"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Thursday, April 22, 2010

A day well spent!


The sunset was painting beautiful pink hues on the clouds as I settled back in my seat for the two hour drive home.  As I sat looking out the window, my mind relived the events of the day.  We had left home at 8:00 and driven the two hours to the mountains to sled and snowmachine with some friends.  I remembered the tedious snowmachine ride from where our friends' travel trailer was to where we went sledding.  Caleb at first tried to ride in the pile of sleds behind the snowmachine, but because of the bumps, he kept spilling and we'd have to stop and wait for him to catch up again.  Finally, we all just piled on the snowmachine and I held the pile of sleds behind my back - a very uncomfortable position to say the least.  Then there was the first sled ride down the mile-long slope we had just come up.  I will admit that I wiped out quite a few times on the way down, but it was so much fun!

There was the time that we were riding the snowmachine up the hill, and it tipped over on me...  That kind of hurt, but I survived. :)  The other thing that scared me at first was when we'd go up these hills that I didn't think we could go up without flipping over backwards, and then as we'd get near the top, Mr. Ueeck would give the snowmachine a little more gas and bring the front end up.  My heart would jump into my throat, but I finally got used to it. :)  And then there was that inner tube.  Heather and I attempted to slide down this extremely steep hill on it several times before we figured out a way to stay on.  And then Heidi, Charity, Heather, and I piled on it so we could be pulled behind Mr. Ueeck's snowmachine...  And then he got too close to the other snowmachine and the inner tube popped, making those of us riding on it hit the ground pretty hard.

And then after supper we decided to go on a snowmachine ride way up into the mountains.  It was so much fun standing on the summits of several of them, where we could see for miles in every direction.  Oh, the beauty and glory of God's creation!  Then on the way back, getting the snowmachine that I was driving sort of stuck.  Mr. Ueeck came back to help, but on the way, he tipped his snowmachine into a creek.  Then, when trying to see which was the best way for our snowmachine to go, he buried his in snow that was up to my waist.  So we had to spend a little time digging it out.

I smiled to myself as I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes.  It had been a wonderful day.  What would I do without my friends and family?  Suddenly, I felt myself being pulled forward as Seth slammed on the brakes.  My eyes popped open, and I saw a moose crossing the road just in front of us.  Just then her baby started crossing the road as well.  I could hear our tires squealing as we skidded to a stop just inches from the moose's back legs!  God had protected us once again!  As we began driving again, I again thought about the day.  Yes, we were all very sore, sunburned, and exhausted, but it had definitely been a day well spent!


Friday, April 9, 2010

Welcome Spring!

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted anything!!!  Time has flown by!  Spring is finally here I believe, although winter's been trying to convince us otherwise for the last couple days.  It's been getting close to 60 degrees during the day for a week or so, but then 2 days ago it started snowing again...  But thankfully the sun has always been able to melt all the new snow by evening.

We've been working on shooting a short film over the last month or so.  It's been a lot of fun.  If you'd like to hear more about our progress on that, check out the official Revised Register blog.

We have been very busy with the Delta Christian Drama Association as well for the last month and a half or so.  I am playing the part of the villain of the story, the Irish mayor Seamus Kelly.  It's kind of a terrible part, if you ask me.  But I guess every story has to have a villain.  And I get hung (not shown, but implied) so at least justice is done!  But it has been a lot of fun, and the play will be a blessing to many people, I am sure.  It's a Zacchaus story set in the ficticious town of Jericho, Nevada circa 1876.  It is about the transforming power of God, which is an amazing theme!!!

Well, I guess this hasn't had much of a theme to it.  It's been kind of a scattered post letting you know that I haven't fallen off the edge of the Earth yet!  But with spring here, it reminds us of new life springing forth after the hard, cold winter.  A good friend and I were talking the other day, and she was mentioning the fact that the sun is shining, melting the snow and warming the earth, and making new life spring forth.  Just like that, we should be allowing the Sun of Righteousness to shine on us, melting and warming our hearts, so that the fruit of His Spirit can spring forth in our lives!  What a promise spring has!  I pray that each of you will join me in allowing Him to cause His grace to grow in our hearts.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Worthy the Lamb!

My family bought me the latest CD by the Gaither Vocal Band, "Reunited", for Christmas.  I absolutely LOVE all the songs on it!  Today I was listening to my iPod as I was outside cutting wood (something that makes it somewhat bearable in 0 degree weather). :)  It played the song "Worthy the Lamb" from the new album, and that got me thinking.  The song describes the hopelessness of Satan's captives, kept in chains that have no key.  And the question is asked, "Is there no one worthy to set us free?"  Then the song describes the glorious scene presented in Revelation chapter 5.  Jesus Christ is found worthy, and so the anthem swells "Worthy, worthy, worthy the Lamb that was slain!"  Then the scene switches to that glorious day at the end of time, when the angels and the saints, holding their crowns in their hands, swell the glorious anthem again.

