The Solution for Pain: Eremos

So what’s Eremos? A new drug??

This is a story you’ve probably either heard or lived through yourself. I was reaching out to a friend whose marriage had eroded quietly for years but suddenly collapsed in a mudslide to destruction. He has a super bright wife who works day and night to provide for their family and two highly successful children winning all sorts of awards in high school. Yet, even though it looked to me like he’s had a nearly ideal home and family life, he became so dysfunctional from drugs and alcohol that he’s been kicked out. It wasn’t obvious to those who loved the family from afar, but there have been years and years of love, tears, and desire to help that he ignored until it was too late.

How does this happen? “But, you can’t imagine the pressure I was under,” he complained to me. True enough. He had been the #1 salesman in the nation for his company— full of dreams and ambition. That’s a lot of pressure. He’d grown up in an alcoholic home. That’s a terrible obstacle to overcome. Past wounds and present pressures . . . the perfect storm for drowning. But, do we have to drown?

My friend has landed at his father’s house— a ranch sort of in the middle of nowhere. After losing his own wife years ago, this father eventually found his way to freedom through faith in Christ, and he’s sharing this faith with his son, providing a safety net for him, texting him Bible verses every morning, praying for him, and giving him space. Will my friend repent and allow Jesus to transform him? I pray so, but it’s not a given. I’m also praying for half a dozen young (and older) people who seem unable to overcome the addictions that are killing them (literally).

To a greater or lesser degree, I’ve seen this scenario lived out again and again. Some call it Midlife Crisis or burnout. I used to think of it as a middle-age malady among men, but honestly—it can affect any of us at any time. What’s the answer? For me, it’s always Jesus, the source of truth, life, and freedom. The One who died so that we can have forgiveness for our sins. The One on whom we can cast ourselves, confessing our sins and begging for help.

How many times in my life have I taken Jesus up on his offer?— “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). My need for grace and help on my pilgrimage to heaven has never ended. I feel like a salmon trying to migrate up a waterfall, praying and jumping over, and over, and over again . . . how many ever times it takes me to be able to make it to the “next level” in the great adventure we call life on earth.

But, back to my original question: What is Eremos? It’s a Greek word used in the Bible that’s translated often as “wilderness.” It means an isolated, solitary, desert place where no one is and there are no resources. No food, water, or shelter. This is where Satan tested and tempted Jesus. However, Jesus didn’t cave in to temptation. His resource was complete reliance on God. Jesus fasted. He prayed. He stood his ground by quoting Scripture. He survived. And, he went on to save the world. Literally! He’s the only superhero who isn’t fictitious. Jesus is the Almighty God incarnate—in the flesh—, and He is the One and only power in heaven or on earth who can forgive, redeem, save, heal, and transform us.

When we are tested and tempted, we have two choices: to give in to temptation (which leads to sin, addictions, and eventually death), or we can cast ourselves completely on God, coming boldly to the throne of grace, begging him for mercy and the grace to resist temptation and overcome evil with good.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the problems and pressures of life, don’t take a drug, take a walk to the Eremos and meet with God. Cry out to Him and do NOT turn to idols. Billy Sunday taught, “One reason sin flourishes is that it is treated like a cream puff instead of a rattlesnake.” Let’s take our sins seriously and let God fill us with the water of life that flows from the Rock: “for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” ( 1 Corinthians 10:4). Jesus is the friend that sticks “closer than a brother” and promises to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He’ll be with us in the Eremos. We’ll never be alone once we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Psalm 61:1-4. “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.”

(I took the two desert photos from an “eremos” in Tunisia)

Moving Near and Far

Two of our kids have moved recently.

One was fairly simple: from an apartment to a home of their own, and only the cats were alarmed.

(Luna and Lionel seeking refuge under the covers!)

The second move was the wildest ride in Frontierland yet and required a bit of family reunion along the way.

Because Mike’s family is going overseas again, four of our sons and their families got together for some good, old-fashioned fun.

The grand kids made one last film together, a production of Hamlet.

The babies got to know each other a little better . . .

And we all mourned the departure of Aaron’s family when they had to return to California.

