Crossway Life

This past weekend was quite a whirlwind.  There I was, shopping for black leather boots (65% off, I might add) when my stomach and back began to ache in a most excruciating fashion.  I thought that it was the great deal I was about to get.  But my trip to the ER proved otherwise.  It was, in fact, Pancreatitis.  After a few days in the hospital, I am glad to be home, beginning to care for my home and family again.  God is merciful.

Thank you so very much for ALL of the kindness that you have extended to our family during this past week.  I could tangibly feel your prayers as I was in the hospital.  The phone calls, visits, cards, offers for childcare, and meals have been an incredible blessing; reminding us of what a great privilege it is to serve our Savior alongside of you.  We love you and are so grateful to God for you.

Thank you, Crossway!

Last week President Obama’s released a statement on abortion that continues the right of women to abort their children in this country. While he holds great power to speak on behalf of the defenseless there is One who has ultimate power to protect. Let us pray that we will live to see the day when this horrendous practice will cease.

On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not only protects women’s health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose.

While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, and support women and families in the choices they make. To accomplish these goals, we must work to find common ground to expand access to affordable contraception, accurate health information, and preventative services.

On this anniversary, we must also recommit ourselves more broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights and opportunities as our sons: the chance to attain a world-class education; to have fulfilling careers in any industry; to be treated fairly and paid equally for their work; and to have no limits on their dreams. That is what I want for women everywhere.

To read the excellent post by Justin Taylor from which this quote came from go here.

In a sermon over the weekend John Piper made these comments:

Let our prayers continue . . .

The other night at dinner Cynthia and I were talking about our lives together and reflecting on the many and varied experiences we have had over the years. There have been good times and there have been hard times. In the midst of this discussion Cynthia commented, “You know, this is as good as it gets.” When she said that we both realized the truth of the statement. We all live this life with the hope of capturing the good and preserving it. There is the expectation that we will experience a rich relational moment or a perfect vacation. This inner desire is a strong force.

If we are honest we all have hope for life to get better, for our homes to be peaceful, and for our families to be reunited. C. S. Lewis writes in the Weight of Glory and Other Addresses that we all “long to be reunited with something in the universe from which we feel cut off, . . .  to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside . . .” This inner longing is a gift from God. We were created to live at peace with God and we all long to return to the garden where he first placed our fore bearers Adam and Eve.

Cynthia and I are grateful for our life, our marriage and our family, but we are beginning to realize that we will never truly experience the “good life” until we meet Jesus. He is that “blessed hope” that Titus talks about in Titus 2:13. He is the peace that we long for. Until we see him face to face, our life together here on earth is as good as it gets. And that’s alright because what awaits us is beyond imagination. Maranatha!

For the first time, the Plank family finally subscribed to cable television.  While setting up “expanded basic service” (which affords the Comcast consumer 69 channels), I glanced over some of the other options and found the possibilities staggering.  With full digital service, a television can be unleashed to feature 251 channels.  Yes, I read it right: 251 channels.  That would take approx. 4 minutes to flip through the channels and see what is on (at 1 channel per second).  At that rate it would probably take days to actually find something worth watching, and by the time I did find something, it would probably only have a few minutes left in the program.  Oh well, I guess I’ll go read Calvin’s Institutes.

This is what struck me about cable television: hundreds of videographic possibilities flow through a single strand of copper cable.  It blows my mind.  If you ever have the chance, disassemble a standard TV cable and see what I mean.

Mankind has risen to such technological heights, has created vast empires equipped with armed forces, has built skyscapers, supersonic jets, even walked on the moon, but one thing remains constant in spite of our advances: God is not impressed.

His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Ps. 147:10-11).

I love the fact that God sees through our legion of towers of Babel.  I love that his eyes are drawn to those who place their weak, sinful selves into his care and salvation.  O, to know grace that takes us and dismisses our accomplishments, and instead, counts the only perfect works of God the Son.  May we be found in him!

Young Adults Care Group (Part 2)

Lead by Quay and Shannon Hanna

Crossway’s other Young Adult Care Group is led by Quay and Shannon Hanna. This is notoriously the “wild and crazy” young adult group, which makes sense if you’ve ever experienced Quay’s exuberance and passion. Perhaps they are only appropriately mirroring their leadership. In fact, when asked what describes the “flavor” of their group, they responded: Wild Berry/Apple. The wild berry aspect of the group is enthusiastic and funny, while the apple represents a core of young people who are solid and hardy.

This group is also made up entirely of single adults who range in age from 18 to 25, including Joshua Cranmer who is both the funniest thing that has ever happened to this group and their most unique aspect. Besides the presence of Joshua, the group is also distinctly defined by the amount of talented musicians they have in their midst and the fact that, between the two young adult groups, they apparently have the most Mac users (something that, it seems, deserves great bragging rights). It’s also worth mentioning that the group has a deep respect for the fact that their leader fancies Monster Trucks.

The care group wants to recognize Quay & Shannon by noting that this couple serves and care for them generously. In sharing their sentiments about their leaders they said that Quay and Shannon “excel in qualities such as hospitality, joy, care, humility, insight, leadership, and humor.” Each individual feels honored to be part of this group.

