April 25, 2009 (Mike)
The past month has been a busy one for us. We have been happily involved at our wonderful church. For Easter, Lisa and I teamed up to play the piano for the choir. I played piano and Lisa turned the pages for me, which was extremely helpful (those of you who are piano players know). I also just finished teaching a Sunday School class looking at the message of salvation in the Bible through Christ. The class was designed to be accessible for those whose native language is not English. We had about 10 regular attenders, and I think God used it.
With the arrival of spring comes warmer weather, beautiful flowering trees, and most important to me--baseball and migrating birds! Lisa and I have been following our beloved Philadelphia Phillies. We even got to attend a Phillies game with my brother Matt and his wife Debbie when the Phillies came to Washington to play the Nationals.
I have also been trying to go to some of the local parks and National Wildlife Refuges in search of the birds that are passing through during the spring. Though I doubt it is of much interest for many of you, here is the list of birds and the number of each species that I saw this morning---a total of 49 different kinds/species of birds. If you're ever around this area and want to join me birding, let me know! Otherwise, you can just think I'm a little crazy. It's ok.
Canada Goose 2
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 1
Ruddy Duck 0
Wild Turkey 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 5
Osprey 6
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 41
Caspian Tern 1
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
White-eyed Vireo 2
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 19
American Crow 1
Tree Swallow 6
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8
Eastern Bluebird 1
Brown Thrasher 2
European Starling 8
Northern Parula 2
Yellow Warbler 13
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Prairie Warbler 1
Prothonotary Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 7
Eastern Towhee 1
Field Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 6
White-throated Sparrow 15
Northern Cardinal 9
Indigo Bunting 1
Red-winged Blackbird 13
Common Grackle 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Orchard Oriole 4
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 6
March 20, 2009 (Mike)
I just finished watching a clip from The Daily Show where Jon Stewart brings on a guy from CNBC and accuses him of being less than honest in his TV show in regards to financial reporting and dealings over the past years. Every day all kinds of issues come out about people who were taking unfair advantage of the financial markets, of bonuses that are unreasonable, etc.
There is a tendency for us to sit back and all talk about those horrible people in ______ (insert wall street, AIG, or whatever other company you're currently annoyed with) as being greedy scum of the earth who are taking our hard-earned money and walking away with it. While I certainly understand the frustration with those who are dishonest, greedy, and evil in their dealings, I can't help but wonder how many "average, everyday" people would have the same ethics and do the same exact thing if they were put in the same situation of many of those who were lying in service to the almighty dollar.
I think that much of this reflects our culture's shift away from a Biblical base for morality. And I don't think that greed is only the problem of CEO's in top companies. People buying things that they cannot afford (houses, cars, etc.) and people who when they can afford it live extravagantly to maintain or gain an image are a far cry from the Bible's warning:
"The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many griefs....Command those rich in this present world not to be arrogant or to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (I Timothy 6.10, 17-19)
What that says is if you really want to "live the life"....don't set your heart on riches or the things that riches can buy in this world. Store up treasure for the world to come!
January 31, 2009 (Mike)
Though much of our culture and world is feeling pessimistic at this time (and for good reason), I am thankful of the reminder that this world is not our final home. That for those who know and love Jesus there is a promise of a New earth, without pain, sickness, death, and sin. A place where joy will abound, where relationships will be without strain, and where God will be honored in everything. Where nature will not be at war.
For those caught up in only thinking about this present world and who are honest about their thinking, there is only depression. The writer of Ecclasiastes (in the Bible) summed it up pretty well: if there is nothing besides the natural world (things "under the sun"), everything is futile, pointless, and really doesn't amount to much: "Nothing is gained".
Now, this writer wasn't some young college student trying to come up with a creative thesis. This was not someone throwing out untested ideas. In fact, he personally experienced all the things that people chase after, and he could do it to a level others couldn't because he was the king!
First, he had extreme wealth and he decided he would start by pursuing every form of pleasure he could imagine: building elaborate homes, gardens, and parks. Servants waiting on him hand and foot. Wealth like no one else in the world. A harem of women--sexual satisfaction. And what did he conclude about pleasure: "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure....when I surveyed all that my hands had done...everything was meaningless...nothing was gained under the sun." How many people today are absolutely convinced that if only they were married to this person, or if only they had $100K, then they would be satisfied and their life would have real meaning?
Second, he decided to pursue knowledge. Sure physical pleasure isn't lasting, but surely the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom are something that are noble and truly worthwhile. The writer says, "I turned my thoughts to wisdom, and also madness and folly." And his conclusions? "I saw that wisdom is better than folly...but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both...for the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten. Like the fool, the wise man too must die!" How many students around the world are absolutely convinced that by gaining a college degree, their life will feel full of purpose and they will acheive the secret to deep, lasting happiness?
Finally, the writer turns to evaluate his labor and work. Surely there is some lasting satisfaction that can come from work? Having a good job (and the wealth that comes with it) must satisfy, right? Not so, he says: "A man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune."
Pleasure. Knowledge. Work. These are things people around the world are striving for, laboring for, absolutely convinced that they are the paths to lasting satisfaction and meaning.
Take a note from a wise man who tested all these pathways. There is only one thing that is lasting. One conclusion about what the duty of man is: "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
Later parts of the Bible elaborate on the joy and satisfaction that are found by those who pursue their joy in God.
In 2009 I am optimistic not because I think the global economy will improve or that my job is safe. I'm optimistic because there is a promise of a better Earth that will last forever, and a God who will make all things new.