Can you imagine that scene?  Standing in the Holy City before the throne of God Himself!  Around us stand an innumerable company, the redeemed of all ages, our friends and loved ones from earth; and beyond them, the angels, cheribum and seraphim, greater in number than the sand of the sea and the stars of the universe put together.  Trillions upon trillions of them.  And beyond them, the surpassing glories of the New Jerusalem.  Gold and silver in abundance, reflecting the dazzling glory of God.  Then suddenly, we hear music.  The great angelic orchestra playing music sweeter than we have ever heard.  Then the voices of that inumerable throng join together singing "Worthy the Lamb that was slain!"  The music swells as the voices and instruments reach the climax.  "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!"  And then the refrain, "Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain!"  Oh what tongue or pen can tell of the glories that we shall experience!  As the last echoes of the beautiful music fade, the entire company casts their crowns at His feet and bow in worship.  As they try to recall the troubles and heartaches of earth, they seem so small and insignificant in comparisan to the eternal weight of glory all around them, that they shout "Allelujah, heaven is cheap enough!"

Very soon now, Jesus will be coming to take us home.  How often we get discouraged by the things of this life, but rest assured, heaven will be cheap enough!  If we would ever keep in mind the sufferings of our Saviour and the glories of the home above, we would never fall to temptation!  We must look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, "Who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."  He is there now.  He is preparing a place for us!  Won't you join me in a commitment to keep our eyes on Jesus, count the things of this world as rubbish, and press toward the mark of our high calling?  If so, I'm looking forward to joining you in that chorus, "Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain!"

Thursday, December 24, 2009

The Story of Christmas

Imagine a world where there is no sin, no sadness, no guilt.  Where the sun never rises to a day filled with pain and never sets with the dark clutches of death.  Where love fills everyone's hearts and motivates every action.  Where God Himself walks and talks with human beings, sharing the great mysteries of eternity.  Where loved ones never have to say goodbye, and friends are never parted.

This was how our world was at the beginning.  It was created to be a paradise for our enjoyment!  But then sin entered.  It began in heaven and spread to earth.  Suddenly, love turned to hate, selflessness turned to selfishness, and God became an enemy to be feared and hated.  But God knew what would happen, so long before He created this earth, He had a plan.  And in the Garden of Eden, talking to Satan, God promised a Redeemer!  He said “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”*  Oh glorious promise!  God promised to send a second Adam, to reclaim what the first Adam had forfeited!  And so, from the moment Adam tasted of the forbidden fruit, the Plan of Salvation swung into action.

During the darkest days of Israel's history, God gave some of the most precious promises of a coming Redeemer.  Isaiah prophesied “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel....  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”*

Finally, at a time when the world was at its darkest point, when Rome's tyranny was at its strongest, God Himself, wrapped in human flesh, came into our world as a helpless baby!  "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life."*  That's what Christmas is all about!  God Himself, coming to die for our sins!  A verse in the song Welcome to Our World says it so well: "Fragile finger sent to heal us, tender brow prepared for thorn, tiny heart whose blood will save us, unto us is born."

Why did God do this?  There's a song that Danny Shelton sings that asks the same question.  The answer?  "Heaven is not Heaven when loved ones are not there."  God wants us, His children, there so bad, that He was willing to give His only son to rescue us.  What love is that!

33 years later, on a hill outside of Jerusalem, a cross was raised with the Prince of Life hanging from it.  As He hung there, a world was in the balance.  When He was sealed in the tomb, Satan sent his most powerful forces to guard the body, and keep Christ buried forever.  But praise God!  An angel came speeding from heaven to earth, clothed with the panoply of heaven.  At the sound of his approach, all the demons fled in terror.  Chills go up and down my spine as I imagine the angel raising his arm to heaven, and saying with a commanding, trumpet-like voice, "Son of God!  Your Father calls You!"  The earth shakes as the Prince of Life steps out of the rocky tomb, and with a voice that sounded like the sweetest music, proclaiming "I am the resurrection and the life!"  At that moment, Satan knew he was defeated.  It was finished!  Heaven had won!

Christ soon ascended into heaven, to prepare a place for His children.  Soon, very soon now, He will be returning to take us home.  Ellen White gives a vivid description of the moment when the two Adams meet.  “As the ransomed ones are welcomed to the City of God, there rings out upon the air an exultant cry of adoration.  The two Adams are about to meet.  The Son of God is standing with outstretched arms to receive the father of our race – the being whom He created, who sinned against his Maker, and for whose sin the marks of the crucifixion are borne upon the Savior’s form.  As Adam discerns the prints of the cruel nails, he does not fall upon the bosom of his Lord, but in humiliation casts himself at His feet, crying: “Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain!”  Tenderly the Saviour lifts him up and bids him look once more upon the Eden home from which he has so long been exiled.”*  This is the moment which God has been looking forward to for so long.  This is why He sent His only son into our world!  This is the story of Christmas.  “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”*  This is why we celebrate.  We are celebrating a major mile-stone in the great conflict between Christ and Satan.  Sometimes the story gets lost in all the tinsel and we stick Jesus in His manger under the Christmas tree and forget about them, but this is the true story of Christmas.  Because of this, because of the great love God has for us, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”*  This is the story of Christmas.  Will you join me in commiting to spread the news of a crucified and risen Saviour who is coming back soon to take us home?

