The Good Life

Did you notice that I changed the subtitle of our blog?  Sweet,  I was hoping you would!

Cheering About the Good Life from inside a Big Family

Now that we're a year and a half out from seminary, it was time to make a little change.  :)  (The old subtitle was, "Pictures and Memoirs of our Life in Seminary".)

Thanks to all of you who came along side us on our journey as forty-somethings in seminary.  That is definitely not the norm.  Most families who go to seminary are just starting out in life, with maybe a baby or two.  We went to seminary with a 12, 10, 8, and 3 year old, and finished with a 16, 14, 12, 7, and 1 year old!  Which is to say that life was fast, busy, full, and complicated as Ken was in school full time, working twenty hours a week as an engineer, and we were wading into the waters of raising teenagers with a baby in tow!  So we REALLY appreciate the prayers, phone calls, emails, letters, gifts, and financial support we received from you!  Getting to the finish line was tough, but we made it, thanks be to God!

Now that we're "civilians" again :), I want to expand the blog a little bit.  I hope to include not only snapshots of life raising our five kiddos (to help you stay in touch with us way out here in the Midwest), but also to "Cheer About the Good Life".

The Good Life is so good, I want to cheer about it!  Seriously, I really do.  What is it?  It's living the life God intended for us to live.  It's a life in relationship with the God who made you and me.  It is experiencing God's love, His forgiveness, His mercy, His kindness, His care, His help.  The Good Life is not a life free of pain, hardship, or sorrow.  But it is walking through those things along with life's joys and blessings WITH God.  It is what makes this life "good".

How can we have this Good Life?
Here's three summary explanations.

I love reminding myself of these, and I write them here to remind you as well of what we're even here for, and how we can experience a life with purpose and a life that is good and fulfilling.

1.)  The Bible tells us what Jesus said in response to a question asked by one of the religious leaders of His day.  The man asked him, " 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?'  Jesus replied: ' "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.' "  Matthew 22:36-40

2.)  The Westminster Shorter Catechism's first question explains The Good Life well.

Q1:  What is the chief end of man?
A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever.

3.) I also love the way The Heidelberg Catechism puts it.

Q1:  What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A:  That I am not my own,
but belong-
body and soul,
in life and in death-
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood,
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven:
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Because I belong to Him,
Christ, by His Holy Spirit,
assures me of eternal life
and makes me whole-heartedly willing and ready
from now on to live for Him.