The trees are nearly bare. The wind sweeps the fallen leaves into piles against the curb and playfully nips at the faces of students making their way from building to building; they are bundled against the weather, their eyes and red noses peeping from their layers of clothing, their arms tightly guarding themselves from the draught. Scattered snowflakes have fallen upon the campus over the past 15 hours, though not enough to stay.
In a week is Thanksgiving break, and I'll be going up to my PA grandparents' for the week. And in a month (give or take a couple days), after a pile of papers and reading and exams (which I'll manage by the grace of God), the semester will be over and I'll be home for Christmas. I'm looking forward to it--to seeing family and friends and once again being home on the Nebraskan plains...to standing in a field blanketed in fresh, virgin snow, a full moon washing it in luminescence, its rays refracted by the ice on the branches of trees.
We've begun to play Christmas music in my wing. :-)
Go check out the Myspace page of the Mountainaires, a North Carolina group of homeschooled guys who play a mix of traditional bluegrass/Celtic/Appalachian music. Two of their members are here at Patrick Henry College (one of them attends the same church as I). They just released their second album, a Christmas album, and I'd highly recommend it.
The Lord be with you all and give you grace; see you soon!
"Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings upon the altar. And the LORD smelled a savor of rest, and the LORD said in His heart, I will henceforth curse the ground no more for man's cause: for the imagination of man's heart is evil, even from his youth: neither will I smite anymore all things living, as I have done. Hereafter seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and Summer and Winter, and day and night shall not cease, so long as the earth remaineth." Genesis 8:20-22
18 November 2008
04 November 2008
"The Most High bears rule over the kingdom of men; He gives it to whomsoever He wills." ~Daniel 4:29
"The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord; He guides it like a river wherever He wills." ~Proverbs 21:1
"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
~1 Timothy 2:1-3
"1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
"The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord; He guides it like a river wherever He wills." ~Proverbs 21:1
"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour."~1 Timothy 2:1-3
"1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."
~Romans 13:1-7
14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."
~1 Peter 2:13-25
10 October 2008
My Poor Neglected Blog
Ought to be updated.
Life has been busy, but alot of fun, too. Between Drama, English Literature Seminar I, Metaphysics, Biology and Lab, and ROTC and Lab, I'm learning alot; the professors are great, and the classmates are thoughtful and fun. We've had alot of good talks in and out of class; there are alot of great, Godly lads here with whom one can just talk or have fun. My wing is pretty much amazing, and very close-knit. And very musical--every one of our 7 rooms has at least one musician. Speaking of music, I'm playing classical guitar with one of the Chapel Guild groups once every two weeks. That's a neat opportunity.
There have been three engagements (and Bobtisms) since I arrived, mostly of seniors. One couple I knew in DL, and I know another pretty well since the guy is also in ROTC and pretty much the head of the ROTC group here on campus. It's been neat to observe the serious relationships here, and compare it to others that I've observed, mostly elsewhere. God bless them all!
Homecoming was alot of fun, and watching both the men's and women's soccer teams has been a great way to release pent-up energy in cheering wildly from the sidelines (I'm hoping to go out next year). Of course, there are also the impromptu wrestling matches here in the dorm and the moments of weekend randomness (hiking, mummy attacks and drain-pipe spelunking come to mind first). So, yes, we're getting a good balance of work and play.
I've also been blessed in finding a good church family here. The folks at Ketoctin Covenant Presbyterian are kind and family-oriented, having the students over on occasion; the messages are solidly Scriptural and Christocentric; the musical worship reverent and lyrically deep. In the Sunday service, we're going through Luke; in Sunday School, we're studying The Christ of the Covenants, a study of the continuity (despite diversity of administration) of the covenants throughout Scripture, and how Christ was the fulfillment of them all and will consummate them upon His return. Inspiring studies!
Life is good...
I'm going to try to post some more (including pictures) sometime over the weekend. Stay tuned!
Life has been busy, but alot of fun, too. Between Drama, English Literature Seminar I, Metaphysics, Biology and Lab, and ROTC and Lab, I'm learning alot; the professors are great, and the classmates are thoughtful and fun. We've had alot of good talks in and out of class; there are alot of great, Godly lads here with whom one can just talk or have fun. My wing is pretty much amazing, and very close-knit. And very musical--every one of our 7 rooms has at least one musician. Speaking of music, I'm playing classical guitar with one of the Chapel Guild groups once every two weeks. That's a neat opportunity.
There have been three engagements (and Bobtisms) since I arrived, mostly of seniors. One couple I knew in DL, and I know another pretty well since the guy is also in ROTC and pretty much the head of the ROTC group here on campus. It's been neat to observe the serious relationships here, and compare it to others that I've observed, mostly elsewhere. God bless them all!
Homecoming was alot of fun, and watching both the men's and women's soccer teams has been a great way to release pent-up energy in cheering wildly from the sidelines (I'm hoping to go out next year). Of course, there are also the impromptu wrestling matches here in the dorm and the moments of weekend randomness (hiking, mummy attacks and drain-pipe spelunking come to mind first). So, yes, we're getting a good balance of work and play.
I've also been blessed in finding a good church family here. The folks at Ketoctin Covenant Presbyterian are kind and family-oriented, having the students over on occasion; the messages are solidly Scriptural and Christocentric; the musical worship reverent and lyrically deep. In the Sunday service, we're going through Luke; in Sunday School, we're studying The Christ of the Covenants, a study of the continuity (despite diversity of administration) of the covenants throughout Scripture, and how Christ was the fulfillment of them all and will consummate them upon His return. Inspiring studies!
Life is good...
