Life can be an adventure. But what happens after this life? I suspect the next life will be an adventure too. We will all see someday. So friends and relatives went to find out last year. It's pretty real sometimes.
Are we preparing? How do we prepare? Jesus says, "be like me." Paul says, "Be like me." Do we know living examples of people we can emulate. To prepare we need to be working to be more like God. God is loving, forgiving, helpful. He also judges, discerns. We do that too but remember God withholds judgment on us and when he does bring consequences they are always much less than we deserve.
Jesus said he came to release, comfort, restore. As much as is in our power that is what we are to do as well.
I am thinking of the scene in Field of Dreams where the James Earl Jones character is about to enter the afterlife. In the movie he enters it be going into the cornfield. I know corny huh? But it is only the boundary for those who are ready, who God has called. (Well of course God is never mentioned.) This is one man's fantasy. In this fantasy afterlife some men play baseball. Will there be baseball in heaven? I hope so.
The character in the scene seems to see this movement into the afterlife as a new adventure. He sticks his arm into the cornfield and it disappears. Then he pulls it back. He laughs and looks back at his new friends who will be left behind. He sees it as a new adventure. He is apprehensive of course. But he seems joyful. He is no longer depressed as he was when we first meet him. His new friends have cheered him up. He has seen signs of a reason for life. I will interject here that God has allowed circumstances to occur so that he can see that. And now he is going on to the next adventure. It is his time.
We too have a time here on earth. But soon we will go on to our next adventure. Many who love us will be left behind to continue on. Are we preparing? Will we be ready? I know some who leave out scared out of their senses. Part of our preparation is to learn to trust God more.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
"The truth is that if we would be acceptable to God at all times, we can take it for granted that we will be unacceptable to others some of the time" (John N. Gladstone).
Jesus provokes his neighbors here, doesn't he? My commentator thinks their anger rises out of the anger Jewish people have developed towards all non-Jews. The members of the synagogue cannot deny what he is saying. It is in the book. But they hate being reminded that God helps non-Jews.
Jesus spends most of his time ministering to fellow Jews. But he never denied Gentiles when they sought him out. Many great stories are of how he helped Gentiles in need. Jesus had compassion for all. No one is excluded unless they choose to be.
Why can't his fellow villagers simply accept his teaching and deal with it? Or "agree to disagree" so to speak? They would certainly have been better off if they had listened. But the Jews, as a group, were so bent on rebellion. Each succeeding rebellion caused stronger and stronger reprisals from Rome until finally in 70 AD they massacred all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and tore down the temple. (And robbed the temple treasury.) They forbid Jews from living in the city.
The Jews were expecting a messiah. Daniel's prophesies seemed to say they were living in the times. They never lost that expectation. But they would not consider that the messiah God would send would be so different. Jesus never stopped trying to tell them, like he did here in the synagogue of Nazareth.
This was an act of extreme caring. Yet the people could not accept it and even wanted to kill him.
Jesus' first desire was to bring the truth, not to win a popularity contest. What he told them: he was the messiah bringing peace and not war. He was bringing Good News to all men, not just to Jews.
=====================================================================
LUKE 4:22-30 [22] And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, "Is this not Joseph's son?" [23] And He said to them, "No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.'" [24] And He said, "Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. [25] But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; [26] and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. [27] And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." [28] And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; [29] and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. [30] But passing through their midst, He went His way. (NASB)
Jesus provokes his neighbors here, doesn't he? My commentator thinks their anger rises out of the anger Jewish people have developed towards all non-Jews. The members of the synagogue cannot deny what he is saying. It is in the book. But they hate being reminded that God helps non-Jews.
Jesus spends most of his time ministering to fellow Jews. But he never denied Gentiles when they sought him out. Many great stories are of how he helped Gentiles in need. Jesus had compassion for all. No one is excluded unless they choose to be.
Why can't his fellow villagers simply accept his teaching and deal with it? Or "agree to disagree" so to speak? They would certainly have been better off if they had listened. But the Jews, as a group, were so bent on rebellion. Each succeeding rebellion caused stronger and stronger reprisals from Rome until finally in 70 AD they massacred all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and tore down the temple. (And robbed the temple treasury.) They forbid Jews from living in the city.