Part two of Michael’s departure included a final camping trip over Father’s Day weekend with some of their friends.

Alan and I were supposed to go but ended up attending two funerals instead.

Otter Creek has some of the best shallow water rafting around (Kentucky)!

There’s a great (somewhat scary) rope swing so you can jump into the river.

Everybody spent a couple of days working to divert one side of the creek into a wonderful mud slid that provided no end of fun.

Otter Creek is a small tributary of the Ohio River, and the kids also hiked along the river.

When Mike and Grace when first arrived at Fort Knox, they ended up camping with their kids for over a month at Otter Creek while looking for a permanent home , so it holds a special place in their hearts.

Although we missed most of the camping trip, we did arrive in time to share a four-family Fathers’ Day service right at the campground. As Kirk Franklin would say, “Let’s have a little church right here!” Mike and Grace’s friends attend three different churches, so it somehow seemed appropriate to meet together around a campfire for a “home church” fellowship as their last worship service.

Later, Marc and Bridget threw a Father’s Day banquet for all of us. I need to write a post just about them. They live to bless! The first day Mike’s family visited their church, Marc and Bridget invited all (8) of them over for dinner. Marc brought Mike a riding lawn mower to cut his grass, and for the past two years they’ve just loved our kids! On this particular day, they also invited a homeless man in to enjoy dinner with us.

Talk about The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World. We’ve experienced it being lived out!

That night, there were not one but two bonfires, karaoke for the kids, and one 85-year-old saint with congestive heart failure who was up and dancing about with the little children before the night was over!

But, these guys don’t just play hard, they work hard! Everybody pitched in to help with the huge last-minute pressures of packing for an international move and cleaning to get the house ready to put on the market. I thought of the adage, “Many hands make light work,” but in this case, it felt more like “Many hands make the work possible.” I thank God for spiritual community that goes deeper than kindness—way down to bone-tired sacrificial love!

From Kentucky, Alan and I caravanned with their family to Detroit Metro to help carry baggage.

(Nycteris carried their cat to and through the airport and on her lap to Asia!)

Not only do they have six kids, they have a dog and a cat and—you know, like 8 suitcases and 8 back packs, a stroller, car seats, diaper bag, food bag, a treasured violin . . .

While Papa helped transfer luggage, the kids and I watched the airplanes taking off. A generation ago when Michael was little and Alan was in medical school, we’d take Mike and Aaron to watch the planes take off from Detroit Metro. I never dreamed that some day we’d be watching him take off! I’ve shed plenty of tears over losing them, but I know they’re where God wants them, so I am content.

Today as I write this post, I know they’ve arrived and are (hopefully) sleeping sweetly with their dog and kitty happily at home in their new surroundings.

I guess there are two things on my mind. The first is that as terrifying and difficult as moving is, God provides the grace and strength to survive. He is our good, good Father, and we can trust Him, both with ourselves and our loved ones.

The second is a profound sense of gratitude for the family of God, who comes around us on our journey. Not only does God tell us to love Him and love others, He loves us and sends others to love us too!

(“God Provides,” written and produced by Kirk Franklin;
sung by Grammy Award winner Tamela Mann)

“The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 23:37, ESV).

Garlic-infused Oil

Throughout his childhood, Michael was my right-hand man in the kitchen. By the time he was ten, he’d be the first kid dressed on Sunday mornings and down in the kitchen helping me peel potatoes and carrots for our pot roast before we all headed off to church.

Michael with two of his girls

A generation later, Michael is the one with all the kids, and his family has become vegan, so (at my request), he’s gallantly become the head chef when we’re together, and I’ve become his sous chef.

He’s taught me a lot about how to enjoy vegan food, and one of the keys is using flavorful sauces. One of my favorite sauces is a garlic-infused oil that makes many things especially delicious.

Falafel pita sandwich drizzled with garlic-infused oil and fresh lemon

On their last visit home before leaving for his new assignment, Michael made falafel for dinner served with lots of veggies on pita bread drizzled with garlic oil. Of course, this emulsified garlic oil is excellent on all sorts of both vegan and traditional recipes.

