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Meet Ebenezer, the Blog’s New Mascot

Todd R 3 Comments

Every blog needs a mascot, right?  Well, maybe not every blog, but I decided this one does.  Before I introduce him, a little backstory on where he came from.

Boston is one of my favorite places to visit, and when I was there in October 2022, we got this great picture of a squirrel in Boston Common.  The squirrels there ignore people most of the time, instead of running away like squirrels usually do.  But this one was not afraid of us at all; he walked right up and stared us down.  He stayed like this long enough for us to take a picture and was still around after we walked away.  For squirrels, fear of humans is a learned behavior and, in some environments, they just go about their business, unconcerned.

Ebenezer, at home in Boston Common

He was a great contrast to the “squirrel moments”[1] dogs (and people) have when they are “distracted by random nothingness.”  The Facebook page where I share this blog is called “A place to inject hopeful reminders of eternity into the distraction that is Facebook.”  I’ve used this squirrel as my social media picture before to joke that it was the best way to draw attention, and if people are easily distracted by squirrels, why not use one to distract people toward the blog?

So, this squirrel is now the mascot for Driving Toward Morning!  But he needs a name.  What to call him?

Meet Ebenezer
Many people know the name Ebenezer from Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, but in the Bible an Ebenezer is a stone monument constructed as a tangible and visible reminder of God’s past help for His people.  Ebenezer means “stone of help,” and such monuments were built in Genesis 28:18, 35:14, Joshua 4:9, 1 Samuel 7:12 and elsewhere.  Only this morning did I make the connection that when I write, I’m often trying to create a type of written Ebenezer.

For example, inspired by a devotional about Ephesians 2:4, I wrote a post about the power of the words “but God.”  In it, James Montgomery Boice says: “The words ‘but God’ show what God has done. If you understand those two words – ‘but God’ – they will save your soul. If you recall them daily and live by them, they will transform your life completely.”[2]

So, I’ve decided to name him “Ebenezer, the ‘But God…’ Squirrel,” but you can just call him Ebenezer.  Whenever I see Ebenezer, I hope to be pulled back into awareness of God’s help when I am distracted or frustrated.  I hope to be reminded to store up treasure in heaven as squirrels store food for the winter.  I hope to fear God and not man.  I hope to be encouraged to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), as every squirrel I see reminds me that interrupting the seeming chaos of the world with “but God” can change everything.

Next time, and every time, you see a squirrel, I hope you are reminded of the same.  The world is not random, and God is relevant to your situation, whatever it is.

If you’re ever in Boston and see Ebenezer, say hello to him for me.

[1] https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=SQUIRREL%21%21
[2] From “November 7.” James Montgomery Boice and Marion Clark. Come to the Waters: Daily Bible Devotions for Spiritual Refreshment.  (2017).

He Who Sits in the Heavens Laughs

Todd R 3 Comments

Are you frustrated with politics?  Maybe the politicians you prefer are not currently in power and you are disappointed or angry.  Maybe you are just tired of political divisiveness.  Maybe you are tired of the 24/7 barrage of bad news online and on TV.  There are many ways politics can be draining and rob us of peace and joy, and a lot of it seems very un-Christlike.

One of my favorite Bible passages to read when I feel this way is Psalm 2, which begins with these verses (1-3):

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
            against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
Let us burst their bonds apart
            and cast away their cords from us”

The Psalm refers to the rebellion of nations, peoples, kings, and rulers against the “bonds” and “cords” of “the Lord” and “his Anointed”, or God the Father and God the Son.  All nations have always been rivals, not just with each other, but also with the kingdom of God.  Within nations, political parties also have fierce rivalries.

The ultimate example of the nations’ rebellion is referenced when the first two verses from the Psalm are quoted in Acts 4:25-26, followed by: “for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and our plan had predestined to take place.”  The crucifixion of Jesus was the result of a massive conspiracy, including possibly six separate trials by both Jewish and Roman authorities.  The Jews hated Him because He was not the political messiah that would lead an insurrection against Rome.  The Romans, led by Pilate, answered the call to crucify Him, to avoid a Jewish riot that would result in their punishment or removal by higher Roman authorities.  So Jesus, who was not guilty of what He was charged with and also is the only human to never participate in insurrection against His Father, was crucified and died.

