| The End of the Matter | 2020 Year in Review

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

   

Now all has been heard. . .

A good way to summarize 2020.  All the deeds have been done, all has been heard, and every hidden thing has been or will be revealed in its time.  All we can do is let go and let God ... to cliche?  How about this - fear God and keep His commandments.  Whatever you faced this year, there is sure to be more ahead.  Now is the time as we reflect on this last calendar year to take a deep breath and learn to fear the Lord and to keep His commandments.  

I'm still working on that myself, but here is an effort to remember some of the experiences that may turn into lessons learned from 2020:

Accidents Happen...

The year opened up with an adventure.  It involved a patch of ice, a telephone pole, a snowstorm, and a totaled car.  Thankfully, no one was injured!  But I can't say the same thing about our vehicle. 

It was a good camry

But we found a good replacement!

While the World Went Mad . . .

We still found things to celebrate.  Weddings, graduations, and new additions to the family!

Ruth graduates!

This year inconvenienced many, but the Lord guided us through it without much loss.  For that we are thankful!  Although Ruth finished out her career at New Saint Andrews College online, she was able to graduate in person at the beginning of this school year.  So very thankful for this intelligent woman and all that she accomplished throughout her college career!  Having been married to her during her senior year of school, I was a witness to the sleepless nights and mental gymnastics that resulted in her achieving her degree.  Well done, love!

Now we switch places as we enter the last semester of my degree.

We had two additions to the family!  Little Lucy Nyhus was born last winter, and Ezekiel Shaw was born later in the fall!  So excited to watch these two grow and experience the stories that the Lord has set before them.

Lucy Nyhus!

Ezekiel Shaw!

We were blessed to join in the celebration of multiple weddings!  A couple are pictured below:

Blessings on the White household this year!

Blessings on the Friedel household this year!

Plodding Away . . .

The Life Given News and Radio have grown to a combined team of eleven people; some working as writers, others as podcasters, and still others as our social media team.  It has been a project that has had it's slow times, but that is expected when everyone involved is doing it for free and are leading busy lives, but despite that it has continued to progress and grow!  So thankful to be working with such a talented group of people!

Just for kicks . . .

Some random photos from 2020!

Oregon!

The mountains around Lake Wallowa are just breathtaking

Big smile!

Teaching the younger sister how to make coffee.

I pray that you all have a blessed New Year!  Remember that no matter what, our King is enthroned and nothing can change that.

| Merry All Year Round |

Merry Christmas to one and all!

I apologize for my absence this month.  I rounded out the semester with a fairly intense three weeks between breaks, what with papers and finals!  It was tough, but a good kind of difficult that made me feel like I was ready for break.  I was also able to air out a bit of creative energy this past week, as I finally got around to writing a short story that had been bouncing around in my head.

Break is a wonderful time to relax and rejuvenate oneself for the coming semester's challenges.  I will have a lot on my plate moving forward, but I am already feeling excited for next year, and still have three weeks of break left!  Not that that will be an easy three weeks, as I intend to do lots of free reading and writing, scholarship application, and then there is a wedding or something at the end of it.  (Or so I have been told.)

But it has now reached that time of the day that all of the main festivities for the Lopez family have finished up.  We did our stockings, brunch, then had our gift-giving time, and now we are cooling down.  A thought occurred to me this Advent and Christmas season, one that I tend to wonder as the end of the holiday season comes to a close.  And it is this:  what does Christmas look like in the middle of February or the beginning of June?  To rephrase it: How should the birth of Christ impact us in our walk outside of the holidays? Because, if I am being honest, it is really easy to be joyful during this time of the year.  What with the anticipation of Christmas, being around family, and the end of the school semester. How could you not be cheerful?

But once New Years Day comes and goes, January 2nd hits like a drum.  It is easy to lose the trees in the forest.  I forget the one day that should shape all of the other days of the year.

What does Christmas look like on the rest of the days?

What did Christ do on that day?  On His birth day? What did it look like?

He sacrificed.

He humbled Himself.

He loved.

He redeemed.

These qualities color the entire story of the Advent season.  But it is so easy to forget those when we get back to work, or school, or whatever else we have going on after the New Year. So I guess what this really boils down to is what will your New Years resolutions be?  Mine?  Sacrifice.  Humility.  Love.  Redemption.  Sacrifice my selfish desires.  Humble myself in my school work.  Love my blessings.  Redeem the time I have.  Make it useful.  I need to remember that this life isn't mine.  Rather, it is God's and He calls me to give it to others.  So I shouldn't live for myself, rather I should live for others.  Live outside of myself.

Why?

Because Christ.  That's why.

