pedadidact

2010 February 28
Elwha Campground > Port Angeles OPC > Elwha Campground
Distance Biked: 10 miles

How good it is to waken with assurance of God's love, even as He loves Christ Himself. Such were the morning kisses of the Spirit upon my underserving soul this day. After a speedy breakfast I road to Port Angeles for worship at Redeeming Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Once again I was heartened to sit under a liturgy full of grace and truth, and to enjoy some familiar hymns.

Port Angeles RGOPC - Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me [.mp3]

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Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Port Angeles RGOPC - Great is Thy Faithfulness [.mp3]

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Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever will be.

Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Pastor Elam's message drew a comparison and contrast between Elijah and Christ. Both were the representatives of respective Covenants. Both came bearing the word and authority of God the Father. Both for a time went out of the camp as it were, Elijah to the brook Cherith and Christ to Golgotha. But as Elijah's depature signaled a judgment of drought upon the Covenant people of national Israel, Christ's removal to the cross opened up an abounding spring of waters for the children of God by faith. The message was altogether a blessing, as is anything that sets the heart on the all-sufficiency of Christ.


I always knew Scandinavian humor was a myth.

After service I was invited again to lunch at the Elam's. For want of food and dear fellowship I gladly accepted. Both husband and wife nourished me, Andy by wisdom poured into my mind and Paula with roast put into my belly, both for which I was grateful. After coffee and ice cream I rode off to Swain's to buy webbing, tubes, and clasps. My plan was to improvise an internal frame and waist belt for my backpack since more hiking looked to be in my future out west.


Cherry blossoms tricked into thinking Spring has come. Poor fools.

The Elam's also had an evening study in their home this night which I was graced to attend. We prayed for families, sang hymns, and studied the section of the Westminster Shorter Catechism pertaining to the nature and attributes of God.





Following study the room became a land flowing with popcorn and coffee. I made myself comfortable on the floor with an enormous edition of the National Gallery of Art: Washington. What a fantastic book! One particular painting stood out, which is John Songleton Copley's, Watson and the shark.



Riding home at that hour would have been a chore but for a generous couple from the fellowship who gave me a lift back to camp. Though the time was 10:00 PM, I called my father to wish him a happy forty-ninth birthday.