Dan's Run-in with the Law

Today, I had a couple of run-ins with some of Boston’s Finest.  After our weekly church-wide early morning prayer meeting, I was taking one of our members home when I was pulled over for a supposedly “expired license plate.”  I say “supposedly” because the date on the plate clearly reads Feb. ’09 just as my registration does as well.  I think being pulled over had more to do with the fact that I have tinted windows and an out of state plate.  After making sure our papers were in order, he let us go on our way.  After dropping my friend off at his house, I found myself in an unfamiliar neighborhood on a one-way street.  At the end of the street, there were construction cones blocking the road.  One of Boston PD’s finest stood guard over the cones.  I rolled down my window, and asked the fine officer if there was a way to get around this.  He then looked at me, and began to cuss me up one side and down the other.  He called me a number of names that I haven’t been called in a long, long time.  After picking my jaw up off the floorboard of my car, I felt compelled to say, “Somebody is having a bad day!”  But instead of leaving it at that, I just felt even more compelled to yell back at him that I wasn’t from here so give me a break, and that someone was pretty stupid for blocking a one-way street without putting up any signs, and that he might want to find something better to do than guard a bunch of construction cones, and maybe I wasn’t the dumb, stupid $$@@#@&%$^ because I wasn’t the one guarding construction cones.  I kind of felt better, until he began walking towards me with his hand on his gun saying something that sounded like “I’ll pull your @#$@%$$ out of that car…”  I backed the car up as fast as I could, going about 35 MPH in reverse heading the wrong way down a one-way Boston street expecting to hear gun shots at any moment.  I’ve had guns pulled on me before, but last time it was gang members.  You expect that.  The good news is that the cop was on foot, and Georgia doesn’t require front license plates.  After my getaway, I spent a good portion of the day totally frustrated, angry, ticked, wanting to call the mayor, the paper or something.  My anger turned into frustration and hopelessness.  Is there any hope for a guy like that?  Is there any hope for a city with cops like that?  What in the world has God done bringing my family and me to a place where there is no hope for change?  It wasn’t until about 3pm that it hit me that I probably needed to confess my sin of anger and desire for revenge against this guy.  Not only that, but I needed to forgive this guy, and in my heart love him.  Jesus did tell us that we were to love our enemies and bless those who curse us.  And then the Spirit spoke to me, “How about your sin Big Boy (that’s what the Spirit calls me when its conviction time)?  How about your hopelessness and unbelief?”  The Spirit reminded me that I was being changed, and if God can work in my heart and change me, then there was hope for all of Boston.  Then I was reminded of the verses that I’m preaching on this Sunday, Ephesians 3:20-21.  Its Paul’s beautiful doxology, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen.”  Because this is who our God is there is hope for me, and those who curse me.  There is hope for our neighborhood and our beloved city.  But I’m afraid that my use of “hope” leaves a sense of doubt, that maybe God will work, or maybe He won’t.  But I’m convinced that our hope is a certain hope because not only is God able to do immeasurably more, but indeed He is willing.

Rocket Science Meets Football

Dan was meeting some new folks on the 4th of July. One of these folks works for NASA and is an actual rocket scientist! Dan said, "I played football at Georgia".

3 Cheers

Mrs. Mallard
Very Urban kids in the wading pool!
On the Esplande with the "Pru" in the back
Frog Pond at Boston Common
Walden Pond is FREEZING!

The State House
Mmmm...Canoli and Lobster Tail at Mike's Pastry in the North End
The Mayflower II
Duck Tours-for Fenway Franny
Make Way for Ducklings in the City Gardens

New "Hamster"

Let's give it up for those kids! They are champs! They are troopers! They have been so flexible. We were reminiscing about the places we have lived in the last few years-from 23 acres in rural Jackson County, to eclectic, sweet Athens in a subdivision, and now they have officially been urbanized in Boston with backpacks, strollers, T passes, wading pools, listening to the panhandlers sing songs, and playing in the fire hydrant! We really don't think they have given it much thought. Partly because we have kept them so busy, but partly because they just love doing life and experiencing new things. We have had several fun "out of the city" days like a day at a campground with some other families in New "Hampster", Walden Pond, and a secret garden hike in Hingham. It has been a huge blessing to see the Lord carry our children through this move and to see Him work in their lives. (sorry for the sideways pictures!)

