sola gracia

When the Israelites were captured by the Babylon they felt abandoned by God (Isaiah 40:27 – 27 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”? ).  There is was a true separation for them that took them away from the only place they could worship God, the temple. The exile was more than being captured out to another county as slaves, but it was a departure from their one point that they could touch the living God. Many of them at the time however had taken that temple for granted and were not to appreciate the loss of it until it was gone. It’s difficult to accept that the Sovereign God is over all of these circumstances and issues in our lives.

This is our picture today as exiles in a foreign country. We are constantly surrounded with a godless culture of similar to the Babylonian culture. Paul describes us as ambassadors to this land. Representatives of the true King called to make much of Him. There is a movement or temptation to consider this place to be our home and therefore we must reform the heathen culture around us. We cry out for a political salvation or a economic Savior. Thus the hope is not in the Lord to save us for our true Home with Him but rather they want to reform the surrounding “Babylonian” culture around us.  Shadrach , named after Babylonian Gods, didn’t even venture to change the culture but rather defy the culture because their hope was in the Lord.

This is our call as well as Christ has called us to make much of Him and His Kingdom coming and not to try and gather the pieces of this fallen kingdom together and make into something. I’m catching myself do this with my hedonistic tendencies. The comforts of Babylon are comforting. Yet we try to make it work. I have a key to my truck that is on the verge of snapping everytime I unlock the door, its so soft and squishy I have to be so gentle with it so it doesn’t finally bite the dust. One day I know it will and hopefully it will be nice outside when that happens. If as it so often happens we experience the loss of fellowship or just the brokeness of the world we have a habit of trying to make it work and assure ourselves that it is all OK. Everything we have is broken. This world is fallen.

So everyday we are confronted with a choice. Am I living to make this temporary home a more comfortable place for me to live? Am I gathering those who are like-minded around me so I can feel good about myself? Or am I hoping in the Lord’s eventual return that One Day we will come to the New Jerusalem and worship the King of Glory Himself?

This isn’t a choice we can keep to ourselves. A pluralistic world wants us to do that. To keep our religion confined to our homes, but the beauty of choosing trust is we can’t keep it inside! It will pour out in the actions we do and make. What we cherish reflects our beliefs. If we cherish our possessions for ourselves it is evident we consider this life to be important, but if we cherish Christ then our possessions, time and energy can be freely given without hesitation.

C.S Lewis said “If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Here’s to living for His Kingdom and not for this broken one.

(Disclaimer: Nor should we disregard this home as a place to dump on because it will all go away. There is no excuse for lack of stewardship for the earth. )

Lately I’ve been looking out the window and wondering, “will the grass ever be green again?”. While I’m stuffing 56 broken crayons into the coloring box and looking for another shelf to stash textbooks on I muse, “public school is not so bad?”. After the third load of laundry today I think, “are nudest colonies allowed in Montana?”. As my sweet children declare their battling cry “MINE!!” I ponder, “is it neglect to wear earplugs while watching my kids?”.
But, my dear friend’s mother past away last night and all of my worries and frustrations about my blessed life melt away. What cause do I have to despair or feel neglected? God has poured out innumerable blessings and I have chosen to find a way to ruin them.
So, when the snow seems unending, if the school supplies dishevel the house, as the laundry piles high, or when my children war against one another, will I chose to proclaim, “blessed be the name of the Lord”?

I was curious the other day about the meaning of our family names. So here is what I found:
Joseph (Hebrew) He will enlarge
Nathaniel (Hebrew) Gift of God
Kelly (Gaelic) War, strife, bright-headed
Elizabeth (Hebrew) My God is a vow
Nilla (Hebrew) She who succeeds or aquires
Elise (Hebrew) My God is a vow
Isaac (Hebrew) He will laugh
Ryan (Gaelic) Little King
Abigail (Hebrew) Father in rejoicing
Joy (English) Jubilation
Have you thought much about the meaning of your name? Long ago they put great thought and prayer into children’s names, sometimes waiting several years before naming a child. What heritage have you been given in your name?