Garlic-infused Oil
(Makes about 2 cups of condiment)

In a quart-sized canning jar (or other very deep container), combine:
1/2 cup crushed, fresh garlic
1/4 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon coarse salt

Blend with an immersion blender until smooth and airy, and then slowly drip-add while continuing to blend:
Somewhere between 1.4-1.5 cups of canola oil (or other neutral-flavored vegetable oil)

It’s done when it’s the consistency of soft butter or mayonnaise. The amount of oil does affect the thickness, so stop and test it a couple of times during the process. If your family hasn’t devoured it on the spot, any remaining can be refrigerated and should stay emulsified for a couple of weeks or more.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5; God also often gives us the joy of serving one another with oil! 🙂 ).

Realizing Value

My sister Lynn passed this on to me via her friend Charles, although the original author is anonymous. I loved it so much I’m passing it along to you!

Read quietly then send it on its journey

To realize
The value of a sister/brother:
Ask someone
Who doesn’t have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby.

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.

The origin of this letter is unknown,
But I believe it will bless everyone who reads it, so please pass it on.

Remember….

Hold on tight to the ones you love!!!!

Do not keep this letter.

Send it to friends and family, and don’t forget the one who sent it to you!

Having “lost” one of my beloved sons and his family yesterday to a new post overseas for three years to come, I can add:

To realize
The value of three years:
Ask a mother
Who’s just put her son’s family on a plane for a new term of military service.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reminds us~

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

² A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

³ A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

⁴ A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

⁵ A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

⁶ A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

⁷ A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

⁸ A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

Looking Through the Magnifying Glass

Life seen through the eyes of a child is always surprising! Meet Janice’s grand daughter, Ella, aged two, trying desperately to figure out how to use a magnifying glass.

Now what do you suppose this little angel is seeing? Visions of Bunny riding on a merry-go-round? Her mother smiling? Herself—sweeping across the stage in a breath-taking swirl of pink with silver dots? An ant crawling on the floor? Absolutely nothing? The blackness of darkness in the moment of forever?

We still have our imaginations when we have our eyes closed, but we aren’t going to benefit from a magnifying glass, no matter how tightly we’ve squished it to our face! There are a few basic rules for using a magnifying glass to actually improve our vision: 1. Open our eyes 2. Choose our subject 3. Adjust our focal range until our subject comes into clear view.

Can we translate this spiritually? We can imagine all we want, but what we imagine may have nothing to do with spiritual reality. If we really want to see the spiritual world, we need to pray and ask God to help us understand the scriptures, since faith is increased by feeding on the word of God (Romans 10:17). For anyone who finds the Bible hard to understand, may I recommend starting by reading the Book of John or the Book of Matthew in the New Testament? Even Nicodemus, who’d spent his life studying the Old Testament scriptures, found it hard to understand spirit life. Jesus explained to this Jewish scholar that without a spiritual rebirth, no one can understand spiritual realities (John 3:7). If you find yourself struggling to grasp what Jesus is talking about, let’s use some basic principles for spiritual magnification. Smushing the Bible to our eyes won’t help us see any better, but earnestly asking God to answer these prayers might:

1. Open our eyes: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18, ESV).
2. Find our subject: “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:3).
3. Adjust focal range: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:22-24).

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart”
(Jeremiah 29:13, NIV).

P.S.—If you still have no clue how to understand the scriptures, we could start a Bible study together, or you can take a class through Aqueduct Project: https://www.aqueductproject.org/upcoming-courses.

Root Roasts and Other Veggie Delights

“I don’t like vegables” Marius complained. He climbed out of his chair and onto his mom’s lap. Grace didn’t comment but continued eating. Pretty soon, Marius started picking the broccoli out of her vegan dinner . . . to eat. Next he picked out some of the mushrooms, and then the carrots.

Now Marius eats vegan dinners with the best of us, and I think that might be the way most of us react to vegan dishes. We say we don’t like them, but really we do once we try. There’s just a little bit of Sam I Am in all of us, myself included.