Community Boating

Our two oldest children were able to participate in a wonderful program on the Charles River for $1! They both passed the first week of lessons and are able to take out a small sailboat by themselves on a green flag day, as well as kayak. The next test is for a Helmsman. Then they can take out boats on red flag days. One of the children is struggling with this and not wanting to become a Helmsman. Fear.

May this be his prayer as well as ours:

O Lord of the Oceans, My little bark sails on a restless sea, Grant that Jesus may sit at the helm and steer me safely; Suffer no adverse currents to divert my heavenward course; Let not my faith be wrecked amid storms and shoals; Bring me to harbour with flying pennants, hull unbreached, cargo unspoiled. I ask great things, expect great things, shall receive great things. I venture on thee wholly, fully, my wind, sunshine, anchor, defence. The voyage is long, the waves high, the storms pitiless, but my helm is held steady, thy Word secures safe passage, thy grace wafts me onward, my haven is guaranteed. This day will bring me nearer hme, Grant me holy consistency in every transaction, my peace flowing as a running tide, my righteousness as every chasing wave. Help me to live circumspectly, with skill to convert every care into prayer, Halo my path with gentleness and love, smooth every asperity of temper; let me not forget how easy it is to occasion grief; may I strive to bind up every wound, and pour oil on all troubled waters. May the world this day be happier and better because I live. Let my mast before me be the Savior's cross, and every oncoming wave the fountain in his side. Help me, protect me in the moving sea until I reach the shore of unceasing praise. -The Valley of Vision

Our Neighborhood

We made it! We are officially in Dorchester and it has been wonderful. Dan has been ordained and will be preaching his first sermon this evening. (eventually, these will be podcasted for your listening enjoyment!) We are thrilled to have a place called home and Dan is thrilled to have a flock. We have done the tourist thing, entertained lovely out of town company, found the grocery store and met many wonderful neighbors. We even had dinner with Mayor Menino at our local restaurant as it was being awarded Boston's best new restaurant-well, he was there when we were.

We have "interviewed" several people from Dorchester on what life is like here. "E" is excited to see children on our street. She has been in the neighborhood for 23 years. "A" says Dot's biggest problem is trash. (Dan has taken to running around the park by our house and picks up trash in the mornings) "M" loves our neighborhood and says it is a hidden jewel in Dot. "R" is leary of the gentrifiers. "C" would never leave Dot, but says the violence is getting worse again. "AL" says there is nothing for kids to do except get into trouble. When she grew up here, there were all kinds of programs, but now there is nothing she can afford and there is no sense of community.

We look forward to many more encounters with our neighbors, showing and telling them about the Love of Christ. We pray that the Lord will make His Presence known and bring his Kingdom to bear on Dot.

Send Me

Our oldest son has written a song. We'd like to share the lyrics with you. We are reminded that when the Lord calls us, he calls our children as well. Moving to Boston is part of their story as much as it is ours.

I walk through your churches and I walk through your temples
I walk through your holy place.
I hear all the priests and I hear all the people say:
Send me, oh send me, cause here I am.
Send me, oh send me somewhere in this land.
Send me, oh send me, Oh Lord of all.
Send me, oh send me, cause you make the call.

I hear the bells ringing, I hear people singing on your holy day.
I hear people rejoicing and praising and wanting to say:
Send me, oh send me, cause here I am.
Send me, oh send me somewhere in this land.
Send me, oh send me, Oh Lord of all.
Send me, oh send me, cause you make the call.

I see blind men, I see old beggars who don't know your Holy Name.
That makes me sad and that makes me mad.
That makes me want to say:
Send me, oh send me, cause here I am.
Send me, oh send me somewhere in this land.
Send me, oh send me, Oh Lord of all.
Send me, oh send me, cause you make the call.