Undiscovered Country

Posted on March 14, 2014 by jimtheyouthguy
But that the dread of something after death, the undiscovered country . . . makes us rather bear those ills we have than fly to others that we know not of?
Read more at the monologue archive.
It’s been a long week.
In the parish, we have cancer and chemo times two, one house fire with arson and theft, one gravely ill and hospitalized, 5 in jail and 2 newly arrived for a total of 7, two homeless (four with children included, but two households), a tense custody battle, alcoholism, drug addiction, depression, infirmity, broken appliances, broken cars (or even totaled cars), home repairs, financial issues, marital issues, child rearing issues (a.k.a. financial and marital issues) and a few more I failed to mention because I am too tired to type them at the moment . . .
Fortunately, we have no need to dread the “undiscovered country”.  We know the Sovereign of that fair land and have been adopted as His children.  We don’t fly from ills we know to those we do not.  We fly from a well understood world of brokenness to a place of beautiful perfection.
Now, off to sleep, and perchance to dream . . .
Ay, there’s the rub . . .
Please, don’t take this too seriously – I’m just tired.
Besides…
After all . . . tomorrow is another day.

 

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Sabbath for Man. Not Man for Sabbath.

Posted on March 14, 2014 by jimtheyouthguy

2nd week into the 2014 Lenten journey and I already blew my Sabbath commitment!  There are just too many crises – even with other folks helping out.  Jail, hospital, Greyhound busses, shut-ins, house guests, broken cars, etc.

And He said to them, “What man shall there be among you, who shall have one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it, and lift it out? “Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (Mat 12:11-12 NAS77)

My sheep are stuck in the house, homeless, in jail or the hospital, but I think those qualify as a pit, too.

And He was saying to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
(Mar 2:27 NAS77)

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The LORD Is With Him

Posted on March 11, 2014 by jimtheyouthguy

Then one of the young men answered and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him.” (1Sa 16:18 NAS77)

Look at all the great things he can do.  What a guy!  He can really rock the house.  He wins all the games.  Everyone always picks him first.  He doesn’t get pushed around.  He’s tough.  When he talks, people listen.  And he’s got a cover shoot for GQ!

Clearly, this is the kind of man you want on your team.  He’s got brains and brawn.  He’s good at everything and the ladies always swoon.  What more can you want?  Without a doubt, this is real leadership potential here.

Oh, and by the way . . .

The LORD is with him.

Just sayin’.

In case that might interest you.

Let’s live lives that shout, “The LORD is with him/her!”  Without regard for what description of me precedes it, what could be better / more important / more valuable / more significant than “the Lord is with me”?

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Not As Man Sees…

Posted on March 10, 2014 by jimtheyouthguy

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1Sa 16:7 NAS77)

The average male CEO on the Forbes 500 is 3 inches taller than the average male.  Women consistently rate men over 6 feet tall as more attractive than men of less than average height.  Body Mass Index is now a prime consideration in looking for the next guy in line for the corner office.  We are judged by our physical appearance continually.  (WSJ article, USA Today article)

“It’s not fair!”, we exclaim.  They don’t even know the real me . . .

But then again, we tend to be our own worst critics.  We don’t measure up to our own standards.  I’m not good enough.  I always screw up.  I’m not worth it.  I’m too small.  I’m not smart.  I’m weak.  We can find failure in victory.  We can find any number of reasons why we are not allowed to do well.

But, fortunately for me, “God sees not as man sees …”

Not even this man!

I am the one that Jesus loves, and, in Him, I am enough.

 

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