Thursday, March 26, 2020

Wars In Italy

Italy is in the midst of one of the worst wars it has ever experienced.  In its war against the Coronavirus, it has lost over 7500 lives - more than any other country in the world.  Over 2000 years ago, Italy was in the midst of another war, a civil war being led by Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar.  Marcus Tullius Cicero was one of the leaders working with Pompey and was eventually executed by Mark Anthony.  Cicero was also known as one of Rome's greatest orators and a master of the Latin language.  One of his most famous quotes is, "Dum spiro, spero".  Translated, "while I breathe, I hope".

One of the disappointments of social distancing for me and Caroline has been the suspension of our Georgia Wind Symphony schedule.  I find peace in listening to this arrangement by Chris Pilsner being performed by our Georgia Wind Symphony and directed by Conductor-Emeritus, David Gregory, "Dum Spiro Spero".


Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Fear No More

I hate cliche.  But in trying to write about what we are going through right now, I find it difficult to come up with an original thought.  My heart aches for the people who have been directly affected - those infected, the families that have lost loved ones and those that have lost their jobs.  My heart soars as I see the hospital workers on the front line risking their own health to help others.   I'm confounded over wanting to help others but needing to stay separate.  I am trying to see social distancing as a chance to be closer to my immediate family.   I am trying to remember that God is in control and fear no more.  Listen and take a few minutes to focus on Him.

Thursday, March 12, 2020

I Still Believe

Jeremy Camp's, I Still Believe, is one of my favorite songs of all time.  I didn't know a lot about Jeremy's personal story until this week when I saw that there is a movie about him being released by the same name, "I Still Believe".  After some quick research, I found out that Jeremy's first wife died of ovarian cancer at the age of 23.  "I Still Believe" was the first song he wrote after her death.  These lyrics hold a new meaning for me now, and I am looking forward to seeing the movie.  Here is the original song, and here is a re-release for the movie.  Keep believing.


Thursday, March 5, 2020

Apple Orchard

Last night, our ConnectGroup met to continue the study of Ravi Zacharias's book, The Grand Weaver.  Chapter four focuses on morality, and Ravi begins with a discussion of the Garden of Eden.   While I have probably read about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil dozens of times, I was embarrassed that I didn't remember that there was a second named tree, The Tree of Life.  Not a lot is said in  Genesis about why there are two trees, but I think The Tree of Life is there to represent the choice that we have - the choice to either try to be God or to the choice to try to follow God.  When Adam and Eve ate from The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil,  two things happened: they disobeyed God's direct instruction not to eat from that tree, and they were lured into thinking that by eating the fruit, they would know what God knows and be equal to him.  The Tree of Life represents the life that God makes available to each of us through obedience to him and a recognition that He is almighty and above us.  Adam and Eve spoiled that opportunity for themselves and all that followed them, but God filled the chasm by allowing His Son to come to our busted world and die to pay the debt for our sins - thus becoming The Everlasting Tree of Life.