BaylyBlog: Out of our minds, too...

On this Memorial Day...

(Tim) Thank God for those of you who have given your years and health, as well as others who have suffered the loss of loved ones who gave their lives in the protection of our nation. We are deeply grateful to each of you.

Joy tinged with sadness on a wedding day...

As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent; When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were around me; When my steps were bathed in butter, And the rock poured out for me streams of oil! (Job 29:4-6)

(Tim) Lord willing, in a few hours our third daughter, Hannah Marie, will be married to Lucas Dee Weeks, son of Ron and Doris Weeks. This will leave Mary Lee and me with one child still living at home--Taylor, our fifteen year old son.

As I sit here writing the wedding sermon, it occurs to me that the joyful sadness Mary Lee and I feel as our Hannah departs is a graceful sadness...

Happy Mother's Day!

(Tim) Tomorrow is Mother's Day, so here are pictures of David's and my mother, Mary Louise Bayly, and my father and mother-in-law, Ken and Margaret Taylor (Dad Taylor is deceased).

And honoring God Who gave us motherhood, here's a sermon on a wonderful Mother's Day text--Isaiah 60:10-14. This was the funeral sermon given several years ago on the occasion of the death of Bloomington's mother-in-Israel, Rita Cuffey...

Counting our blessings...

Thus says the LORD, ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’ Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of age.

And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.’ (Zechariah 8:3-5)

(Tim) When David and I speak privately, it's a rare conversation we don't speak of our gratitude to the Lord for the wonderful churches He has blessed us with. And this isn't the one-upmanship of two brothers who are both pastors. Trust us, we know about that. Rather, it's the true joy of men for whom the lines have fallen in pleasant places recognizing it's all of God.

My Scripture reading today reminds me of one of our principal joys--our congregations' great fruitfulness physically and spiritually. Physically?

Well, between Christ the Word in Toledo and Church of the Good Shephed here in Bloomington, Indiana, I'd estimate between thirty and forty children will be born or adopted by a Covenant family this year. And this happens year after year--fruit, fruit, and more fruit! Our aisles and nurseries and gym and hallways and cars and homes and fellowship halls are filled with boys and girls playing together...

Our finishing school for young men...

(Tim) Here at Church of the Good Shepherd, we have what I call our "finishing school for young men." A deacon of our church, Bob Kaplowitz, is severely afflicted with cerebral palsy and needs to have help with the basics including feeding and clothing himself. So as long as he's lived in Bloomington, he's had a stream of men living with him who, in exchange for room and board, share caring for him. What a gift this is to our church and what husbands these men make for godly women!

Imagine marrying a man who spent the period of your engagement feeding, clothing, bathing, and translating for a Christian brother. What kind of character would this build in your future husband? What kind of father would he make?

This month, a local magazine (H&L) did a piece on Bob's House, Bobbites, and the remodeling one of our elders, Tim Wegener, did for Bob. It's an excellent article...

Psalm 107: A Psalm of thanksgiving...

(Tim) Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary And gathered from the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; They did not find a way to an inhabited city. They were hungry and thirsty; Their soul fainted within them. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses. He led them also by a straight way, To go to an inhabited city. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.

There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, Prisoners in misery and chains, Because they had rebelled against the words of God And spurned the counsel of the Most High. Therefore He humbled their heart with labor; They stumbled and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death And broke their bands apart. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has shattered gates of bronze And cut bars of iron asunder.

Fools, because of their rebellious way, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all kinds of food, And they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell of His works with joyful singing.

Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters; They have seen the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep. For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, Which lifted up the waves of the sea. They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths; Their soul melted away in their misery. They reeled and staggered like a drunken man, And were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet, So He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, And praise Him at the seat of the elders.

He changes rivers into a wilderness And springs of water into a thirsty ground; A fruitful land into a salt waste, Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He changes a wilderness into a pool of water And a dry land into springs of water; And there He makes the hungry to dwell, So that they may establish an inhabited city, And sow fields and plant vineyards, And gather a fruitful harvest. Also He blesses them and they multiply greatly, And He does not let their cattle decrease. When they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, misery and sorrow, He pours contempt upon princes And makes them wander in a pathless waste. But He sets the needy securely on high away from affliction, And makes his families like a flock. The upright see it and are glad; But all unrighteousness shuts its mouth.

Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things, And consider the lovingkindnesses of the LORD.

The earth is the Lord's...

(Tim) Prior to attending the pastors conference starting tomorrow at Christ Church, Moscow, David and I have taken two days of study, writing, and hiking up at Glacier National Park. Yesterday, on the park's east side in the Many Glacier region, we hiked a little beyond the falls on the way to Lake Ptarmigan. Here are a couple pics.

At dusk, we arrived at Two Dog Flats and saw fifty to seventy-five elk grazing on the northern slopes. There were a couple bulls, one with at least seven points. And oh how they bugled! No uncertain sound for them; they were intent on their work.

As we drove out of the park, we saw two moose drinking at the river...

Every joy or trial, falleth from above...

(by Tim) In connection with the hymn, Like a River Glorious, a man I respect surprised me recently when he commented concerning the line, "Every joy or trial, falleth from above; traced upon our dial by the Son of love," that some would question the biblical support for this statement.

Listening to him, I thought how fearful and dreary it must be to go through life as a believer in Jesus Christ who denies that our Heavenly Father is in control of sickness, temptation, and death. But more than the dreariness of it, what can these people be thinking when they read such texts as this from the Luke 4 account of Jesus' wilderness temptations...

Congo and Kenya...

The Baylys finally broke down and got a dog. Or maybe I should say our youngest son, Taylor, got a dog. At this point, though, it's only an academic distinction.

While Ben and Michal were in Africa last year, they left their one-year-old Black Lab, Congo, with us and we all fell in love with him. You may remember some pictures and exclamations over Congo on this blog a while back? Anyhow, Taylor had assured me Ben and Michal wouldn't want Congo back when they returned because they were likely going to move into an apartment that didn't allow pets. Wrong.

When they came home, they very much wanted Congo back and I was bitter. I threatened to get another male Black Lab and name him Congo, too, so when they were here for supper and went home, they'd never know for sure whose dog they were taking home.

But I relented and the eight week puppy we now have is a female and we didn't name her Congo. Taylor thought about Mozambique or Central African Republic, but settled on Kenya. (At the top are Congo and Kenya, playing together.)

So now, we're immersed in dog training for the first time in our lives. We want Kenya to be just like Congo, but it's hard work. When Congo lived here, we could be anywhere in the house or yard and tell him, "Congo, go to purgatory," and he'd hightail it to his cage, go in and wait for us to shut and latch the door. Everyone remarked on what a magnificent job Ben (mostly) and Michal had done training him.

Painted and floor poured...

Two days ago, our dear brother, Bob Sands, and his crew painted the exterior of the building. Today, Taylor Concrete poured the floor for the office and classroom wing. By Friday, the gym/sanctuary floor should be finished, also.

Thank you, brothers...

These three men of Church of the Good Shepherd have been pouring their lives into our new church building. Many others have helped, but day in and day out, these three are on the site doing the work. On the left is Mike Boles (who was pleased that his back was to the camera). Mike led the committee that chose the property and arranged the financing. Now he's serving full time as our general contractor. In the center is Dave Abu-Sara, Mike's hardworking right hand man. The proud father of a two week old son named Joseph, Dave will be starting at the Reformed Evangelical Pastors College this fall. Then, on the right is Pastor Dave Curell who has served next to Mike Boles from the beginning. At times, it seems like Mike and Dave talk to each other more than they talk to their wives.

God has given us many, many faithful servants who have helped build this new church building, both with money and talents. But if you go over to the site, these are the men who will be there to greet you. Thank you, Mike, Dave, and Dave.

An invitation to join Church of the Good Shepherd...

Daily I praise God for the church Mary Lee and I are privileged, with our children, to have for our spiritual home. Last weekend, we had a men's retreat and our youngest, Taylor, came along. There he is, sitting with Alex Bristol, David Canfield, Lawrence Howell, and Steve Traeger's shoulder. Later in the day, we played basketball, and ultimate frisbee. Click through to the next page and you'll see they're both serious business to us.

Sunday afternoons following Home Fellowship Groups, forty of us or so gather at Olcott Park and play soccer until it's too dark to see. It's wonderful--boys and girls, old and young, all having fun together. And finally, a picture of our Easter Sunrise service in our new church building. (Thanks, Colin Hobbs, for serving as our church photographer. Excellent job!)

