Kelly has been missing for 6 months. Her story is told in the above video. More details are in this WRAL archive.

I will be leading a prayer vigil for Kelly in Butner, NC at the Central Avenue Butner Park this coming Saturday at 7pm. Please join us. If you cannot be at the vigil in person, please be with the family in the Spirit.

If you have information on the whereabouts of Kelly Currin Morris or information on the arson,
please contact the Granville County Sheriff’s Department @ 919-693-3213 or Granville County Crime Stoppers at 919-693-3100.

In the meanwhile, please keep Kelly and her family in your prayers.

A Character Study of Absalom
and Comment on the Upcoming Election

Absalom was David’s fifth son, the first being the child who died after his affair with Bathsheba, the second Solomon by Bathsheba, the third Amnon by Ahinoam, the fourth Chileab by Abigail, and fifth but not last, Absalom by Maacah. The first story of Absalom, who was an exceptionally handsome man (2Sam 14:25), involves his sister Tamar, who was also beautiful. Amnon, David’s first son beyond Bathsheba, raped Tamar (his half-sister). Absalom held his anger for two years but finally killed him because of his violation of Tamar. It might be argued that this also disposed of one heir to the throne—one who preceded Absalom. Though David’s heart mourned Amnon, he loved Absalom and would have forgiven the trespass (2Sam 13:9) yet the murdering son went into self-imposed exile where his heart became harder still. (There is some confusion as to whether Absalom may even have been “banished” {2Sam 14:13}). Joab, David’s nephew-general brought Absalom back from exile, though he was forced to live apart from King David and the court. Presumably, Absalom’s heart was further hardened toward David by this decree. His heart was hardened toward Joab, though bringing him back from exile was by Joab’s own design. Eventually, for Joab’s troubles and because he honored David’s ruling on Absalom, the difficult son burned Joab’s barley field.

Another Absalom story is either difficult to believe or David’s shekel weight was far less than typical. Absalom’s hair grew at a rapid rate and was markedly thick. At the end of each year, evidently because he just couldn’t keep his head up anymore, he had his hair cut off and it weighed over five pounds. (2Sam 14:26 says his hair weighed 200 shekels. A single shekel is 11.33981 grams…times 200 shekels equals 2,267.962 grams. A gram is .0353 ounces…times 2,267.962 grams equals 80.06 ounces or a little over five pounds of hair.) At first glance, this anecdote has no bearing on the Absalom tale. Yet it may go far in explaining what now seems like an ironic ending to Absalom’s life. It is obvious that Absalom was pleased with his appearance and importance. He was a handsome prince and he would charm or coerce his way in the kingdom. Indeed, once brought back into the king’s presence—again by Joab’s doing—Absalom fancied himself king. Every morning he would sit in the gate as an elder or ruler and judge disputes. The text insinuates that this was not by the decree of David but Absalom’s own presumption of his value to the people, since it was the king’s rulings that the people requested (2Sam 15:6).

This kingly pursuit was not enough for the prince. Next he appointed himself the king of Hebron (where Abraham bought a burial plot for Sarah for the price of two years of Absalom’s hair in silver), which put him in direct conflict with his father since Hebron was just to the south and west of Jerusalem. It was also at Hebron where David was anointed king and reigned for his first seven and a half years (2Sam 5:3-5). Absalom is clearly endeavoring to steal his father’s kingdom. It was working too since the people were turning their favor toward Absalom with such fervor that David was now forced to go into exile (2Sam 15:13-14). This cleared the way for Absalom to carry his “kingship” to Jerusalem, and he did, to the extent that he even took his father’s concubines as his own. There was no end to Absalom’s arrogance.

Next he hunted David (reminiscent of David’s early days with Saul, hiding in caves and pits {2Sam 17:9}) with the intent of quelling any question of who was king in Jerusalem. It was during this quest that Absalom was riding under a terebinth tree. One is left to assume the irony that it was his heavy, long, thick hair that was Absalom’s undoing by becoming tangled in the limbs, leaving him easy sport for jilted Joab. There, hanging in a tree, Absalom might have considered Deuteronomy 21:23. If he had, he would have thought of some way to blame his curse on the father who loved him. Absalom’s grand enterprise to overthrow a kingdom ended in shame—his own as well as David’s.