Jesus was a threat to Jewish and Roman authority and had to go, and they literally succeeded in killing God.  Brutally.  Imagine if you saw that on the news.  There’s nothing worse than this on today’s news or happening in the world today.  But then Psalm 2:4 tells us:

“He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.”

A Surprising Victory

Surprising even His followers, on the third day, Jesus was resurrected from the dead, and after a few weeks, was raised “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”  (Ephesians 1:21).  This Jesus is the one laughing in heaven, and He can laugh because He knows any and all nations are no threat to Him and His kingdom.

All rulers and nations opposed to God are doomed to fail, because even killing God was not good enough to keep Him down.  Jesus laughs because He knows His plan will work.  In Matthew 16:18, Jesus told Peter that “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

In Acts 4 above, Peter and John quote Psalm 2 after they were released by the religious rulers of Jerusalem, and they testify that Jesus’ enemies only do “whatever your hand and our plan had predestined to take place.”  Peter and John were eyewitnesses to the resurrected Jesus and knew that all the powers of the world could not keep Him down.  They knew that Jesus was exalted and laughing at any opposition to Him, and therefore, to them.  They rejoiced that the same God who had resurrected Jesus had freed them from prison!

Therefore, take comfort that Jesus, knowing all the evil and rebellion of the world that we may feel threatened by or anxious about, laughs.  All who challenge God are ultimately powerless even if they once “succeeded” in killing Him.

“He who sits in the heavens laughs” reminds us that Jesus is laughing with supreme confidence at whatever political mess we find ourselves in – He is not threatened, and He is in charge.  We can trust Jesus, our King laughing in heaven, who says: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” – John 10:28-29.

Amen

“A New Leaf” – A Poem for Everyday Grace

Todd R 2 Comments

Dear fellow travelers,

Happy New Year!  Today I am going to share a poem whose point is relevant every day, every hour, and every moment we may need it.  God’s grace is available to us at all times, because God is always faithful, as Lamentations 3:22-24 says:

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
            his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
            great is your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
            “therefore I will hope in him.”

The poem’s title is “A New Leaf”, author unknown, and compares a child/teacher relationship to us and Jesus.  His mercies are new every morning and every day, not just on special occasions.  God wants everyone to turn to Him at all times.  Don’t wait until New Year’s Day.

Photo by Robert Thiemann on Unsplash

“A New Leaf”

“He came to my desk with a quivering lip, the lesson was done. 
‘Have you a new sheet for me, dear teacher?  I’ve spoiled this one.’
I took his sheet, all soiled and blotted and gave him a new one all unspotted.
And into his tired heart I cried, ‘Do better now, my child.’

I went to the throne with a trembling heart; the day was done.
‘Have you a new day for me, dear Master?  I’ve spoiled this one.’
He took my day, all soiled and blotted and gave me a new one all unspotted.
And into my tired heart he cried, ‘Do better now, my child.'”

Bible in a Year: Week of January 1-7

Todd R 1 Comment

Fellow travelers:

Below are the chapters to read this week if you’re following along my Bible in a year schedule.  Reading 3 chapters a day on weekdays and 4 on weekends almost exactly covers the 1,189 chapters of the Bible.  I study the morning chapters and only read (or sometimes use an audio Bible for) the evening ones, but you can follow along any way you want.

2024 starts with Psalms and 1 Samuel in the morning, since so many Psalms are based on David’s life, which is covered in 1 and 2 Samuel.  The evenings will start with the Pentateuch.