For me, it’s been a process learning how to enjoy vegan dishes. I think the first thing is to give up the expectation that they will taste like non-vegan dishes. “Impossible burgers” are close, but not quite the same. Tofu scrambled eggs are NOT eggs; they’re something very different, but they don’t taste “bad” once you stop thinking they should taste like eggs and understand “they’re just different” and also a good source of protein.

I love vegetables. Do you? They’re colorful and have lots of textural variety. They’re high on nutrients and low on calories. What’s not to love?

Not long ago, when we were down on the farm visiting in Kentucky, we had an absolute feast for dinner: fresh boiled corn, fresh roasted asparagus, red quinoa, and a root roast.

Sometimes we make root roasts in a covered roaster just like we’d make a pot roast, only without the meat, but this time we made two pans of veggies on baking sheets. The net effect was especially tasty and visually beautiful, so I want to share what we did (although Mike was the spice master and doesn’t measure anything . . . which he might have picked up from his mama). We made enough for twelve, but I’ll write it up for fewer.

Root Roast
(6 servings)

Preheat the oven to 350°F. and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

On a baking sheet, scatter evenly:
3 large sweet potatoes, cut into bite-sized chunks
3 large purple potatoes, chunked (could also use red, yellow, or white)
1 cup drained red kidney beans
1 cup drained chick peas

Sprinkle lavishly (but a bit according to taste) the following spices:
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Chipotle chile
Paprika
Ground turmeric

If you’re trying to go SOS (no salt, oil, or sugar in your foods), then the following can be omitted, but I think they add a lot of flavor. Sprinkle very lightly with:
Olive oil
Salt
Ground black pepper

Bake in the oven uncovered for 40 minutes or until fork-tender and serve right away. (The asparagus was baked at the same time, but only for about 20 minutes.)

Mike and Grace had us eat the veggies in bowls with quinoa on top (which is a full protein source, so similar to but more nutritious than brown rice).

And, for true die-hards, kimchi on the top is excellent! I stopped there, although you can see that Michael is continuing to add extra fun stuff, like soy and pepper sauces. So many taste points! So fun! So full! But, not so fat!

“My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;
and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips” (Psalm 63:5).

A Father’s Love (by Brian Pinckney)

Chances are that I will plow no new ground with these words. The two stories involved are both well-known internet fodder, and one even went viral for a while. You probably have pondered similar thoughts to these before, so expect nothing profound or new.

Our first story is of a little boy from Edinburgh, Scotland, and it is his story that went viral on the internet. His name is Noel Hopkins and he is two, or was at the time of this occurrence.

So let me set this up for you. He’s two, a young two at that, with round glasses and a delightful accent, and he found his mommy’s lipstick, and there happened to be a mirror that needed some artwork that was at just the right height for the efforts of someone who is two. And so he set about his task.

Now, he wasn’t trying to be bad! Oh no! But when you’re two, things happen. “Things forbidden have a secret charm,” as Tacitus said.

There is always a cop around when you don’t need them. In this case, it was his mommy. She happened upon the little Picasso in the midst of his efforts and caught it on camera.

At first, the little guy was standing beside his masterpiece but his mommy’s tone of voice was probably what clued him into the fact that he was busted.

“Noel, who drew on Mommy’s mirror?” she asked.

Being smart, Noel quickly exited the proximity of the crime scene. Now granted, it was only by a distance of a few feet, but when you are two, that is quite a ways, certainly enough to imply innocence.

That accomplished, he turned about to gaze with astonishment at the desecration wrought upon the mirror and gave his response.

“I don’t know.” he replied plaintively.

“Was it you?”

“No.” Plain and simple, without the slightest hesitation.

It was obvious the wheels were spinning in that little noggin of his. Mommy just might be buying the story; he had better give himself a little more wiggle room. He doubled down . . .

“Who was it?”

“Batman.”

This gets a muffled guffaw from Mom as she stifles her laughter.

“Batman did it?”

“Yes, Batman did it.” He then launches into the details as he creatively throws the Caped Crusader under the bus.

