The Power of a Story

Last night Rebecca and I went to hear one of our elders from church recount his memories of living through WW II in Holland. His Dutch family was part of the underground network that hid Jews in their houses during the German occupation of their country.

In short, it was quite moving and amazing. Our elder, Herman De Ru, discussed how his family prayed during this time. Specifically, he recounted his father's long prayers before meals (which became scarce because the Germans were taking food and sending it to forces elsewhere), praying for protection, provision, and safety for the Jews (think psalm 91). Herman welled-up a bit talking about how yes, they even prayed for their enemies the Nazi's, though he recalled how hard he found it to do so. What a testimony. Praise God. In an interesting conversation afterwards, Herman told me the Dutch Reformed Church during the occupation was still allowed to meet. He said the Lord's Day services were packed. He recalled that the German soldiers would even come into hear, although they were partly wanting to make sure no "wrong-headed" political statements were made. Herman said the Dutch were a creative bunch, and the pastor had ways of speaking about the Germans that all the Dutch knew, even though the German soldiers would not have understood. Yet the gospel was going forth to these soldiers at the same time. Amazing stuff.

One particularly moving part of the talk was when Herman opened up about why God would allow such a thing as the Holocaust. Very well spoken, he said, he did not know the answer, and perhaps never will, but he recalled to us the Scriptures that teach us all things work together for good for those who are called (Rom 8:28). This was his family's hope and prayer during that time. They clung to God as refuge, shelter, strong tower, shield and buckler in ways I cannot imagine.

Herman also told how after the occupation ended there were massive celebrations in Holland from town to town, dances and feasts. Wow, it gives the proper context for celebration. There was really something to dance about and toast over and give God thanks for. Sadly, he said right after the occupation churches were packed to capacity until in ensuing years, liberalism reached the free university of Amsterdam and Leiden (his hometown) and thus started influencing ministers, then the pulpits, and then the churches began emptying out and closing down. He said liberalism (speaking obviously of theological liberalism) still has a stronghold in his country. May God allow the church there to return to the good deposit of faith, and return to sound orthodox Christianity.

So then Lord, increase our faith which is often weak and wounded. Make us to grow strong in you, and let us die daily to ourselves. Give us that matyr's resolve, knowing that you are our shield, our protector. Though pestilence may come, though thousands may fall at our side, teach us to know that your protection will never fail and that you are a refuge to all who call on your name, and that in Christ, death has no sting, but as Christians death is our first resurrection. Grant us then confidence in this life today to boldly mortify sin in the flesh, love you with all our faculties and to love our neighbor's as Christ has loved us. Protect us from ourselves, from Satan, and all enemies known and unknown, seen and unseen, physical and spiritual, which seek to draw us away from the sweetness of your gospel. And in all things that come to pass, may your name be exalted and made famous. Grant this out of your lovingkindness oh Lord. Amen.

Ethel

Rebecca and I recently came across a musical group that is new to us, and whose cd we can't take out of our player (nor out of our i-pod rotation). The name of the group is Ethel. They are a string-quartet based out of New York and they only play original and contemporary compositions. We heard of them through one of the classical hours on our local public radio station. They were interviewed and they played some stuff on the air, and it just blew us away. We eventually got around to purchasing their latest cd entitled "Light." And Boy it is fantastic. It is one of the freshest sounds I have heard in a really long time. Super creative stuff. Its sounds if like a bunch of indie rockers decided to get classically trained at Juliard and put out a string-quartet record. Whatever the case, the result is brilliant. Is has once again breathed life back into the genius of classical music for us. We have "classical hour" with our new baby once-a-week, and its great because we discover such great talent as Ethel. Check em out if you get a chance. I hope one day we can see them live.

Updates on the Brittons

Well the big news is that the Chest has been approved for a year-long pastoral internship at Harvest CC (PCA) back in Omaha, NE. So we will be moving back to the state that motto's itself as the Good Life. And as a good buddy of mine likes to say, we'll be moving back to a city which ends in a laugh (Omaha). At any rate, we are very excited about this and thankful to God for his providence and wisdom. We'll see all you Nebraska friends before you know it. For now, we are busy tracking our first child's growth, Pot is having to do "kick counts." Its pretty fun trying to distinguish baby movements from different forms of digestion..."was that him...was that him?"

