Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Joy (the girl that came to RC yesterday, from Cambridge, Massachusetts) went on the walking tour this morning, and mentioned to David that she would like to meet up with me for lunch or coffee. So after nap and lunch, Addie and I met her there, almost 3. Went for coffee and talked about stuff like jobs, church, cultures where we each live, and her attempt to figure out if Harvard was really started by true believers, like Christians are claiming, or if it’s just like the Christians’ claim that the “Founding Fathers” were believers, which most were actually just Deists. Her husband went to husband for doc and post-doc studies and now works/teaches there, and is over here presenting a paper or something in his field of science. She is a speech pathologist who does mission work in China near Beijing, and has been to lots of the same orphanages we visited when we were over there 2 years ago! It was very nice talking with her, and Addie cooperated ok. After our lattes, we went in a little boutique she had visited earlier in the week called Ark. Adorable! Puts a smile on my face just thinking about it. French music playing, very eclectic assortment of bags, knitted animals for babies, chunky necklaces, wire baskets, brightly-colored quilts, unique cards and magnets, shiny umbrellas, all packaged in fun tissue paper. Kind of shabby-chic, but better. A nice retreat to remember about on a rainy day. I might go back for one of the little knitted animals for Addie’s half birthday, which is in 2 days. Matt came home with David for dinner. He’s very fun to talk with and good with Addie. We ended up putting her to bed at 6:10 – a record-early time! She barely got through dinner, except for the straw crackers that she’s in LOVE with now. They serve them at every playgroup we’ve been to, and she’s constantly asking for “more.” Over dinner we talked about Ranald’s video and lecture “Where From, Where To”, me trying to clarify some points. It helps to talk new information out to solidify it. That led to historical discussions, pulling this book and that book for accurate dates. So we were primed for Ranald when he came at 7:30. He’s like a walking history book, but it’s much more exciting to hear him tell it than to read it from some old book. He gets so excited about it! We talked about the Civil War with Cromwell and Charles I and II, and the Scottish Protestants. Also about Elizabeth and then James I and the Separatists and Puritans, although I’d like to hear more about them. He knows so much, it’s really amazing! We also talked about his diagrams and reviewed the talk from last week, which was helpful to clarify a few things. David shared about meeting a Canadian guy, about 55, today visiting the Round Church. He comes from a Anglican/Catholic background, and knows sections of Scripture but doesn’t completely get our “Calvinistic” view of grace. Besides, it’s easier for him to sin and then just confess it away, versus trying to daily, step-by-step, live by God’s grace and grow in Christ. David talked to him about Romans 8 and 10, etc. and recommended he read Schaeffer’s “How Shall We Then Live?” which was neat because the guy said someone just last week in London told him to read it as well! Talk about Providence! This is the kind of stuff David enjoys – talking with people like this who come in the Round Church and don’t have a clear view of Christ-centered gospel living but are open and interested and honest. Ranald headed out about 9:30 but Matt stayed while we visited and cleaned up the kitchen. He lives clear on the other side of town, and since his bike light is out he was going to have to walk home, plus it’s raining! So sent him with my rain jacket – hope it’s nice tomorrow, or at least nice enough for me to get to the Round Church to get the jacket! I was so hyper tonight; think it’s because Mom and Dad are coming tomorrow. Yeah!