. Moses prayed in Psalm 90:12: “teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” In Ecclesiastes, Solomon compares life in this world to a mere vapor, and throughout the Scriptures life is compared to a breath. I know that truth more profoundly now.
This past Tuesday, August 14th, Ford Tucker, the eighteen-year old son of CREC pastor Tim Tucker, was instantly killed in a highway collision. Ford’s trust was in Christ, and his father has faithfully expressed their grief in their loss, and and also their hope of the resurrection. How suddenly and jarringly did Death intrude! The lives of the Gray and Tucker families have been inexorably changed. I believe ours have as well, though in different measure. I cannot begin to fathom God’s ways in taking a five-month old boy on a Tuesday, but sparing a seven-month old on a Friday, or why one pastor’s son is spared, and another’s is translated into glory. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God” (Deuteronomy 29:29a). “But He is the unique one, and who can turn Him back? What He desires, that He does” (Job 23:13).
Saturday morning as Noah lay in our bed, and the morning sun was creeping around the edges of the curtains, I watched his stomach rise and fall, and listened to the steady sound of his rhythmic breathing…wonders to see and hear. A short while later, to feel his little hands grabbing my beard and nose, to see his bright smile, and hear the sounds of his grunts and laughter… gifts beyond measure.
I mourn with the Grays and the Tuckers, and pray that the God of all comfort will hold them fast. And taking a deep breath I am left to ponder the mystery and perplexity, and humbly confess, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).
In reading Flannery O’Connor this summer in conjunction with an ongoing reading and discussion over on Jonathan Roger’s blog, I came across this especially poignant passage from The Artificial Nigger. Of course, it has more impact within the greater context of the story, but makes a certain impression in its own right, too.
Mr. Head stood very still and felt the action of mercy touch him again but this time he knew there were no words in the world that could name it. He understood that it grew out of agony, which is not denied to any man and which is given in strange ways to children. He understood it was all a man could carry into death to give his Maker and he suddenly burned with shame that he had so little of it to take with him. He stood appalled, judging himself with the thoroughness of God, while the action of mercy covered his pride like a flame and consumed it. He had never thought himself a great sinner before but he saw now that his true depravity had been hidden from him lest it cause him despair. He realized that he was forgiven for sins from the beginning of time, when he had conceived in his own heart the sin of Adam, until the present, when he had denied poor Nelson. He saw that no sin was too monstrous for him to claim as his own, and since God loved in proportion as He forgave, he felt ready at that instant to enter Paradise.
I had a mix of expectations when going to see Pixar’s newest film, Brave, this afternoon with my wife and oldest boys. An original story featuring a heroine was intriguing to me, given that Pixar had not done so to date, and to set it in Scotland looked even better. I stayed away from reviews that began to pop up at the end of last week, and tried to ignore Facebook statuses that might give something away. Still, sometimes one can’t help but hear murmurs, and what was coming back to me was that Brave‘s story was not as strong as some of Pixar’s past endeavors. I think that is a fair assessment. Now, this is not to say that Brave isn’t a good movie, because it is. Nor am I saying you shouldn’t see it, because I still recommend it. However, the captivating sense of the stories that you have in Toy Story 1, 2 or 3, The Incredibles, Up, or Wall-E (which are my favorite Pixar films, so I am admitting by bias) is missing with Brave. Maybe another way of saying it: this Pixar movie didn’t quite feel like a Pixar movie. It was missing that certain quality (a point Deborah readily made after the movie was over) that drew us to the first Pixar movies, and left us eager for more. I wanted that experience with Brave, but it just didn’t deliver. I don’t think anyone expected Cars 2 to be be amazing, and it wasn’t. It was entertaining, but not profound. So perhaps my expectations were too high, and Pixar’s past successes have set a standard that now makes it difficult for them to match. However, they’ve done it in the past, so why not again? I wanted Brave to be added to that list of favorites. I wanted to love the story, and from the beginning I thought I would, but pretty soon the mother-daughter conflict, paired with the sympathetic but bafoonish father caused me to think that this was just another telling of one of Hollywood’s usual mantras that they’ve been trying to cram down our throats for years. However, to its credit, Brave takes some unexpected twists and turns, and while the movie itself tries to tell you that it is about being brave enough to change your fate and destiny (blah blah blah), I think the story has a deeper point. The story is really about being brave enough to accept responsibility for your words and your actions, and the consequences they can bring. Brave makes that point profoundly, and is what really makes the movie. The animation is superb, particularly the impressive attention to detail given to Merida’s hair. That sounds almost funny to say, but it genuinely adds a certain visual richness and texture to the movie. Also, there’s an overhead shot of a ruined castle by the sea that will momentarily have you believing you are seeing footage of a real place. I laughed a lot, especially in the early going, and the movie ends on a strong note. Go and see it, and then let me know what you think.
