Exploring Alaska

One of the enjoyable things of moving to a new place is the opportunity to explore the area. Alaska is so huge, and there is so much to see and do, I don't think it is possible for anyone to explore it all, no matter how long they live here.

Today we took the kids to a trail just outside of Anchorage for a little hike. The skies were clear and the temperature was just right - a glorious summer day in Alaska! From the trail, which overlooks Cook Inlet, we were able to see Mt. McKinley in the distance. If you look closely at this picture, you can see the peak on the right.

About a mile and a half down the trail, we stopped and had lunch. A German tourist asked me to take a picture of him and his wife. His English was not great, so all he was able to communicate to me, other than asking me to take their picture, was that Germany was ten hours ahead of us and they are now sleeping. He put his head on top of his two hands, palm to palm, which is the international sign for "asleep"!

Just behind us on the trail was a major airport, presumably mostly for cargo traffic judging by the planes flying above us. Every five minutes or so, a jet would roar overhead, on its way to some distant locale. It is amazing how busy the skies are in Alaska. In addition to the jets right on top of us, there were passenger airliners landing at Anchorage International Airport, military planes flying to or from Elmendorf Air Force Base, and the occasional floatplane or other small craft buzzing around in the skies.

Here is a picture of Anchorage. One couple we met on the trail, who were transplants from Long Island and had lost none of the accent, called it "an ugly city in a beautiful place." Some Alaskans might disagree with the first part, but there is no question about the second; this is truly a beautiful place.

Bear Paw

"Bear Paw" is the name of an annual festival that takes place each year in Eagle River, the town where we are currently living. This morning we took part in some of the activities.

I ran a 5K race while Robyn watched the kids. She had a greater endurance test than I did. First, for about 10 minutes leading up to the start, Meredith was in tears and near hysterics because of the fact a gun would be shot to begin the race. Then, as soon as the race started (thankfully with a very quiet gun), Sander began bawling because he also wanted to "take the race." After he got over that disappointment, the girls had to go to the bathroom. So, between traumatized children and potty breaks, Robyn saw none of the actual race.

Which is fine with me. I'm definitely not the runner I used to be. Not that I was ever anything special, but I would have run the same distance at least five minutes faster in college. Every time I run a road race like this, I think to myself, "Wouldn't it be fun to devote myself daily to training and see if I can get back to anything near my previous speed?" Then reality hits: too little time and too many more important things to do. And there's that little aging thing, too!

After the race, we watched a parade. It was a typical small-town parade like you would find anywhere in the U.S. One difference was that it is the middle of summer but everyone was wearing long pants and jackets. Then we had lunch. I had a Philly cheese steak sandwich. With the caveat that it is impossible to have an authentic Philly cheese steak anywhere outside of Philly, it was pretty good. Robyn went native and had a salmon quesadilla.

Tomorrow is the Lord's Day. I will preach on the meaning of Christian baptism in the morning, and on faithfulness - God's and ours (or our lack of?) - in the evening.

"The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

One of the books I've listed below in my reading pile is "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok. Robyn and I read through this book together, usually on Monday nights after the kids were in bed. I would read, and Robyn would knit. We finished it this past Monday.

The story is about two high-school Jewish boys living in Brooklyn during and after the years of World War II. One is the son of a secular Jewish scholar, and the other the son of a respected Hasidic rabbi. The story is about the friendship they form despite the polar differences in their Jewish upbringing and training.

The author explores many different themes in the course of the novel, but I was most intrigued by his depiction of the world in which the story takes place. The country I know, the U.S., but the culture is as foreign to me as could possibly be. I've known very few Jewish people in my life, and have only seen from a distance those from the Hasidic community (I remember seeing some Hasidic families at a theme park in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. There were also several Amish families at the park. I wondered if perhaps the two groups didn't share more commonalities than differences.). So it was quite illuminating to learn about the traditions and concerns of these two groups within Judaism.