That little stinker! Here he is with his mommy, one who loves him more than he can ever know and whom he is dependent on for everything. And yet he was telling her a string of falsehoods, denying responsibility, and blaming someone else with a natural ease that would make any narcissist proud. No acting lessons, no coaching, just self-interest being pursued.

Being two years old casts a powerful penumbra of innocence round about it. It’s a time when values and standards of behavior are works in progress and the lines haven’t jelled yet. And imaginary figures make handy scapegoats.

Yet, how this sums up the human condition, right back to the garden, hiding amidst the fig leaves. Do a little blaming and finger-pointing and hope you can buffalo someone who loves you more than you can ever know, the King of the Universe. If all else fails even imply it was all His fault for not making the system fail-proof.

How far this is from what God intended! He wanted close, loving relationships with us . . . genuine love demonstrated by obedience expressed in the midst of the gift of free will. And in the place of that, all He got was a load of fig leaves and finger-pointing and blame-shifting. It came as no surprise to Him, He knew all along that was what He was going to get, but He had to give the opportunity. The simplicity and beauty of the trusting, honest relationship He longed for replaced with the complexity of lies and coverups by His children. And it wasn’t Batman who was going to pay the price to get things back on track.

Thomas Vander Woude served as athletic director at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. He and his son Joseph were popular on campus, an important, beloved part of the small campus community. Joseph was born with trisomy-21, Down syndrome. The youngest of the Vander Woude’s seven children, Joseph—or “Josie” as the family called him—and his father were inseparable. The family owned and operated a farm near Nokesville, Virginia, and Josie pitched in alongside the rest with all the chores that accompany any household.

One day in September of 2008 Tom and Josie were toiling away at some yard work when the cover on a large septic tank gave way beneath Josie’s feet and he plunged down into that deep dark pit of sewage. The noxious gas alone in such a place is lethal, let alone the certainty of drowning in the mire. Josie was helpless, panicked in that toxic hole. Tom was losing his child. Too far down to reach his son, Tom went down into the tank with him, trying to hold his son up while he himself was submerged in the sewage. Tomas Vander Woude labored mightily until exhausted. He did the only thing he could do: fixing himself on the bottom of the tank, he became the platform on which Josie could stand. There in the blackness of that tank, as unimaginable foulness filled his mouth and throat and lungs, a loving father gave his life for his child.

And though that vile pit could rob Tom Vander Woude of life, it could not rob him of his love for his son. Josie survived.

So often we seek to encounter God through beauty. His awesome creation hints at His majesty and power and glory. But His Love, oh His Love. His willingness to climb into the pit to save His child. That He can love each and every one of His children with infinitely intense love. He did not send someone else to do the dirty work. No second-string bench warmer was called up. Tabernacling in a tent of human flesh, Jesus did that job Himself, He willingly climbed down into the noxious pit of this world to save His children. For the joy set before Him.

And yes, our lives can be very dark.

But if we can learn to look at the things in our lives

not as what happens to us

but as what happens for us

Opportunities to learn, to grow, to become ever more and more the individual He created us to be

to seek His will.

To be ever aware of His love and patience.

To place our hand in His

and to trust

is to feel His smile, even in the darkness—

to know that it is He who supports us,

and to journey with Him toward the dawn,

that bright and blessed dawn.

Brian, reading this aloud . . .

Brian has been a family friend for twenty years. He has a voice like Garrison Keillor but writes stories that are even more folksy and profound. He really needs to be on Christian radio! Meanwhile, I get the joy of sharing some of his writings with you. Happy Father’s Day coming soon to each of you, and Happy Birthday, Brian!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

Have You Had an Encounter with the Ark?

Grace and I had been trying to get together at the Ark Encounter ever since they moved to Kentucky two years ago, and we decided it was do or die (well, or not get there anytime soon, since they are moving out of the country for awhile).

We’d both heard a lot of positive things about this park, but it was much greater in scope than I’d imagined.

I mean, not just the fact that they’ve built an ark the size of Noah’s Ark, but the park is complex and has lots to see and experience in addition to the ark.

