Mountain Musings

Uncle Al

Last week my Dad called from Connecticut to let me know that my Uncle Al (Dad's brother) had died.  Uncle Al has been struggling against cancer for some time now. Dad had gone over to his house to stay with him for a while so his wife Pat could go out to do some errands. But a few minutes after Dad's arrival, he suddenly passed away. His funeral service was on Thursday, and he was given military honors (WW2 vet).  We will miss him.

Some remembrances:

• He and Aunt Pat (like many of my extended family) were very accepting of my bride, Deb. He would ask her lots of questions to find out about her background, and he would also give her some good-natured ribbing (she's from the south, he's from the north). We enjoyed chats with him when we visited in New England.

• He was very jolly and full of laughter. He liked to tell stories.  He could also turn on a dime and talk very seriously about issues of life. And he had some decided opinions on things -- no doubt about where he was coming from.

• I can't remember the context or subject, but he was relating a conversation/debate he'd had with someone. I recall that Uncle Al told the person something to this affect, "Look, the main thing I care about is going to heaven. The rest of the stuff is not as important."

• He loved hamburgers. He was the original Wimpy (refer to old Popeye cartoons for those of you who don't know who that is).

Please pray for Aunt Pat as she deals with the loss of Uncle Al.  She has been having her own struggle against cancer for a few years now. She has a pretty spunky and enjoyable personality, as you can probably tell from the picture above. But she really needs the strength of the Lord right now. Please pray that she would know Him.

~Tom

Remembering a Year Ago

A few weeks ago, our church fellowship had a special celebration. We brought to mind and gave thanks to the Lord for how He sovereignly worked to bring us together one year prior. Each head of household related the details of his family's experience of how we met and were drawn together. We then had a time of thankful prayer, and after some time in the Scriptures, we enjoyed our Lord's Table meal -- complete with a Sarah-baked anniversary cake.

It was a very encouraging time in the Lord, and we appreciate these dear folks with whom we have been knitted together.

"Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth." 1 Chronicles 16:12

~ Tom

Church Takes a Hike

Inspired by our brother Erich, and motivated by our desire for some fellowship-fun with the rest of the church, we recently went on a hike together. The Shenandoah Valley has some great resources, including lots of trails through mountains and hollows to enjoy. So we planned a Saturday when we would hike together in the afternoon then come back to our home for a picnic supper and games. After some research, we settled on the Trimble Mountain Trail in northwestern Augusta County, near the Todd Lake Recreation Area. TMT is a 4-mile loop with moderate and easy parts. We got trail maps and directions off the internet, ready to go.

The Hochstetler family met us at our house, and we caravaned up there, intending to meet Erich, who was driving down on his new motorcycle, at the trail head. But the best laid plans.... We had to drive up and down the area a few times and stop to ask three people before we finally found the well-camoflaged trail head. One problem still: Erich had still not arrived. We searched the road in each direction but didn't find him. No cell service to call him. So we prayed for him and launched out on the trail. Deb "stayed by the stuff" and did some knitting in the van to guard the base camp and watch for Erich.

The first part of the trail was a LONG uphill climb, first through a field, then mostly through woods. We definitely got our exercise. We enjoyed the outdoors along the way, pointing out things like millipedes, bright metallic green bugs, a pretty blue butterfly, and other items to Madeline. Madeline also kept us entertained with her commentary (it was very refreshing to see a young lady so comfortable talking to adults). She also demonstrated how a Queen Anne's Lace flower smells like carrots when you break it.

As the loop (finally) topped and levelled out, we saw some pretty views of Reddish Knob and Shenandoah Mountain. We took a rest up there, and then we heard it -- the crackling of our walkie talkie -- it was Erich! After a few minutes, up he walks to join us. It turns out he had gotten a little turned around among the county roads, and arrived at the van about half an hour after we started up the trail.  So, like the trooper he is, he double-timed it non-stop up the hill until he caught up with us. Must be nice to be young! We were relieved to see he was OK and glad to have him with us.

The latter part of the loop was level, then downhill, so it was much easier and faster. We got back to base and the Gatorade after about two and a half hours. We were tuckered, but happy with how it went.

After that, we caravaned back to our house, fired up the grill, and had a great supper prepped by the ladies (THANK YOU!). We got to have the first church-initiation of our new picnic table in the yard. Just as we finished eating, a thunderstorm rolled through, so we hustled our stuff inside (we later found out that a tornado hit a rural area about an hour northeast of us).  A friendly game of Pictionary ensued, guy team vs. girl team, and the guys actually won (that doesn't happen very often). After that, it was time for good-byes and going home for some shut-eye.