In other news, this past weekend we got to visit with some old Omahanian friends. Chest's old band rolled through town and played at the Casbah in the Little Italy district of San Diego. It was great to visit with old friends and watch them play new stuff. Their new album Son drops March 24th. We have been listening to our copy and it sounds great, its a bit of a concept album.

Starting with this post and continuing for awhile, we'll leave you with an interesting quote for the day:

The nihilistic eros of the consumer society, which seems to have drawn much of American Christianity into its wake, creates a desire that can never be satisfied. Ads and shop windows offer us a perpetual stream of icons promising to fulfill our ambitions to have the life that they represent: a fully realized eschatology. Handing our credit card to the salesperson can be a sacrament of this transaction between sign and signified. Yet this anonymous space of endless consumption is the parody of the place of promise: True Shalom. Consuming images, living on the surface of immanence, we refuse to be called out of ourselves by an external word that would truly unite us to God and our neighbor. Silently and alone, we surf channels and Web sites, window-shopping for identities.
-Michael Horton, People and Place (pg. 59)

Been waitin' for this

I knew it was just a matter of time for some Reformed guys to respond to Mark Driscoll's recent blog post about "new" Calvinists contrasted with "old" Calvinists. First up, is Daryl Hart with his critique here followed by Dr. Clark's longer critique here. Have some good Monday reading...
I was intrigued (as I usually am) with Dr. Hart's connection with what Driscoll is doing and the old C&MA stuff. It always pays to know history. There is nothing new under the sun.

(ht: Hiedelblog)

Shows are sooo fun

Shows are so fun. Last night as member of Matt Haeck and the Quiet Light I played at this venue called the Marquee in the Mission Hills district of downtown San Diego. Oh man it was rad rad rad. We absolutely loved the neighborhood down there, such a sense of a place that Southern California has a tough time cultivating in most places. But this neighborhood had it all. We ate at a cash only pizza joint that had people busting out of the seems to get in. My buddy remarked to me, "you know its a good pizza place when you can't decide whether that smell in your nose is the cheese baking in the ovens or the three dudes who haven't showered working behind the counter." Truer words could not be spoken. soccer on the TV's, neighborhood folk filling up all the tables, screen doors in and out, and the man is always flipping the pizzas high in the air. It was a great place that no one knows the name of.

In addition to that many of our favorite California peeps were out in tow. And it was great to enjoy the experience with them. It is excellent to be able to hang out with those you love in a new venue. And the venue was supberb. it was a totally renovated old church building with sound, lights, wood floors, and sweet couches for those who wanted to sit down. The place really has potential if they manage it right. So often venues tank for lack of management, they need someone to book quality acts, promote well, have a sound guy that knows what he's doing, etc. Everything else will fall into place.

And the show was great. I love discovering new artists and last night I had not heard any of the acts we played with and they ALL were good. Some excellent stuff being done around the city. I have been telling folk that there is a small boutique indie arts scene underneath the belly of the city. San Diego has top-tier groups that claim it as home such as Blink-182, Jason Mraz, and a whole host of other major label acts. But beneath that is a growing group of artists doing something distinctly coastal and beautiful and broken. At any rate, it was a grand bill, interesting stuff all around. And we broke the attendance record at the new venue, they told us that the show brought in the biggest crowd of their early career.

After the show was done, a whole host of us headed back up to "the dido" and had some great time together at Osullivans. Couldn't ask for a better night.

*Listening to Damien Jurado's latest record "Caught in the Trees." It is excellent.
*Playing a show tonight at the Marquee in San Diego as the drummer for Matt Haeck and the Quiet Light. you should all come, first round is on me. So stoked to be playing again. Too much fun, I love the dudes in the band.
*My schedule is bliss in a wacky busy way. too much to blog about, not enough will.
*enjoying reading Dr. Horton's book People and Place, Cardinal Avery Dulles' book Models of the church, essays on the Sonship theology movement and revivalism, commentaries on Ruth, scholarship on the agriculture of Israel in the Iron Age (it informs how we interpret Ruth 2), old scottish presbyterian authors Thomas Withrow on the Apostolic Church and Thomas McCrie's book on the unity of the church (great wisdom from my presbyterian forebears).
*ive been thinkin about the past
*ive been thinkin about the future
*starin down my child in the eyes through the womb
*laughin outloud at a dream i had
*thinkin it might rain