The Jews were expecting a messiah. Daniel's prophesies seemed to say they were living in the times. They never lost that expectation. But they would not consider that the messiah God would send would be so different. Jesus never stopped trying to tell them, like he did here in the synagogue of Nazareth.
This was an act of extreme caring. Yet the people could not accept it and even wanted to kill him.
Jesus' first desire was to bring the truth, not to win a popularity contest. What he told them: he was the messiah bringing peace and not war. He was bringing Good News to all men, not just to Jews.
=====================================================================
LUKE 4:22-30 [22] And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, "Is this not Joseph's son?" [23] And He said to them, "No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.'" [24] And He said, "Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. [25] But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; [26] and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. [27] And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." [28] And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; [29] and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. [30] But passing through their midst, He went His way. (NASB)
Life group
We discussed new year's resolutions or more politely put, goals for the year. Marvin is so tactful. That was a much better term.
I think the most important one offered was to reduce stimuli so you can hear God better. I was not so sure that I wanted to do that. My games addiction is still alluring. I should cut some out. But instead I try to spend less time with each one.
Yet that is a great goal. And going along with that is more time at prayer, more time reading helpful things, and reading the Bible and listening to sermons.
My Greek practice is important but only if it helps me get closer to God.
I hesitate to mention my goal to blog each day. This is a very poor effort. I am pretty discouraged about it.
I think the most important one offered was to reduce stimuli so you can hear God better. I was not so sure that I wanted to do that. My games addiction is still alluring. I should cut some out. But instead I try to spend less time with each one.
Yet that is a great goal. And going along with that is more time at prayer, more time reading helpful things, and reading the Bible and listening to sermons.
My Greek practice is important but only if it helps me get closer to God.
I hesitate to mention my goal to blog each day. This is a very poor effort. I am pretty discouraged about it.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Brighton Gardens
I am still amazed I am doing messages at Brighton. I'm not sure how together it was. But it was cool that the normal message giver added a good charge for the folks to leave with.
Several of the people there give me comments after it is over and we go around and sa hi. One lady said it was good to hear the message of the gospel again. Yeah it was.
One lady who really knows her stuff asked me if I knew where in the OT the appearance of the wise men is prophesied. I did not know about that. She said she would search and tell me next time I come. I'll be interested.
The lady who told me last time I did not speak loud enough was not here this week. But I did speak louder.
The Joneses were very nice. I think I was able to make the message last 20 minutes. DW said it was coherent. I was less sure. But yes I guess so.
No evening service tonight. So I am relaxing with the football game on the TV.
Tomorrow is a holiday and the library is closed. I wish it was going to be open.
Several of the people there give me comments after it is over and we go around and sa hi. One lady said it was good to hear the message of the gospel again. Yeah it was.
One lady who really knows her stuff asked me if I knew where in the OT the appearance of the wise men is prophesied. I did not know about that. She said she would search and tell me next time I come. I'll be interested.
The lady who told me last time I did not speak loud enough was not here this week. But I did speak louder.
The Joneses were very nice. I think I was able to make the message last 20 minutes. DW said it was coherent. I was less sure. But yes I guess so.
No evening service tonight. So I am relaxing with the football game on the TV.
Tomorrow is a holiday and the library is closed. I wish it was going to be open.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
driving
I do some of my best thinking, my best planning while driving.
I admit to reading my WSJ in the car. In fact that is about the only time I read that paper. So many of the papers do not get opened. Sigh. Not enough time for all my interests.
This morning a woman honked at me while crossing downtown. I looked over to my right and saw this fairly good looking blonde woman waving furiously at me. She was making wild motions. What I think she meant was that I should "just drive". I guess she saw I was reading the paper and thought I could go faster. Well I was driving with the flow of traffic. I was not driving too close of course because of my reading. But I was keeping up with the green lights that turn as I flow with the traffic. She had little to complain about.
Ironically she was driving over in the bus lane. So my reaction was to laugh at the irony. It was not clear how she reacted to my laughter. But she continued to travel in the that lane and did not pull up next to me again.