I also reflected upon the relationship between family and faith. We probably underestimate the deep influence our upbringing has on the beliefs we hold dearest to our hearts. We tend to think that we have chosen our own beliefs solely on the basis of their merits. This understanding is betrayed by those parents who say of their children, "We are not going to raise them in any one religion. When they are old enough, they can choose what religion, if any, they will believe in." But that is naive. What these parents are really teaching their children is this: religion, and by implication God, ultimately exists to serve you. They are in effect indoctrinating their children in a particular world view just as effectively as the Hasidic Jews or Amish.

If family upbringing profoundly influences our beliefs about God and ourselves, this is no accident. God created the family, and he has ordained the family as one means of bringing his people to salvation. God did not just save Abraham as a individual, but he saved him as the father of a nation. His promise was for him and his children, and his promises to those in Christ are for them and their children (Gen. 17:7, Acts 2:39). God works out his saving purpose through families. The same God who created the family before sin entered the world uses the family, now restored by grace, to bring redemption from sin and its consequences (which, incidentally, is one big reason why I believe in baptizing infants).

This is not to deny the necessity of faith, of course. It is just to say that God often engenders saving faith through ordinary means - like the influence of your parents. There are exceptions of course. Paul was saved out of a Pharisee upbringing that was probably not unlike the Hasidism in the novel. And many secular parents are surprised to find their children "getting religion". But as wonderful as God's grace is in these situations, it is no more wonderful or gracious than if he uses the simple faith of a mom and dad to reach the heart of their child with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

House - sweet Home!

It's not ours yet, but we have settled on a price with the seller. So, now it is a matter of getting to "closing". That will no doubt involve another mountain of paperwork to sign.

We had a friend of our realtor's give the house a close look-over yesterday. He has been building or remodeling homes in Alaska for about 30 years, so he has an expert eye to detect potential trouble. Thankfully, he found no major problems.

Since we've been here, we have probably looked at over a dozen houses, and many more on the internet. This house was only on the market a day (actually, back on the market) when our realtor called and said we should take a look at it. It had almost all we were hoping for in a house - plenty of bedrooms, storage space, not far from the church, etc. In an ideal world, there would be a few things different about it (for example, it would already have a yard). However, we figured out early on that the "right" house was not the perfect house, but the one with the most going for it within our budget. So, we are very excited. (I have daydreams of the snow falling gently outside on a cold winter day, and I am sitting next to the gas fireplace with a steaming cup of coffee and a good book while the children are quietly and cheerfully playing together upstairs. Sounds nice, anyway).

Looking back over the last few months, it is remarkable the way the Lord has provided for us so that we could purchase this house. Now, we are praying for his blessing that the house would not just be a roof over our heads, but would truly become a home for our family. After all, God is far more interested in the home than in the house.

My thanks to Lendall

After three years of seminary, I had the privilege to serve a year-long internship at Bethel OPC in Wheaton, IL. My supervising pastor was Rev. Lendall Smith, who had once been a missionary to Taiwan but returned some years before to serve as the pastor of that congregation. Last week Lendall retired from the ministry. I wrote him the following letter of appreciation. This may not mean as much if you have not met Lendall, but I think it is worthwhile reading as it gives you a glimpse of a man with a true pastor's heart. Here it is:

June 30, 2007

Dear Lendall,

Whenever I think of the year I spent as an intern at Bethel Presbyterian Church under your mentorship, I give thanks to God for giving me that opportunity. While my wife and I came to love the people of Bethel and immensely enjoyed the fellowship there (and still do enjoy our friendship with them), for me as a future pastor the greatest benefit of the year was witnessing up close the day to day work of a faithful gospel minister. In both the joys and challenges of pastoral ministry, you exhibited the heart of a true pastor in loving God’s people and always seeking to draw them to a closer communion with Christ.

Serving as a supervising pastor for an intern required much sacrifice of time and energy on your part. But I never sensed it was an unwanted burden for you. Rather, you not only showed genuine interest in me and my family, but you communicated to me in many ways that you sincerely desired to see me grow as a pastor. I believe this was an act of faith on your part, for in this way you were sowing seeds for the Kingdom of God that would only bear fruit in the years ahead. I am confident that the time you invested in my life, and in the lives of the other interns, will ultimately bring honor to the name of Christ as we seek to practice what we have learned from you in our own respective ministries.