Merry Christmas indeed!

| 10,000 Reasons |

". . . do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4: 6-7.  (My emphasis.)

With thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Where to begin?  I am overwhelmed.  Whenever I stop, think, and reflect, my knees should hit the dirt in worship.  My hands should constantly be lifted in thankfulness.  I should be joyful.  And yet, I find myself retreating into the cave of anxiety and doubt more often than not.  Too often I forget.  But today is a good day to remember.  To remember and be grateful.  

My parents.  What they have done for me is beyond comprehension.  My dad joining the military twelve years ago to support his then family of three children, now five.  My mother's willingness and desire to home-school her children, not flinching from the challenge of being a mother 24/7 and raising five children through two deployments.

My wonderful siblings.  Micaiah, for your straight shooting wisdom and advice.  Abi, for being my constant companion in ridiculous schemes and adventures.  Bear, for bringing the love of baseball into my life.  Belle, for the reminder that the ordinary is extraordinary.  

Friendships.  The list can go on for awhile, and I count myself a wealthy man indeed for it being this way.  I have been blessed with friendships all over the world.  But I am especially thankful for the Romo clan, whose impact has outlasted time and distance.  Also for my roommates from last year.  Kip, Luke, and Levi.  You have challenged me more than I could ever have imagined in my first year at college.  And for that, I am grateful.  Benjamin and George.  Thank you for being there to listen to my rants.  Thank you for setting me straight.  

To my teachers in the past and present.  For extended family.  Especially Mimi and Grandma.  Uncle Corey, thank you for all the runs and sports talk.  Uncle John, thanks for teaching me how to calk.  Uncle Wes, for the travelling advice on which part of France will yield the best wine.  

Also for late night talks.  Laughter that makes your bones ache and face sore.  Tears that heal.  Hugs that crush but don't break.  Coaches that push.  For long drives with friends.  Naps.  A well done burger.  For a book that you can't put down.  For school work that you want to put down but have to build the perseverance to keep up.  For reminders.

And last, but definitely not least, for the Giver of all these things.  Without whom, I would still be in the dark.

Advent - Why We Celebrate

As Thanksgiving break draws to an close, I'm back at home in Moscow.  This past week has been one of the best of the year.  Not only did I need the R&R, but it reminded me exactly why I am so excited for this season.  We celebrated the first Sabbath of Advent yesterday with a delicious feast prepared by my mom.  This is one of the many traditions that my family has when it comes to celebrating the beginning of Advent.  

When some people learn that Advent is a month long, it raises a few red flags.  Not only does it seem to be an extraordinary long time for a celebration, but you also get tired of listening to Christmas music before you even get to Christmas itself.  It seems quite a lead up for just one day.  Not only that, but it spearheads the rest of the celebrations.  From Christmas itself  all the way through Easter.  Half the year seems to be spent in celebration.  And one may think to oneself: Isn't that a bit much?

Let's take a look at the big picture. the beginning of time found man in perfect harmony with God.  But not satisfied with his condition, man broke covenant with God and fell from His presence.  Not to be deterred, a Savior was promised:  "The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.  I will put enmity between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."  (Genesis 3: 13-14)

But man would not wait, so they broke away from God.. continually  Despite this, two thousand years ago, God fulfilled His promise, and sent His Son.  His perfect Son.  Infallible, all-loving, omniscient Jesus Christ, one of the Trinity.  This was the One who humiliated Himself so much that He became a man.  The Man.  The mark of His Incarnation is the mark of a promise fulfilled.  His birth represents life.  That is why we spend nearly half the year in celebration.  Because He lives.  And we live in Him.

That seems worthy of celebration to me.

Beginning of the End

A dark time.

A time when a Father hid his face from his Son.

A time when the sun's face was hidden.

A time when the world of men thought it had overcome the Power of God. 

A time when death seemed to have won.

A time when darkness seemed to have overcome.

But then Jesus happened.

A shot of light in the dark happened.

A beam of Hope happened.   

A mustard seed that was thrown at a scornful Enemy.

A mustard seed that planted hope.

A mustard seed that sprung into a mighty oak.  

The seed of the Woman that was promised.

The seed of the Serpent crushed.  

Broken.

Hope made whole.

A Kingdom risen from the ashes.

A promise kept.

A world of men hoodwinked.

A world of men saved.

A world saved by a sacrifice.

A beginning of a wonderful end.

The Kingly Line

There was a royal line.  A line that God had made a covenant with.

Abraham was promised a vast offspring and all the land of Canaan.  And he passed this promise to his son Isaac, who passed it onto Jacob.  From father to son.  Through Hezron, Boaz, Obed and Jesse.  A covenant handed down through a storied and blessed line.  A covenant that held hope and a promise of peace.

