King Soloman, the wisest man who ever lived, stated, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” I usually pass over this statement with affirmation but little thought, but something caused me to ponder over it a while today: that is completely the opposite of how most people today treat God. I remember when the “Jesus is my homeboy” shirts came out and was appauled that this style followed the doctrine that has been harped on from too many a-pulpit for the last umpteen years: the familiarity (sans-holiness) of God. We are encouraged not to fear God, but quite the opposite, really; namely the errantly overused saying that He accepts me “just as/where I am.” We make up a false god who is all about us and doesn’t care what we think about Him, when clearly the God of The Bible requires that we desire Him above everything (even ourselves).
Because I think this heresy has trickled down into our family practices – and thus giving me students who have no concept or fear of authority – I often analogize this by God calling Himself our Father. I have a great dad. Probably the best. I respect him, love him, try my best to obey him, seek his council, and love to spend time with him. I know that everything he does, he has my best interest in mind. Do I fear him? Heck, yes, I do! (More so when I was under his roof, of course, but that’s the vantage point from which I’m drawing this analogy.) Why do I fear my dad if I know he loves me? My dad wants the best for me, demands my very best, and has the power and authority to punish me when I don’t do what is right. When I don’t give my best or make a poor decision, he responds with anger and consequences. Because he loves me.
Why do people buck at authority? Because they think they know better than the authority does, I suppose. But though you may be more intelligent than government officials, administration, or even your own parents, do you have the audacity to say you have more intelligence that the God who invented the idea of intellect? Even more so than my human father, our heavenly Father demands perfection and has justice on His side to eternally punish those who aren’t perfect. That’s pretty fearsome. And it’s not until one understands the righteousness God demands and the justice He pours out on all who fall short, that a person can then understand God Himself becoming one of us and undergoing that punishment on our behalf. That is why the fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING of wisdom; it is the beginning of the Gospel of Good News in Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Camping Trip to Clinton Lake
Clinton State Park is a great park for KS. Many of the sites are pretty much in open fields, but many are tucked into wooded areas. There are many clean bathrooms and showers. The lake is bigger than I expected, and this park would be awesome for a Sea Doo or boat get away. :)
This was Chris's and my first time camping together without anyone else, so as expected, we encountered some problems:
1. Thanks to the faithful GPS and the wrong address selection (who knew there'd be 4 "Clinton State Park"s?), we got lost on the way there and ended up on the opposite side of the lake, so it took about an hour extra to get there Fri night.
2. I didn't bring charcoal, thinking we'd gather firewood for our brats and smores (I'm the more old-fashioned type of camper), but this idea terrified Chris and we had to go to the store to get charcoal and lighter fluid.
3. The worst happening was the air mattress going flat. We were in Chris's Avalanche tent, and didn't bring our sleeping bags (or their air mattresses), and the truck bed is hard and has ridges. Needless to say, we didn't sleep much at all. I recall tossing and turning, my butt finally hitting the floor, thinking 'Surely it's almost morning as I've woken up about 30 times,' and then looking at my watch: "1 A.M! You've GOT to be kidding me!"
4. We had to leave at 7:30 to go pick up a chair that Chris wanted to buy (off Craigs List) from a guy in Topeka. We got a great Zero Gravity chair (worth $1300) for $350. It was pretty much a steal, so worth it, but we didn't get to hike any of the park's many trails like we had originally planned for that morning.
I'm thinking it was good for us to experience the kinks of our first camping experience alone together, so we'll be more prepared next time!
This was Chris's and my first time camping together without anyone else, so as expected, we encountered some problems:
1. Thanks to the faithful GPS and the wrong address selection (who knew there'd be 4 "Clinton State Park"s?), we got lost on the way there and ended up on the opposite side of the lake, so it took about an hour extra to get there Fri night.
2. I didn't bring charcoal, thinking we'd gather firewood for our brats and smores (I'm the more old-fashioned type of camper), but this idea terrified Chris and we had to go to the store to get charcoal and lighter fluid.
3. The worst happening was the air mattress going flat. We were in Chris's Avalanche tent, and didn't bring our sleeping bags (or their air mattresses), and the truck bed is hard and has ridges. Needless to say, we didn't sleep much at all. I recall tossing and turning, my butt finally hitting the floor, thinking 'Surely it's almost morning as I've woken up about 30 times,' and then looking at my watch: "1 A.M! You've GOT to be kidding me!"
4. We had to leave at 7:30 to go pick up a chair that Chris wanted to buy (off Craigs List) from a guy in Topeka. We got a great Zero Gravity chair (worth $1300) for $350. It was pretty much a steal, so worth it, but we didn't get to hike any of the park's many trails like we had originally planned for that morning.
I'm thinking it was good for us to experience the kinks of our first camping experience alone together, so we'll be more prepared next time!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Notes from Estes Park #1
We arrived in Estes Park, CO, yesterday, and we logged 6.5 hiking miles within the first few hours of arriving. I was not in the right mindframe for it (not expecting to do anything that intense the first day), but Wild Basin is a beautiful, water-filled hike. It wasn't too steep, though there were some pretty good parts a bit off the trail. We climbed up above Ouzel Falls, where we caught a nice view of Longs Peak and felled trees (not by man, of course, but we couldn't figure out if by disease, fire, avalanche, or whatever else). I'm feeling pretty good the morning after, and I'm thankful that the soreness of the steriod shot in my foot is wearing off and it feels great today! I'm sure Dad is hurting today, though.
The best part about Griffin Family Vacations is the mass amounts of food we bring but will most likely never eat. Mom, Joy, and I each brought about 10 gallons of food items, from granola to trail mix to cereal to candy bars (in case I can't find a more ice creamy way to satisfy my chocolate fix). In Denver, we ate at Proto's Pizza, a stone's throw from REI outdoor store, and it was AMAZING! After our hike last night, we dined at The Stone Inn in Estes, which has incredible buffalo burgers and sweet potato fries. YUM! Then Joy, Asher, and I got some coffee at Kind. Their Kind Shake (ice cream, expresso, and chocolate - my favorite things) is unbelievable! Needless to say that all the hiking I'm doing on this trip is just so I can eat like a maniac!
Joy and I have decided that for the rest of our lives we are going to make it a priority to spend a week in Estes Park every year. This place is so magnetically magnificent. It doesn't have the curb appeal of the Tetons of Jackson Hole, WY (the most breathtaking site in the US in my opinion), but it has something about it that makes it an adventurer's second home. Someone asked me earlier this summer why I wouldn't want to visit another part of CO since I've been to Estes the last two years, and I responded, why would I want to go anywhere else? The best of CO is here.
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