That’s right. Come April there will be another member of the Pruett family!! Luke and I are thrilled about this and Thomas is learning how to “be easy” with a baby (although I think he is going to be very disappointed when the baby can’t throw a ball back to him). My official due date is March 31, 2012 which means “Gender Discovery Day” is in 3 weeks! In the mean time enjoy some updated pictures of the T man!

 

Thomas being silly at Nana and Papa's house.

Thomas and daddy at lunch.

Our first story after the fall of mankind is one of sin, and brother against brother.  Sibling love is one of God’s greatest gifts.  Families sharing tasks is one of God’s greatest gifts.  A fallen world leads to murky vision, and an inability to recognize the gifts of God all around us.  Instead, we  feel jealousy where their should be appreciation, intimidation where there should be confidence, and lust where there should be faithfulness.  Recognizing the narrative that God has for us as a good plan that is a gift from Him, is difficult, but neccessary for the Christian.  Otherwise, we will be as confused, fearful, and lost as Cain and his revenge filled offspring Lamech.  Chapter 4 does end on a good note, Seth is born and he brings Enosh into the world as his son.  And, “at that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.”

Cain’s story reminds me of the first few lines in The Avett Brothers, “Murder in the City,” a beautiful song about the gift of brotherhood, encouraging parents, and shared family labor.  A beautiful picture of God’s good story for us.

We have an enemy.  This enemy came in the form of a serpant and whispered devious half-truths into our ancient mother’s ears, and then watched as our ancient father followed her example.  Our world has never been the same.  Pain, remorse, struggle, and guilt now characterize the experience of every one of the children of Adam and Eve. 

This same enemy whispers to us today.  Asking us what do we believe people think about us, or this will help ease the pain, or you will never be able to measure up, or if God really loved you would he allow this to happen?  The “eyes” that the serpant promised Eve are those of murky clarity.  Adam and Eve’s lack of obedience and following of deception destroyed their innocence and opened them to a world of questions with no obvious answer. 

But let me not nonchalantly judge my forefather and foremother, for my experience is much like theirs, full of excitement for the unknown object, so appealing to the eye, that promises a more fruitful and exciting path.  May we realize that we have a God who’s Spirit walks with us, “in the cool of the day,” and come to Him for love and nurturing.  May we come seeking redemption that carries on into regeneration.  May we be thankful to our father Adam, and mother Eve, for fighting for us and bringing us life.  May we praise God for his preservation of them, even in the face of their disobendience.  Thank you Father for allowing Eve to live, and to become the mother of all that have and do live.

“God rested,” in this we learn of a God who desires self-control, restraint, and pacing.  In the modern world busyness often become the fruit which we daily eat of from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”  Our days of work, while profitable and commanded by God through his example and speech, are meaningless if rest is not taken as a means for reflection, appreciation, and physical/mental recovery.

Here, humanity’s story begins in a garden.  Nature is shown to be man’s first means of experiencing God’s provision and beauty.  However, as we learn from Adam’s story, being surrounded by beauty,  provision, and given a terrific vocation is not the full story.  We crave partnership with “bone of my bones” and “flesh of my flesh.”  Praise God for the gift given here of companionship, human affection, and physical connection. 

Man and woman are here put on a journey of  generation after generation leaving behind their “earthly creators and providors”, their parents, and discovering one of God’s greatest and most ancient gifts, that of becoming one flesh.  A high apprasial of parenthood, son and daughtership, friendship, marriage, sex, partnership, and nature must be our response to the beginning of God’s beautiful story for us, His Creation.  God responds to our desires.  Adam was lonely and God gave him a gift that changed my life, as I now journey through life with a beautiful bride.  Thank you Father for creating us with desire for companionship, and thank You for responding to Adam’s desire with such a beautiful gift.  The world has never been the same.

Genesis 1: Our God is The Creator, The Artist, and The Providor.  Through Moses’ depiction of creation in Genesis we see the monumental aspects of God bringing extradionary “matter” where there was once only “void.”  In the process of creating land, water, light, creatures, plants, and humanity our Triune God brings beauty into existince.  Finally, by giving us the gift of Dominion over every creature and green plant on the Earth, God grants us bountiful grace to provide food for our indiviudals, families, and nations.  May we not take the gift of dominion lightly, but instead remember to pursue beauty, trust creation, and be thankful for our provision.

Pruett: God alone will be our comfort

So when I graduated from UU in 2006 I was required as SR. Class President to give a charge to my class.  April helped me write the speech and I was exitedly, nervous to give it!  Then the rain came in droves, graduation had to be cancelled, and the speech had to be skipped.  Dr. Dockery was gracious enough later to post the speech to the front page of www.uu.edu , the link can be found here: http://www.uu.edu/news/release.cfm?ID=104  The text can be found below:

JACKSON, Tenn. – May 30, 2006– NOTE: Luke Pruett, president of the 2006 senior class, was supposed to give a speech during Union University’s commencement May 20. But rain shortened the ceremony, and Pruett didn’t get the opportunity to deliver his address. The following are Pruett’s intended remarks:

Dr. Dockery, board of trustees, faculty and staff, fellow graduates, family and friends, it is my honor to address you on behalf of my fellow graduates.