If I’d actually taken time to read all the materials available on the ark and throughout the park, it would be more than a day’s adventure (so I took a lot of photos for future reading reference), but just trying to take in some of everything took us all day. There’s a zoo, a playground, several places to eat, a petting zoo, a carousel, a virtual reality ride, live performances, beautiful gardens, and the centerpiece—a life-sized ark!

Ararat Ridge Zoo

Ever seen one of these before? Our family has been to many zoos around the world, but we’d never seen one before! It’s a Binturong, and a fairly fierce looking one, at that! (Yes, he’s very much alive and was wandering around eyeing us up.)

Bintuorongs, also known as “bearcats,” are from Southeast Asia and can rotate their ankles 180° so they can climb down trees head first! “Females can ‘pause’ their pregnancies if conditions are unfavorable (a process known as embryonic diapause) and then resume development once circumstances improve.” God has gifted us with an amazingly diverse world of creatures! I couldn’t help but wonder if those on the ark experienced embryonic diapause (either naturally or supernaturally) due to the cramped conditions on the ark.

Here is a zebra, a zorse, and in the background a horse. Not only does the zoo introduce us to some strange animals, it teaches us about what might have been meant by the biblical term “kind” of animals—those that can interbreed and produce offspring, or what we call “species” today. (Note: The offspring of some of the above animals are not fertile.)

Family Playground

At the Ark Encounter, even adults can enjoy most all the amenities (if you can fit)! There’s a unique child’s zipline/swing ride in addition to many colorful climbing, swirling, and swinging rides . . . all immaculately clean and pleasant. (There’s also an adult-sized zip-line in another area.)

The park is open 9 am-8pm (today; check before you go). I imagined we’d stay for 3-4 hours, but there was so much to see that we stayed until the park closed. Therefore, we had to take several breaks so the kids could enjoy some extra running while the grandparents sat in the shade resting up while admiring their energy!

There are picnic tables at various locations if you bring your own food as well as cafes with reasonably priced snacks (and abundant food at “Emzara’s Buffet” for about $15 per person and less for kids).

Petting Zoo

The petting zoo is another prize for for those of us who love to love up animals as well as watch them.

Ah, and a free carousel. Although the park has over a million visitors annually, the lines were refreshingly short the day we visited, like 5 minutes for a 3-minute ride instead of 90 minutes for a 3-minute ride. (A word of warning: For whatever reason, children under 40″ tall have to ride in a seat rather than on top of one of the animals, which made no sense to our two-year-old and broke her heart. With a parent, it seems perfectly safe, so I’m not sure why they have this rule. But . . . it’s their park . . .)

For the VR generation, there is also an immersive “Flood of Reality” experience for adventurers who would like to imagine their way through the events of Noah’s life.

At the Answers Center Auditorium, I was really glad we took time to see a dramatic presentation of the lives of Peter and Georgi Vins called Hold Fast, where “live and computer-generated characters interact against a spectacular, 70- foot LED backdrop.” This true father/son story of standing for Christ despite persecution and imprisonment captivated everyone’s attention but was portrayed so tactfully that none of our kids seemed traumatized. Hopefully, we were all inspired to stand fast as well.

The Ark

The centerpiece of the Ark Encounter is a life-sized reproduction of what Noah’s Ark might have looked like. It’s 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high.

There are four levels, and I think there could easily have been room for quadruple the number of cages. Doing casual research, it looks like over 28,000 species of animals (birds, reptiles, and mammals) have been identified. They could fit.

The creators go to great lengths to explain that they are attempting to be as close to realistic as possible, but beyond the dimensions of the ark, very little is explained in the Bible, so they’ve used artistic license to fill in some details.

The builders of this ark have put their imaginations together to think through how it might be possible to have kept a pair of each “kind” of animal alive on the ark for a little over a year.

I found the whole study fascinating and appreciated all the research and study that’s gone into this project.

Frankly, I have utter faith in the scriptural account so haven’t tried to prove its feasibility. My theory is that God brought the animals to Noah’s family, and He may have put them all to sleep during the ride. I have no clue, but whatever happened, God definitely worked supernaturally to provide for them.