Since getting a ticket a couple of years ago for not using my turn signal when changing lanes I have been trying hard to use it at all times. Unfortunately there is no sound when it is on. So I often leave it on after I am done. I annoy myself and probably people behind me. I still forget to turn it off but I am trying to do better. But I still am very bad.
DW wants a new car. She wants it mainly so she can hand he 10 year old Buick to DD. DD wants a bigger car for possible cooking gigs. DD is doing a wedding cake this weekend. She is open for more cooking gigs of most any kind. Anyway DW wants a Camry. She has her eye on a big cup holder center in the middle between the front seats. She has seen a Camry with the interior that she likes. We are hoping to start the ball rolling this week.
I admit to reading my WSJ in the car. In fact that is about the only time I read that paper. So many of the papers do not get opened. Sigh. Not enough time for all my interests.
This morning a woman honked at me while crossing downtown. I looked over to my right and saw this fairly good looking blonde woman waving furiously at me. She was making wild motions. What I think she meant was that I should "just drive". I guess she saw I was reading the paper and thought I could go faster. Well I was driving with the flow of traffic. I was not driving too close of course because of my reading. But I was keeping up with the green lights that turn as I flow with the traffic. She had little to complain about.
Ironically she was driving over in the bus lane. So my reaction was to laugh at the irony. It was not clear how she reacted to my laughter. But she continued to travel in the that lane and did not pull up next to me again.
Since getting a ticket a couple of years ago for not using my turn signal when changing lanes I have been trying hard to use it at all times. Unfortunately there is no sound when it is on. So I often leave it on after I am done. I annoy myself and probably people behind me. I still forget to turn it off but I am trying to do better. But I still am very bad.
DW wants a new car. She wants it mainly so she can hand he 10 year old Buick to DD. DD wants a bigger car for possible cooking gigs. DD is doing a wedding cake this weekend. She is open for more cooking gigs of most any kind. Anyway DW wants a Camry. She has her eye on a big cup holder center in the middle between the front seats. She has seen a Camry with the interior that she likes. We are hoping to start the ball rolling this week.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Sherlock Holmes
We went to see the new Sherlock Holmes Monday after Christmas at the new downtown theater. I think last year we saw the first on Christmas day or thereabouts. So hopefully we are starting a tradition. Every year on Christmas we can see the new Sherlock Holmes action film.
These are so different that Rathbone/Bruce. They are not based on Arthur Conan Doyle books at all but they do try to stay close to the characters that he developed. We start out with references to Holmes' addiction to drugs.
These are really modern action films set in last 19th century London. And France and Germany just for fun.
Some have said this one was disappointing. I'm not sure why. Unless the creation of two new characters last year was cool and new, people were excited. This year if you expected more well it was not more. It was the same. The characters were the same. The plot had no great surprises. I think I rather liked that it proceeded fairly logically to a conclusion.
Moriarty was perhaps a disappointment.
In one book Holmes "dies" because the author planned this one to be the last one. But because of public desire for more he can back in more book with little explanation for how he survived. They do the same thing in this movie. I suspect the similarity was conscience.
These are so different that Rathbone/Bruce. They are not based on Arthur Conan Doyle books at all but they do try to stay close to the characters that he developed. We start out with references to Holmes' addiction to drugs.
These are really modern action films set in last 19th century London. And France and Germany just for fun.
Some have said this one was disappointing. I'm not sure why. Unless the creation of two new characters last year was cool and new, people were excited. This year if you expected more well it was not more. It was the same. The characters were the same. The plot had no great surprises. I think I rather liked that it proceeded fairly logically to a conclusion.
Moriarty was perhaps a disappointment.
In one book Holmes "dies" because the author planned this one to be the last one. But because of public desire for more he can back in more book with little explanation for how he survived. They do the same thing in this movie. I suspect the similarity was conscience.
talk for Sunday
I cobbled together a "sermon" for Sunday at the old folk's home while working on the elliptical machine.
I think it is cool, but not long enough. Naturally.
I think it is cool, but not long enough. Naturally.
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