I fondly remember our conversations on Tuesday mornings about the sermon I preached the previous Sunday evening. You were always encouraging in your counsel, but you did not withhold from me the helpful and necessary criticism I needed to grow as a preacher. I also remember our frequent discussions about various aspects of the gospel ministry. You said many things which still come to mind whenever I reflect on my own service as a pastor. I am also thankful for the times of prayer we shared together in the afternoons, as we interceded for one another and for the needs of the church. Of course, I also enjoyed the occasional game of golf with you! Is it possible you will be out on the course a little more often after July?

Just as profitable for me was simply watching you serve as a pastor. Your genuine care for the flock, your gentle but forthright dealings with people, your diligence in sermon preparation and study, your faithfulness in not shirking the more difficult tasks you faced as a pastor, and the many other ways you sought to “fulfill the ministry” (Col. 4:17), all provided for me a flesh and blood example of what a pastor should look like. Believe it or not, you are still teaching me in that I sometimes wonder, “How would Lendall handle this situation?” You would be last to say this, but you served Christ and His Church in such a way that you could have admonished your interns with the same words of the Apostle Paul when he told the Corinthians: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).

I know your retirement will be a loss for Bethel. But, I trust your contribution to the greater Body of Christ is far from over. May the Lord bless you and Sherrill as you continue to faithfully follow His call to serve Him with your lives, wherever that call may take you in the future.

Sincerely in Christ,

Scott

4th of July

Our July 4th was atypical - no parades and no fireworks. Instead, we had a very enjoyable time at the home of a family from church who invited us over for grilled hamburgers.

Since today is the today we celebrate our nation's freedom, I was thinking of Jesus words, "the truth will set you free" (John 6:32). It is ironic that our culture tends to equate truth claims with oppression and bondage. Truth, or at least the claim to truth, is seen to serve the interests of enslaving power. However, Jesus says the very opposite is the case. True freedom is found only where truth is believed and embraced.

And what is the truth? Jesus answers, "If you abide in my word, your are truly my disciples, and you will known the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 6:31, 32). Is Christianity, or better, belief in Jesus Christ and his word, the only way to true freedom? According to Christ it is. Freedom without truth is slavery, and captivity to the truth is freedom.

As for our nation's birthday, we should be thankful for the freedom we enjoy in this nation, and for the men and women who serve and sacrifice to preserve this liberty. No matter what happens in this world, we can never lose the perfect freedom we have in Christ. But, the freedom we enjoy to practice our faith can be lost and I am thankful for those that serve to protect it.

Iro Iro

"Iro Iro" is Japanese for "various". Below are some various items with no connection between them.

First, it is late Saturday night and tomorrow will be a long day. I will preach in the morning and then administer the Lord's Supper for the first time since we've gotten here. I'm beginning a series of sermons on the significance of the Lord's Supper which I'll preach each time we observe it for the next several months. Tomorrow's message is on the death of Christ. I find myself feeling wholly inadequate to preach on this, but who is sufficient for such things? Then, there is a short congregational meeting, followed by a time of fellowship at a family's house, followed by a prayer meeting, followed by the evening service. In the evening, I will give a message on "kindness" as the fruit of the Spirit.

On Monday morning, we are hoping to make an offer on the Craig Stadler house (see previous blog entry). We are excited about it, but realize (in our minds at least, if not always in our hearts) that God is sovereign over this, as well.

I met an elder for lunch the other day and among other things, we spoke about guns. Many people carry some kind of firearm when they go hiking into the woods, and he (along with most Alaskans) recommends I do the same thing. He's taught gun safety classes so he's ready to train me in the proper use of handling and firing a deadly weapon. It sounds like a good idea to me. While the chance of actually being attacked by a bear is quite remote, it would give me some peace of mind to know that at least I would have a chance to survive. And, I've always wanted to say, "Go ahead, make my day".

Finally, I've been delighted to happen upon my daughter from time to time reading the Bible. She is an eager Bible student, which warms the heart of this pastor. I also like the way she enjoys singing hymns around the house. Don't misunderstand; she's not ready for sainthood just yet, but it is great to see her interested in the things of God.