Whether It's Easy or Not

Sometimes giving thanks is easy.  A perfect day of swimming under the span of the Mackinaw Bridge makes it easy to be thankful.  We could list all that inspires thanksgiving on a day like that: clear and warm-enough water for swimming, money for gas in our van to get us there and back again (pause for momentary tribute to Bilbo Baggins), sabbath day for Trevor from the work he's a part of at CHR, two boys who love and respect their daddy, a daddy who's crazy enough to pose for a conquer-under-the-Mackinaw photo.  The list of reasons continues in my mental vault, but I think that gets the point across.

Sometimes, though, giving thanks isn't easy. Since reading about him on the Voice of the Martyrs site, www.persecution.com,  I am haunted by the circumstances of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani in Iran.  This is him:

He is, as I write freely in the safety and comfort of our Bag End home, trapped in Lakan Prison somewhere in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Why imprisonment? He didn't want his two boys to be required to learn the Quran at their school and he spoke up about it.  Originally the arrest was on charges of protesting, but that was somehow changed to charges of apostasy and evangelism of Muslims.  Now almost two years later, he has a family that waits daily for the announcement of his execution.  The whole horrific story could be over in a moment if he would just deny Jesus and return to Islam.  But he won't do that. And, we're praying that he has the strength to continue to be faithful.  I would be foolish to say that it's easy for him to have a grateful heart.  But I think he does.  He couldn't possibly keep proclaiming Jesus if he doesn't have a clear sense of all that God has done for him.

Before you click on the next whatever, please stop and pray right now for him and his family.  Facebook can wait a few more minutes. 

wickes fam: 1, stinky: 0

I have fond memories of the song we used to sing at Camp Albright - 'It only takes a spark to get a fire going...' One of our favorite parts about camping is the challenge of building and lighting a one-match fire.  Somehow we've managed to pass on the thrill of this challenge to the kids.  It could have something to do with the fact that we began their fire-building instruction around age 2 (it's true!), or it could be a genetic phenomenon, but whatever the reason, now all five of us love campfires.  

Camping was great.  The skunk was thrilling and the food was filling.  Tate tells the skunk story best.  Walking to the bath-house in the dark, Tate found the cat (no, skunk!) and Mommy cried "RUN!".  To protect their family, Tate and Daddy flash-light hunted pepe le'pew and ran him off into the woods; the same woods that met the back of our tent.  

Truth: Even in the midst of a peaceful camping experience, there's an enemy lurking trying to make a stinky mess. 


 

unexpected gifts

These three people were part of a tremendous gift to us from the Lord. They brought life and laughter into our home this past year. We needed them and we thank God for their friendship.

It's hard to believe that it's almost been a year since our transition to Cran-Hill. A lot has happened in a year.