12/26/2018
It has been a long weekend, right? Now this sort of makes a short week possible. Then, another long weekend and another short week following. Haw can this go on? Hmm, I think it cannot. Nice thought, though. Some of us have to be at work today, but a few are off the whole week. In fact, I’ve got some friends who will have been off since the 17th clear through till the 7th day of the new year! How fair is that? Life’s little perks and peculiarities, they’re everywhere.
This morning, early as it is, I was reminiscing through all the holiday greetings and pictures of friends, etc., while Paul and John and the boys were singing “All you Need is Love”—The Beatles, 1967. This SIMH is typical of life in general, all you need is love. But there is a larger picture of love which the boys seemed to eschew: the love of the Lord. It’s a shame really, that these 4 young men grew up with such a skewered view of Christ, brought to them through the auspices of standardized religion, either RC or C of E. Both ritual laden, bondage driven, overfed works of the devil could never have given a clear picture of who the Lord Jesus Christ or His love is. I don’t think they had a chance. The Lord will handle that judgment (and He knows them that are His.)
Well, it’s time to finish out another year. We look back through the year at the trips we made, the money we spent, the things we participated in, the things we missed, etc. I’d like to suggest something: take one and only one look back at the regrets; the opportunities that slipped by, the words which could have been enlightening had we chosen them instead, how we could have been of help to others, and taken the side of Christ in our plans. But, just take one look, then “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…” let’s “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Ref. Phi.3:13,14 & 7,8)
Someone might think, why take a look back? Paul did, he rehearsed what he had “counted but dung” of his past life, as if to be sure he was remembering what he had cast away from himself. Yes, he wrote it on our behalf. But also for his own sake. If a person loses a leg, shall he walk as if he had not? No, he remembers why he needs the aid. So, yes, put away the bad things from the year now ending, but not till you see them as they were. Just loss (not lost), just loss. And look to the new year for what can be gained: “press toward that mark.” I know it’s a spiritual journey to which Paul is referring, but there’s an application to be made to the things of this life we are charged with carrying forth, also.
All 6 of our grandchildren were at our son’s home in New York yesterday, and last evening, we were thrilled to get them all on a video call at once! There was much frivolity and love shared! The youngest of them will be 18 next month. Time does slip away, “ain’t it funny?”
I’m beginning to put thoughts together for the restart of the Monday night online bible study (Jan. 7, 2019, 7:00PM Central). If you have any thoughts on subjects to cover, doctrines to explain, curious things about bible study, and you think I can help with any answers, right me a comment about it. If I can, I will include biblical truth for that subject. If I give you my opinion, you’ll know it is just my opinion. But the bible is trustworthy, if I answer Scripture and you disagree, give me Scriptural reasons to change my application of same.
Thanks for reading, the Elder
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