Been a While

=Things have been absolutely crazy since the last time I wrote anything on this blog. The family went down to Mississippi for a week. On the way down there, the weather was just awful. Our flights managed to leave on time, but the result was a very bumpy ride. The kids handled the flights better than I did for the most part with one exception. On the second flight, I noticed that Jackson was acting a little pitiful, which is totally unlike him. As we taxied toward the runway for takeoff, he nodded off and I thought that this was good because the true was that he needed a nap. Well, about ten minutes after takeoff, he woke up with a sad, painful sounding cry, and then it happened. He turned around to look at me with this look on his face that said, "I'm so sorry for what I'm about to do to you." It was at this point that he proceeded to throw up all over me (and on my favorite sweater to boot). Needless to say, that made the fly much more interesting than it would have otherwise been. He immediately assured me that he felt better, and the rest of the flight was eventless. The really assuming part of the story is that he didn't have a change of clothes available so when we arrived in Jackson he ran through the airport in nothing but a diaper and socks...I loved the look on Meme's face. The week in Mississippi was quite fun and exhausting; after that, how could it not be?.

Upon our return to Raleigh, Julie had the craziest work schedule I can remember her having. I had to relearn how to stay at home with the kids by myself again. And, we decided that we needed a new computer. So, we went to our local Best Buy and proceeded to make plans to buy a computer. We picked out all that we needed and some of what we wanted on the computer. After being passed around the store to different departments and sales associates, we realized that our chances of getting said computer was decreasing exponentially with each passing minute. What is obvious to me is that none of the people who were busy selling us the computer has had children because they took their time as a two year ran rampant through the store and the five month old grew hungrier and hungrier, which began more and more apparent with each scream. Finally, they began to check us out and, as things would have it, they messed up the order. They tried to charge me thirty-five more dollars than it was supposed to have been. Julie and I finally threw up our hands in frustration and left the store without the computer. On the way home, Julie mentioned, almost in passing, that maybe this was God's way of saying that we didn't need to get a new computer because you never know when you will need the money(more on that in a minute).

Well, the very next week (a week ago yesterday), Raleigh received the biggest snowfall it had gotten in four years. Here at the house we got about 5-6 inches. It was great. Jackson loved playing in the snow and looking at it as it fell. The only problem was that morning about 6:40 we had gotten a call at the house. You see, I haven't mentioned that Julie had to go to work that morning. And, on the way, she was in a single car accident. About five minutes from work, she hit a patch of ice and lost control of the car. Thankfully and most importantly, she was fine. She was, however, quite upset about the whole ordeal. I was thinking about it all after I hung up the phone with her. I was trying to find a reason to be thankful to God in the situation (beyond Julie's safety...as I already mentioned, God was gracious in that regard). Well, the rest of the day God proceeded to show me that I had much to be thankful for. First, I remembered and reminded Julie of the comment she made in the car on the way home from Best Buy. God knew, before it happened, that Julie would be in that wreck. He knew we needed that $800. Some might claim that this was nothing more than happenstance, a mere coincidence. And, if that was all that had happened, then I would have agreed that that explanation might be the case. But, later that day, I had, at the advice and urging of my dad, previously scheduled an At&T technician to come out to the house and investigate our DSL connection. Several days earlier, dad encouraged me to test my connection speed and it turned out that it was ridiculously slow (we're talking dial-up speed here). Back to the story at hand. Well, the technician arrives and begins to run all sorts of tests, and it turns out that our modem was defective. So, he goes back to the truck and comes back to inform me that he was out of that particular modem. So, instead, he would have to use a wireless modem in its place, which happened to be a $100 upgrade from what we had. After installing the new modem, the computer began to run at the appropriate speed again. Meaning that a new computer would have been a complete waste of money. Coincidence, happenstance?? I think not. That was merely one of those instances when Matthew 6:25-34 gets illustrated in a real and vivid way. So, in the end, gratitude is the least I can give in return...maybe praise is the better choice.

