Posts Tagged ‘ death ’

Looking for a City

June 24, 2011
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Here among the shadows living in a lonely land, we’re a band of pilgrims on the move!
Through dangers, burdened down with sorrows, and we are shunned on every hand,
But we are looking for a city built above.

These are the words to a hymn not sung often anymore – but they weigh on my heart as I think of the many here who are sick or hurting this week. This world is a lonely and lovely place. There is great beauty and goodness alongside great difficulty and pain. Our existence in this place and time is purposeful. God has something for us to do—but we eagerly anticipate a better day.

Heaven is best described as the place where God’s will reigns supreme in all things. It is the place where sin cannot exist—so neither sorrow nor death can survive there. It is the kingdom of eternal life and joy. It is the place where we come face to face with Christ, our savior. What a day that will be!

Abraham set out on a journey at the command of God. He didn’t know where he was going—except that God would show him. He didn’t know what dangers, setbacks, and heartaches he would face. The one thing he knew was the God who told him to go. That was enough for him. That’s enough for you and me.

“By faith, he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:9-10)

Keep looking for that city!

Boo! A Christian look at Halloween…

October 24, 2010
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I’m not a big believer in ghost stories and the paranormal. I don’t really think houses are haunted by anything more than the overeager imaginations of wannabe ghostbusters. I certainly believe in souls, but nothing I see in scripture makes me think that they are lingering around earth without bodies playing practical jokes on folks today.

Our society has a strange fascination with the dead. On one hand, we almost fear them. Funeral homes are sterile, one-use buildings that we only visit for one purpose. Wakes are no longer held in living rooms, memorial services are rarely conducted at churches, and burials aren’t done in the church yard. We like to keep death at a distance—unless it’s Halloween. Read more »

Death and Judgment

October 25, 2008
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I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, Prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Revelation 21:2

      There is an old song that I remember hearing in my youth. (You might say it would have to be really old.)  The song had a stanza that went: Every one who talks about heaven ain’t going there.

      In the 12th century a poet/song writer called Bernard of Morlaix wrote a poem of three thousand lines.  Now that is a formidable task.  I will have written that many lines in the articles I write for this bulletin over a few years.  I can’t imagine writing a poem of this length and I can’t imagine any of you reading it all the way through.  You might not even make it to the end of this article.

      In this long poem Bernard pinned these lines:

            The world is very evil

                  The times are waxing late

            Be sober and keep vigil

                  The judge is at the gate.

      We live in a challenging time.  Crises seem to be the invader of our day.  We have moral crises, financial crises, family crises, prison crises, judicial crises, health crises and more crises than we can shake a stick at. 

            The world is very evil

                  The times are waxing late.

      God is still in charge and those who believe this can survive the crises of any time.  He will accomplish His will and those who are on His side will win the victory. For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (I John 5:4)

          Be sober and keep vigil

                  The judge is at the gate.

Be Strong and of Good Courage

June 3, 2008
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Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise. Joshua 1:2

Ever get depressed when a loved one dies? It is especially difficult when one dies who is close to us and one on whom we depend for so much. When a great friend or comrade falls we feel as if the future is dark and the nights of depression can easily set in.

What if a leader on whom a whole nation had depended for forty years is suddenly gone and the wilderness looks so foreboding and dangerous? What if the one to whom your God had spoken face to face was suddenly gone and fear was prevalent in the hearts of thousands?

How would you feel? Alone? Forsaken? Lost?

Think about how Joshua might have felt when his long time friend Moses was gone. For forty years Joshua and Moses had been constant companions. They had come through the plagues of Egypt together – Joshua was a first born. They had led the people of Israel through forty years of wanderings. They had witnessed the almighty power of God in miracle after miracle. These were all done at the hand of Moses. Now he is gone.

There is little wonder that God needed to say to Joshua and his people Be strong and of a good courage. They are going to need all they can muster. The wilderness is behind them, the river is before them and enemies are on every hill. The story could have ended here for Israel. It will not end because God says “it’s not over. And Joshua is my man for the task before you.”

Though he literally trembled when he was called to succeed his great mentor, he grabbed hold of God’s hand and God’s promises and led Israel to the Promised Land. He understands that God knows our weaknesses and will be there for him.

Today we begin a study of this great character of the Old Testament. Be in class each Sunday morning at 9:00 for this challenging study.

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