Habakkuk and a Real Life Lesson in Trusting God

I have been teaching an adult Sunday school class at church about the minor prophets for about  the past 9 months.  Most recently we have been looking at the book of Habakkuk.  Here is the "Reader's Digest" version of the book:  The prophet named Habakkuk pleads with God about the problems of his nation.  God answers telling him that the perpetrators will be judged by the Babylonians.  The prophet responds by questioning God's use of an unrighteous nation to judge a more righteous nation.  God responds by assuring that Babylon will be punished and the faithful will be rewarded.  Habakkuk then spends the last chapter or the book praising and remembering His past promises.

Since studying the minor prophets I have learned quite a bit about God's faithfulness and how these books fit into the tapestry of the Bible.  However, this book in particular has come at a pivotal point in my life, a point at which I have also had many questions as Habakkuk has.

My wife gave birth to our son a few weeks ago.  This past Monday we received a phone call saying that they completed all the normal tests and found that he has Cystic Fibrosis.  Cf is a genetic disease that often takes life at early to mid adulthood, although people are living longer these days.  My mother has the disease and she will be 60 in a few months.

Needless to say I have had a few questions for God, much like Habakkuk.  Similarly to the prophet, God has reminded me of His past faithfulness, His faithfulness in the life of my mother, and His constant watchcare over my family and me.  We have had numerous people we don't even know writing to us to express their concern and prayers.

It is amazing how God seemed to foreshadow this event to me before it even took place.  Now, in retrospect, I realize He was preparing me for it.  My dad and I had a conversation two months ago and he said, "you never know, he might have cf."  The first week of his little life he seemed to have terrible problems with gas.  My mother said, "oh, that could be a sign of cf."  Earlier in the same day the doctor called us, I received a text from my brother-in-law about a promising treatment for cf.  He intended it as an encouragement concerning my mother.  He had no idea that about an hour later my wife would tell me that our son also had cf.

My mother's life has been amazing testimony to God's faithfulness in the midst of pain and trial.  I never expected that my child would go through a similar journey.  I have always admired my mother's attitude toward this adversity.  She has been used mightily by the Lord.  I hope that I can help encourage my son to do the same.  Together we can praise God in the midst of adversity as Habakkuk did.


¹⁷ Though the fig tree does not bud
   and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
   and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
   and no cattle in the stalls,
¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
   I will be joyful in God my Savior.  ¹⁹ The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
   he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
   he enables me to tread on the heights.

Landscape Progress

Some of the progress made on the landscape project is displayed here.  Enjoy!

Guitar Builds

Well, I cleaned the garage which is always the first step in a project.  I also found a great source for bolt-on guitar necks.  It is an e-bay store called EDEN Mart.  There is a great selection of both angled and straight necks for bass and 6 string guitars.  They are all about $45 a piece and $20 S&H.  EDEN also carries everything else you would need to build a guitar.  I am not sure about the quality of things.  I'll see if I can find some reviews and post again.  For now I am simply excited to find necks for a good price (not to mention that they have many inlay options and look good).

Babies

Well, my wife gave birth to our son two days ago and all went very well.  Such an amazing wonder to see God's display of creativity in such a small package.  We had to drive 50 minutes to the hospital and by the time we arrived my wife was ready to push our son out.  Saying that we made it in the nick of time would be an understatement.  That drive was one of the most tense I have ever made.  However, all went well, our son is healthy and we are blissfully sleep deprived.  For others this same scenario isn't always a resolution of fears and anxiety.  It is only the beginning.

Today I found another blog with a link to three songs by Matt Hammitt, the lead singer of Sanctus Real.  His son Bowen needed two major heart surgeries shortly after birth.  He just had his third in March.  In response to the experience Matt wrote three songs from his troubled heart.  They are general enough that anyone can relate to the fear and anxiety in his lyrics, and be inspired by his resolve to let go and trust God.  Click on the links below to listen to his songs.  Depending on who you are you made need a box of tissue.

Prayers for Bowen

 links to the songs:

Holding You 
Let Go 
Trust 

The Majesty of You

This a  new song I started on Monday.  It is a bit rough right now, but it'll get there.

Something Different

This is a video for my brother-in-law, Matt.  The rest of you get to see it.  It is a little offbeat from what I usually put on here.  Enjoy!

Guitar Build(s)

So, I found templates for the bass and... I also found a template for a double cutaway Les Paul (one of my favorite electrics).  I'll probably put two humbuckers on the lp.  I may try to carve the top with a router.  The body will be chambered to provide less weight.  One difference is that the lp will have a bolt on neck instead of set.  The bass will be the same as I have mentioned before.

Here they are.  I may not get started on these for a while due to expense of necks and hardware, but I can begin the bodies at any time.  Expect to see something in the next two weeks!

 

David Potter

 

Yes, another bandcamp find.  Actually, I found David Potter several months ago and never put anything up about him.  "Man of Sorrows Glorious King " is a series of classic hymns that have been reworked.  They are really well done!  Some are the original melodies, while others have been altered.  Potter puts a fresh musical take on the these theologically rich songs.

Willy and the Poor Boys

 

Do you all remember Beck and his song "Loser?"  It was a mix of white boy rap (very possibly intoxicated or high) and singing with acoustic guitar, drums and bass.  It was incredibly popular when I was in high school.  While searching bandcamp I found "Willy and the Poor Boys" and their record "Undragoned ."  It is almost a direct copy of Beck's sound. Nearly every song sounds like "Loser."  This aspect does lessen the pleasure of listening to it, but never the less it is fun to see someone paying "homage" to a song so well liked in my teenage years.

Comments

I have had several e-mails and texts from friends and family members about the inability to make a comment on the posts.  Please accept my apology.  It was my fault.  A search through my settings revealed that I had denied comments from non-gmail addresses.  Hopefully, this is truly what was wrong.