If I have learned one thing in my college career, it is to cite your sources. Mr. Rogers, the great theologian who spoke to us as children from his “neighborhood,” once said that, “Everybody longs to be loved and the greatest thing we can do is let somebody know they are loved and capable of loving.” This quote sums up my time here at Union.

I have encountered love from the staff; whose constant behind the scenes work creates an environment in which learning can be both comfortable and safe. At the same time the faculty has far surpassed many of our dreams in their willingness to open their lives, offices and often, even their homes up for us. From many of you we take away instruction that has transformed the way in which we think, act and believe. Our interactions with you, which have often led to deep friendship, will not easily be forgotten.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian who was martyred at the hands of Hitler’s regime, said in his “Cost of Discipleship” that, “Besides Jesus, nothing has any significance; he alone matters.” While I wholeheartedly agree with this quote, we as a university, and as alums, must commend Dr. Dockery for leading Union in a direction towards superior scholarship in the liberal arts allowing us as young Christians to further understand our calling to become salt and light in a lost world.

We as students came here looking for a Christian atmosphere and discovered it, in the classroom of all places. As a result, Union has equipped us as Christians to become pastors, doctors, nurses, economists, accountants, teachers, psychologists, lawyers, journalists, musicians, artists and so much more. We as the class of 2006 have created paintings, sculptures and written papers far exceeding our high school term paper length of eight pages. We have been published. This semester many stood before classrooms filled with elementary, middle school or high school students and led them. We have memorized facts which have caused us to see just how tragic our world is, while at the same time attending lectures both in class and out which have instructed us in how Christians are to react in a world filled with darkness.

Classes here at Union have led to social involvement, volunteer work and dedication to a lifestyle separate from a complacent “Christianity,” whose willingness to critique is rendered void as a result of an unwillingness to bring forth action or change. As a result of my study in ethics and literature, I have been surrounded by voices from which I have taken truths away that I may never have encountered — particularly within the parenthesis of a Christ centered community.

Notice that I say community rather than bubble. There is much talk within our community of the Union “bubble” — a bubble which has trapped us into unrealistic thinking; which confines us to have discussions that are only relevant here, but I beg to disagree.

The truths which I have learned inside of the classroom and out during my time here are not only relevant, they will be our lifeline now that we are leaving. In fact, I would venture to argue that bubbles will continue to encapsulate us no matter if we live here at Union, or in a far country. Rather, we must take away from Union a model of “global caring,” community involvement and patient understanding.

For underclassman, I challenge you to seize your time here, not only for involvement at Union, but also within the greater Jackson community. Your ministry opportunities need not wait two, three or four more years. They can begin today.

For my fellow graduates — we are headed in a direction of uncertainty, and though we may not know what lies ahead there remains a model, in the form of Christ, whose discipline, simplicity, serenity of spirit, sympathy for suffering of all types and complete reliance upon our Heavenly Father serves as the light which we must follow. Though both success and failure inevitably lie in our path, He alone will be our comfort.

Finally, we must thank all those who have given so much for us to attend this institution. Your sacrifice has not gone unnoticed and is the greatest expression of love in human form that many of us will ever encounter.

A tangible expression of this sacrifice is this year’s senior class gift. Combining with the class of 2003, funding is now allotted for the building of a “domed” amphitheater suitable for hosting guests, recording artists and even symphonies.

We as a class have accomplished goals we once believed unfathomable, all because Union has chosen to stand for the best in Christian higher education. Following Christ’s command to be, “In the world but not of it,” Union has chosen to engage the arts and sciences, while at the same time attempting to pierce it with truth. Bonhoeffer, a lover of the arts himself, would be proud. Now we must ask ourselves, whether or not we, like Bonhoeffer, will be willing to give our lives fully for the cause of Christ.

Dr. Dockery, if you would please come forward, the class of 2006 would like to present you with the blueprints for our future amphitheater.

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Today the Vancleaves pulled out the kids pool and invited Thomas to join! Here are some pics. Enjoy!

On March 27, 1985 April Leigh Moore entered the world!!

April turned 26 today! I still can’t believe I married her at 21, such a beautiful bride. I’m thankful for those who have raised her and mentored her. Christ is so present in the life of April both in her heart and in those he has put in her life to teach her how to live. Thomas and I are the luckiest men in the world as a result.

Thank you April Leigh for being loving, faithful, beautiful, and true. You are my heart and I will always be your love.

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