Mary Did You Know ?

Many years ago, a teenage girl awoke early one spring morning, feeling terribly nauseated and unable to move far without vomiting.  She called out for her mother, "Mom, I don't feel well this morning. I don't think I can go to school."  The family lived in a small rural town with no doctor. They received medical care from a physician who traveled the countryside visiting small villages, stopping long enough to attend to the medical needs of the community while enjoying the native hospitality which would normally include decent meals, wine and a bed.  The mother replied, "The doctor will not be here until next week and you cannot miss that much school.  So let's see what we can do to make you feel a little better."  The mother concerned that her daughter may be experiencing the ill effects just prior to the monthly onset of menstruation gave her some tea laced with honey and lemon.  The young girl sipped the tea which decreased the nausea enough to allow her to attend school.

Each morning the nausea increased, the tea helped less and the girl, Mary, anticipated the day the doctor would finally visit their village.  Tuesday finally arrived and the girl's family welcomed the physician, who was accompanied by his young son, into their home during his short stay.  The family shared a quick meal of bread and some cheese before the doctor commenced the examination.  The teenager, still nauseated and with little appetite, played with the doctor's toddler son, Luke, while the rest ate as she thought, "One day I would love a child like this of my own."

As her mother cleared the table, and her father returned to work, the doctor began his examination.  He ran his fingers carefully over the glands behind the girl's ears and prodded her abdomen and back while he asked several questions, then finally announced with a slight look of disapproval, "My dear, you are not sick.  You are pregnant."  Mary twisted her face, bewildered, and claimed, "How can that be?  I've never been with a man....physically.. I mean, sir."  The doctor showing little emotion and not amused by her comments uttered, "That's simply impossible dear.  You are not being truthful.  My work here is finished for now.  I disapprove of your behavior but I will return next month to check on you."

Mary felt the continued bewilderment.  She knew deep in her heart that she had remained a virgin.  She had only been on a few dates in her entire life and only as a result of her mother's matchmaking, all with the same man, Joseph, a close family friend and co-worker of her father.  They had never shared more than a hug and a meal.  Joseph, a bit older and claiming not to be a cradle robber, pledged, "Mary, you are a beautiful young woman. I will marry you one day once you are fully grown."  How can this be?  Who will believe her?

Mary's parents disowned her.  She felt hostility any time she entered the family home.  Only two people showed any compassion at all. First, the man who she thought would be the most angry, Joseph, the good looking, strong, older carpenter acted tenderly toward her and although he believed that she had been impregnated by another, he honored his earlier pledge, half made in jest, and vowed to still marry the girl and treat her child as his own. Additionally her aunt Elizabeth showed mercy toward her and somehow confirmed the dream that Mary had months earlier in which she felt that God had indicated to her that there would be something special and unique about her child.

Months later, having nowhere else to turn, Mary embarked on a three day journey with her  fiancee to the town of his ancestors so that Joseph could enroll in a census to allow the emperor an opportunity to assess taxes fairly. In her third trimester, Mary contemplated not going but could not bear the thought of her father's constant condescension without having Joseph nearby to protect her. Not a wealthy man, Joseph owned only one animal, a small donkey that he allowed Mary to ride upon while he spent most of the three day journey on foot.

They arrived in Bethlehem from Nazareth late at night, and the small town and ancestral home of King David  overflowed with activity.  Joseph had been unable to make reservations and all of the hotels were now full for the night.  A farmer showed pity for the young couple and allowed them to rest in his barn for the night before continuing to the courthouse in the morning to enroll in the census.  As she dismounted the donkey, looking forward to a few hours sleep, Mary went into labor.  Joseph searched for a doctor but they were all busy and told him they would assist as soon as morning arrived. With no medical assistance, Joseph with the help of a couple of farmhands, delivered the baby, cleaned him in a small metal trough, and placed him upon a pile of hay and some blankets in a manger.