A covenant was forged, and a kingly line was established on the throne of Israel.  

David, the ruddy young shepherd that God claimed for king, was made a promise that his line would last forever.  The throne of David would be established forever.  This promise was passed from father to son. David passed it to Solomon, Solomon to Rehoboam, Rehoboam to Abijah and on down the line through Uzziah, Hezekiah, Josiah finally to Joseph, who passed this promise to the Christ child.  The Christ king. The promised Messiah was here at last.

A promise was a fulfilled in a line that was blessed from the roots to the very top.

Tomorrow, we celebrate the Ultimate Gift that was given.  We are blessed with the fulfilled promise of David's kingly line established forever.  Tomorrow, we remember the Joy that was given to this world.

A Christmas Epic

A tale that is told centuries over.

A tale that is listened to.

A tale that stuns and a tale that is ignored.

An epic.

A child.

A child born of a Virgin.  A supreme humbled.

A child raised in the backwaters.  A Messiah raised, for glory, in rags.  Despised by the world.

A young man, wiser than Solomon, respected his elders.

A young man, made for kingship, grown a carpenter.

A man.  A warrior.  Noble and mighty.  Descended from kings.  A God-King.

Twelve men.  Twelve soldiers.  Twelve seeds to scatter.

To scatter.  To plant.  To send down roots.  To send up shoots.

To train.  To shape.  To build culture.

A tree.  Made into a symbol.  A symbol of punishment.

A shameful punishment.

A sinless lamb.  A lion, roaring in righteousness.  Nailed.

Love torn.  Love shunned.  Love discarded.

Love.

Nailed to a Cross.

Love.  Dead.

Love risen.

Death made dead.

Life restored.

Light shining.

A Baby, young Man, a Man, a God-King.  Risen.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It truly is the "Most wonderful time of the year." 

It always feels so special, this time of year.  The fact that one event could bring so much promise and joy into this world is stunning.  It could only be wrought by a master craftsman.  The birth of Christ came with the fulfilling of the promise to set what was wrong, right.  To humble the proud.  To exalt the poor.  To bring new life.  To turn this sinful world on it's head and give it hope once more.  The promised Messiah has come.  Rejoice!

I mentioned it in an earlier blog post about Thanksgiving, that everything is building up to Christmas.  You have Easter and Pentecost, then what feels like the "ordinary" time of year; then Advent, which builds up to Christmas itself.  When we get to the Christmas Season, we forget about all the trials and hardships of the previous year.  This time of year should be joyous for all, especially for Christians.  Christians should be proud that their King has come and begun to reign.  I don't know any other better reason for celebrating.  This should be the ultimate birthday party.  

Christmas is the time for us to remember what we have been given.  All the gifts that we give on this wonderful day are a mere reminder of the Gift we have been given.  The amazing Giver overwhelms us with blessings and love.  For me, I'm grateful to my amazing Father of the people that I've been able to meet and build relationships with.  In Missouri, Hawaii, Germany and now Texas.  And not to mention my online school.  Boy, I am just filled with joy and anticipation when I think of meeting them this coming summer.  

Christ is the ultimate crooked line.  Now that may seem like an oxymoron.  But if you understand it in the sense that no one was expecting the great Messiah to be born in the countryside in a barn, because people booted them out of the inn for lack of space, then it might make more sense.  No one expected this carpenters son that died on the cross, to resurrect from the dead.  

No one expected the promised one to have such a humble beginning.

No one expected this man to defeat death itself.

Christ was THE crooked line that set things straight.

Thanksgiving in the Lopez Household

Just a little post about Thanksgiving!  Hope you had a blessed day like the one I enjoyed!  Today has always been a reminder about being thankful for what we have.  But, it was brought up in our conversation at the table today about how Thanksgiving sets up the rest of the holiday season.  As we slide into the Advent season and glow of the promise of Christmas, our attitudes should be based off of thankfulness.  Without an attitude of thankfulness, this season is wasted.

                          

Turkey.. amazing.

Boy..  Am I blessed?

Christmas Shopping and Recharging

Today was pleasant.  That is the only word that really describes today.

Life seems to be rushing by with no regard to my feelings.  Hurtful.  But, I will recover.. in time.  Don't feel bad for me.  And I have been doing my best to grab at it, but as King Solomon said, "It is all chasing after wind."  Now, I'm not saying that trying to make a schedule and having your life in order is bad, not at all.

