Grit & Gladness

Another impromptu roundtable of two as we reflect on the happenings in our corner of the Kingdom.

We've had the wonderful joy of attending the Grace Agenda in Moscow, ID and share a few takeaways from our time in this episode. And, there's a special treat that involves a collision of Davey Jones and the prophet Isaiah if you make it all the way to the end.

In this episode Brooks reads through the manuscript from Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship's first core group meeting.

We're back and have missed you much! In this episode we catch everyone up to speed with the happenings, including life as a family of 7 and the announcement of our church plant. Also, Laura and I share from our common place books –her, That Hideous Strength, and him, A Quest for Godliness. Then, we share a long overdue conversation we recorded with some dear friends who journeyed with us through the book studies last year. Also, here's the link to that All of Christ for All of Life podcast, on That Hideous Strength: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5jjsobLLTiJjlUhbJwDNTv?si=En93thg3SDqQMiI20YxjGw And, here's an incisive article from Desiring God on this theme from the same book: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-future-of-masculinity

On this episode of Grit and Gladness, Brooks and Laura are bedside with a new baby, whose lungs needed a little extra care adjusting to life outside the womb. Tune in to hear their happy update, to further the discussion of The Excellent Wife and as Brooks issues a charge to Husbands to be the priest in their homes.

In this episode Laura and Brooks shake off the rust, after having postponed the podcast for severals weeks because of a whirlwind in their world. They read from That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis and mull the connection between obedience and love. Laura then takes that discussion into her chapter From The Excellent Wife, and Brooks reads a survey of the Gospel of John, with an eye for the Father.

In this episode Brooks and Laura briefly process the strangeness of facing an anniversary of deep loss, coupled with the prospect of new life. In the book studies Laura continues on in thinking through biblical submission, whilst Brooks reflects on the calling to model the gracious character of the Father.

After a Tennessee Safari Park experience for Fall Break, Brooks and Laura return to share about two more commitments of the Excellent Wife: Respect and Intimacy. Laura explains that it is the calling of the excellent wife to establish honor in the home and to understand the importance of valuing intimacy. Brooks discusses the importance of aspiring to be an example in the church and why challenging truths need not lead to shame.

In Corinthians 13 we are told that "love keeps no record of wrong." Does this mean we never bring up hurts we experience in marriage? Certainly not. This is not a call for amnesia. In this episode Laura unpacks this thought further, and Brooks highlights the need for men to courageously speak with a prophetic vision (Proverbs 29:18).

This episode fell on Brooks and Laura's anniversary, so they took some time to unpack the poems they wrote in remembrance. Also, Laura helps the women think through 3 A's for home management. And Brooks exhorts men to remember they are all brothers of Bezalel. Tune in to find out what in the world that means!

In this episode Brooks and Laura each share a little from books they are currently reading. Laura's book focuses on understanding the times, which is a nice segue into the discussion of Chapter 7 of Father Hunger: This chapter helped the men understand how the vacuum of fatherlessness has been eagerly filled by an overreaching government. Also, the women looked at a wife's faithful commitment to Christ versus the competition of idols. Finally, Brooks has a pastoral exhortation for the husband whose wife is wounded by a relational deficit.

How can a wrongheaded Yosemite hike be a parable for the rigors of family life? Why does God purpose marital frustration? And, why is it essential for a father to glory in creation, know the Scriptures, and understand the counter-catechisms the world is teaching his children? These are a few of the things we hit on in our episode today.

In this episode Laura shares a bit of her tragedy 4 years ago and how that has impacted her even today. She encourages couples to resist the pull toward presumption that leads to ingratitude in your home and marriage. As we transition into the book study discussion Brooks leads out explaining how a foggy understanding of the Trinity can promote a soft atheism in the home. Interestingly, the ladies also studied the characteristics of the Trinity as the model for the marital relationship.

In this episode we start by considering Job's initial response to intense grief. He just wanted God to forget about him. But God knew Job didn't need less of Him, He needed much, much more. Then we comb through some highlights from our book studies. Laura reflects on the courage and faith it takes women to embrace God's call to submit to their husbands. This can feel daunting. But what if one of the husband's chief callings was to delight in and honor his wife? How might this change that dynamic? Brooks reflects on that some, and considers how Jesus is the Archetype of masculine toughness and tenderness.

This past week an ever-wise Providence wrote some miraculous drama into our story, and we are glad to testify to the goodness of God through it. And, we reflect briefly on God's eagerness to show Himself faithful generationally.

Last week we pushed out into our book studies through Father Hunger (Brooks) and The Excellent Wife (Laura), and this episode we do a flyover of some of the things that stood out.