A star shining brighter than anything in the sky appeared instantly and illuminated the entire farm.  Shepherds tending their flocks appeared to see what was causing the commotion and immediately began to show adoration for Mary's young baby, Jesus, or Yeshua in their native Aramaic.

Weeks later, Mary still too weak and the baby too fragile to make the return journey to Nazareth, Joseph found enough side work to enable the couple to rent a small house.  In complete astonishment Mary witnessed a multitude of visitors including some extremely intelligent astronomers from the east who claimed her baby fulfilled centuries of prophecy.

Eventually the couple returned to Nazareth and the routine of country living. The couple eventually married and had many more children.  Joseph shared his love of construction with his sons so fortunately they were able to support the family after his untimely death when Jesus was still a teenager.  The young boy showed incredible wisdom, beyond that of the rabbis at the temple, and displayed humility beyond anything that Mary had ever witnessed.

Jesus eventually grew into a fine young man and teacher, hung out with a group of twelve very close friends, who traveled by foot from town to town teaching the villagers about a very new type of kingdom.  Mary watched her son become as popular as a rock star as he earned way more respect than any of the regions leaders or elders.  As a result they persecuted him and turned his people against him.  Claiming to be the son of God, they tried him for blasphemy and executed him by nailing him to a tree and Mary watched as her son struggled to gasp for his last breath.

They buried him in a tomb donated by a rich follower and three days later he rose from the dead.  He spent some time with his friends then ascended into heaven.  He proceeded to change the lives of millions of people and the world forever.  We even track time according to his earthly life.

Mary.........did you know?  

Cornerstone Festival 2009

I departed hot, humid Fort Myers after church on Sunday June 28th astride my trusty 2007 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide bound for the Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois. Surprisingly, I was able to pack a tent, sleeping bag, air mattress and air pillow in the right saddlebag and rain gear and leathers in the left. I packed all electronics including laptop, video camera, still camera, ipod and iphone into the tour pack as well as a 9mm Glock, just in case. I initially intended to blog of this adventure at least daily but that's proven to be a bit difficult while travelling several hundred miles per day on motorcyle and encountering slow or nonexistent internet in much of rural America.

Because of the late start, I only travelled about 400 miles that first day and found myself at a Hampton Inn in Tifton, Georgia. After baking in the hot Georgia/Florida sun for the entire afternoon, I figured a nice cold beer would certainly hit the spot so I walked next door to Chili's Restaurant only to find that I had landed in the only Sunday dry county in Georgia. Oh, well the chicken fajita wrap washed down just as well with water and I stayed a bit healthier.

I hit the road very early Monday morning and travelled about 550 miles before the saddle sores prevented me from riding any further. I landed at another Hampton Inn just off of I-24 in the very patriotic Army town of Clarksville, Tennessee. That day I found not only the beer that I had craved the day before but also some of the tastiest ribs that ever crossed my taste buds at the Golden Rule Bar-B-Q , which was located conveniently next to the hotel. The hard riding, ribs and one beer finished me off causing me to drift off to sleep no later than 8:30, which also caused me to rise very early at 4:00 AM. I hit the hotel fitness room, sauna and continental breakfast, then repacked my gear and hit the road again.

I found the day three ride extremely pleasant since it consisted of no interstate travel and instead rolled through beautiful Kentucky and Indiana farm country. After an abbreviated 200 mile ride, I pulled into the driveway of brother Tom in Robinson, Illinois and spent the evening visiiting with him and his lovely wife, Pat and two wonderful boys, Ethan and Spencer. Pat sent me off the following morning with a belly full of biscuits and gravy and I headed northwest to the festival.
I found day four another easy ride as I rode the back roads to Effingham, caught the interstate to just past Champaign then rural two lane for a hundred miles west to Bushnell, the home of Cornerstone Festival. After slipping and sliding on two miles of gravel road, I arrived at the back gate only to be informed that I must enter through the front, which meant two more miles of gravel and approximately 14 miles through two more rural towns. I finally arrived at the proper entrance and immediately began scouting for a camp site. Thousands of tents already jammed the property but I located a spot next to the HM tent where one of my favorites, The Showdown would be playing later that day. I parked the bike, quickly pitched the tent, and blew up the air mattress and pillow, before setting off on foot to orient myself to the site. I found the shower house, the food stands and was astonished to see at least 30 stages throughout the property with bands jamming away at each. After some type of veggie quesadilla, I caught The Showdown's entire set with video camera in hand.