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!"  Psalm 133:1

~ Tom

My Next Reading Project

Deb gave me this book about a year ago (last Christmas), and I am just now starting to read it. I really look forward to it!

From the Introduction by Tryon Edwards, 1851: "The subject of these Lectures is eminently practical and important.  Love is the first outgoing of the renewed soul to God - "We love him, because he first loved us."  It is the sure evidence of a saving work of grace in the soul - "The fruit of the Spirit is love." "

From Lecture 1: "The word [charity] properly signifies love, or that disposition or affection whereby one is dear to another... [re 1Corinthians 13] And by the apostle's mentioning so many and so high things, and then saying of them all, that they profited nothing without charity, we may justly conclude, that there is nothing at all that avails anything without it. Let a man have what he will, and do what he will, it signifies nothing without charity... Love will dispose the Christian to behave toward God, as a child to a father; amid difficulties, to resort to him for help, and put all his trust in him... It will dispose us to praise God for the mercies we receive from him... Love, again, will dispose our hearts to submission to the will of God, for we are more willing that the will of those we love should be done, than of others."

~ Tom

Encyclopedia of Me ~ U is for ...

Uncasville!

Where? That's the place where I spent most of my growing-up years.  Technically a small village incorporated into the town of Montville in southeastern Connecticut, most of my memories of childhood and teen years revolve around this small New England burg.

After my birth in nearby New London, at an age too young for me to remember, my parents moved us to Uncasville, into a small house on Maple Avenue. It had light green painted cedar shakes for siding, an upstairs, downstairs, and a basement, along with a hill on one side that was great for sledding. The fields and woods behind the house seemed to stretch for miles when we would go exploring as kids, though when I looked there in later years, they had shrunk to a much smaller size. I attended Palmer Memorial Elementary School, St. John's Jr. High School, and St. Bernard's High School there.

There were four of us siblings in the family. Our parents taught us about God, respect for Him, and being decent people. And they had great love for us. These foundations were later used by the Lord to draw me to Him. In the picture on the right, that's my dad and me standing in front of 195 Maple Avenue on a cold February day in 1980--the weekend I proposed to Deb in the living room of that house.

In the mid-90s, Uncasville had the dubious distinction of becoming home to the Mohegan Sun, owned and operated by the Mohegan Tribal Nations, one of the largest gambling casinos in the world. From what my sister tells me, the effects on the area are not altogether positive.

My dad is now retired (he worked many years for General Dynamics Electric Boat division, a major economic influence in the region). He lives in nearby Quaker Hill, not far from where he grew up himself.

Soon we'll be taking a trip up to Uncasville to spend a few days with my dad and siblings and family. We haven't made that trip for a few years, so it will be enjoyable to be around them again.

~ Tom

Encyclopedia of Me ~ S is for...

Sundays!

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God..." (from Acts 2)

And so the Church is born, the household of God - with simplicity in fellowship, prayer, the Word, worship, and with the Lord Jesus as head. The apostles soon had the saints meeting together regularly on the first day of the week, dubbed "the Lord's Day" to commemorate the day the Lord was resurrected, our modern-day Sunday. It's a day we really enjoy...

We first met the Wagner family last year, followed by a providential encounter in Martin's grocery store. After some emails and phone calls, we started getting to know one another with visits to one another's homes. They are a dear and gracious family who love the Lord, and they are a joy to be around. The Lord has knitted our hearts as we have spent time together discussing views on family, church, theology, leadership, schooling, etc., as well as learning each other's backgrounds and having some good old fun. After some months, we decided to take the plunge and started meeting together as a fledgling church. We swap hosting, hospitality, and teaching back and forth.

We've enjoyed fellowshipping with several visitors including the Murphy family and their five children who were in the area from Washington State, a local farm intern who stopped by as he searches for a church to attend, and Deb's mom who has visited a few times.

Our Lord's Days together typically start with greetings, smiles, and chat, followed by prayer and singing some hymns (some chosen ahead, some chosen spontaneously). Then we'll usually share about what is going on in life, praises and testimonies on how the Lord is working, concerns and prayer requests, then prayer together. Then, more hymns (we'd like to start learning some psalms in parts soon), followed by the main teaching with some expansion and/or questions by the other men.

We pray and move to the eating area to celebrate the Lord's Supper with the elements and a meal (thanks, ladies!). A couple of hours of relaxed fellowship follow, and eventually we disperse home -- encouraged and thankful for the blessing of those whom God has brought into our life.

~Tom

Answering Some Questions...