 But, this past week, I was feeling overwhelmed.  I enjoy having schedules.  But my schedule was so hectic with practices, school, and lack of sleep.  I have to admit, that I was becoming stressed, which I rarely do.  Once again, my parents came to the rescue with their wealth of advice.  Sometimes, I need to just relax and not worry.  Worrying about the future is useless.

That's God's thing.  He kinda has this thing, where He is in control of everything.  And I'm completely fine with that.. most of the time.

Anyway, I have to mentally steer my train of thought back to why I wanted to write this post.  Today.  Today was pleasant.  After the past couple busy weeks, it was nice not having to worry about much today, and focus spending my time with my family.  After my final class of the week, we zipped off to Target to go.. you guessed it!  (The title might've given that away)  Christmas shopping.  I still had a few things to pick up, and today was the perfect day to do it.  After that, we went and ate out at the food court.  I had a delicious meal from O'Charley's.  And then we came back home, and I was able to play some basketball with my younger brother and work on my blog.

Now, all this may seem mundane, but to me, I cherished these moments.  It isn't every day that one is blessed with a day that is productive but is simultaneously enjoyable.  I feel refreshed and ready for tomorrow's adventures.

Remember:

"For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  (Matthew 6:32-34)

Eat turkey and rejoice!  Be refreshed!  Let tomorrow worry about itself.

Small Made Significant by His Love... Give Thanks and be Merry

The holidays are nearly upon us.  Thanksgiving is in a couple weeks, and Christmas is only a month and a half away.  I look forward to the holiday season for multiple reasons.  One reason is that it is a time for family.  Our culture stills retains some idea of family time during the holidays, even if it is centered around a television screen watching football.  And being back in the States, I feel even closer to my family.  This holiday season feels promising.

I'm excited to have my sister back from college for a whole month.  I can't wait to sit around a groaning table, laden with delicious food, and listening to the laughter of my family as they regale us with tales.  I'm ready for gift-giving.  As I have grown, I've realized that Christmas is more enjoyable when you are giving, not receiving.  I love the excited faces of my siblings opening a gift that I strove to wrap well.  (It normally just looks like a wad of paper and tape.  But, it's the effort that counts, right?)

With all of this to look forward to, I'm most excited about remembering why we celebrate and why we give thanks.  These grand celebrations that we look forward to every year should remind us of what God has
given and is giving us.  It's amazing what He has blessed us with.

If you're ever driving through the countryside, pull over.  Open the door.  Step out.  Look up.  Be amazed.  Stagger.  You're small.  You can hardly breathe.  How can we get so caught up in our own little worlds, that we forget how immense this universe is?  How can we be so important?  We tore this universe apart when we sinned.


Yet God still somehow loves us.  Beyond imagining.  He gave us the ultimate reason to give thanks, and the most incredible gift ever.  Christ.  His Son.  He gave us  a chance to live with Him in eternity.  This.  Among so many other reasons, are why we should give thanks.  The Father still sees us as the jewel of His creation, even if we were shattered into a thousand pieces.  That doesn't mean a thing to Him.  He gave the Gift to take the punishment we deserved for rending the fellowship we had with Him.  So be merry!  Rejoice!  Give thanks!  Immanuel has come!

Here I Stand, I Can Do No Other

Halloween.  That controversial holiday.  Should we participate in this holiday?  Is it a pagan holiday, or a Christian holiday?  

These and other questions are asked by Christian families whenever Halloween (or All Saint's Day) rolls around.  Let me just start out with this: little kids dressing up as a ninja, Flynn Ryder, a princess, or a football player and knocking on doors to collect and horde candy is not wrong.  It isn't wrong for kids to dress up and have fun.  Imagination is good.

But the important part is what reason are you celebrating Halloween/Reformation Day?  Are you celebrating the fall of evil and the victory of the King?  Or are you glorifying evil?  In other words, we either (subconsciously or not) are mocking the demons or are we taking it too far?  

Christians should recognize Halloween as a time to get dressed up to mock the demons and devils.  Whom do we fear?  Christ the King has destroyed them.  The Savior of the Universe has defeated the demons on the cross.  They never saw it coming.  So let me ask you again.  Whom shall we fear? 

What do I mean by taking it too far?  Halloween should be the time to mock the demons, yes.  But we need to be careful to not go to the other extreme.  Our culture has found joy in making wounds look realistic.  We have started finding joy in things that are frightening.  We don't remember the reason why we are rejoicing.

Now let's not forget what Reformation Day is.  We all know who Martin Luther is.  But do not forget the importance of his bravery and the wonderful miracle that God worked through him.  But also remember, that Martin Luther is not just some upstart monk who wanted to start trouble.  He treasured unity above all else.  But when the Roman Catholic Church refused to reform and address it's errors, there wasn't another alternative, but to break away to form the Protestant Church.