As The Showdown ended, I raced about 3/4 of mile around the lake to the main stage to catch hard rocking Red, a band that reaches such a broad audience that they will also be at Buffalo Chips Campground in Sturgis next month.

I found sleeping that night extremely difficult, especially after realizing that the HM abbreviation for the tent that I was camping by stood for either Heavy Metal or Hard Music. Rather than fight it, around 1:00AM I stumbled over to C.H.O.P. (Cornerstone House of Prayer), a 24/7 prayer tent, manned during the entire festival with prayer warriors and worship leaders. During the three hours spent there, the Holy Spirit ministered to me in ways that I'd never quite experienced. God dealt with me one on one about unforgiveness in my heart and when I finally made my way back to the tent, I found planted in me a new God given love or agape in Greek, that I knew I must share with others. At 4:00AM, the music at the stages had ceased but my teenaged neighbors managed to find guitars, banjos and drums to serenade me until approximately 5:30. By then the sun began rising over the horizon and I decided to start the new day.

Interestingly enough, God utilized the agape in me almost immediately. I met a new friend, broken from years of abuse, addiction and lack of identity that needed much of that love. That morning, I attended a youth worship time with a very enthusiastic band and attended seminars most of the day on topics ranging from living in community, overseas missions and ministering to the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered) community, a conviction that God layed on me several weeks earlier. Those Holy Spirit moments that seem like coincidences never cease to amaze me.

That night I attended the concert that I most looked forward to, Brian "Head" Welch, former guitarist for multi-platinum selling KoRN who had rededicated his life to Christ a few years ago and left the world of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll to passionately pursue a relationship with Jesus. Head shared freely the struggles he suffered from alcohol and drug addiction, pornography and abusive behavior and gave thanks to the redemptive power of Jesus Christ, while completely rocking the house.

I spent another night wide awake listening to the folksy neighbors and arose early to hit the shower house while every one else still slept. A shower, cup of coffee, and the next thing I knew, I found myself serving breakfast to members of an A.A. meeting. I spent the best part of the day with my new friend Pam, attending four different worship times and many more seminars. No bands I desired to see were playing that night, internet service was non-existant, and this old man was stiff from trying to sleep in a tent for several nights so I packed everything up and headed to the of town of Macomb, where I found a car wash for the filthy bike and another Hampton Inn for my sore body. Thank God, because right after I checked in, the clouds opened and it poured down rain for almost 36 hours straight. Needless to say, I spent July 4th alone in that hotel waiting for the rain to slow enough to find a place for dinner. I did enjoy some excellent chicken wings at Buffalo Wild Wings, another beer, and hours of sound sleep.

The next morning, I wiped the rain off the bike, loaded my gear, and headed back toward my brothers house in Robinson. I enjoyed another night with his family then headed to Cary, North Carolina for a short visit with my sister, Mary Beth and her amazing family. I arrived approximately 3:00 in the afternoon, just in time to kick back with Mary Beth and sons Connor and Zach at the community pool. Husband Rob arrived late from work and we dined on shredded chicken barbecue and ice cream with fruit. The following morning, Rob took me for a brisk walk through the neighborhood "greenway" and I again packed my gear and hit the road.

After ten days, I seriously missed my lovely wife, Renee and the grandkids, Jada, Sariye, and Ryley so that day I won the "iron butt" award after logging 800 miles! I arrived home around 11:00 that night, greeted by the wife in a most wonderful way that I certainly should not decribe in my PG-rated blog.

Cornerstone 2009 will be forever etched in my memory as one of my life's truly unique experiences! God Bless!