Thank you to everyone who submitted questions for our Encyclopedia of Me ~ Q is for Questions post. Here are the questions and our answers below:

Cindi asks: "What is each of your favorite fictitious book?"

I like so many books, it's absolutely impossible to pick ONE favorite. :) Some of my many favorites include the Elsie Dinsmore series, Pansy books, Lamplighter books, Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, the Chronicles of Narnia, Heidi, Pollyanna, the Swiss Family Robinson, and many others. ~Sarah

I actually don't read very much fiction, although I recently finished reading for the first time the Chronicles of Narnia series, which I enjoyed. ~Hannah

I have enjoyed several of Francine Rivers' and Angela Hunt's novels, and I enjoy reading Jamie Langston Turner's books, but I don't normally read a lot, although I do enjoy reading blogs and perusing magazines like Southern Living, Country Living, and Country Home to gather new recipes and see new ideas for country decorating . ~Deb

Tammy asks: "Does everyone in the family have a life verse, and if yes what are they?"

I've probably mentioned my life verses on the blog before; they are Jeremiah 29:11-13. I like them because of the great promises of God to me if I seek Him always as Lord of my life. Situations sometimes may look bad, but God means it all for good according to verse 11. ~Deb

Chyrll asks: "What is your favorite recipe and recipe book?"

Two of my favorite recipes are Chocolatetown Pie* and Key Lime Pie*, simply because they are very quick and easy to make, plus they both are quite yummy. :) I probably like my 2002 Taste of Home cookbook best...it really seems to have a good selection of recipes. ~Sarah

Like Sarah, I also like many of the recipes in Taste of Home magazines, and I have quite the collection of back issues to refer to when I want to try something new. Sue Gregg's Eating Better Cookbooks have some tasty recipes that we have yet to make. Some of our favorites have come from her Soups and Muffins book. ~ Hannah

Dorothy asks: "I would like to know what your Dad was like, Deb? It is fun to read about your Mom, and she seems to be so sweet...your Dad must have been someone very special, too."

Yes, very! My dad was a quiet, steady, and faithful man. Working in a cloth factory on second shift, he worked hard, came home and slept, and went back to work--day after day, year after year. He taught a young boys' Sunday School class for years, and I can still remember the big green set of Matthew Henry commentaries we had that he often studied for his lessons. Growing up, we took family vacations to the Smoky Mountains and traveled to revival meetings and gospel singings, and we always had a fun time as a family. In later years he loved spending time with his grandchildren. Here's a picture of my dad taken before the Lord called him home to heaven in January, 1999; we miss him very much!

And Sherrin had several she wanted to ask including: "When did you begin gardening, and what started you out?"

While Mom has always been into planting flowers and shrubs wherever we've lived over the years, and our whole family has done plenty of yardwork together, my interest in gardening really started when we moved to the Valley in 2002. Since we have 5 acres and plenty of full sun, there was room to begin a garden plot of our own. So in the spring of 2003, Mom and I put in several veggies in raised beds that we had mapped out for Dad to build. Our new home was also blessed with a friend's gift of many divided perennials that have since been added to--each year the garden here changes, and there is always something new growing! I've enjoyed doing a lot of reading and learning as I go. I'm glad for the chance to get this experience with gardening and to use it to serve our family. (Pictured: pineapple sage) ~Hannah

"Do you follow any particular ideas about courtship?"

We subscribe to Bible principles of loving parental involvement, protection, counsel, and betrothal. See the description in this post, under the heading "Marriage Preparation" (scroll down). We have been blessed with perspectives on this subject from John Thompson, Jonathan Lindvall, Douglas Wilson, Heather Paulsen, and others (see links and references in the post). ~Tom

"Do you have a daily schedule?"

No, I really don't (although I'd recommend it for a new wife starting out). I usually do things when they need doing rather than planning which day I do them or what time of the day I grocery shop or clean. If we're out of food, it's time to shop. If company's coming, it's time to clean. (That's a little joke there...but, seriously, having company over is a great motivation for cleaning!) I used to be much more schedule-oriented when we homeschooled because I had to make sure a large chunk of time was designated specifically for schooling with additional time scheduled for all the rest of the housework.

My time is quite freer now, and I have time to garden and landscape, quilt, knit, or cross-stitch, work on scrapbooking, have friends over for lunch, or write letters...so I plan my day around whatever is going on with the family. Plus, having adult daughters to work alongside me is quite the wonderful blessing. ~Deb

* recipes on continuation page

Encyclopedia of Me ~ O is for...

