The Aging Soul

“I am many years older than I was a few days ago” Robert Dabney

The preceding quote is taken from a letter that Dabney wrote just days after his sons death. This is a lesson I have learned in 2008 with the loss of Jill and other struggles. We all understand that the body grows weary from age. Things do not work the same when we are 80 as they did when we were 20. The body becomes a burden. However, the thing that I have learned in 2008 is that the soul ages as well. With every sin committed, with every sad goodbye, with every sorrow we watch friends carry, and with every other strike of the rod of suffering our souls grow more weary and tired. This earth feels less and less like home as the soul ages. I contend that this abuse of the soul is a great grace from God. We live in a cursed world that is longing to be redeemed. This is a world that takes more than it gives. Our weary, broken, limping souls send us away from this world towards Christ. Though I am just 31 I feel that my soul has aged by decades this year. Honestly, I have never been one who truly longed for the immediate return of Christ. There has always been more that I longed to do and enjoy on this earth. 2008 will be to me the year that my tired soul finally broke and said “Amen, come (NOW) lord Jesus”.

14 Hours of Driving for a Concert???

If you know much about me you know how much I love music. I cannot play or sing a lick but I am a big fan of music. Probably my favorite artist is Andrew Peterson. He is a Christian folk singer in the vein of Rich Mullins. One of his greatest successes has been his Christmas album entitled Behold the Lamb of God. It is a very unique album. It is a musical that progressively tells the story of the coming of Christ. It starts in the Old Testament with Moses and with fevered anticipation makes it's way slowly to the manger in Bethlehem. Due to the success of the album Andrew takes over a dozen artists out on a 20 show tour each winter. The highlight of this tour is the show in Nashville at the Ryman Auditorium. Take a dozen of the best songwriters in Christian music, put them in the most historic of music venues, and let them go and you have pure greatness. The concert opens with what it called "in the round" where the artist sit together on the stage and take turns playing their songs. The concert then closes with all of the artists joining Andrew Peterson in performing The Behold the Lamb of God musical. For the second year in a row Kristel and I have made the 7 hour pilgrimage to Nashville to see the show at the Ryman. I cannot begin to tell you how amazing it is. The music is good, the setting is beautiful, but most of all it sets my eyes on Christ. Again, I want to encourage you to check out Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God. I guarantee it will truly bless your heart this Christmas and if it doesn't then you probably don't love the baby Jesus anyway. You can purchase the album on Itunes or the CD here.

Blogger Adam Begins!!!

Today, I enter the pretentious world of blogging where I pretend that people really care about my thoughts and the trivial happenings of the Thomas family. I have thought often the past few years about doing this but the one main fear that hindered me was making public my less than stellar grasp on English Grammar. However, having the great privilege of guest posting on my friends blog (Thank you Jonathan) I have discovered it to be very therapeutic for my soul. Therefore, I have decided that the benefits outweigh the ridicule that I am sure to experience through bad grammar. I cannot tell you exactly where this blog is headed but knowing my passions the themes will probably be family, ministry, running, and lesser known Christian folk music. Those are things that I am passionate about. I am sure for the foreseeable future grief over the loss of Jill will be a big focus as well. I am also hoping that my wonderful wife will also post with me. I will be figuring this thing out for a while so pleas stop by and check on the progress.