I suppose it has been a busy couple of years, which can partly explain why I haven’t taken the time to post some of the stories we’ve discovered or particularly enjoy reading – or more correctly, the stories the children want to hear. So here are two that stand out in particular of late. The Seven Silly Eaters, written by Mary Ann Hoberman, and illustrated by Marla Frazee.
The story is inventive and rhythmic, and fun to read, and any mother will quickly relate to Mrs. Peters’ predicament – or at least the sense of it. But what we’ve come to especially enjoy are the beautifully drawn and detailed illustrations. (In fact, Marla Freeze’s work was so impressive, that it sent Deborah looking for more of her work). While the drawings reflect the written story, they also deepen the story with artful details, so be sure to take the time to carefully study the illustrations. We seem to pick up a new bit here and there with every reading.
Another story that has received numerous readings over the last couple of weeks is How to be a Baby By Me the Big Sister, written by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Sue Heap.
Clever and witty, you will laugh out loud as the big sister informs her baby brother about what his life entails, and how hers contrasts by comparison. Viewing ordinary activities (such as eating, bathing, and riding in a car) through the eyes of the big sister proves to be a humorous endeavor. The colorful illustrations are bright and simple, another charming quality of the story, and be sure to keep an eye on the baby’s animal friends.
“HIGHLY ENTERTAINING.” That’s about the best way to describe The Avengers. Go see it on the big screen, and you will be glad that you did. While I would not say it is the best comic book movie I have ever seen (The Dark Night still holds that spot in my mind, and Batman Begins might be second on my list), it was an impressive weaving together of superheroes, featuring their skills and personalities in effective amounts. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of the movie was the witty dialogue, coupled with humorous moments. Certainly we have Joss Whedon (director and screenplay writer) to thank for that. (Remember how much you enjoyed the banter and one-liners in Firefly? The Avengers has some of that feel to it). And, really, that is the sense that a movie like this should have. This is a movie about comic book characters, after all, so there should inherently be an element of fun to it, and Whedon accomplishes that. The special effects and fight scenes are over the top in the right way for a movie featuring superheroes, gods, and humans with ridiculous skills. Again, go see the movie and ENJOY it.
SPOILER ALERT: Having unhesitatingly recommended the movie, here are a few ways in which I think it is lacking. First, if you haven’t seen the previous Marvel movies associated with the characters, especially Captain America or Thor, you’re going to be a little bit lost in the early going. Second, I would have liked a better story, on the whole. Given the source material, Whedon and company did a good job, but the story of John Carter is more intriguing and entertaining. Third, I couldn’t help but think that if they had just knocked off the top of Stark tower that it would have closed the portal. Yeah, I know it’s a comic book movie, etc. and aliens spilling into our world from another dimension is far-fetched to begin with, and maybe my practical solution would not have worked for some other reason, but I got hung up on that for about a minute or so until Iron Man saved the day. And related to this, Thor was a little bit underwhelming in the final fight. Seemed to me that he should have been as effective as Hulk against the giant, flying monster things. Nevertheless, go see it and have a grand time. Scenes and lines will stick with you, and you will ll inevitably talk about them with friends and family that have also seen the movie, which adds another level of fun to it as well. Oh, and Mark Ruffalo was a spot-on choice for Bruce Banner.
Judging by some of the recent headlines, you would be led to think that John Carter is a a great disappointment as a movie; that it is not worth seeing; and that people must be leaving movie theaters all over the United States wishing they could get their money back. Quite the opposite is true. Granted, John Carter is not a “great” movie, but it is a really good movie that is worth your time and money. As the bad press for the movie was emerging, I also started to hear of reports of others really liking the movie, particularly from those whose opinion I respect. That piqued my interest all the more. (Although I did not read this until after seeing the movie, Pete Peterson’s review over on The Rabbit Room is definitely worth the time, and makes the point far better than I will here as to why you should see John Carter.) Having watched all five seasons of the TV series, Friday Night Lights, I was interested to see how “Riggins” (Taylor Kitsch) performed in a feature film as the lead character, John Carter. I thought he did well, and was a good fit for the character. The lead female role of Dejah Thoris was played by Lynn Collins, who I was completely unfamiliar with, and I found her character quite interesting. It is not every day that you get a brilliant scientist- fierce warrior-beautiful princess all rolled into one! Sure there a few weak spots, but come on, it’s a movie, and the strengths of the movie outweigh them. There’s actually a story that gets developed and has some interesting characters, and you have to actually pay attention. Sure, there are some predictable spots, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, and then there are other times when you are left guessing up until the last second. You might guess correctly, and other times you might be surprised. I loved the ending, and there was a scene in the middle of the movie that was one of the most powerful sixty or so seconds that I can remember in some time. When John Carter comes out on DVD I will definitely buy it, but hopefully will get another chance to see it on the big screen before then.