Occupation

"Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going." (Ec 9:9-10 NAS95)

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve." (Col 3:23-24 NAS95)

By training, I am an electrical engineer. My present earthly occupation by which I earn a living for my family is operations & construction manager for an electric utility. Like most work, it is filled with challenges, enjoyments, and frustrations--but never boredom! My role is to lead and organize a group of electric line workers, along with their supervisors and administrative help, to build and maintain a power system in the Shenandoah Valley. We also must restore service when power goes out (due to weather, people, or objects hitting or cutting lines, etc.). Never a dull moment.

The important thing to remember is to both: (1) work heartily as for the Lord, glorifying Him by the way I do my work and carry my attitude, and (2) realize that this work is temporal, not getting wrapped up in it for its own sake, and looking forward to being with the Lord for eternity. Maintain that balanced perspective.

~Tom

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Thanks, Dad, for your legacy:

• Believing in the Lord Jesus
• Loving and leading your family
• Appreciating the gift of music
• Humility, deference to others, and sacrificial service
• Showing mercy and grace, even when we erred

Lots of love,

Tom

"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage."  Psalm 16:6

Church Planters' Symposium, Part 2

Continuing from our previous post about the Church Planters' Symposium in Wake Forest, NC...

Day 2 - Going to the Conference Center in the Morning

After getting ready at the hotel, eating the famous Hampton Inn continental breakfast, checking out, and loading the car, we headed out and took a few pictures in the immediate area, including the nearby Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary grounds. After parking in downtown, we still had a bit of time, so we strolled over to the farmers market that was set up in another nearby parking lot. There were a combination of foods, crafts, and other items for sale.  We sat in a gazebo at one end for a little bit, but then needed to move on because a music group started setting up their instruments there. When the hammer dulcimer was set up, Jonathan was tempted to stay and listen, but we all knew we wanted to get to that conference!  So we headed over and went in.

Panel, Church Polity Decisions

Scott, Jason, and Dan were joined by Steve Breagy, another man from Hope Baptist Church who is going through an elder examination, to form a panel to discuss various topics of church polity. They used a printed package that Hope Baptist uses for new prospective members as a basis for the presentations.

Church Membership

Scott reviewed principles and practical advice from an article by Mark Dever about church membership... sounds like the term "member" was being used in a little different sense than Paul uses when he explains the metaphor of the universal body of Christ with His members. "Member" here basically meant a believer who is an identified, committed, involved part of a local assembly... there are no indisputable proof texts in the Scriptures for local church membership, but there are passages that imply formal membership in a local assembly... 1Corinthians 5:2,7,12-13 outsiders and insiders, inclusion and exclusion... 2Corinthians 2:6-7 majority refers to a group commonly recognized as church's members... membership verifies salvation and encourages the development of fruit in life, practicing one anothers... signifies a regular responsibility that involves one in others' lives... criteria: only genuine regenerated believers, love, covenant, fruit of godly character and actions... requirements of members - attend, give, pray, attend communion, attend business meetings... beware of meaningless membership... clearer witness to non-Christians, edify the church, spiritual protection, spiritual assurance, God's name... For me, I definitely see the value of a verbalized, known by all, drive-a-stake-in-the-ground commitment of a person or family to a local assembly (and for that commitment to continue through all the rough spots). But I haven't gotten yet to the point of being fired up about the administrative aspects of keeping a membership roll or that that document has any kind of big meaning in itself -- though church directories have been handy things, haven't they? And 1Timothy 5:9 talks about a list of widows...

Church Covenants

The panel then touched upon Hope's church constitution, though they didn't cover it in depth.  It starts with the purpose of the church, followed by a boiled-down statement of faith with 5 basic essential doctrines that they believe all born-again believers must hold to. Following that, there is a reference to the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689 being their fuller statement of faith which all officers must uphold and teach (members may take exception to any of the points in that confession, but agree not to cause dissension by speaking against them within the church)... then follows a description and commitment to many principles and practices, many things covered in the previous post, plus several other matters. This was only touched upon. 

Following that, the panel spent some time on the value of churches having a written covenant. They went down Hope's Church Covenant point by point (12 points on one sheet of paper). All the points are specific commitments to how the church members will love one another and behave toward one another as a local body.  Very neat. New members (after an initial review process and approval by elders) formally stand before the whole church and commit themselves via this covenant to the rest of the church. I don't recall seeing the practice of a written covenant in the NT, but I can see the value of thinking through and setting down the specifics on paper of exactly what I am committing to when I join with the church. Jason and Scott emphasized that the purpose of this whole presentation was not to get everyone to buy in to Hope's constitution and covenant, but to give an example of what one can look like and to encourage its use as a helpful tool.