Two Things

First, I’ve been reading two books recently that I taught I’d recommend, if you have some time for some reading. The first one, which I just finished, is entitled Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp. His main point is to make his reader really consider what it is we want for our children. If we had one goal for them, what would it be? Would it be success or happiness (however one defines those terms)? Or would it be something else? He then argues that the only thing that is worthy of a goal for our children is to know and glorify God and enjoy Him forever. I would agree with him. While I might not go as far as he does in every respect, most of what he has to say is good, solid parenting advice. I liked his chapters on implementing his ideas with young children (5-12 year olds) and teens. Very solid advice there. The other book, which I have just started, is entitled Genesis Unbound by an Old Testament scholar John Sailhammer. He is attempting to show that one need not choose between creation and science. His book addresses the issue from a textual or linguistic approach. His main question is, what does the Hebrew of Genesis 1 actually say? Thus far, he answer has been very interesting. From what I’ve read, he might be onto something. Basically, he shows that the Hebrew word, reshit, in Genesis 1:1, which we translate beginning, can really mean something far more indefinite than the way many people interpret it. The word, reshit, can literally mean (and often is used to mean) an indefinite period of time. So, what he is saying is that Genesis 1:1 might not be conveying the idea of instantaneous creation, like boom and everything looks like it has been there functioning for millions or billions of years. Instead, God could have been creating the universe (which probably includes animal and plant life) for years and years before He began his specific work of creating the land (which was made specifically for man/Adam and woman/Eve) in Genesis 1:2. More to come on this.

Second, today, I heard, maybe, the best sermon I’ve ever heard. Many of you have heard and sang the old hymn, “Rock of Ages.” If you haven’t, here are the words:

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee

Now, if you’ve ever wondered where the hymn writer came up with those lyrics, turn to the last few verses of Exodus 33 and the beginning of chapter 34. Make sure to read the entire chapter and then to recall the context of the passage. Moses had just been receiving the Law (Ten Commandments) from God on Mount Sinai and he returns to the people to find them in what basically amounts to a drunken orgy and worshiping a golden baby cow (seriously…that’s what happened). Moses had only been gone for forty days. Then we get to chapter 33. God decides that the people can go on to the land, but He is not going with them. In fact, if He presented Himself to them, they would have been consumed. So, Moses then intercedes for the people and pleads with God to go with them. It is at this point he asks a powerful question and makes a bold request. In verse 16, he asks, “For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us (your presence), so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” I would encourage everyone to consider Moses’ question carefully. In reality, he is asking the question, “Without God, what’s the point?” That, my friends, is a good question and one we should all answer. Thinking about it in the context of my own life, I am about to begin an exciting time. I’m almost done with school and will soon begin (I hope) my vocation. But, what will it matter if I do it apart from God’s presence in my life. Remembering, of course, that this is the same God who led Israel out of Egypt from slavery to the promised land…the same God who created the heavens and earth, the universe and all that is in it…the same God who sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save the world (literally the universe) from it fallenness. Yeah, I’m pretty sure I need His presence in my life. Knowing all that, thinking that is enough, Moses then asks for more. He says, in verse 18, “Please show me your glory.” Now that is a request. And, God consents, only with conditions. This is, of course, where the writer of “Rock of Ages” gets the important material for his hymn. God says, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘THE LORD’…But, you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live…Behold there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but may face shall not be seen.”

What's the point??

So, I've been thinking about this a lot lately and I've decided to give this a try. There is a large group of friends and family that, for various reasons, I haven't been able to communicate with for the last few years. This has been a major concern of mine. The individuals I want to reconnect with are very important to me, though I doubt I have been able to let them know that. What can I say, life is a whirlwind. In the last three years, I have gone from a man with very few and unimportant responsibilities to a man with many. I've been a teacher, student, father, and husband. Not to mention that there are many other interests that have occupied my time. But the truth of the matter is that often during this time I have neglected many friendships and family relations that matter to me. So, the point of this blog includes but is not limited to the following:

1. I want this to be a place where I can connect or reconnect with family and friends. It is simply impossible to call people as much as I would like to, but I do have enough free time to write on this blog from time to time. So, many of the blog posts will detail the going-ons at the Estes household.
2. I also want to share some of the insights I've learned over the last few years, which, I believe, have been many. I would love to interact with my friends and family about some of these things. I think your thoughts would be extremely valuable to me as I prepare for the next stage of my life. In truth, I often have felt a little disconnected with the outside world in my "seminary bubble." Many of you might have a better feel for what really matters to everyday people than the rest of us seminarians.
3. I will use the blog to share my thoughts on books I have been reading. This will be useful to those who choose to read the blog (I hope) and myself.

I hope that this will be something that will be edifying to many of my friends and family and enjoyable to all. Don't be shy about commenting.