Archive for August, 2009
10 Years
On August 14th Sandy and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. When we first met Sandy was attending Eastern Kentucky University working on a master’s degree in clinical psychology. Many weekends we would meet in Cincinnati which was halfway between EKU and my home in West Alexandria, Ohio. During those early days of our relationship we spent a lot of time in Eden Park sitting on a bench and talking while overlooking the Ohio River and Cincinnati.
Ten years and two kids later we found ourselves sitting on a bench in Hastings, New York overlooking the Hudson River with New York City in the distance. A lot of water has passed under the George Washington Bridge since we first met and our lives have changed in so many ways.
The flow of a river and its characteristics make for an interesting metaphor on marriage, e.g. comparing a “young” river near the source that tends to be more turbulent to a “mature” river that works its way around obstacles, etc. However I’m not feeling introspective enough to make the personal application of this metaphor.
Instead I’ll just leave it to the fact that there is no one I would rather experience life with, even the simple pleasure of sitting on a hill watching the sunset on the Hudson, than Sandy. She is the most incredible person I know and I thank the Lord she is my wife. I look forward to the adventures and experiences we will share down the river’s bend.
“Drink waters out of thin own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.” – Proverbs 5:15-18
Surprise!
Isaiah turned 7 years old on August 23rd. We thought his birthday might be difficult for him this year since we were in New England the entire month and he would be away from his grandma and grandpa, cousins and friends. He has mentioned them nearly everyday that we have been gone from home.
My parents decided to surprise Isaiah by driving from their home in southern Ohio to the prophet’s chamber we were staying at in Massachusetts over his birthday weekend. We spent Saturday in Plymouth and then returned to the prophet’s chamber in western Mass for some cake and presents. Sunday we had meetings in northern Mass and New Hampshire. Monday we spent several hours at the Shaker Village in New Hampshire. My parents left Monday evening after dinner for home. Isaiah enjoyed spending the time with his grandparents.
As we waved goodbye I realized that this will be one of the last birthdays Isaiah spends with his grandparents. We hope to be in Italy late next year (Lord willing) and then who knows when we will be home on furlough at a time that coincides with his birthday. My parents both battle blood clots so a flight across the Atlantic could be problematic for them.
When in Italy we plan on communicating to family through the internet and of course often by phone but being away from family and friends on special occasions is just one way how the Lord’s call on my life will affect my family. Of course there are innumerable blessings resulting from His call as well, including new friends and “family” awaiting us in Italy.
“And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” – Matthew 19:29
New York, New York
We stayed at a prophet’s chamber in Yonkers for a little over two weeks. Since New York City was only 20 miles south of Yonkers we decided to check it out. We spent a couple hours one day driving through Manhattan – which was quite an experience, especially in a Ford Excursion. We saw the Statue of Liberty, the site of the World Trade Centers, the Empire State Building, and Times Square. To fit in with the locals, I made sure to lay on the horn and yell at passing cars every now and then.
A few days later we drove to Weehawken, New Jersey to take a water ferry into Manhattan – this helped us avoid the crowds on the subway from Yonkers into the city as well as give us a nice view of the skyline. We wanted to spend a few hours walking through Central Park as well as find the statue of Balto. There is an animated movie based on the heroic exploits of an Alaskan 
Malamute named Balto who braved fierce Arctic weather to deliver an antitoxin to save a community from a diphtheria epidemic. Isaiah remembered from the movie that Balto’s statue was in Central Park and he just had to see it.
Although it was neat to see New York and walk through Central Park, Sandy and I both sensed a spiritual wickedness that seemed to saturate the city. There are people the world over that stand in awe of New York City that never give any thought to New Jerusalem. Here are a few thoughts I had about New York in comparison to a city “whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10)…
New York has the largest population of any city in the United States. New Jerusalem has a “great multitude, which no man could number” (Rev. 7:9).
New York has a land area of 305 square miles. New Jerusalem is twelve thousand furlongs in length and breadth or 2.25 million square miles (Rev. 21:16).
New York is said to be a city that never sleeps. There will be no night in New Jerusalem (Rev. 22:5).
New York is said to be a melting pot. The saved multitudes in New Jerusalem are “of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” (Rev. 7:9)
Although New York has the lowest crime rate among the 25 largest US cities, murder, theft, drug use, prostitution, and other sinful crimes take place daily. Nothing shall enter New Jerusalem “that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of Life.”
New York is home to some of the world’s most valuable real estate. New Jerusalem has foundations of precious stones, walls of jasper, gates of pearl, and streets of gold (Rev. 21).
New York is home to many “celebrities.” New Jerusalem is home to Paul, Peter, John, and all the saints.
New York is the glory of man. New Jerusalem is the glory of God (Rev. 21:11).
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” – Revelation 21:2