Tuesday Nov 3rd, 2009 – 1:53p

It's beautiful here... Strangely beautiful. There's the juxtaposition of the dunes over the beauty of pine , the bright blue of the sky, the greenish blue of Lake Michigan and the tan of the dunes. Yes, there are dunes here. Lots and lots and lots and lots of dunes. There's a heck of a lot of sand around these parts.

When I was packing in last night I thought a lot of the ground outside was stone – turns out it's sand. Dig down an inch or two and you hit sand, a find that's different for this Tennessee boy who expects to find red clay when he digs. Ain't much clay 'round these here parts.
I took a leisurely drive around today – went and checked out the sights. It's a beautiful area and is sparsely populated until you get about 1/4 mile from any significant body of water. Then it makes me think of what the mountainous areas around Gatlinburg will look like in 30 years – only less tacky on the whole. There are cabins scattered everywhere and I even saw one who's roof overhung the roof of the neighbors cabin. The biggest difference is the dirt roads (well, mostly hard-packed sand). They're everywhere. I learned today that a non-maintained road really means non-maintained. I barely squeezed the Suburban through one set of trees.

Today's reading: Mere Christianity and When the Lion Feeds (Wilbur Smith...)

Monday, November 2nd, 2009. 8:59P

, I have arrived at the little cabin in the big woods... I think it's nice – at least the interior is and what I can see of the exterior – since it's full dark now... Which made it interesting hooking up the propane to the stove – using a Coleman gas lantern while hooking up a propane connection makes one triple check that they've tightened the connection before one turns on the gas.

So far the only noises I hear, other than the wind blowing and the occasional jet is the ticking of a clock and the soft murmur of the water heater... It's a pretty nice cabin, small and cozy, done up in typical cabin attire – old couches and recliners, a nice fridge, a bunch of bunks in the lean-to and a comfy bed in the loft. The linoleum is a trip and there are random books scattered just about everywhere... I snagged a copy of Charolette's Web for tonights reading. Since I have let everyone know I'm here I just shut down my phone... It's gonna be a bit lonely here tonight but a very welcome reprieve from the generalized busyness of life.

On my drive up I managed to get through to the Book of Romans... It made for a pretty interesting drive, to say the least. I experienced my first Meijers store tonight – reminds me of a Super Target. Apparently it's a must visit up here in the big mitten. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow and seeing some sights and going to refill the almost empty propane tank.. The temperature outside is currently hovering around 34ish. It's 60 in here but I sleep like a log when it's cold. Good thing I brought a LOT of blankets.

One thing that struck me on the drive up was the parable of the prodigal son. I felt for the good son, the son who stayed and obeyed his father. I totally understand his being ticked that there was a party being thrown for his brother... I mean, he's stuck around, helped out around the place and hasn't ever gotten a party thrown for him. Then his bro happens back after wasting his entire inheritance on liquor, women and parties. Instead of getting what he deserves, he gets a party thrown. It's not fair. Then I thought about a section from Craig Groeschel's book: Confessions of a Pastor.

"God is just – no doubt about it – but He's not fair. And there is a difference. If God were fair I'd get what my sins deserve. I praise Him that He's not fair. Because He's just, when someone sins, someone must die. But in His mercy, Jesus paid the price for my sin by shedding His own, Innocent blood, giving up the life He fully deserved to keep. God is just, but He's not fair. If He were fair, I'd have to suffer... forever. Psalm 103:10,12 describes God's unfairness: “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities... as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”"

Was it fair that the undependable son got his mere return celebrated? No, it wasn't fair at all. It's also not fair that I get to go to Heaven while Jesus had to go to the cross. I too, “praise Him that He's not fair.”6

I'm actively shivering now, so I think I'm gonna go grab the propane tank and bring 'er indoors... Then I believe I'll head to bed for the evening so I can get up uber-early in the AM. Peace be with you!

Matt

(It's definitely less lonely with the propane heater going... Not to mention warmer!)

I'm on vacation this week. It's my first vacation that's not a mission trip in about 6 years. I'm headed up to a cabin off Lake Michigan... Should prove to be interesting.

This isn't going to be a typical vacation. Earlier in the year I began to feel that I was too connected - too plugged in, on-line, tethered to my blackberry, my facebook, my twitter and my email. My life is constantly bombarded by white noise. The same noise you hear when you're between channels. The noise that drowns out that still, small voice you're supposed to be listening for.

So I decided to take a vacation. I'm headed to a good friends family cabin for three days. Three days during which my phone will be off. Off and in the car. My only technological vices will be my laptop and my Kindle. I've loaded the Kindle down with the likes of 'Mere Christianity' and 'Crazy Love'. I've also got quite a stack of books in the bag too...

So now for the rules.
1) No internet for three days. Period. I'll still be blogging but they won't get posted until Thursday. Yes, this means FB, email and everything.
2) No cellphone. Period. It'll be off and in the car.
3) No radio in the car on the way to the cabin. It's the NIV audio bible (New Testament) instead.
4) I'm gonna write at least one blog a day while I'm there.

So those are the rules. I've got a camera and a large memory card, a laptop, a bunch of books and nothing other than unplugging and listening on my agenda.

So far, the vacations going well. I'm at my sister's hanging with my cat, Ohm. He decided to give me some kitty love so we're cuddled on the couch where he's putting me to sleep with the sound of his purrs... Night all!

I'll be back on Thursday!