If you don't have a church home, come and join us. You'd move for a job. Why not for a church? We're always making a place for new members of the family, young and old, single and married, patriarchal and egalitarian, Reformed and Arminian, credo and paedo, highbrow and lowbrow--all are welcome, as long as you recognize that your officers will be boringly biblical on all doctrinal matters, having subscribed to the Westminster Standards.

Of course, David might argue you should move to Toledo, instead. Keep in mind, though, that they're just starting their capital campaign, whereas ours is finis.

God is Great.

It's been my privilege to pray through my church family by name this week. I'm not finished yet, but I hope to make it through the church this afternoon.

Tim and I deeply love the people of our churches. We regard it as among the chief demonstrations of God's love to us that we have been granted the privilege of serving as their shepherds and praise Him for His glorious grace revealed to us through CTW and CGS.

The last shall be first...

Jesus tells us that in Heaven, the last shall be first and the first shall be last. Watch this beautiful video for a glimpse of Heaven.

(Thanks, Doug.)

DISappointment or HISappointment...

Early during my time at seminary, I saw an ad on the seminary bulletin board placed by a local family looking for someone to work about twenty hours a week gardening, cleaning, driving, and other odd jobs. I went for the interview and was hired.

My first day on the job, I met Enoch. Eighty-three at the time, Enoch had been widowed many years earlier and he lived alone. Until recently, he'd been the organist for his small Baptist church but he'd been forced to quit because his hands had become gnarled by arthritis and could no longer spread across the keys.

Enoch's entire life consisted of being at the beck and call of the family we worked for. The difference between Enoch and the other two people they employed was that we were paid an hourly wage and had daytime hours. Enoch, though, was given a car with all the car's expenses covered, and also a small gift each Christmas. For that he spent sixteen hours a day, weekdays, weekends, and holidays "holding down the fort" as he'd put it.

He did some work in the garden--the formal rose and dahlia garden was his turf. But usually, he'd sit in the breakfast room reading the Bible. He had a system I've taken up in part. Each time he finished a chapter, he'd mark it with a check mark. And something I haven't copied: he'd use a different colored magic marker each year. Almost every chapter in his Bible had at least five check marks at its head.

I'd open the sliding glass doors and walk into the breakfast room and Enoch would greet me with a cheerful, "Well, how are you?" We'd catch up on news. It was always sweet to talk to Enoch but as time went on I noticed there was never, ever any family news. Church news, yes--but no family news. Finally, one day I put the question to him directly: "Enoch, do you have any children?"

Every good and perfect gift...

"What is faith?" I wondered as I walked back to my car after having my teeth cleaned down in Bedford. Dr. Howell's dental hygienist, Dee, had probed me on our church plans. Her son is a pastor and his church had just completed a new church building so Dee wanted to know what was happening with our building.

"We broke ground a few weeks ago," I said, "and we're expecting to begin building in a couple months, when it gets warm. We have a man in our church who builds refrigerated warehouses around the country and he's leading our building program."

"Where did he come from?" Dee asked.

"Who, the builder? He comes from forty-five minutes away each Sunday," I said.

Dee seemed not to have heard me. She pounced on me, "God sent him to you, didn't He!"

"Well, of course God sent Mike Boles to us," I thought. "God does everything."

But that's not what Dee meant...

To dwell together in unity...

Anticipating, tomorrow, another in a long line of peaceable congregational meetings, I stop this night to give thanks to God for the unity of the brothers and sisters of Church of the Good Shepherd. We are close to our tenth anniversary and my heart is filled with gratitude to God and the souls of Church of the Good Shepherd for the love that has, from the beginning, characterized this fellowship. By God's grace, may our peace and unity continue for many years to come.

A Song of Ascents, of David: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing--life forever. (Psalm 133)

Tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich...

Although it's about two weeks after the holiday, I've been thinking about thanksgiving and gratitude. Some years back, someone pointed out to me something I'd not previously noticed--that being ungrateful is a sin, and a rather serious one. It stands in a prominent place in Romans 1:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:18-21)

Note the reasons for God's wrath. He is angry because men suppress their knowledge of His eternal power and divine nature. But beyond that, because men don't "give thanks." Doesn't that seem strange? As a rule, we don't demand gratitude from people, nor from our children. Yet ingratitude angers God...