The Montana Swenson Clan
Year In Review – 2010
It’s always hard to recall what happened over a year’s time. These days I have a hard time even remembering what we did yesterday let alone 8 months ago. I guess that’s why it’s good to write things down. Although it seems impossible and trite to capture life in a short Facebook status update. We still do it anyways and have found it to be a useful tool when putting together Christmas letters.
We had a whirwind year of staying and going with many eventful visits from Sadie and her husband Todd and their two boys (and now one girl!) from Great Falls. Summer was a great time filled with hiking , fishing and barbequing. We were blessed to have the Lone Pine trail so close to our house. Nilla enjoyed her week long summer camp in August. We also went to see the Engstrom clan in Sidney , Montana for Kelly’s grandpa’s 90th birthday. The following week we celebrated Kelly and I’s 7th anniversary and took the kids out to Silverwood and visited Kelly’s cousin Rick and Savannah. Through our many travels we always hurried home to make sure our chickens hadn’t wandered into the neighbor’s yard.
Nilla is a 6th grader this year and has transitioned from piano lessons to learning the clarinet for band. She is an avid reader and has been devouring as much fiction as she can. She also enjoys all things 80s’ related. If it’s neon or pink, she likes it!
Abby is happily attending kindergarten this year and is learning ballet. She enjoys being the youngest and likes to do pretty much everything her big brother and sister do.
Isaac is our big 1st grader this year and he and all the kids are enamored with legos and the things they can build. He has been the chicken caretaker and is learning the responsibilities and wonder of raising food. He also lost his first tooth this year!
Kelly took this fall off from homeschooling the kids to focus on her health. She is using the time to go to the gym and help her mom Dee who lives in nursing home in town.
Joe is thankful to be working for NXGEN in Whitefish. On the weekends he is reading about conspiracy theories on the internet, playing video games, and finding new crazy music to listen to. His friends have been helpful him build a new shed/chicken coop in the backyard.
In trying economic times as these we are most thankful to God for you, our family and friends. We love you and wish you the warmest Christmas and New Years.
Best wishes,

Joe & Kelly Swenson
Nilla (12) & Isaac (6) & Abigail (5)

Was totally out of breath…lol

Greetings and Merry Christmas! Here is our humble little update for the year! Joe continues to work for NxGen in Whitefish as Vice President of the I.T. department. What a blessing to have a job in these difficult times! Kelly continues to stay at home with the little ones and has begun the venture in home schooling this year. Nilla turned eleven this winter and is in the fifth grade. It was a big transition from the elementary school to the middle school in Whitefish, but she adjusted quickly. She is enjoying piano lessons and looks forward to expanding her skills as an artist. Isaac turned five and began Kindergarten at home. He and Abigail are enjoying Bible Study Fellowship with mom this year. Abigail turned four in the spring and is now learning alongside her brother at home with mom.
Our adventures this year were of the traveling kind. Early in February led Kelly and the little ones to eastern Montana as her grandpa Engstrom had heart trouble. Then in March, Kelly’s grandma Hiatt died unexpectedly and that led Joe and Kelly to drive the two day trip to Oklahoma. In April we traveled as a family to Billings, MT for Joe’s mom’s family Easter gathering and great-grandma Ruth’s 80th birthday. When July came around, we loaded the van to the max with all five of us plus Joe’s parents and headed for Wisconsin. There we celebrated Joe’s Uncle Dick and Aunt Linda’s 50th wedding anniversary with all of the Swenson clan. On the trip home we stopped in eastern Montana to visit the Engstrom family. In September, we were visited by Aunt Erin Engstrom. In October, Kelly took the kids back out to eastern Montana and then traveled on to Iowa with her aunt and uncle for medical treatment. Lastly, we had a surprise visit from Kelly’s brothers for her birthday in December.
Overall, it has been a big year full of travel and we are ready to plant our feet at home for the next five years at least. May the chill of the season bring your hearts ever closer to the warming hearth of the Lord’s unfailing love!
~Joe & Kelly Swenson