Happy 7th Birthday, Eloise!

July 30, 2002

My Little Eloise,

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!

So today you made your appearance into this beautiful world of life. Even though you did not make the headline news reports, your entrance is most significant and wonderful.

To be able to look at you, made this middle-aged man be in awe at the gift that God has given. You filled my heart with such unspeakable words of joy, happiness, and gratitude. The miracle of life is most vivid when two people who love each other are enabled to "do good" and produce a lovely child.

Yes, those were tears that you saw. Tears expressing what I really cannot express to you in words. How thankful I am for your safe delivery and appartent good health. I am truly a blessed man! God has been so very good to me. He has given me a good wife, great children, a wonderful son-in-law and now, you. I do thank Him.

In addition, I do pray for you. Long before you were born, I began to pray that my Heavenly Father would be with you and develop you. Now that you have finished the journey of birth and today begin the journey of life, I still pray for you. With gratitude, I have numerous times this day said, "Thanks!" More than that, I have and will continue to ask for God's directive hand upon you. I pray that He will give a guiding hand to your parents in leading you through life. That God will protect you and keep you safe. That He will help you when you're down and keep you humble when you're up. My main prayer is that He will be pleased to give you mercy and grace and make you one of His own.

You have been born into a great family. As you grow up, I hope that you will be able to understand and appreciate this fact. As you grow, I do hope that you take some characteristics and personality traits that will cause you to be a most pleasant girl, young lady, and grown woman. You will be engulfed with love and attention from so many. You will never have to worry about being alone. With all of the Augustines, Blakes, Campbells and Careys, the number of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and oh yes, parents, you will be amazed with the large number of people that will give you attention and love.

I hope that you can learn from your Mother, the importance of education and dedication to achieving a set goal. Also, learn from her the importance of friends and being friendly. Your Mother has many friends that have remained so even after years of being somewhat separated. This is a direct result of devotion and dedication to each other. To have many friends, truly good friends, you must first learn to be friendly yourself. Learn to share and be generous.

Your Dad will teach you to be thrifty and dedicated to the many tasks of life. Watch him and learn how to be devoted to his family and loved ones. Learn the importance of doing what is right through him. He can teach you how to work, yet enjoy it.

Your Nana can teach you to be hospitable. She has always enjoyed opening her home to friends and family. Learn from her how to share and fellowship with others. She also has the ability to joke and be the end of jokes most graciously. Learn not to be offended and become bitter when someones makes fun of you or with you. As you get older, she can also teach you the act of shopping, buying, and returning things bought.

Grandma Katy can teach you the arts. You can learn from her how to become strong even in the midst of trials and troubles. You must know that everything in life will not be pleasant and enjoyable, but that you must go on and depend upon God, family and friends. She can truly help you. I am sorry that you will not get to know your grandfather Augustine. What little I know of him, I know that you would have appreciated his love and dedication to his family, the Lord, and work. Get to know him by asking your Dad.

There is Granny and Papaw Blake. How I wish that you could have known them both in their prime. Granny could really teach you how to cook and make the most out of nothing. Papaw could teach you the little things of enjoyment in life. Take time to appreciate the smallest benefits of God's goodness in the earth. Papaw is by far the godliest man I have ever known. If you could learn the appreciation of poetry and reading from him , you will be enriched.

Your uncle Michael can teach you how to enjoy life and the enjoyment of friends. I do not know which one of you will be the biggest child. Help him grow up! Be careful, because he might use you as a "chick magnet." In all seriousness, he is a lot of fun.

Grandma and Grandpa Campbell can show you hard work and great family ties. They have been able to keep all your uncles, aunts, grandfather, and many cousins together for many years. They will not interfere much in your life but will be a strong silent support. Learn from them.

Me? What can I teach you? I have been asking myself that for the past 9 months and still I do not have adequate answers to those questions. I do know that I can learn to spoil you, yet with some restraint.

As you go through life, I do pray that His Spirit will lead you and that you will be pleasant, helpful, kind, friendly, and generous to and toward others. Learn to share and give to those without. Learn to take time and appreciate the small things of life. Apply yourself to be the best that you can be. Above all, I trust that you will grow to see the need of God and total dependence upon Him.