Nothing is impossible with God, right? He is a God of miracles: “Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee” (Jeremiah 32:17).

While I have total confidence in God’s ability to carry out His plans, I also have great admiration for those who spend their lives defending the credibility of the scriptures and thinking through how what happened could have happened.

In their studies, the team went back to consider even the animals that are now extinct!

I’m not big into dinosaurs, but they are almost universally fascinating to children, and the cages on board held not only animals we’re familiar with, but a lot of fierce creatures from the past.

But, not toooo scary!

I also appreciated the inspirational messages extant throughout the ship. The Ark Encounter is clearly intended to encourage people in living out lives of faith and fruitfulness.

You can’t miss the messages: We are one human race, all descended from one source (God), all sharing one blood (human). There is no reason for racial discrimination. “There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11).

God’s Word is to be trusted and is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We may not understand everything written in the Bible, but we can trust the spiritual truths. God exists. He is good. He loves us. He is worthy of our worship and trust. Through Christ, He provides for everything we need to make it safely through the storms of this life and arrive safely to heaven.

Even if we can’t understand all the details, we can rest in the spiritual truths. There is safety in Jesus. He is the Messiah. He is our rock, our fortress, our high tower, and our ark of hope! He invites us all to come aboard and rest in His salvation, even if it doesn’t all make sense to us! “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31, ESV).

I’m aboard, saved by the blood of Jesus and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise ( 1 Peter 1:18-20; Ephesians 1:13). If you’ve not encountered THE Ark yet, will you come aboard today?

Someday, Jesus will go up to the chalkboard and explain everything, but in the meantime, I pray that you either are resting in Him or will give Him your heart today.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” ( Proverbs 3:5-6, RSV).

Cookie Sundae Bowls and Skillets

When Alan and I go to Mackinac Island or da Yoop (the U.P.), we love to stop at the Tasty Treat in Lake City. It’s about halfway to the Mackinac Bridge and truly does serve the biggest (and we think the best) sundaes in the north (probably in the entire state of Michigan).

I think they have it right to say that money can’t buy happiness, but there’s definitely something to the idea of an ice cream sundae putting a smile on somebody’s face when the weather’s hot, and it was in the 80°s last week!

As we were passing through town, we noticed something new— cookie dough bowl sundaes. Have you ever had one?

We hadn’t, although we’re definitely fans of cookie dough, especially chocolate-chip cookie dough!

Just a few days later, we celebrated Alan and Brianna’s mutual birthday. Brianna is famous for her cookies and made us a “birthday cake” giant cookie in a skillet.

It’s a brilliant way to make a batch of cookies for the busy mom. Just a little thicker batter and baked a little longer, but you can use your regular chocolate-chip cookie recipe (or any other type of cookie you want).

Brianna and her energetic daughter, Elanor, shared the decorating responsibilities! 🙂

The same idea can be used to make cookie-dough bowl sundaes, which you can do by putting large scoops (like an ice-cream scoop) of chocolate-chip cookie dough into muffin tins and half-baking them. If you’re concerned about raw eggs, try this vegan recipe for the cookie dough:

Vegan Cookie Dough
(Makes 2 dozen cookies)

In your mixer, cream together:
1 cup (8oz or 2 sticks) soft, plant-based butter (can use regular, but then it’s not vegan)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup oat or almond milk (or your choice)
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

This is a basic cookie dough, but if you want chocolate-chip cookie dough, add:
12 oz (1.5 cups) chocolate-chips (vegan if you’re trying to make this vegan, although if you’re simply trying to avoid raw eggs, then regular chocolate-chips work fine).

Blend into a big ball. If you’re simply making vegan chocolate chip cookies, place them in 24 large spoonfuls on a cookie sheet bake them at about 350°F for 10-12 minutes or until they’re just beginning to look done (or a little under done). Take out of the oven and cool them on the counter for another 10 minutes so they’ll be firm enough to remove from the cookie sheet to the counter.

However, to make the cookie dough “bowls” for sundaes, divide into 24 scoops in muffin tins or other festive, oven-proof containers, and pop them into an oven preheated to 350°F. Bake for 8 minutes.

