Crossway Life

What mega city is 11 blocks by 13 blocks, with a population of 850? What city has no stop lights, 2 gas stations, 1 bank, 1 grocery store and no fast food restaurants?  What town is surrounded by corn and soybeans on 4 sides?  See for yourself.

Many people say they’re from a small town, but I think I have them all beat.  Perhaps it’s fresh on my mind because many of my family members will be in over the next week or so, but I thought it would be fun to illustrate what Midwest, small town life is like.  So, can anyone beat that for a small town?

Here is a song demo that was submitted for the Sovereign Grace “Sons & Daughters” project many months ago that I thought would be fun to share with you.

This song (titled “As Your Child”) takes a look at the wonder of being called children of God, though beset with sin and weakness.

Here are the lyrics:

(To download song, right click HERE and select “Save Target As”)

This Lititz Care Group came out of the Wenger Care Group, which we affectionately used to refer to as “CrossWay North”, due it its size.  Our group was initially led by Dan & Julie Garner – who have since moved to Lancaster City. They left a wonderful example of caring for our souls, an area in which I hope to grow! We are a wonderful mix of ages and experiences. The group consists of Richard and Lois Sensenig (at whose home we meet), Tom & Lara Eckman, David & Heather Hegedus, Jeff & Connie Dagen, Vernon Martin, and is lead by John & Christine Oliver.

We meet for corporate meeting on the first Wednesday of each month. The Men then meet on the second Wednesday and the Women on the third.  The variety of our group ranges from a single man and couples, to parents of pre-school kids all the way up to parents with grandchildren. Our group is characterized by mutual edification, as we bear one another’s burdens with counsel and comfort that flows out of our collective backgrounds. The flavor of our talk can be somewhat theological, but we try to keep things close to our day-to-day lives. Our discussions are often quite lively, especially when Richard refuses to admit that he’s wrong about the proper order of the C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia books. But mercy is abundant…. Food is also an important part of our meetings; not sure how well the discussions would go without it!

Every member in our group is marked by consistent encouragement. They are all quick to offer a word from their own lives that may be helpful to others. There is a pleasant frankness to our sharing that always refreshes me.  Everyone seems to be willing to share their struggles and questions with the group and receive counsel in return. One couple that sticks out in my mind is Tom and Lara Eckman. Always faithful to attend, I can also always count on one or both of them sharing from their heart.  They are true servants, who seem always to be busy helping someone, even as they raise their beautiful children in the ways of the Lord. When they share there is never any sense of guile or stuffiness, just sincerity and genuineness. They are a huge asset to our group.

In chapter six, author Mark Chanski lays out for us that is clearly biblical for the woman to be the child nurturer rather than the man.  “Motherhood is an honorable and sacred vocation.  The King of Heaven has specially appointed the mother to accomplish a noble and lofty mission” (101).  From time-to-time I must admit, I don’t feel like I am accomplishing any noble tasks.  Many things that I do each day are undone within minutes, even seconds.  “What’s the point,” is a question that can enter my mind.  There is also the wrong thought of desiring for my husband to take over some of my roles when he gets home–the whole 50/50 parenting mindset that the culture puts forth.  This is a pit that we can easily fall in to anger and bitterness if we expect our husbands to be our helpers rather than the other way around.  We should welcome their help, but not expect it.

Questions to consider: As a mother, are you ever tempted in similar ways as me?  Do you ever question what’s the point?  What good am I doing each day?  Do you ever expect your husband to do what God is calling you to do as mother and homemaker?

In chapter seven, Chanski seeks to inspire us towards excellency in motherhood.  He does so by using a variety of models for us.  I found it encouraging on page 109, where he was talking about the difference between a child raised by a mother with a biblical view of motherhood and a mother with a non-biblical view of motherhood–he made the point that our children will bear burdens and go through trials.  If I stay faithfully at my post in the home, I have the opportunity to build up my children’s souls to withstand those storms that lie ahead.  That section put life back into what seems meaningless or unproductive in my days.

Another part of the chapter that inspired me was the section discussing the ongoing need for mothers to stay home even when their children are older.  “She [Chanski's wife] was a maternal air traffic controller, directing and nurturing the lives of her offspring who were now making crucial decisions that would determine the courses of the rest of their lives.  Both the stakes and the stress levels were higher than they’d ever been” (112).  I am only eight years into motherhood, but I can see the temptation to look ahead and think it will be so much easier down the road then where I am at in these early years.  I think when they are older they won’t require so much work, and yet they will just in a different ways then now–many of which will prove to be more difficult.  I can lack joy now thinking it’s just too hard, too taxing.

