This past week I attended my 40th high school class reunion. The attendance was not what was hoped for it still it gave to those who attended a wonderful evening of fellowship and recollection. I for one was truly blessed and I again thank the team for the wonderful job they did. But since that night I cannot seem to get my classmates off of my mind. Conversations still resonate within my thinking, I see the faces of friends still as familiar to me as in the days of our youth we spent together, and some sadness felt for those who have died since graduation were all aspects of this gathering. But why is it still actively being entertained in my contemplation? Allow me to explore that with you.
As I mentioned this was our 40th. We have, as was true at the last one, grown older. And as with any community it is best understood by the conversations. That I believe is the main reason for my continuing thinking about that night, the conversations. The first reason was related to the content. Once we engaged in catching up there were new topics discussed. Some people have reached retirement and are enjoying the fruit of their labors. Some of us talked of how retirement seems to be an impossibility and still others expressed how these years are nothing like they had anticipated. A few of us shared the blessing of now long marriages and sadly others still held the pain of divorce(s) in their hearts. Many have the joy of children and grandchildren which brings a whole new sense of vitality to one's life. Some traveled from distant states and others have never left home. It is easy to be envious in some way with both.
The one subject that came up more than ever was spirituality and faith. This was certainly welcomed by me and I was excited to know how God had touch various classmates' lives. I think of how great it would have been to share on that level back in high school.
The next reason for great conversations was the fact that I had matured and no longer was scared to talk to girls! In school I was governed by a strong sense of inferiority and that others (especially girls) would not want to lower themselves to speak with me. Oh how wrong I was. Maturing into an older man without those inhibitions allowed me to have dialogue with classmates that I had never before talked with. And they were an amazing blessing to me. In their maturity whatever may have interfered with us having a conversation was also removed. I experienced joy with my classmates and feel an indebtedness to all of them. They were and are such a big part of my life's story and I feel no separation from them. What a blessing!
So I have discovered another way to view aging in a positive way and that is as I age, and my friends age, there is little other than geography that separates us. I want so much to minister to them and serve them and if that is possible I trust God will reveal it to me.
I have more to speak of on down the path. Until then, peace my friends.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Thursday, July 17, 2014
I cannot believe how fast a week goes by. With that stated I am a little late posting this week. But something as usually is weighing upon my mind.
In a couple of weeks the class of 1974 of Rossford High School will be celebrating in a reunion. I am truly looking forward to it as there will undoubtedly be some there that I have not seen since my junior year. Why my junior year? Well I did not really get to graduate with the classmates with whom I had spent all of my school years. My father worked for LOF Glass and was transferred to North Carolina at the end of my junior year. So I graduated in a high school far far away with people I had and doubt will ever have a relationship with. But those who were my closest friends and classmates have graciously allowed me to be a part of their class. Rossford will always be my school.
This really came about with Facebook. I had a classmate contact me inquiring if I was the John Bailey she had been a classmate with while attending Glenwood Elementary. I was that person and from then I began connecting with a good many ex-classmates via social media. It has really been a lot of fun.
This morning I was studying for this week's sermon and I was struck by something that Martha said to Jesus at the occasion of her brother's passing. She said to Jesus, " Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Not only is Martha expressing a belief in something beyond the conceivable but is implying that Jesus knows exactly what God will do. That can only happen if Jesus had an uninterrupted communion with God. How is that possible?
Reconnecting with my friends is very enjoyable but to have to reconnect with God implies I disconnected and just as with my friends I must re-establish our connection; our communion if you will. Just like at weddings and funerals there are always the polite statements of getting together realizing it will probably never happen. But with God it is not something nice to do, it is a necessity. 40 minutes, much less 40 years without Him has significant impact on life. Just like the old hymn I need Him every hour!
My point? For the Christian Paul says that the life in us is Jesus and if Jesus lives within us and He has continuous communion with the Father then as much as I surrender my will to Jesus I too will have communion with God. And therein resides the problem. I must surrender. That sure is hard to do. With my friends I must make an intentional effort to stay connected. Is it really all that different with God?
Well enough rambling. I have plans to reconnect with some dear friends and I have some communing with God to participate in. Sounds like good plans.
See you down the path. Peace.
In a couple of weeks the class of 1974 of Rossford High School will be celebrating in a reunion. I am truly looking forward to it as there will undoubtedly be some there that I have not seen since my junior year. Why my junior year? Well I did not really get to graduate with the classmates with whom I had spent all of my school years. My father worked for LOF Glass and was transferred to North Carolina at the end of my junior year. So I graduated in a high school far far away with people I had and doubt will ever have a relationship with. But those who were my closest friends and classmates have graciously allowed me to be a part of their class. Rossford will always be my school.