Monday, January 1
Morning: Psalm1, 1 Samuel 1
Evening: Genesis 1

Tuesday, January 2
Morning: Psalm 2, 1 Samuel 2
Evening: Genesis 2

Wednesday, January 3
Morning: Psalm 3, 1 Samuel 3
Evening: Genesis 3

Thursday, January 4
Morning: Psalm 4, 1 Samuel 4
Evening: Genesis 4

Friday, January 5
Morning: Psalm 5, 1 Samuel 5
Evening: Genesis 5

Saturday, January 6
Morning: Psalm 6, 1 Samuel 6-7
Evening: Genesis 6

Sunday, January 7
Morning: Psalm 7, 1 Samuel 8-9
Evening: Genesis 7

Driving Toward Morning’s 2023 in Books

Todd R 2 Comments

Dear fellow travelers,

As 2023 ends, many are posting reflections on the year, including book lists.  Figured I’d jump in again!  In 2022, I managed to read 22 books, but topped that in 2023 with 26.

What books did I read this year?

Let’s start with the fun ones.

Fiction books:

Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

Mostly Harmless is the last of 5 books in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series.  The Silmarillion I tried to read way back in high school but couldn’t finish.  I finally got it in this year.

Classics:

Each year I try to fit in a couple of “classics,” although what books belong in that category is debatable.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
The Chosen by Chaim Potok
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Chosen was my favorite of these.  It’s a story of two Jewish teenagers in Brooklyn in and around the time of World War II.  One of them was a strict Hasidic Jew, while the other was not, and the book follows their friendship over time.

A few history books:

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
Christianity Through the Centuries by Earle Cairns
Sacred Scripture, Sacred War by James P. Byrd

Erik Larson is one of my favorite authors, and this book covers the rise of Hitler, including why there wasn’t more opposition to him earlier, mostly through the eyes of the U.S. ambassador to Germany.

Byrd’s book is based on a study of hundreds of sermons delivered and/or published during the American Revolutionary War and covers the Bible verses and ideas that were used to motivate American soldiers.  Most interesting were verses whose interpretations changed to fit the preacher’s objectives, not objectives changed to fit Scripture.  For example, there were verses used to justify rebellion from England that were later used to justify submission to the new American government.

More non-fiction than usual:

Success Through Failure by Henry Petroski
Force by Henry Petroski
Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson
Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke
The Elements of Style by Strunk & White

I read two by Petroski by accident.  One was recommended by a relative and the other by a book review I read.  Only when I started the second one did I realize it was the same author.  Both were interesting descriptions of engineering ideas for laymen like myself.

I hope to not break any of Strunk & White’s rules in my blog in 2024.  I initially read it during college, and finally came back to it for some light airplane reading.

Also more biography than usual:

Faithful Presence by Bill Haslam
Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter
Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis
Pulitzer by W.A. Swanberg

Reading about Tolkien and Lewis back-to-back was very interesting, and not just because they mention each other.  I didn’t know much about Tolkien’s background and faith, and how those influenced his fiction, or much of Lewis’ journey of faith.

The Pulitzer biography was fascinating as background for why much of the media are the way they are today.  Pulitzer as publisher was driven by a political agenda and used sensationalist methods to bring in readership.  Pulitzer as man was a genius with an amazing memory, but also abusive of his staff and sometimes his family.

Plus a bunch of religious books and devotionals:

In addition to regular Bible and study Bible reading, in 2023 I read:

Is Europe Christian? By Olivier Roy
Rediscovering Holiness by J.I. Packer
2 books by my former pastor Glenn Parkinson: A Larger Faith: the Book of Daniel and Peter’s Principles: Learning to Follow Jesus
The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
3 books by Warren Wiersbe: Be Committed (Ruth/Esther), Be Determined (Nehemiah), and Be Patient (Job).
Morning by Morning by Charles Spurgeon

Roy’s book discusses different ideas of how a country or region can be considered Christian, then whether Europe meets his criteria. I found the parts about “what is a Christian country?” more interesting that the question asked in the title.

I read the Four Loves for the first time because someone recently compared one of my posts to the book.  Much of the book isn’t theology, but more practical observations about human relationships.

I picked up Wiersbe’s entire “Be” series in 2021 as part of a digital subscription and am working through it over time.  A long time.  I like his overall approach and the books are a great source of thoughtful stories and quotes.

26 is lot for me, and how many will I read in 2024?  Who knows…in the meantime, have you read any of these 26?  What books did you enjoy in 2023?