When everyone is present there are 32 young people, 2 leaders and their two young children-, and they all gather together in Quay and Shannon’s home. This can make for cramped quarters, so on occasion they have been forced to meet outdoors even in coolest of temperatures. They don’t mind where they meet, as long as they have some amazing snacks and deep fellowship with one another. Both seem to always be present.
A Quick Spotlight on John Haughery
John, your humble leadership and generosity make you an outstanding role male role model. We are especially grateful for the inspiration you are to our son QJ. Thank you! -The Hannas

GROUP MEMBERS:
Ladessa Aument, Bethany Babb, Kristen Bell, Cori Bitterman, Angela Borghi, Julia Borghi, Joshua Cranmer, Holly DeVries, Bryanna Freeman, Jessica Ginder, Jewel Ginder, Lynn Haubelt, Christopher Haughery, John Haughery, William Haughery, Mike Kappen, Katrina Landis, Noah Lewis, Caleb Lewis, Ethan Mellinger, Philip Mellinger, David Oliver, Kelly Oliver, Alison Racilla, Vinson Sensenig, Sarah Sensenig, Elya Shaheen, Matt Simkins, Becca Smith, Brandon Smith, Seth Witmer, Sheldon Witmer

A few months back I posted one of my favorite soup recipes.  I had so many of you come to me and let me know that you tried it and loved it, so I thought I would post a few more.  Nothing like some hot soup on these cold, winter days.

My new favorite soup recipe comes from our one and only Kendra Bigley.  She was kind enough to bring us a meal shortly after little Greta was born.  I believe this is the west coast version of chicken corn soup.  Don’t try to compare, they are each in a league of their own.              

Chicken Corn Chowder

• 2 c. diced potatoes
• 1/2 c. sliced celery
• 1/2 c. sliced carrots
• 1/4 c. chopped onion
• 1 1/2 t. salt
• 1/4 t. pepper
• 2 c. chicken broth
• 2-3 chicken breasts
• 2 c.  milk
• 2 c. kernel corn
• 2 T. cornstarch mixed with 1/4 cold water
• shredded cheddar cheese

Simmer first 7 ingredients until tender.  In separate pot, boil chicken.  Shred and add to veggies.  Add milk, corn, and cornstarch/water mixture.  Do not boil.  Top with grated cheddar.  Makes 4 servings.  Oh, so yummy.

My next recipe is one of my absolute favorites simply because it is SO easy.  I think it is probably the fastest meal that I make.  And don’t get me wrong, there will be no loss in yumminess here because of the lack of time spent preparing!!  

Chicken Tortilla Soup

• 4 chicken breasts (I throw mine in frozen!)
• 2 14 oz. cans black beans
• 2 14 oz. cans chicken broth
• 1 jar salsa
• If you have some cilantro, throw that in.  It increases the yumminess factor by about 10.

Cook this all day in the crock pot.  When the chicken is nice and tender, shred it and return to the soup.  Serve with crushed tortilla chips and shredded cheddar on top.

Note: This recipe is very flexible, you cannot mess it up.  Instead of a whole jar of salsa, you could do crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and some green chiles.  Also note that if you taste the soup, it may taste as if it needs some salt.  I don’t add any because the saltiness of the chips is enough.

I really shouldn’t mention any names (ahem…Cynthia), but I got  a little grief that my cheeseburger soup was not the healthiest soup on the block.  So… to put a nod out to all who are health conscious, I have included the following. Don’t be scared by the lentils.  They are delicious, even our kids love them.

Lentil and Brown Rice Soup

• 5 c. chicken broth
• 3 c. water
• 1 1/2 c. dry lentils
• 1 c. long-grain brown rice, uncooked
• 1 35 oz. can crushed tomatoes
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 1/2 t. basil
• 1/2 t. oregano
• 1/2 t. thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 t. parsley
• 1/4 t. pepper
• 1 /2 t. salt
• 2 T. cider vinegar

Combine all ingredients EXCEPT vinegar in large pot.  Boil and simmer for 45-50 minutes, making sure rice and lentils are tender.  Remove from heat and add vinegar.

I hope that you and your family enjoy these as much as mine has!

One of the themes we discussed Tuesday night in our Vital Life class was our tendency to try to make God answerable to us.  As we looked at the book of Job, and studied the wrong-headed attitudes of Job (somewhat) and his friends (especially)–the formulaic idea that doing good always leads to blessing, and doing wrong always leads to trouble–we saw that at its heart, our desire is to put God in the witness stand (which the English call a dock)  and to call him to account.  ”How can this be happening to me?  Answer me, God!”

We saw how Job increasingly flirted with the idea that God is unjust.  In the opening chapters, he responds with an admirable faith in God, despite his sufferings.  But by chapters 26-31, he has come to even charge God with injustice.  Aren’t we prone to do the same?  I find that oftentimes my base assumption is that I am the supreme authority and arbiter of what ought and ought not be in my life.  If circumstances don’t unfold to my liking, then someone needs to be held accountable–and if a human being is not readily at hand to blame, then it’s not a far leap to begin blaming God himself.

Mercifully, Job’s story reveals both God’s kind condescension and his unassailable holiness.  He will not be held to account for how he ordains history.  He is God, and his ways are always right.  After Job makes his charges, God begins a series of questions designed to show just how foolish and small Job really is.  Was he there when God created all things?  Can he control even the smallest aspect of creation?  Who exactly does he think he is?  ”Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”  God is sovereign and he is good.  His ways and purposes are so far beyond our reckoning that it would be laughable–were it not so tragic–that we would even try to judge.  

Ultimately, our confidence comes from knowing the goodness and faithfulness of God, from knowing the love of God revealed as his Son hung on a cross absorbing the wrath and punishment that we deserve.  Seeing that unmerited love and goodness should catch us short anytime we are tempted to ask God to “take the stand.”

(For those who are interested in the audio of our classes, we are currently working on making them download-worthy, and hope to have them available beginning next week.)