I Have Much to be Thankful for

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

for His steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 118:1

I love Thanksgiving.  For most of my life, it has been a celebration full of good food and extended family; the gateway to the Christmas season; a time to remember those first Pilgrims and Native Americans who celebrated Thanksgiving. 

This year I am overwhelmed by the things in my own life that I cannot help but be thankful for. I'm married now to the woman of my dreams, the one whom God has so carefully watched over and brought into my life to be my help-mate. We have only been married for a little less than six months, but it has been a time filled with joy and new experiences. I'm like a giddy four year old who is experiencing holidays again for the first time. Every new day, every holiday, every event is one of doubled joy because of the blessing of my wife. We have had our disagreements and I know that I lack in many ways, but the Lord has brought us together and we are both committed to Him above our own relationship. We know that a firm foundation is only found on Him. We will fall and we will sin and we will hurt each other, but Christ in us is sanctifying us that we might be better lovers of each other and lovers of Him.

I am a new student at Beeson Divinity School. I am so thankful for the faculty and staff there who have lived out what it looks like to be a Christian in a very personal and pastoral way. They have encouraged me and challenged me to become both a better thinker and student of God's Word and to deepen my relationship with Yahweh daily. Rarely have I seen such a delicate balance of intellect and compassion. For them I am truly thankful. Moreover, I have some of the best classmates. I know that I am quite introverted and can sometimes be socially awkward, but I'm learning from those I sit in classes with and learn with how to be a better friend. Thank you Lord for my wonderful school.

I am always thankful for my family. It is a different experience this year (as it is most holidays), waking up in a house that is not filled with the sound of dad's music in the morning or mom's welcoming "good morning." In fact, I am the early riser in my family (that is my new family). Every time I think of my parents, sister, grandparents, and even aunts and uncles, I am reminded of how blessed I am to have grown up among such people. 

While this is obviously not an exhaustive list, I cannot help but look at the list and feel the weight of all that God has done in my life even in the past year. I believe it is appropriate to close with thanks to God, who has orchestrated my life in such a way that I know that He is real and that He cares for even me. A quote from Abraham Lincoln that I saw yesterday seems to sum this up well.

"No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy."

Father, thank you for mercy...

The Bible is the Word of God

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training  in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

II Timothy 3:16

My first post I think should be one that I see as foundational to all the preceding posts that I hope are to come. If you've ever picked up a book on systematic theology, you will notice that the first portion of the book is typically devoted to the place of Scripture in the life of Christians and the church. For a long time I wondered why that was. Why start with speaking of a book that we agree we do not worship? Why not start with God or the human condition or a Christian response to social injustice? 

The clear answer (which I found in reading Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology) is that the Bible is how we most clearly know who God is. It contains Truth. It is the basis by which we can all say that God is good or that He is Creator. I know many people who begin speaking about an experiential knowledge of God and use that as the basis for their faith or for their apologetic stance. While I don't necessarily disagree with this, experience is something that we have far too high an opinion of today. Experiences vary greatly. I remember a story told to me by my art teacher in elementary school about how she received a check in the mail for the exact amount of money that was due for her power bill the day before they were going to shut it off. Hallelujah! I also know that there are many people who do not get that check and lose their power or water or even their house. Does this mean that God is real to those who experience a divine intervention and that He is not real to those who go through hard times?

This is why the Bible is so crucial. I know that I go through very hard times and that God is still there. He is not on vacation or waiting for me to mess up so He can zap me. He cares for me. I also know why I act certain ways when I do not want to and why others act certain ways. It is called sin. 

Most importantly, I know who Christ is through the Bible. I know how the God-man made Himself nothing and died on the cross for the reconciliation of His people. I know that I can know this living God, who was crucified and dead, but rose again on the third day. I know.

And now, I hope...