In light of the elections tomorrow, it is interesting to note that Christians ought to vote for the right candidate but all too often, we let our emotions get far out in front of us. We become Democrats and Republicans first and Christians second. To put it another way, we are US citizens first and children in the family of God second. Because I am a Christian and only secondly a citizen of the United States, I am trusting God with the election. He is sovereign. I don’t believe that means God controls who is going to win the elections tomorrow. But it does mean he will have his way, despite who gets into office.

Absalom may have been more popular with the people but God promised that throne to Absalom’s father. Good looks and smooth talking only go so far. But God is sovereign. He will have his way with the United States (even if that means God turns his back on us) no matter who goes to the oval office in January. So vote your conscience and trust in the Lord. And pray for God to heal our land (2Ch 7:14).

My calfskin ESV-SB won’t ship until next week. Besides using it in my devotional reading with Susan, I look forward to reading all of the text and notes next year as my church reads through the Bible chronologically. We’ll see how good the binding is that way.

My old, leather NASB that I purchased from the local American Bible Society represntative back in 1974 or ‘75 and used “religiously” for years has held up well but some (evidently favorite) pages from John and Acts are loose and the binding between John and Revelation detached years ago. If it had remained my primary Bible (which none do for long) it may have crumbled by now. Of all the Bibles I’ve had over the years, I used that NASB longer than any. Maybe this ESV-SB will now take the lead. I doubt it though since I really like my ESV Journalling Bible.

Eli was the great-grandson of Aaron (Exo 6:23-24 shows Eli’s father, Elkanah, in the Aaronic line) and so, being in that priestly lineage, we find him as both Judge and Priest at Shiloh when he is first mentioned in Scripture (1Sa 1:3). This introduction is one of an old priest, since his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, had taken over the priestly duties and since 1Sa 2:22 states “Eli was very old.” Still, he really must have been “very old” by the time Elkanah and Hannah have had six children. This would have been perhaps a decade following this introduction. Perhaps, since we find out in 1Sa 2:12 that Eli’s sons were “worthless men” that perhaps they had forced Eli into a diminished role while he was old but not too old to perform his ministry. Perhaps doing what duties might still be allowed him, he sat at the doorway of the temple where he observed a woman named Hannah crying and inaudibly mouthing words. He mistook her for being drunk. This is not too surprising, based on his sons’ behavior and his collusion in their priesthood, Eli was no great judge of character. Nor was he one to reprove a wrongdoer (at least not Hophni and Phinehas) so it is a little surprising that he had no problem correcting Hannah. When she set the matter straight, he was quick to give her a blessing, if only perhaps to get her out of the temple. It is interesting, if this is the case, since decorum in the temple did not seem to be of much concern to Eli. Surely his sons had caused more disrespect and trouble to the temple than Hannah did that evening. This is not flattering behavior on Eli’s part.

Hannah and Elkanah had their first child and named him Samuel. They later dedicated Samuel to the Lord’s service with Eli. Conceivably, because they had made such a sacrifice in giving up their son to the Lord’s ministry (1Sa 2:11) or perhaps in order to make up for his errant accusation of Samuel’s mother, Eli would bless the parents each year, asking God to give them more children (1Sa 2:20).

By the time we are certain Eli is “very old” (1Sa 2:22) he has been hearing of the sins of his sons against Israel. Though Eli would have understood his sons were not merely sinning against the young women by having sex with them (1Sa 2:22) or against God by treating his sacrifices with contempt (1Sa 2:17), he did not attempt to run them off as he had tried with Hannah. He did, however, make an effort to cajole them. Such efforts are futile when there are no “ears to hear.” Yet Eli heard, even if his sons could not, for the rumors were widespread. The people were informing Eli about his ill-behaved offspring. Still, all Eli had in him was to scold them in such a way as to insinuate his disappointment: I didn’t raise you to be like this. Their behavior was a sin against the whole of Israel and if it was not dealt with, all would pay for their sin. This is clearly seen in that Eli was called to account for his poor fathering skills, vis-à-vis his wayward sons. A man of God came to tell Eli in straightforward fashion that Eli loved and honored his sons with their sinful, faithless, and abusive character more than he esteemed the Lord (1Sa 2:29). Either Eli was associated with the actions of his boys or their uncorrected sins had at least spread to their father’s doorstep.