This really came about with Facebook. I had a classmate contact me inquiring if I was the John Bailey she had been a classmate with while attending Glenwood Elementary. I was that person and from then I began connecting with a good many ex-classmates via social media. It has really been a lot of fun.
This morning I was studying for this week's sermon and I was struck by something that Martha said to Jesus at the occasion of her brother's passing. She said to Jesus, " Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Not only is Martha expressing a belief in something beyond the conceivable but is implying that Jesus knows exactly what God will do. That can only happen if Jesus had an uninterrupted communion with God. How is that possible?
Reconnecting with my friends is very enjoyable but to have to reconnect with God implies I disconnected and just as with my friends I must re-establish our connection; our communion if you will. Just like at weddings and funerals there are always the polite statements of getting together realizing it will probably never happen. But with God it is not something nice to do, it is a necessity. 40 minutes, much less 40 years without Him has significant impact on life. Just like the old hymn I need Him every hour!
My point? For the Christian Paul says that the life in us is Jesus and if Jesus lives within us and He has continuous communion with the Father then as much as I surrender my will to Jesus I too will have communion with God. And therein resides the problem. I must surrender. That sure is hard to do. With my friends I must make an intentional effort to stay connected. Is it really all that different with God?
Well enough rambling. I have plans to reconnect with some dear friends and I have some communing with God to participate in. Sounds like good plans.
See you down the path. Peace.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Celebration of the 2nd,3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th of July
As I sit considering my story line for this post I am struggling to keep my eyes open. I can't imagine why since for nearly a week now from around seven in the evening until one or so in the morning we listen to the incessant sound of firecrackers. Everything from pop pop pop to KA-BOOOOOM! filled our bedroom hour after hour. Now I like to think that I have not become a grumpy old curmudgeon but to enjoy a blissful night's sleep versus a reenactment of Fallujah is a reasonable expectation.
Do you see the space between this paragraph and the preceding one? I took a nap in that space. I had to if I was going to finish my thoughts today. You see this holiday is to be celebrated as it signifies our independence as a nation. Whether you agree with what was done and the way it was accomplished is incidental to this conversation because the point is that we all prefer to live with freedom. The sad thing is that the actual celebration of the day exemplifies the problem people have with freedom; it overwhelms them.
Freedom is the highest form of responsibility. As a teenager I longed for greater freedom but in the wisdom of my parents I was protected from having too much too early. It could have been my demise. People want freedom but they don't know how to handle it and they fail to see how each free person must respect the other's freedom. If that doesn't happen then one's freedom to sleep has no bearing on the other's freedom to blow up a firework at one in the morning. And that is not really freedom, but is rather license. I can do whatever I want whenever I want. Is that what people died for? Freedom must never be lived out inconsiderate of its impact on others otherwise the freedom becomes a new form of oppression.
The Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 9:19, "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible." He adds in 10:23-24, "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good but the good of others." Now that's freedom understood. Can you imagine if the nations understood this what the world would be like? That won't happen until we figure out how to live like that with our neighbors next door.
I think I need another nap. Peace.
Do you see the space between this paragraph and the preceding one? I took a nap in that space. I had to if I was going to finish my thoughts today. You see this holiday is to be celebrated as it signifies our independence as a nation. Whether you agree with what was done and the way it was accomplished is incidental to this conversation because the point is that we all prefer to live with freedom. The sad thing is that the actual celebration of the day exemplifies the problem people have with freedom; it overwhelms them.
Freedom is the highest form of responsibility. As a teenager I longed for greater freedom but in the wisdom of my parents I was protected from having too much too early. It could have been my demise. People want freedom but they don't know how to handle it and they fail to see how each free person must respect the other's freedom. If that doesn't happen then one's freedom to sleep has no bearing on the other's freedom to blow up a firework at one in the morning. And that is not really freedom, but is rather license. I can do whatever I want whenever I want. Is that what people died for? Freedom must never be lived out inconsiderate of its impact on others otherwise the freedom becomes a new form of oppression.
The Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 9:19, "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible." He adds in 10:23-24, "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good but the good of others." Now that's freedom understood. Can you imagine if the nations understood this what the world would be like? That won't happen until we figure out how to live like that with our neighbors next door.
I think I need another nap. Peace.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Hard to believe sometimes...
I have decided to return after an unusually long hiatus. Why? I have a need to unload many things that I have accumulated on my journey. Why now? Not sure but I do feel that as much as a musician should never die with the music still within him or her I feel that a conveyor of learning should not leave with the knowledge still concealed within himself. As a teacher, preacher, and sometimes, philosopher I decided now is as good as ever. So I will share what the Lord has delivered to me.
