Every good story has a moral. Here’s a story about the great Norse explorer, Lief Ericson.We all have heard that it’s not smart to drive while using a phone and certainly not while texting. Here’s a video of a guy who has a large book propped up behind his steering wheel. He has a Kindle in his left hand and he uses a smart phone in his right hand. At no time during this video do his hands touch the steering wheel. And he’s a full grown adult (supposedly).
I would say “Enjoy,” but this is scary.
The Bible mentions the word ‘covenant’ 297 times starting in Genesis 6:18 and the last time in Revelation 11:19. In Genesis, God says,
But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark — you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you. (Genesis 6:18-19)
He is making a covenant with Noah and his family as they prepare to deal with the flood.
The Hebrew word used here is ‘beryth’ which literally means ‘to cut.’
Jesus talked about a new covenant when he was having his last meal with his disciples.
In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11:25-26)
The Greek word used here for covenant is ‘diatheke’ which literally means ‘to put apart.’
I haven’t been blogging since Wednesday and the reason is Betty and I were preparing for a one-day marriage enrichment event at our church that we lead called ‘Covenant Builders.’ It’s an experience we developed almost 14 years ago.
The day consists of five talks by the leaders – (1) Who Are We – Personality Differences, (2) Listen to What I Mean, Not What I Say – Communication, (3) Fighting the Good Fight – Dealing with Conflict, (4) Forgiveness, and (5) God’s Plan for Marriage. After each talk the participants reflect privately on a couple of questions we give them and write their thoughts in a notebook. Then they discuss another question about the topic with their table mates. There were 9 couples so we had three tables of three couples each. We believe the table sharing is probably the most important part of the event.
At the end we have a closing where communion is shared and the couples share with each other a covenant vow that they individually wrote after the last talk during their private reflection. This is often the most powerful time of the weekend.
So, with all that, what is a covenant? It’s not a contract. A contract is an agreement between two parties to be or do something for the other. If one party to the contract does not live up to their part of the contract the other party is set free from their obligations.
We believe God intends for marriage to be a covenant – not a contract.
We believe a covenant is a one-way promise that a person makes to another with no conditions or requirements on the other person’s part. Think of the words in a traditional wedding vow:
“I promise to love and cherish you for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or worse until death do we part.”
That’s a covenant. The person is promising to love and cherish the other whether they are rich or poor, sick or well, if things go better or worse than expected – and the only thing that will separate them is death.
Over the years we have worked with many couples to help them understand and believe that marriage is a covenant and, if they won’t give up and allow God to be a central part, it can be the marriage they want.
Yesterday was a little different. It was our last Covenant Builders. We have been blessed with turning over leadership of the pastoral counseling and premarital coaching we have led over the years to two great couples. They were the other lead couples yesterday for Covenant Builders and are willingly taking over the leadership for the future.
We’re very happy now to ‘not be in charge’ and let others take the lead and bring some new ideas and energy to these ministries.
We had our favorite equine chiropractic vet, Dr. Diana DeBlanc, out Wednesday morning to check out our horses. She had seen Morgunn before, about 3 years ago, but this was the first time to see Sugar.
It was a good thing that she came to see Sugar because Diana said from her evaluation that it was probably the first time that Sugar had ever been worked on by an equine chiropractor.
Diana pushed and pulled every part of Sugar and when she did there was a crack or a popping sound. Interestingly enough, as Diana went along Sugar seemed to enjoy it more and more so it was something she needed.
Checking Sugar’s neck vertebra. At this point she wasn’t too sure about all this.
Pushing on Sugar’s hip structure. Notice the relaxed right hoof and the look in her eyes. “This ain’t too bad.”
Finally, a good pull on the tail to straighten out all the spinal column. “Oh, that feels good.”
Diana also gave Morgunn a good once-over and he needed a little correction in his left shoulder and hip.
We plan to have them checked about every six months. It should make them feel better, especially Sugar, and, if we don’t cause them too much imbalance with our riding postures, it should help their riding as well.
After it was all over Diana and I shared broken toe stories. Her 3-year old horse had stepped on her foot that morning and she was pretty sure at least one of her toes had been broken. Ouch.
Betty and I went to see “Secretariat” yesterday and it’s a great movie. It was neat to see the real Penny Chenery in the last race scenes. If you like a good, values-affirming movie and especially if you like horses, this is a movie to see.
(The picture is a real photo of Secretariat winning the Triple Crown at Belmont by a staggering 31 lengths – incredible.)
Here’s a video of the real Belmont Race. The match race was to be between Secretariat and Sham. They battle it out for about half the race, but as Secretariat pulls away Sham falls back and finishes last. Secretariat is still pulling away from the field as he crosses the finish line. This may be the greatest horse race ever.
Betty and I will vote tomorrow morning after we exercise and after the morning rush at the polls dies down. Originally I thought I was going to have to report for jury duty and we would have to vote early (but not often). However, my jury panel was canceled so I don't have to report tomorrow morning.
No matter your political leanings, our right and privilege to vote is one of the greatest things about our country.
So get out there and vote.