Remove them from the oven, and let them cool slightly. They will be warm and gooey in the middle. Fill each with a scoop of ice cream. If you want them to be really special, top them with hot fudge sauce and whipping cream. Something old and something new!

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
(Lamentations 3:22-23)

A Few of My Favorite Birds (48): Pileated Woodpeckers

Big. Beautiful. Bold. Brash when defending its territory but bashful around people.

If you see one, you won’t forget him, although you might struggle to pronounce his name correctly.

“Pileated” comes from the Latin word “pileatus”, which means “capped,” referring to their fluffy tuft of bright red top feathers.

I’ve heard people pronounce “pileated” as pīleāted “pi-le-a-ted” (sounding like a “pie” first) or pilleāted “pil-e-a-ted” (sounding like a “pill” first), so my theory is you can take your choice. Or, you can google how to say it, like I did, although it might only further confuse you with even more options, including whether it’s a three or four-syllable word . . .

(I took most of these photos in our woods, but this one is from Fort Wilderness at Disney World, taken my my son-in-law, Carl. Thanks, Carl!)

Of the 23 varieties of woodpeckers in North America, the pileated is the largest.

They are also the third largest variety in the world. Adults are about 16-19″ long and have of wing span of up to 2.5 feet. Although I can’t tell them apart by size, males are a couple of ounces bigger.

The only easy way to tell them apart is this: The males have a red line from the bill to the throat along their cheek whereas on females the line is black.

Male Pileated Woodpecker on our deck

His good wife—a female Pileated Woodpecker

Their favorite places are mature deciduous forests with some rotting trees, where they can find their favorite food: carpenter ants.

Pileated woodpeckers have long tongues (see above) to reach into crevices and extract bugs.

They are common in the Great Lakes region (where we live), although they also flourish throughout eastern North America and Canada.

This handsome fellow was drilling away on a rotten log outside our camper window one morning in Smoky Mountain National Park, Tennessee.

They make large, rectangular holes (rather than round) when drilling for ant colonies and beetles.

Pileated woodpeckers mate for life and work together to defend their territory, which can be upwards of 150 acres.

If one mate dies, the other will drum to attract a new mate to their territory.

Each spring, the male makes a new, large, often multi-entry roost for their nest to impress his wife, although the nest is abandoned after their brood is raised.

But—no problem! Many other birds and animals (even raccoons) appreciate having an only slightly used, rent-free home!

We’ve had a pair drumming away in our woods for years, although it’s only been within the last few years they’ve gotten tame enough to enjoy feasting on our suet feeder.

I sit approximately three feet from the feeder, although I’m on the inside of the window.

It used to be that every time I’d pick up my camera, they’d fly away.

Now they don’t even seem perturbed and are just as curious about me as I am about them!

I wish our flickers would calm down and let me photograph them!

Flicker in our cherry tree

They’re the last holdout among the dozens of visitors that come to our feeders every day, but it’s a rare day in May when I can capture a photo of them. I guess they don’t want their faces on the internet!

Woodpeckers have an almost unique capacity for repeatedly pecking on a tree at extremely high decelerations. To me, they almost sound like a jack hammer! God has designed them to survive this constant head banging without brain injury, despite the fact that during mating season they may peck up to 20 times per second and 12,000 times per day. No concussions, and I’ve never even heard them complain of headaches!

Beyond God’s brilliant design for their noggins, I want to commend them for being well-mannered in the culture of our neighborhood.

Rather than driving off smaller birds, our pileated woodpeckers take up residence in a nearby oak or cherry tree and wait their turn.

If they’re feeding and other birds come, they’re willing to share. This is contrary to what I’ve read, so I can’t tell if we have an especially amiable pair or if many pileated woodpeckers become less aggressive in the face of a plentiful supply of food.

For whatever reason, it makes me especially happy to see them come, and even though they’re fairly expensive “pets” (able to devour a suet feeder in a few days), they are always welcome to come and dine at our home!

“Use hospitality one to another without grudging” (1 Peter 4:9).
I suppose that extends to all of God’s sweet creatures!