Author: Wick

So lately, I’ve been reading far too much by one author. If you read my blog more than once a year, you’ve probably noticed. I’m a bit embarrassed. Though I will state, I do not read his words as scripture. Nevertheless, God seems to be revealing Himself in phenomenal ways through this mans spoken and written word….and it becomes hard for me to not soak in as much as possible.

That being said, I made it a goal to find someone who disagrees in a large way with NT Wright, and read one of their recent works. It didn’t take me long to find a book written towards the end of 2007: The Future of Justification: A Response to NT Wright, by John Piper.

Apparently, where NT Wright is saying we’ve gotten quite a bit of wrong focus in much of our Christianity, Piper says no. Piper thinks we’re doing alright, and to mix in some of this “new theology” will muddle the waters in threatening ways. Threatening enough to write a book in direct response to it.

I would make fun of his need to write a book in direct response to Wright; except for the fact that NT Wright has recently published a book in response to (although not claiming in the title, certainly admitting in interviews) Pipers work. The book is “Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision“.

So what to do with all of these findings? I got both of them.

What do they each briefly say about their book?

John Piper: “to declare the lordship of Jesus and say that’s the gospel, rather than the gospel being an explanation of how to be saved overlooks the problem that, for the person who has been in treason against the Lord of the universe all his life, the resurrection is not good news. It’s really bad news. He’s going to be destroyed if the resurrected Lord has all power in heaven and on earth.”

NT Wright: “My anxiety about what has now been seen as the traditional Reformed view (though there are many traditional Reformed views!) is that it focuses all attention on ‘me and my salvation’ rather than on ‘God and God’s purposes’, which – as we see in the Gospels, and in e.g. Romans 8 – are much wider than just my salvation. This book, for me, thus follows from Surprised by Hope and the other things I’ve been writing in the same vein.”

I went out to watch the Wings’ game at Buffalo Wild Wings. While there, we saw my wife’s OB doctor. I joked about grabbing him on the way out the door if anything happened. But honestly? I didn’t expect to see him again until Thursday morning, as scheduled.

We left during first intermission. When I got home, Sarah had been tracking contractions for about 20 minutes, but wasn’t too concerned. We were appropriately aware to continue tracking for a bit. After an hour of solid 4-7 minute intervals between them, we decided to come in and check things out.

We arrived at ten, and the contractions were coming more steady, and more intense. Many moments came where I continued to be thankful for my wife offering her body up as a sacrifice for producing another life for our family. Her pain increased. We were in uncharted waters, as our first two daughters were both induced. It seemed like this time, it would just “happen”.

At about 1am Wednesday morning, Sarah finally received her epidural. Whew. I know some moms are VERY adamant that these are bad things….risks and all. I can see where they come from. Good for them. 🙂 For us (her specifically, me only sympathetically), we are medicine people. 🙂

Pressure increased, and it was go time. Around 1:50 or so…the stage was set. Fast forward through details I won’t go into….and at 2:13am Ruby Anne arrived. 7 Pounds, 7 Ounces. 21.5 inches long. Our third girl. Third princess. Third car seat in our (not a minivan) crossover.

This morning, the Doctor gave us a score of 3 or 3.5 out of a possible 10. (which will make more sense to those who are familiar with dilation, etc…usually the epidural is done around 5 )

With that in mind, and knowing the due date is June 11th, it’s time to let you all make your best educated guesses!!

What date and time (use army time, it’s easier) do you anticipate Ruby Anne will arrive?

Closest guess gets a picture. 🙂

(Here’s a hint: We’re scheduled to begin inducing at 0700 this Thursday (June 4th) morning.)