Sabbath

I was listening to a sermon by Matt Chandler recently about the Sabbath and it was very impactful.  He talked about the importance of rest and how vital it is for us to take time for the things that are good in our lives.  He laid the foundation for the purpose of Sabbath with Jesus' words about the Sabbath being made for man, not man for the Sabbath. One of the things that really struck me about his message was his emphasis on using the Sabbath not to avoid work, but rather to really enjoy God's grace and His good for us -- to share a meal with friends, to relax with my wife, to laugh with my son.

I've decided to make Sunday my day of rest.  I'm still working out what that looks like, but I know a couple of things:

1. No work, and a lot less computer.
2. No obligations.  Lauren and I teach the Youth at our church and this means we have our lesson done before Sunday, so we don't feel rushed to get it done.
3. Eat well, laugh, and rest.

One of the last things Matt said was a quote from a Jewish Rabbi, "Those who work with their minds tend to Sabbath with their hands, those who work with their hands tend to Sabbath with their minds."  I really resonate with that.  I spend most of my week plugging away at the computer and so I find real joy and rest in working with my hands -- whether that is working in the yard or woodworking in my garage.

As part of my exploration of what it means for me to Sabbath I took on a woodworking project for Lauren.  She had asked me to make her a table to put by the rocking chair in the nursery so she would have a place to set her phone and water (apparently you get really thirsty when you're breast-feeding).  I've been slowly delving into woodworking with some small projects (bookshelves, wine racks, bird feeder) and one larger project (Cherry jewelry box).  There is something really relaxing about working with wood to me and something really satisfying in making something with my own hands.

I made the table with some oak I got from our pastor -- he sells stair parts and is able to pick up the scraps from a furniture maker in Dawsonville.  I had to buy the wood for the top from Lowes, cut it, and glue the two pieces together to create the single 14x14" top.  I routed the edge of the top with my router table to give it a nice, curved look.  I pre-drilled the holes for the legs and support pieces, then screwed and glued the whole thing together.  Finally, I sanded everything down and put two coats of polyurethane on it.

I learn a lot with each project.  Woodworking forces me to slow down, to measure twice, to care about the small things.  My hope is that as I Sabbath well, I will work well and live well.

He Got His Own Day

Well, he is finally here!  If you haven't already heard, Sean Jacob Grigg was born Monday night at 7:09.  He was 7 lbs 1 oz and 21 inches long with a full head of hair.  He is a beautiful baby boy and Lauren and I are so blessed to have our son here.  Mom is doing great, having delivered him sans drugs -- she is my hero.

We've setup a website for him where you can get the low down on the birth, see pictures (which we'll try to keep updated), and sign up to bring meals.  Check him out at www.seanjacobgrigg.com.

Evolution and Genesis

For a long time now I've loosely (and I say loosely because I hadn't really thought it through) held the belief that Christianity and evolution can co-exist.  I reasoned that God could have very well decided to create the perfect conditions and started the Big Bang and done His work of creation through evolution.  If someone's belief in evolution was a hurdle for them to believe the Gospel and what God has done, then that seemed to satisfy the tension for me.  The problem with that argument is the Bible.

I started what should be a lengthy and beautiful endeavor to read through and study Genesis.  After reading the first chapter I was just struct by the way God threw himself into the process of creation.  He spoke things into being, He placed the stars in the heavens and picked out the Sun and the Moon specifically for the earth.  He breathed the breath of life into us.  He worked up such a sweat that He rested on the seventh day.  I believe that all of scripture is true and after reading Genesis 1, I can not come away without believing that the Bible and evolution are wholeheartedly at odds.

Now, the Bible leaves space for mystery and I certainly don't claim to know the mind of God, but I can not continue believing that God created the Earth through evolution.  The more I began to think about this the less it made sense.  My understanding of the person of God is He is deeply involved in our lives, cares deeply about what happens in this world, and does not stand idly by.  If I believe that about Him now, I also believe that about Him since the beginning.

Our pastor Jamie has been talking about how so many people are leaving the Church and the faith as they get out of high school and on into their twenties.  He believes a large part of it has to do with the Church not taking a stand against evolution and what we believe to be true.  He says it is crucial that we teach our children what God's word says and that they can believe it to be true.  If evolution is true, then there isn't really a need for God and the reality is we are desperately in need of God.

I still have a lot to process and some research to do in the scientific support for intelligent design.  I don't believe science and the Bible have to be at odds -- God created the laws of science that govern the world.  This can be a pretty heated topic and I would love some good discussion around it.

Peace to you.

UnNaming Wisdom

I've been spending a good bit of time thinking about raising our son.  I want him to grow up to be strong and courageous, to be generous and discerning.  I want him to know and love God -- okay with his doubts and hanging onto faith.  As my beautiful wife, who is wiser than I know, told me, all of that is not up to us. If we will allow him, God will form those things, God will call into his life and heart, God will embrace our son.

I love hearing my friend Winn talk about weekends when his wife is away and he gets to spend time with his two boys.  He tells them they are having a Collier man weekend.  He speaks to them about what it means to be a Collier man -- how to love God and people, how to live generously, how to slay fear.  I want my son to know what it means to be a Grigg man. I have many hopes for our son, but if I had one hope or wish, like Solomon, I would ask for wisdom. The proverbs have a wealth of wisdom and so these are 10 proverbs for my son.

1. Proverbs 15:33 "The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility"
2. Proverbs 3:25 "Do not be afraid of sudden fear, Nor the onslaught of the wicked when it comes"
3. Proverbs 14:25 "The naive believes everything, but the prudent man considers his steps"
4. Proverbs 3:3 "Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart."
5. Proverbs 3:27 "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it."
6. Proverbs 3:30-31 "Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.  Do not envy a man of violence, And do not choose any of his ways."
7. Proverbs 21:5 "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty."
8. Proverbs 21:13 "He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor, Will also cry himself and not be answered"
9. Proverbs 21:23 "He who guards his mouth and tongue, Guards his soul from troubles."
10. Proverbs 15:17 "Better is a dish of vegetables where love is, than a fattened ox and hatred with it."

Son, search for wisdom with all your heart -- I would start my search with God.

A Good Story

Lauren and I just got back from a weekend getaway in Savannah. Through a generous Christmas gift from her parents, we stole away for two nights to the city of cities. Savannah has a beautiful charm and a slow pace for being a decent size city. Fulfilling my vacation requirement for good food, we ate two incredible meals at the Olde Pink House (the restaurant we ate at the night we got engaged) and a little french place called Noble Fare. The local snapper and herb-crusted lamb were inspiring!

The highlight of the trip however, besides vacationing with my ravishing wife, was the trolly tour we took on Saturday. Now, I'm not usually one for tours -- usually over-priced, poorly guided, tourist traps -- this tour was incredible. What makes the difference is the tour guide. Our guide, Phil, wasn't really a tour guide, he was a story teller. He drove us around for almost 2 hours telling us tales of Sherman's march to burn Savannah, Lee's nickname for the city, and recited lines from Flannery O'Connor as we passed her childhood home.

He didn't tell about Savannah's history, he lived it. After most of the people had gotten off the bus, Phil chatted with a couple a few rows in front of us about how he and a close friend of his get together to swap stories. His buddy guides tours in Charleston and he talked about how they laugh and trade tips, and then he said the most curious thing -- the most beautiful thing. He said, "we talk about stories, not about the stories themselves, but how to tell the story."

Phil, I take my hat off to you and thank you for a refreshing, riveting tour of Savannah -- keep telling your stories.