I hope you all have had an enjoyable Reformation Day!  And don't forget.  "13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." - Ephesians 6:13.  With God we can laugh at the attempts and schemes of the devil.

To Dad

From the kilts of Scotland to the shores of Hawaii, from the Midwest of America to the heart of Europe.  My dad has been with me the whole way, step by step, he has moved across two continents and two oceans with what is now a family of seven.  You're an amazing father.  You've coached me in basketball, you've taught me to follow Christ with all my heart, and you've corrected me when I've stumbled.   I know how a man should act, how a man should treat his wife, and how a man should love his children because I have a living example in front of me every day. Thank you Dad!  For everything.

Bagpipes.  The manly instrument. 

Not to mention that you're a pretty darn good photography.

One of us is in the wrong chair.

Yup.  Scotland is the place to be.

This is basically what you do, you guide us by the hand, until we start to gain responsibility, then you let us have more free-rein.  But you are always on the spot if something happens.

Over 20 years ago.

You and mom haven't changed.

Except that you have five children and live in Germany.

"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth." Psalm 127:4

You're readying five arrows for the battle, and I know that we will be ready, because we have you for a father and mom for a mother.  Thank you for everything, Dad!  I love you.

Feasting

I was debating what to title this post, I trashed Thankfulness or Thanksgiving or Gratefulness.  They all seemed so cliche.  Thus, you have the title Feasting.  Which could still be considered cliche.  But not as cliche.  And the word cliche is totally cliche in and of itself.  Anyway, I must not set foot on the forbidden pathways of bunny trails.

It's important to remember the reason why we are able to enjoy a time of feasting.  Thanksgiving is a time to remember about what has passed since the landing of the Pilgrims, and also the things God has done for us. It's a time to remember what we are thankful for.  And it isn't just the things we have experienced.  It's all the challenges that we have faced and overcome.  And it is everything that God has given us, either to bless us or to grow us (which in itself is a blessing.)

I'm going to list things that I am thankful for.  But, it is nearly impossible to list everything.  So I'll give fifteen things and reasons I'm thankful for.  Because fifteen is such a good number.

1.  Christ and His sacrifice.
2.  Family.  And the unbreakable bond between siblings.
3.  Friends and loyalty.
4.  A good community of believers.
5.  Homeschool and for my mom and dad who provide me such a great opportunity to learn.
6.  Relationships made through Veritas Press.  I know that falls under friendships, but it has to be spoken for.
7.  Veritas Press.  The best online school ever.
8.  Basketball.  It is an amazing sport, and I've played it for a long time.
9.  Food, one of the greatest inventions of God ever.
10.  Samwise Gamgee.  He may be a fictional character, but he was an amazing man to look up to..  Or a hobbit to look down to.
11.  Dogs..  Man's best friend.
12.  Teen Night.  A great environment to trade stories, fellowship, and to drink in the stories.
13.  Omnibus.  It can be one of those challenges.  But it is amazing.
14.  Music.
15.  And last, but definitely not least, deodorant.  One of the best things invented for stinky teenage boys like me.

“Gratitude looks to the Past and love to the Present; fear, avarice, lust, and ambition look ahead.”---C.S.Lewis. 

New Year... Resolutions? Really?

The New Year has finally rolled around, and what is common about this time of the year?

Besides firecrackers, drinking sparkly juice, getting stomachaches from sweets, and staying up till 12.  Besides all of these, this is the time of resolutions.  But, do they really come into play?

People all over the world continually make resolutions to be physically fit, eat better, and work harder.  Yet, about two weeks into the New Year, right after Exams.  We are tired.  The brains, and muscles are screeching for spring break.  But, you still have the second Semester to fight through.  I know.  Captain Kill Joy over here.  How in the world are you going to keep up with all those resolutions? 

One way is to just start out easy, no need to be in a hurry.  Each month, pick up something new.  Don't try to rush through with all in one month.  You will swing and strike out quickly.  So, take it easy.

The other way is to lay it at the Lord's feet, still try to do the Monthly way, where you pick up gradually.  But before making your resolutions, examine yourself.  Pray.  Read His Word.  Ask the Majestic Creator of the Universe to reveal your flaws to you and ask for strength to grow in those areas.  Prostrate yourself before the Throne of God.

So, that is my meager advice to you.  Take it easy.  Exams take it out of you.  After you're done, take a walk and clear your head.  Get those brain cells a break, they probably have been whirring for a good while.

Don't Panic.
Pray.