My topics will vary and may appear eclectic. If you need more of any particular subject you will need to let me know. I am sure that I will not exhaust any subject even if I were capable of that.
Today's thoughts are a bit troubling to me and probably to many others. I just visited a friend who is dying very slowly of cancer. He has crossed the threshold that we all knew was coming but dreaded its arrival. His mind is becoming increasingly confused as the pain continues to rise. More medicine, less lucidity. My conversations with God are submissive but heavy with questions and doubt. Just like when Jesus prayed the prayer in Gethsemane, a prayer He knew could not be answered in the way He worded it, my prayers for my friend's healing are fruitless. I have resolved in my mind that he is going to die soon. And frankly I am tired of people of faith rationalizing God's failure to heal him. I know that He is capable but why is He unwilling? I believe there is great power in prayer but there is a feeling of a significant absence of it in my friend's life at this time. So what is to be done? I'm not God.
I recently read Greg Boyd's book on the Benefit of Doubt and I agree that my questioning and doubt is neither a weakness or a sin. What God has done is create this incredible crack in my thinking where He may bring a deeper faith to me than I have ever had. Instead of becoming disillusioned or bitter I am actually experiencing a degree of enlightenment. I am finally breaking clear of expecting God's favor in all of the circumstances in this world and refocusing on the great love and hope He provided at the cross. Good and bad people both have good and bad things happen to them. That's the deal. Your choice is to either deal with them with no hope beyond this world or with the great hope that something far greater is to come. I choose the latter.
I hate to see my friend or any other suffer but both he and I know and trust that this is not the end. Why the suffering? I don't have a freakin' clue. God does what God does and my prayers are heard. Sometimes they go the way I hope and other times they don't, but I must remember that God gave no guarantees for this world when I entered His covenant. He simply promises to never forsake me. I have survived my cancer so far and everything seems pretty good but I know that can change. The key is to stay faithful to God because I will not be defeated by life's trials if I stay with Him. Apart from Him I will be destroyed. This is not to make reference to my body but to my soul. The day I was born I began a path toward death but that is only restricted to my body because in Christ I will always have life. Only the form and place change.
I praise God that my friend knows Jesus. He is at peace even in the midst of the fight. As Paul said, "O death where is thy sting?" God I believe, help my disbelief.
See you down the path.
My topics will vary and may appear eclectic. If you need more of any particular subject you will need to let me know. I am sure that I will not exhaust any subject even if I were capable of that.
Today's thoughts are a bit troubling to me and probably to many others. I just visited a friend who is dying very slowly of cancer. He has crossed the threshold that we all knew was coming but dreaded its arrival. His mind is becoming increasingly confused as the pain continues to rise. More medicine, less lucidity. My conversations with God are submissive but heavy with questions and doubt. Just like when Jesus prayed the prayer in Gethsemane, a prayer He knew could not be answered in the way He worded it, my prayers for my friend's healing are fruitless. I have resolved in my mind that he is going to die soon. And frankly I am tired of people of faith rationalizing God's failure to heal him. I know that He is capable but why is He unwilling? I believe there is great power in prayer but there is a feeling of a significant absence of it in my friend's life at this time. So what is to be done? I'm not God.
I recently read Greg Boyd's book on the Benefit of Doubt and I agree that my questioning and doubt is neither a weakness or a sin. What God has done is create this incredible crack in my thinking where He may bring a deeper faith to me than I have ever had. Instead of becoming disillusioned or bitter I am actually experiencing a degree of enlightenment. I am finally breaking clear of expecting God's favor in all of the circumstances in this world and refocusing on the great love and hope He provided at the cross. Good and bad people both have good and bad things happen to them. That's the deal. Your choice is to either deal with them with no hope beyond this world or with the great hope that something far greater is to come. I choose the latter.
I hate to see my friend or any other suffer but both he and I know and trust that this is not the end. Why the suffering? I don't have a freakin' clue. God does what God does and my prayers are heard. Sometimes they go the way I hope and other times they don't, but I must remember that God gave no guarantees for this world when I entered His covenant. He simply promises to never forsake me. I have survived my cancer so far and everything seems pretty good but I know that can change. The key is to stay faithful to God because I will not be defeated by life's trials if I stay with Him. Apart from Him I will be destroyed. This is not to make reference to my body but to my soul. The day I was born I began a path toward death but that is only restricted to my body because in Christ I will always have life. Only the form and place change.
I praise God that my friend knows Jesus. He is at peace even in the midst of the fight. As Paul said, "O death where is thy sting?" God I believe, help my disbelief.
See you down the path.
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