It is with these thoughts and emotions that I welcome you this day into life.

My great love toward you,
Popaw


Thank you for 7 years, my boo baby! I trust that you will have the happiest of days today!

Of Tyrannies

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”

—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), God in the Dock, p. 292.

The Great Gospel

-by John Calvin (1509-1564)


Without the gospel

everything is useless and vain;
we are not Christians;
all riches is poverty,
all wisdom folly before God;
strength is weakness,
and all the justice of man is under the condemnation of God.

But by the knowledge of the gospel we are made:

children of God,
brothers of Jesus Christ,
fellow townsmen with the saints,
citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven,
heirs of God with Jesus Christ, by whom
the poor are made rich,
the weak strong,
the fools wise,
the sinner justified,
the desolate comforted,
the doubting sure,
and slaves free.

For, He was

sold, to buy us back;
captive, to deliver us;
condemned, to absolve us;
made a curse for our blessing,
sin offering for our righteousness;
marred that we may be made fair;
he died for our life; so that by him
fury is made gentle,
wrath appeased,
darkness turned into light,
fear reassured,
despisal despised,
debt canceled,
labor lightened,
sadness made merry,
misfortune made fortunate,
difficult easy,
disorder ordered,
division united,
ignominy ennobled,
rebellion subjected,
intimidation intimidated,
ambush uncovered,
assaults assailed,
force forced back,
combat combated,
war warred against,
vengeance avenged,
torment tormented,
damnation damned,
the abyss sunk into the abyss,
hell transfixed,
death dead,
mortality made immortal.

And we are

comforted in tribulation,
joyful in sorrow,
glorying under vituperation,
abounding in poverty,
warmed in our nakedness,
patient amongst evils,
living in death.


(This was posted yesterday on Camponthis. Click on the link in the right margin to read the entire post.)

Give an Answer

Stopping for lunch the other day at Hardee's near the UK campus, I noticed that most of the seats were taken by students studying for their finals. Some were by themselves going over their notes, while others were with classmates questioning each other.

Exams are a means by which to measure what the student has learned.

As we go through life, there are several means used to evaluate our progress:
-promotions
-pay raises
-approval by peers
-honors and awards
-added responsibilities

Often we need to pause in our life journey to make sure that we are progressing toward our goals. Are you progressing? How might you evaluate your progress?

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good? But even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled; but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.
(1 Peter 3:13-17)

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15:13)

Comeliness

Who hath believed our message? and to whom hath the arm of Jehovah been revealed? For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due? And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
(Isaiah 53:1-12)

Wise Men Seek & Find

Life's journey often is long, lonely and troubled. By keeping our eyes on our destination and our mind on our goal, we are more apt to reach the end with success.

Some 2,000 years ago, a small group of men traveled quite some distance to follow a sign. It might have taken them upwards to three years to reach their destination. They were determined and motivated not to quit looking. Mile after mile, danger after danger, they continued their course.

In Matthew 2:1, it describes this group as "wise men" coming from the east to Jerusalem.

They were looking for "him that is born King of the Jews."

As it was those 20 centuries ago where the wise men were looking for Jesus, so even today wise men still seek Jesus.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


Be wise...

But from thence ye shall seek Jehovah thy God, and thou shalt find him, when thou searchest after him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)

I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17)

And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:12-13)

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)

Honor for Family

Life's journey is difficult. It has some steep hills to conquer. But always remember that you do not travel alone. Friends do come and go, but family is always there.

"Working together is the best policy."

"United we stand and divided we fall."