Finally got around to watching Hugo. On the whole, I liked it. Beautiful visually; well-acted; and actually had some character development. However, I thought it dragged somewhat, especially the first hour, so I wasn’t as engrossed by the film as I might have hoped or was even willing to be. This is a strange way to put this, but the parts of the movie that I liked I really liked. They made an impression. They made me pause and reflect, and I was drawn into the story. However, I don’t think these moments are enough to make this a great movie. Also, bear in mind, this is not really a “children’s” movie, despite how it is/was marketed. Yes, children are central characters, and there’s an element of adventure involved that is appealing to children, but don’t expect a movie along the lines of a Nanny McPhee. This “film” is much more serious. It has been interesting to see the varying reviews for Hugo, especially among friends and acquaintances, and the opinions have been rather polarized. People either think it is long and uninteresting or they love it. I suppose I land somewhere in between, and might be willing to watch it again. There’s nothing overtly objectionable in the content, and I will let my kids watch it, but won’t be surprised if they become disinterested in the early going.
A couple of weeks ago I was thinking about the relationship between obedience and trust. When my children obey the commands that they are given, I am all the more inclined to trust them. When they do not obey, that develops a certain level of distrust. Of course, we want to be able to trust our children, and it is important for them to learn to obey and develop that trust because it leads to greater maturity. As my children learn to obey and prove their trustworthiness, then I am necessarily going to entrust them with greater responsibilities, which inevitably leads to greater freedom. That might seem counter-intuitive at first, and to our sinful natures that is certainly the case. What child isn’t inclined to grab after freedom at the expense of responsibility? Surely adults have made the same error or committed the same sin in their Christian lives. Essentially, it is the sin of the garden all over again: grasping at something before the proper time. Nevertheless, in God’s economy obedience engenders trust, which leads to freedom, which is the fruit of maturity. Coming to a greater understanding of this reality and enabling our children to understand it is ever a challenge, but necessary for their growth in grace, and ours as well. The principle holds true between our Heavenly Father and us. As we obey, as we show ourselves to be faithful in what He has for us it will inevitably lead to Him entrusting us with more. While that might seem daunting from one perspective, maturity is the goal, even growing up to the “mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). So as we reflect on helping our children grasp these principles of obedience, trust, and freedom, let us also reflect on them as they relate to our relationship with our Father in Heaven; giving ourselves to glad obedience, even as patterned in Christ, the Mature Man.
“Who is this who was born in Bethlehem and now is steadfastly headed for Jerusalem? This is the one who by being crucified and raised will fulfill all that the scriptures have promised. Before the curtain goes up on the action of a dramatic opera, the orchestra plays an overture that hints at the musical themes to follow; so just before the opening of Lent, the transfiguration presents subtle clues to the content of the Forty Days of Devotion and Discipline and the Great Fifty Days of rejoicing that follow.” – Laurence Hull Stookey, Calendar: Christ’s Time for the Church, 137.
Remarks regarding Daniel 4: “The Church must seek to be Belteshazzars, men who have the ear of the secular rulers and are ready to help them. But they must speak as Daniels, bringing the Bible and the God of the Bible, and nothing less than these, not vague principles, before the minds of such rulers, however uncomfortable it may make the ruler.” – James B. Jordan (The Handwriting on the Wall: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel, 247)
February 2, the fortieth day of the nativity, commemorates the presentation of Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:22-40) in accord with the legislation of Leviticus 12:2-8 concerning the firstborn male. Central to this occasion are the two great worthies, Simeon and Anna, whose patient faith is rewarded by great joy. The attribution of Simeon that Jesus shall be a light for revelation to the Gentiles inspired the custom of having a ceremony of candles at the Mass on this day; candles to be used through the next year were blessed on this occasion, and the faithful were given lighted candles, in token of the light of Christ. Hence the observance has been called ‘Candlemas.’
That the day is commonly known as ‘Groundhog Day’ is more than a source of amusement; it is something of a testimony to the enduring power of superstition even among those who say Christ is their light. News reporters, who have no clue to what the Presentation of Jesus is about, rush to see a furry rodent emerge from hibernation as a presumed omen concerning when winter will end. May this be an indicator of the great difficulty with which the Great Exchange comes into our lives?
– Laurence Hull Stookey, Calendar: Christ’s Time for the Church