When Eli sat in the entrance of the temple and spied a young woman that he could easily correct, he was instead corrected by her. He quickly recanted and this paved the way for Samuel to become priest. But while he sat in that doorway, had Eli only looked within his own home, he would have found two men, also priests, who were sorely in need of correction. Eli spent that night on the outside of his home because he was not able to manage what was on the inside. Eli’s legacy is one of complicit corruption, disregard for the things of God, and a father who was incapable of raising and disciplining his children. This is a sad heritage for a priest who should have done better than raise a couple of selfish animals (Deut 6:7). As a result, his priestly line will be cut off altogether during the reign of Solomon (1Kgs 2:27).

What we fail to deal with, God will eventually straighten out. He didn’t raise us to act like this and he won’t put up with worthless, animal behavior forever.

I’m not sure why I like photographing sunflowers. A year ago, I was shooting fields of them and a few weeks ago, I was after them again. I never thought of sunflowers as a cash crop. The seeds? Yes. The flowers? No. But there they were, at the Williamsburg, VA, farmers’ market. Dozens of dozens were for sale. Next to the sunflower vendor was a soup seller with a Golden Retriever hawking his product. They both made good subjects but the pup was a lot cuter—though about as animated as the flowers.

Hoden Beach, NC. Williamsburg, VA. Where will the next crop of helianthus annuus find me?

After figuring out how to make iPod playlists that will synch with my Nano, I have listened this afternoon to two messages by Leland Ryken that I’ve wanted to hear for months. One is “Words of Delight: The Bible as Literature” and the other, “What You Need to Know About English Bible Translations.” I haven’t been this enthused about learning since seminary. In fact, if I write about what I am listening to and discuss it with Susan and others (a given), it will be very much like seminary.

I have started downloading other messages, getting them ready for playlisting. It feels a bit like picking out classes for next semester.

Christmas was great for other reasons too. Besides delivering for Operation Merry Christmas with the Graham Police Department and having a beautiful Christmas Eve service at church and some friends over afterwards (and lovely family dinner before prepared by Susan), the gang was in for Christmas late Monday morning. Mim and Dan, Cristin and Matt and his mom, Joyce, Susan’s mom, my mom and step-dad, Susan and me (and Baba, Heidi, Gracie, and Pax).

Cristin and Matthew celebrated their third wedding anniversary this year. Cristin still works with “Information Science and Information Studies” at Duke. Matt is a realtor with Peak, Swirles & Cavallito Properties. They are both active at New Hope Church in Durham where Matt plays guitar with the worship team. They live in Durham with their two cats.

Susan has worked four years now as the Administrative Business Manager for the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Duke, totaling more than 17 years with the university. Her heart is in Graham though, where she enjoys the community and plays piano for worship. She has added to the upcoming Christmas Eve service music by involving the voices of two adults, one youth, and the children of the church. I can’t wait to hear them all. She is a big help to me both musically and as an encourager. I might have given up a long time ago except for her advice and support.

Susan’s mother, Mary, moved here from Ohio this year. She is active in the church too, faithfully attending Sunday School and finding a front row seat for worship each Sunday.

I am in my eighth year as Pastor of Graham Friends Church and have been the Chaplain to the city’s police officers for half of that time. This past year, God saw fit to bless the church with lots of children and doubled the size of our congregation. I joined Rotary at the end of last year and was voted Rotarian of the Year in Graham…where we no longer live with our children but with a dog and three cats.

Mark and Susan Ryman
Baba, Gracie, Pax & Kepha
Graham, North Carolina

I often park my truck by those trees. Evidently the little guy the hawk was after was stretching his legs today. When I came out of Rotary, I noticed him in the bed of my truck.

He’s safely home again.