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee. (Exodus 20:12)

"...chiefly respects immediate parents, both father and mother, by showing filial affection for them, and reverence and esteem of them, and by yielding obedience to them, and giving them relief and assistance in all things in which they need it; and if honour, esteem, affection, obedience, and reverence, are to be given to earthly parents, then much more to our Father which is in heaven, Mal_1:6." (John Gill)

What does it mean to honor thy father and thy mother and does it extend beyond the molding years when obedience is expected? Solomon spoke much of the relationship between children and their parents in Proverbs. For example,

A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. (Proverbs 10:1)
A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish man despiseth his mother. (Proverbs 15:20)
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness. (Proverbs 20:20)
Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old. (Proverbs 23:22)
Let thy father and thy mother be glad, And let her that bare thee rejoice. (Proverbs 23:25)

To honor thy father and mother is to obey (as a young child), to reverence, to honor, to keep in high esteem because of what they have done for you. They mold and shape you at a young age so that you will follow their instruction in the Lord. Young children do not know what the words "honor, reverence, esteem" mean. They only know what "obey" means. So I believe this command to honor thy father and thy mother extends beyond the years of when we are under their authority. We want our parents to rejoice and be glad because they see that our days may be long upon the earth, not in quantity only, but more so in quality.

I encourage you to give your dad and mom a call today and tell them "thank you." Give them a reason to be joyful today for the hard work they put forth to raise you up in the Lord. Do not despise them, even in your disagreements with them. Always honor and respect them as you do the Lord, your Father.

One more thing, I love you, Mom! I wish the happiest of birthdays to you! I trust your children (and grandchildren) bring you much joy, comfort and gladness. Forgive us our trespasses against you yesterday, today and tomorrow. I trust that you will have many more years of joy and fond memories with your family! Thank you.

Examine Yourself

What means the most to you in life? We often become so busy that we fail to realize that we are losing the most valuable thing in life. If you're trying to overcome barriers to achieve your goals, but find yourself getting stuck along the way, try these techniques:

1. Pretend you have only 6 months to live. List five things you want to accomplish in that short time.
2. Pretend you just received $10 million. List five things you want to accomplish now that money is no object.
3. Pretend you must write your own obituary. What do you want to be remembered?

What are your priorities?
Take time to examine yourself.

Apostle Paul said to "examine yourself to see if you be in the faith."

Very good advice!

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad

Of Times Past

"History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are." ~David C. McCullough

"Our ignorance of history causes us to slander our own times." ~Gustave Flaubert

A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place In all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction, And sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night. So teach us to number our days, That we may get us a heart of wisdom. (Psalms 90:1-4, 12)


"This has been quite an adventure." ~my almost 7-year old

Upon our visit home to Danville, we ventured out to a field trip familiar to me 25 years ago. Old Fort Harrod was the prized adventure for all. Feeding the baby goats was a highlight as well as climbing the historical Osage orange tree, but we also enjoyed broom making and basket weaving. We took in the sites of the gun holes for shooting the Indian invaders, the natural limestone spring from which came their life spring, and the first school established west of the Allegheny Mountains. I was able to recount to my children that they lived very hard lives in the pioneer and revolutionary days as was seen by the 200 year old gravesite, the humble homesteads, the medicinal herb garden and the hand-wrought tools. There is nothing like watching your school-aged child being almost as interested in the past as you are. We should be so blessed to recount the days of old and be humbled by the multitude of conveniences we have today.

Obey

One night last week in Lexington, the police gave several tickets to drivers on Newtown Pike. There is a railroad crossing on Newtown and west Third. The crossing lights were blinking of a pending train coming. Several cars went across the tracks, thus the reason for the tickets.

Comments heard:
"Everyone was doing it."
"No real danger."
"Didn't want to wait. I'm too busy to wait."
"It is a challenge to beat the danger."

Several excuses, but still each received a ticket and will have to pay the fine.

Life is much like this in that we attempt to excuse our mistakes, wrongdoings, errors, and disobedience.

Obey those in authority over you. Make life easier for yourself.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


This command is not for children only!

The Declaration of Our Independence

When in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness—-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the Present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.

.....

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of the divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

~ only a portion

Be Careful

Once we participate in an activity, good or bad, we can never honestly deny having indulged.

We can never meet an individual for the first time again.

Nor can we revisit a destination without having been there.

It is impossible to unspeak a spoken word.

We need to be careful of what we do, with whom we associate, where we go, and what we say. Don't be guilty of going places where you shouldn't go, doing things that are not beneficial, or saying things that would only hurt.

Ask yourself this question before going, doing or saying, "Would I be ashamed if caught or would I be sorry if I knew that the Lord saw me or heard me?"

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thy hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me. (Psalms 139:1-10)