I'm going to try to post some more (including pictures) sometime over the weekend. Stay tuned!
11 September 2008
Do Not Forget
7 years ago, in a loss of civilian life numerically greater than the military losses at Pearl Harbor, America was assaulted in the name of radical Islam. In hatred of the freedom we have, in hatred of our Christianity (and our secularism), Islamic terrorists murdered nearly 3,000 men and women in New York City and Washington, D. C.
I still remember my grandmother calling my mom in the middle of the school day and telling her to turn on the TV; my mom and I together watched the second plane fly into the World Trade Center. And we watched them collapse in flame and flying debris.
The result was a deep-rooted anger which, God, in His merciful grace, has since rooted out of my heart--a story in itself--and replaced with a more deeply seated desire to protect my family and friends and country from another such occurrence.
On campus today, the security officers lowered the flag to half-staff, and we had a time of silence. Silence in remembrance of those who died in a raging inferno without the opportunity for peace. Silence for those who have died without murmur, without complaint, in the mountains of Afghanistan and on the streets of Iraq, to preserve peace and freedom for their own. And, for me, and a number of others here, a silent resolve to carry on that work, that our loved ones may live and die in peace.
Do not forget the hands that died reaching for life, nor those hands that fell while giving life...do not abandon them to the silence of the grave. We cannot give life to the honored dead, but we can ensure they did not die in vain, by our remembrance, and a commitment to live worthily of their sacrifice. May those who have gone before us rest in peace.
PSALM 94
1 O Lord God the avenger, O God the avenger,
show thyself clearly.
2 Exalt thyself, O Judge of the world, and render
a reward to the proud.
3 Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall
the wicked triumph?
4 They prate and speak fiercely: all the workers
of iniquity vaunt themselves.
5 They smite down thy people, O Lord, and
trouble thine heritage.
6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and
murder the fatherless.
7 Yet they say, The Lord shall not see: neither
will the God of Jacob regard it.
8 Understand, ye unwise among the people: and
ye fools, when will ye be wise?
9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? or
he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10 Or he that chastiseth the nations, shall he
not correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall
he not know?
11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that
they are vanity.
12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastisest, O
Lord, and teachest him in thy Law,
13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days
of evil, while the pit is dug for the wicked.
14 Surely the Lord will not fail his people, neither
will he forsake his inheritance.
15 For judgment shall return to justice, and all
the upright in heart shall follow after it.
16 Who will rise up with me against the wicked?
or who will take my part against the workers of
iniquity?
17 If the Lord had not helped me, my soul had
almost dwelt in silence.
18 When I said, My foot slideth, thy mercy, O
Lord, stayed me.
19 In the multitude of my thoughts in mine heart,
thy comforts have rejoiced my soul.
20 Hath the throne of iniquity fellowship with
thee, which forgeth wrong for a Law?
21 They gather them together against the soul of
the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
22 But the Lord is my refuge, and my God is the
rock of mine hope.
23 And he will recompense them their wickedness,
and destroy them in their own malice, yea, the Lord
our God shall destroy them.
I still remember my grandmother calling my mom in the middle of the school day and telling her to turn on the TV; my mom and I together watched the second plane fly into the World Trade Center. And we watched them collapse in flame and flying debris.
The result was a deep-rooted anger which, God, in His merciful grace, has since rooted out of my heart--a story in itself--and replaced with a more deeply seated desire to protect my family and friends and country from another such occurrence.
On campus today, the security officers lowered the flag to half-staff, and we had a time of silence. Silence in remembrance of those who died in a raging inferno without the opportunity for peace. Silence for those who have died without murmur, without complaint, in the mountains of Afghanistan and on the streets of Iraq, to preserve peace and freedom for their own. And, for me, and a number of others here, a silent resolve to carry on that work, that our loved ones may live and die in peace.
Do not forget the hands that died reaching for life, nor those hands that fell while giving life...do not abandon them to the silence of the grave. We cannot give life to the honored dead, but we can ensure they did not die in vain, by our remembrance, and a commitment to live worthily of their sacrifice. May those who have gone before us rest in peace.
PSALM 94
1 O Lord God the avenger, O God the avenger,
show thyself clearly.
2 Exalt thyself, O Judge of the world, and render
a reward to the proud.
3 Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall
the wicked triumph?
4 They prate and speak fiercely: all the workers
of iniquity vaunt themselves.
5 They smite down thy people, O Lord, and
trouble thine heritage.
6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and
murder the fatherless.
7 Yet they say, The Lord shall not see: neither
will the God of Jacob regard it.
8 Understand, ye unwise among the people: and
ye fools, when will ye be wise?
9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? or
he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10 Or he that chastiseth the nations, shall he
not correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall
he not know?
11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that
they are vanity.
12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastisest, O
Lord, and teachest him in thy Law,
13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days
of evil, while the pit is dug for the wicked.
14 Surely the Lord will not fail his people, neither
will he forsake his inheritance.
15 For judgment shall return to justice, and all
the upright in heart shall follow after it.
16 Who will rise up with me against the wicked?
or who will take my part against the workers of
iniquity?
17 If the Lord had not helped me, my soul had
almost dwelt in silence.
18 When I said, My foot slideth, thy mercy, O
Lord, stayed me.
19 In the multitude of my thoughts in mine heart,
thy comforts have rejoiced my soul.
20 Hath the throne of iniquity fellowship with
thee, which forgeth wrong for a Law?
21 They gather them together against the soul of
the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
22 But the Lord is my refuge, and my God is the
rock of mine hope.
23 And he will recompense them their wickedness,
and destroy them in their own malice, yea, the Lord
our God shall destroy them.
26 July 2008
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