Aaron, Hur, and…Karen!

Aside from posting a Sunday set list, I generally don’t much blog on weekends…so I am posting this today.

⁸ The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. ⁹ Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

¹⁰ So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. ¹¹ As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. ¹² When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. ¹³ So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Exodus 17:8-13 (NIV)

So this Saturday is the 23^rd anniversary of my first date with my wonderful wife, Karen (one of the few dates that I have committed to memory: her birthday, our first date, our engagement date, and (of course) our wedding anniversary).  OK, the actual date was on May 10, but in 1986, it was a Saturday.

Saturday, May 10, 1986…the day Karen finally succumbed to my charm and went out with the goofy, crazy, immature, guy who, in addition to laughing like Pee Wee Herman occasionally, led singing for the college and High School groups at church.  The guy who had been asking for a while and received reasons/excuses like, “I have a test”, “I have to study”, or “I have homework” – but remained persistent.  [OK, who let trivial stuff like school get in the way of a date?  Now, everyone has an idea why I was on the 20 year-plan for college!  Kiddies – don’t follow my example!!]

But seriously, after 22 years of marriage (wow, this year I will have been married for half my life), I can say with a full and thankful heart that I am glad I didn’t stop pestering her for a date!  God has truly blessed me with a person who is genuine and kind – and a lover of Christ.  A person who tolerates my idiosyncrasies, goofiness (no more Pee Wee Herman laughs though), etc. and gives me so much love and support (even when it is challenging).

The first time I heard this Andrew Petersen song, I thought, “Hey, that’s a cute song – catchy tune and lyrics.”  Then, I got pretty choked up.  I know there have been times when I have taken Karen for granted and lost sight of how much she means in my life…how much support and encouragement she offers.  I truly love her and so appreciate her more than any blog or even spoken word could express!

Living for God’s glory is my goal in life and I know I will get tired – there are “battles” in eveyone’s life.  I praise God that, just as Aaron and Hur supported Moses when the battle grew long and he become tired, Karen does for me (and I don’t even have a dope beard like Charlton Heston!  Still waiting for authorization on the soul patch…).

Karen, I love and appreciate you so much!  In the words of the great romantic, Nacho Libre [in his letter to Sister Encarnacion], “Hug hug, kiss kiss, hug hug, big kiss, little hug, kiss kiss, little kiss!”

x

Hold Up My Arms
Andrew Peterson (from Clear to Venus)

Girl, I’d be lying if I promised you
Every word I ever said was true
But I can promise you this:
I’m gonna fall–blown over like a ship at sea
By the howling sins of history
Oh, but don’t you forget

To hold up my arms
Like Moses in the desert
When the battle ran long
Hold up my arms
We can go at this together
When my arms aren’t strong

I want you to know that I’m prouder than a peacock, babe
You light me up just like a birthday cake
When you walk in the room
And I just wanna make you proud
So, baby, when I let you down
What I need you to do

Is hold up my arms
Like Moses in the desert
When the battle ran long
Hold up my arms
We can go at this together
When my arms aren’t strong

Girl, I’d be lying if I promised you
Every word I ever said was true
But I can promise you this:
I’ll do my best to try and do my very best for you
It’s the very best that I can do
It’s the best I can give

So hold up my arms
I said hold up my arms
Like Moses in the desert
When the battle ran long
Hold up my arms
We can go at this together When my arms aren’t strong