Merry Christmas!

Joel







*Genesis 3:15
*Isaiah 7:14 & 9:6
*John 3:16
*The Great Controversy, page 647
*John 3:17
*Hebrews 12:1 & 2

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Thanksgiving...  It's a time to thank God for all the blessings He's graciously given us throughout the last year.  We eat a huge dinner and do skits that remind us of the heritage of Thanksgiving and the heritage God has given us in this wonderful country we call home.  We think back to the day when the Pilgrims first sighted land.  We're reminded of the first steps that they ever took on this great continent.  We think about the hard winter, where nearly half the population died from cold and starvation.  We think of the first visits by the Natives and how Squanto helped the settlers learn how to plant.  Then after the bountiful harvest, the Pilgrims had a great feast, thanking God for life.

Now we celebrate every third Thursday in November, thanking God for life, liberty, and the ability to pursue happiness.  I am so thankful for the country I live in and for the family God has given me.  And for friends.  What would I do without them?

Well, I'd better sign off.  We're getting ready to go cross-country skiing.  Snow is a blessing I often overlook! :)

God bless and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

In Christ,

Joel

Monday, November 16, 2009

Musings at Twenty Below

Alright, so it's not quite 20 below, but 17 below is close enough and probably somewhere in the depths of the night, it will reach 20 below! As I was outside loading up our woodcart for the second time this evening (a nightly chore), I stood on the porch looking out into the darkness, watching the snow falling, and pondering why I live where I do. The simple answer is that in 2001, our family bought property and built a small cabin.

But why do we stay here? Is it because of the Northern Lights that dance overhead? Or the 18 acres we live on? Or is it those evenings when I'm unloading the truck after a loooonnnngggg day in Fairbanks and I look up at the expansive arch of the sky and the stars are so close it seems I can touch them?

Or is it those days in the summer, when I can lay on my back in the field and look up into the cloudless, dark blue sky? Or the time I can spend on trails, hiking and backpacking? Or is it that common bond that exists between all those who live here and know what it's like to survive a winter?

One thing you'll have to admit, there are very few places left in the United States like Alaska. And even the cold has its own special appeal. Like when I step outside and can hardly breathe, because the cold seems to press on my lungs and burn my nostrils (it's far from being that cold yet!). Twenty below is actually a pleasant temperature, as long as you don't have to be out too long!

Well, I guess the Christmas spirit has come to stay up here. Soon after the snow started falling, we started seeing Christmas lights on houses and businesses. We weren't too far behind. Several weeks ago Seth decorated the outside of our house with Christmas lights (a yearly tradition). Below are some pictures that I took tonight.

That's what happened when it tried to use the flash! (Yes, the trailer is still on the truck from our last trip to Fairbanks)

This one's better.

All in all, I don't think I'd traid where I live for anything in the world, even Hawaii! But, if you couldn't tell yet, Hebrews 12:1 and 2 are some of my favorite verses in the Bible. Even when I preach, it is very rare that I don't end my sermon with those verses. So, just in case we get sidetracted with earthly things, let's remember to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1, 2. Now heaven is one place I'll trade even Alaska for!

God bless!

(I guess it got too late last night, so I posted this this morning, in case you're wondering!)
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Saturday, November 14, 2009

Learning to Wait

We often hear the quote "God helps those who help themselves".  Is this true?  It is, to a certain degree.  But a much more accurate way to say this would be "God helps those who cannot help themselves."  When we, in honest humility, realize that we can truly do nothing, we are in the most powerful position in the entire universe.  Ellen White says, "Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness, and relies wholly on God."*  Isn't that beautiful?  We are residing in the safest place in the universe when we forget ourselves and cast ourselves helplessly on the mercy and grace of Christ.  And God is faithful "to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to (His) power that worketh in us."*  What a glorious thought!  To be emptied of self, that through our weakness, we can be made strong through His power.  "They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Is. 40:31)  This implies that we must be patient.  This promise is given to those who wait with expectant hope upon God, wait for His timing to renew their strength in His way.  We must have trust in God.

The great New England preacher Phillips Brooks was noted for his poise and quiet manner. At times, however, even he suffered moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him feverishly pacing the floor like a caged lion. "What's the trouble, Mr. brooks?" he asked.

"The trouble is that I'm in a hurry, but God isn't!" Haven't we felt the same way many times?  We want the blessings that God promises, but we don't want to trust Him with the timing that He plans.

God promises to bless us, to give us strength to accomplish His tasks, if we empty ourselves and allow Him to fill us up.  We must cast ourselves at His feet and rely wholly on God.  Only then, will we be able to "run with patience the race that is set before us," and, buoyed up by His strength, enter into the joy of our Lord.

Courage Comrades!


*PK p. 175
*Eph. 3:20
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