Questions to consider: Do you have biblical convictions of what motherhood should be?  Do you have faith for all God is calling you to do as a mother?

The Akron/Rothsville care group is a diverse group of people, ranging in ages (1-80?), occupations (hairdresser, homemakers, driver for the Amish, IT, counselor, restoration work, auto repair and more), and interests (motorcycles, guitars, quilting, gardening, art, biking, and travel). With all of our differences, there is a bond that continues to brings us together two evenings a month throughout the year – love for our Lord Jesus Christ. Over the years we’ve been with each other through births, deaths, acute and chronic illnesses, weddings, graduations, family difficulties, and all kinds of trials and joys. Our group has seen many changes over the years, with sad goodbyes to some and gladly welcoming new members. It has been a joy to see each new group enter into true fellowship because of the common bond we share in Christ. We meet corporately twice a month, with the children having a grand time outside and in the Wengers’ basement. There was a season when we experimented with no snack, but we have found that food sometimes has an amazing way of drawing people together and causing them to linger. So snack is served before, during and after the meeting. :) Our meeting opens with friendly chatting as people arrive, followed by Randy’s unsuccessful attempts to rein everyone in for worship. We’re blessed to be led in worship by Ed Shoff. After worship we usually spend some time catching up with each other and talking about the “front burner issues” in our lives. At times we’ll pray for one another, and then we’ll talk about the sermon and the discussion questions. We love seeing CG members share openly and humbly and then receive encouragement from the others. It’s truly the body of Christ at work!

Our members include Ed and Pat Shoff, Curtis and Sallie Butler, Tim and Cathy Krauter, Mike and Diane Shelly, Sam and Chrissy Ovalle, Dan and Carol Davis, Guy and Jill Wilson, Jean Griswold, and Randy and Tina Wenger (and all the respective children).

Among the joys of being together is seeing God at work in people’s lives in amazing ways that can only be attributed to the hand of God. While we’d like to honor every couple, we are going to choose just one, Guy and Jill Wilson. It’s typically hard to develop relationships at a new church or to want to do the work to make that happen. But from the moment that they joined our caregroup, they were faithful to attend nearly every meeting. And they are examples in making relationships happen. Rather than fellowshipping just on “required” nights, they invite families from caregroup, host parties, and have been known to just stop by. God’s fingerprints are on this love of His people because Guy and Jill would have plenty of excuses to prevent this from happening. Not only do they both get up early for work, but they both have significant health issues including migraine headaches and chronic pain. But rather than being characterized as complainers, they are full of love, joy, and service. We’re a rich group to have the Wilsons and a room full of other men and women marked by God’s grace.

So it’s a Wednesday morning and you’re sitting down innocently at your computer to read the blog and what do you find?  A post on the trinity.  Nice.  In teaching ECC this past Sunday, I was reminded again of the importance of this oft-misunderstood doctrine.  How would you explain it?  One God, Three Persons.  All eternal, all fully God, yet still one God.  So many possible analogies are offered, most of which lead straight to some sort of heresy (such as the egg: shell, white & yolk, or water: ice, liquid, steam–these are both forms of a heretical system known as modalism).

Don’t despair.  There is clarity to be had in our study, even if in the end we wind up at mystery (which is hardly surprising given our severe limitations).  Kevin DeYoung recently offered a very helpful post on the Trinity that’s well worth your time. You can check it out here.

Loving this world is a terrible habit.  It is condemned by Scripture and comes natural to our human existence.  It does the Christian much good to give his appetite for this world a solid kick as often as possible.

This should help us get our boots on:

Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee. (Augustine)

The hope of the godly rises above present calamities to the future life.  Let us, therefore, learn from this confession of David’s (from Ps. 73:16-17) that the holy patriarchs under the Old Testament were aware how rarely or never God fulfills in this world what he promises to his servants; and that they therefore lifted up their hearts to God’s sanctuary, in which they found hidden what does not appear in the shadows of the present life. (John Calvin)

Our fair morning is at hand, the day-star is near the rising, and we are not many miles from home; what matters the ill entertainment in the smoky inns of this miserable life?  We are not to stay here, and we will be dearly welcome to him whom we go to.  (Puritan Samuel Rutherford)

Do you have any favorite scriptures or quotes that help to get you kicking?