Lunch - Barbecue pork on rolls, potato salad, chips, brownies.  YUM. Oh yeah, by the way, they offered sweetened ice tea to drink. My observation is that Virginians' tea "standard" tends to be unsweetened, with sweetened as an option, but North Carolinians tend to be the other way around - sweetened is the standard... More chat time with other participants.  Also got a chance to talk to Scott's dad, Mr. Bill Brown, who dropped by for a while.

Singing - By the way, on both days, before each session, a seminary student named Andrew, led us all in singing a hymn and prayer, then introduced the next speaker.  He wore a very cheerful countenance, and his enthusiasm was contagious. He did a great job.

Steve Breagy, Church Planting Checklist

Started with the principle from Psalm 127 unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain... checklist can be helpful, but really need to depend on the Lord and follow the Scriptures... cannot possibly cover all the aspects of starting a church, but covered a few main things, then left the rest up to questions... Leadership - need qualified men as leaders, see previous messages; seek out the elders from among yourselves, practice hospitality so you can really get to know one another's character before making an elder... Doctrine - orthodoxy and orthopraxy, hash them out with other families at the front end; holding fast the faithful word, sound doctrine and its application are important; if we differ on anything is it really a big enough issue to be divisive? Leaders really need to be much closer in agreement, other members more leeway... Vision and mission - what is our purpose, and how to we intend to work toward it... Location - homes, rent, or buy? do we take on debt if we buy?... Money - how handle tithes and offering, accountability for handling funds; tax Id and bank account; 501c3 incorporation or not... Do we pay the elders... how practice the Lord's Table and how often... how many families minimum to make a viable church body? Enough to be able to practice one-anothers and not too big for everyone to know one another, no definite number in Scripture... How find other like-minded families? VF NCFIC web site, home school networks, reach out to those who don't yet believe or practice the biblical principles of family... examine men for elders, observe them for a while under pressure, have whole congregation together to question the elder candidate; ask neighbors and friends (good reputation?) and wife!

Break - more chat time, met and chatted with Eddie from Emporia, VA, great testimony about how he had been a full-time "traditional pastor" but became convicted by the Lord about biblical principles of family integration and eldership; after talking to deacons but not getting agreement, he felt he had to resign (which lost him his church, his job, and his home); but soon after, the Lord arranged that he would meet up with a group of families in the area who had been praying for 2 years for a qualified elder who held to these principles -- and there's Eddie! Now the guys in his new fellowship (2 of whom were at the conference with him) call him their hero. Also during the breaks, we would look over and see Dan's son faithfully typing up his dad's power point presentations for him.

Dan Horn, When and How to Leave a Church

First and foremost, we need to be very deliberate about lovingly working within my existing church before I should think about leaving... be very watchful for wrong, critical attitudes... the Lord didn't make me an elder in existing church so I don't have any authority for forcing an elder to change, appeal patiently, humbly, and in love... Apply 1Corinthians 13 as I appeal... Possible reasons to leave after all that: serious doctrinal error, protecting your family, inability to fulfill responsibilities (subjective), or I would cause dissenson by staying... if I have to leave, do so in good grace and love... for new folks visiting your fellowship, talk to their previous church to make sure they left in love.

Scott Brown, Growing a Church

Teaching through Ephesians 4... walk in a manner worthy of His calling, behavior and attitude... guard and preserve unity of Spirit with 4 virtues - lowliness, gentleness, longsuffering, bearing with one another in love; appreciate our oneness in Christ... grow the church through grace, gifts of grace and gifted men... speak the truth in love and grow up into Christ, reap the fruit of the Spirit's gifts operating... put off worldliness and patterns of Gentiles... 30 years later, in the book of Revelation, John appealed to the Ephesians to renew their first love.

Saying Bye - lots of good-byes with our new acquaintances, thanked Scott, Jason, and Dan profusely for ministering to us... chatted more with our Massachusetts friends and got their email address if we want some pointers on planting... helped stack the chairs against the wall, then headed out to the car and hit the road, taking a few more pictures in town on the way out...

Trip Back - oh, by the way, Wake Forest has one of those atrocious "traffic circles" right near the seminary, always a challenge not smashing into someone else, but we went through safely one more time as we left town... Hannah discovered how to take a short video on my camera and took some interesting (?) footage... another very nice country drive back through NC and VA... we stopped to grab something quick for supper; arrived home around 9:30 pm tired but happy to be back with Deb and Sarah (and Pepper too, of course, bark-bark I'm so excited).

We are very thankful that we had the chance to gain some perspective and wisdom from these men and to gain encouragement from like-minded families. Pray that the Lord would help us apply His wisdom as we seek what He would have us do.

~ Tom