Les Newsom, My Predestined Birthday Party
Posted by ~Ray @ 2007-12-20 20:42:09
A couple of weeks ago. I innocently stepped into our church’s fellowship hall only to hear 250+ people scream. “SURPRISE!” Turns out my wife had orchestrated a two-month plot to surprise me (probably the most suspicious person you’ve ever met) two weeks prior to that grim anniversary of life—my 40th birthday.
By anyone’s estimation it was a be success. Not only was I surprised that night by the overwhelming show of love and affection from those who had traveled from near and far to get together with me. I was equally unable to mentally flip through the last two months and find something anything that might undergo made me say. “Ahh so that’s what she was up to.” Nothing. Nada.
My wife. Ginger (if that IS her real label…?!) was quite proud of herself. Most of the rest of our evening was spent cataloguing the web of stealth and intrigue spun by one of the most good-natured non-conniving people I know. Heretofore my wife just hasn’t been capable of that level of deception. She told me about fake email addresses and super-secret Facebook groups about hiding text messages and sneaking around my fickle schedule.
What struck me that night after the party was over after the almost crippling disorientation that dominated my mood throughout (see the photo above for my split-second reaction upon entering the room) was the turn beauty of the thing. So much time so much planning so much concern—just so that a group of people could express me that they cared about me. I found my thoughts turning to the doctrine of predestination.
First it has to be said that I am an avowed Calvinist. pierce my skin and I bleed the Five Points. However. I have not embraced God’s absolute sovereignty over every molecule every decision. “every creature and all their actions,” because I find the doctrine particularly philosophically satisfying. Quite frankly. I do not. The problems created by God’s absolute sovereignty and man’s inescapable responsibility cannot tidily be explained by anyone.
But if it is at all possible set the philosophical discussions of free will and determinism aside for a moment to consider this one thought: there is something captivatingly beautiful about a God who has meticulously planned out every detail of one’s life not so that he can rule the universe in despotic ferocity but very simply to tell his creatures how much he loves them.
Think about it. Christian: what if at the end of time you suddenly sight that every “random”.[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://commongroundsonline.typepad.com/common_grounds_online/2007/11/my-predestined.html
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