Psalm 19 ~ like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.




Marriages are made in Heaven. I rather doubt that. But I will bet you they are written in the Book of Life.

We are spending the July 4th Holiday with our son Cal's dear, dear friend Jeremy.
I'd have to say we are all rather fond of Jeremy - who is just a bit older than these old photos. Jeremy is getting married and we are proudly hosting the reception, a Texas at home BBQ.

Jeremy-  back in 2001 - used to say, from time to time,  "And I'm going to get hit by a truck." At first that was disconcerting, but we tossed it behind us. Jeremy's mom was ill with two separate illnesses, so he was here with us a lot. The first week of summer, in 2003, the phone rang and it was our Youth Minister, in tears, saying he'd seen a child hit by a big Dodge Ram pickup truck and pray. 5 minutes later an elder from our Church called to tell me it was Jeremy. PRAY!!! Not only had he been dragged fifty feet by the truck, leaving a great white shark imprint - his head left a ! round head shape on the hood - no helmet was worn.

We did. We PRAYED!!!

Jeremy went down to our huge trauma hospital and was greeted in the ER by Dr. Red Duke. Red Duke said Jeremy was in terrible condition and bleeding out. Head damage to be assessed later. Remove a kidney and spleen. Bargains were discussed. They would wait three days to remove the organs. 

Our Church had a baby blanket brought to Church, everyone who promised to pray wrote their name in permanent marker. Covered in prayer. Promising to pray multiple times during the day. Jeremy got to keep his kidney and spleen. The attending doctor said, "Jeremy must have had prayers said for him." His head and brains were still intact, miraculously.  Jeremy spent his summer in the ICU with many of his youth group coming to visit. And, later, his recliner at home. He started High School in a wheelchair, his leg had a rod in it. In October, his mom died. And we spent some time with Jeremy.

As he went on that youth ski trip, about a year later, his operation was pending to retrieve the leg rod and I held Jeremy's hand and prayed for him not to break a leg with some sheer adult terror. I asked him if he was worried and he said, "Nah!"

That next summer, our Pastor told Jeremy how well Jeremy had coped with all these changes. The rod could not be removed and become part of the bone. We all worried Jeremy would limp pretty badly the rest of his life. We underestimated Jeremy.

And the fortunate kids went off to college - Jeremy worked for fast food, made car payments, car insurance payments and rent. Paying for the occasional car repair and other things were hard to do. One day Jeremy stopped in to see the Navy Recruiters. The officer was nice to Jeremy but expressed doubt a slight built young man with a rod in his leg could qualify. Jeremy told the officer frankly - the people left from High School were drug dealers and he really had never hoped to be a drug dealer or run with dealers. That made the Recruiting Officer rather quiet. The Officer said, "Jeremy, there is no way a smoker, built like you, could run ten miles, but when you can, call me and I will run with you - then we will talk about enlistment. What do you think, son, about a year to learn to run ten miles?"

Jeremy went back in weeks. And he ran that ten miles and talked that officer into placing him en route to paramedic training. He'd never left the state of Texas before.

This weekend is Jeremy's wedding to the girl he asked to Senior Prom.

Raechel had another boyfriend at the time. But Jeremy told her, her boyfriend wouldn't mind. And later Jeremy went back to tell the same boyfriend, Raechel had changed her mind about her boyfriend, but Jeremy was going to take her off his hands - to help him out. Some. Jeremy shook his head as he told the story, and said he didn't dislike the old boyfriend. But the guy was sorta miffed. We laughed like mad.

Jeremy went off to Japan and didn't see Raechel much for three years. We saw on Facebook and on Leave - there was drama. And high anxiety. And forgiveness. And sparkle. And grit. And love. Reviving the soul.

By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

Raechel and I went to pick out flowers and a wedding cake with a chocolate groom's cake, as we got in the car, heading home, we saw the Christian radio playing "Jeremy Camp (where Jeremy reports daily) Overcomes. Thank God, Jeremy does!


Jeremy is being deployed by the Navy, for six to nine months. Possibly to South Korea, where his bride will wait behind. Your prayers for their July 5th wedding with a red, white and blue theme, at our house - complete with Edward's BBQ extravaganza ... Your prayers for the blessing upon their marriage and his naval career and safety are much appreciated.


May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

The Marriage Ceremony done by the Justice of the Peace was a miracle I will hold in my heart for always.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.

The traditional vows were read, and asked to be repeated before God. As they were pronounced as man and wife - they were told - this marriage is of HIM, let no man put this asunder.

Luke 1:78
because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

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