Today, Shannon and I are off to Culebra for a wonderful vacation on a beautiful sunny beach. We will be back on New Year's Eve.
We had a great Christmas with our extended family and within our family as well. The video is our time together last night on Christmas Eve and then Christmas morning.
Merry Christmas all and happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Reflections on the Verdict
When people ask how we are doing in regards to the trial, my standard answer is "We are still processing it." I like that. It shows hope, or at least not despair, but also a little elusive. It is also true. Because we not just reacting on a strong emotion, but working through a process of our transformation.
Before this experience, I use to think that God used trials and tragedy to teach us. And that is true at a literal level. But teaching is what my college professors would do, throw a bunch of facts at me and leave it up to me to catch them and remember them. Teaching implies you decide if you want to accept the information. Trials, true trials, trials from the hand of the sovereign Triune God, are more than teaching moments. They are transforming moments. Transforming is something you don't really decided to act on or not. It happens from within and you can't stop it. You don't decide to accept certain facts or not. You entire way of thinking it revolutionized as your mind is different than before.
Another challenge with being transformed is that we don't know exactly what we are being transformed into. Frankly, I have no idea how different Shannon and I will find ourselves. Will we be more mature and wiser? Will we have a deeper compassion for others? Will we have a greater joy for each precious moment we have? Will we have a greater peace in life because we know life is short but eternity in heaven is much, much longer?
I don't know, and that is tough. That is the difference between teaching and transformation. With teaching, you have an idea of what you will learn and be able to do before the lesson is complete. With transformation, you don't get a blueprint of your new makeup. So we are left with faith. Faith that God knows what he is doing, that he has not abandoned us, nor is he surprised with our condition and response. Faith that he can indeed cause all of this to work together for good because we believe in him.
So as I finishing typing this post, I know not how Shannon and I will find up. I only know that we must keep the faith and we must keep doing the things we are suppose to do regardless of our circumstance. We must be diligent in our disciplines, especially prayer, Scripture and solitude. We must not forsake the assembly of others and the spiritual gifts they have which we don't but we need. We must not despair in doing good because a bountiful harvest is awaiting us. We must strive to love God and love others with everything we have got. Those are things God has taught us well on.
Before this experience, I use to think that God used trials and tragedy to teach us. And that is true at a literal level. But teaching is what my college professors would do, throw a bunch of facts at me and leave it up to me to catch them and remember them. Teaching implies you decide if you want to accept the information. Trials, true trials, trials from the hand of the sovereign Triune God, are more than teaching moments. They are transforming moments. Transforming is something you don't really decided to act on or not. It happens from within and you can't stop it. You don't decide to accept certain facts or not. You entire way of thinking it revolutionized as your mind is different than before.
Another challenge with being transformed is that we don't know exactly what we are being transformed into. Frankly, I have no idea how different Shannon and I will find ourselves. Will we be more mature and wiser? Will we have a deeper compassion for others? Will we have a greater joy for each precious moment we have? Will we have a greater peace in life because we know life is short but eternity in heaven is much, much longer?
I don't know, and that is tough. That is the difference between teaching and transformation. With teaching, you have an idea of what you will learn and be able to do before the lesson is complete. With transformation, you don't get a blueprint of your new makeup. So we are left with faith. Faith that God knows what he is doing, that he has not abandoned us, nor is he surprised with our condition and response. Faith that he can indeed cause all of this to work together for good because we believe in him.
So as I finishing typing this post, I know not how Shannon and I will find up. I only know that we must keep the faith and we must keep doing the things we are suppose to do regardless of our circumstance. We must be diligent in our disciplines, especially prayer, Scripture and solitude. We must not forsake the assembly of others and the spiritual gifts they have which we don't but we need. We must not despair in doing good because a bountiful harvest is awaiting us. We must strive to love God and love others with everything we have got. Those are things God has taught us well on.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Verdict in Trial for Person Who Killed Shannon's Parents
On Monday and Tuesday of two weeks ago, the week after Thanksgiving, Shannon and I were in New Hampshire for the start of the trial of Grafton County vs. Joshua Shepherd regarding the death of Shannon’s parents and one other lady. Joshua Shepherd crossed the yellow line and killed Gary and Joyce Varden on their motorcycle as well as Claudia Huffman who was riding on bike with her husband, Rick. Rick lived but was badly injured. Shannon was able to visit the scene of the accident, place roses on the crosses marking the scene of their death and got to spend some time there at the scene.
We had the opportunity to see the scene, listen to some witnesses and get a much better understanding the accident. We talked with Officer Seth Cooper of the New Hampshire state police as he was one of the first on the scene. He met us at the scene of the accident, walked us through it and explained many details of the accident.
We also got a chance to see Joshua Shepherd. Through the trial, during breaks when we were in his vicinity and during his testimony, he never showed any remorse or offered any type of apology or condolences. While 25 at the time of the accident, he had already been responsible for several car accidents involving some type of causality.
After deliberating a day, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on 3 counts of negligent homicide and 1 count of vehicular assault. He will face sentencing next month, likely at least 3 years in jail before possible parole. I would categorize both Shannon’s and my mood as numb, a little surprised but also relief. 12 unbiased members of the jury heard the evidence and were in agreement of his guilt and responsibility for killing her parents and another.
As Christians, we pray for Joshua Shepherd that through this experience and upcoming jail time, he would change the direction of his life and find Someone who can offer both forgiveness and purpose to an individual who desperately needs it.
We had the opportunity to see the scene, listen to some witnesses and get a much better understanding the accident. We talked with Officer Seth Cooper of the New Hampshire state police as he was one of the first on the scene. He met us at the scene of the accident, walked us through it and explained many details of the accident.
We also got a chance to see Joshua Shepherd. Through the trial, during breaks when we were in his vicinity and during his testimony, he never showed any remorse or offered any type of apology or condolences. While 25 at the time of the accident, he had already been responsible for several car accidents involving some type of causality.
After deliberating a day, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on 3 counts of negligent homicide and 1 count of vehicular assault. He will face sentencing next month, likely at least 3 years in jail before possible parole. I would categorize both Shannon’s and my mood as numb, a little surprised but also relief. 12 unbiased members of the jury heard the evidence and were in agreement of his guilt and responsibility for killing her parents and another.
As Christians, we pray for Joshua Shepherd that through this experience and upcoming jail time, he would change the direction of his life and find Someone who can offer both forgiveness and purpose to an individual who desperately needs it.
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