November 22, 2013
ekklesia
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From the Pastor’s Pen
I spent a few hours in the hospital yesterday with a good
friend of mine. He was cleaning out the gutters on his
house when he fell off a ladder, separating his shoulder. It
certainly wasn't a life-threatening injury. I've had some
friends fall off ladders in the past and be injured to the
point where their lives were never the same again. So I
was immediately thankful for my friend that the fall wasn't
as serious as it could've been. Nevertheless, my heart was
pained for him as I watched the doctors try for what
seemed to be over an hour to reset his arm back in his
shoulder. I can tell you it was an extremely painful process
to watch and no doubt more for him to experience. During
that time of waiting, as I watched my friend lay helplessly
on an emergency room bed, my mind kept drifting off to
the frailty of life. I don't know about you, but the older I get,
the more aware I am of how frail life really is. I've heard it
said, that when you're in your 20’s and receive a phone
call from friends, it's because they're expecting a baby. But
when you get up in years, those phone calls often inform
you that an old friend has passed into eternity. Of course
the Bible has much to say about the fleeting nature of life.
Job 19:6 says "A man’s life passes like swift ships in the
night"—9:25, "Life passes like a swift runner before our
eyes"—14:2, "Life fades away quickly like a spring flower"- Ecclesiastes 6:12, "Life passes like a man shadow at
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December 7 Open house at the Parsonage from 4‐7PM December 15 Christmas Program Article Continued …
dusk." Just last week I heard of a good friend
of mine whose mother who passed off into
eternity unexpectedly. My friend had talked to
her mother the night before, and in the
morning she was gone. That's nothing new.
Solomon said this in Ecclesiastes 6:12 –
"Who can tell what will happen to a man?"
That's true right? Life is fleeting and we never
know when it may come to a sudden end.
Now let me ask, is all of this somewhat
frightening to you? I have to tell you that
sometimes it can be for me. So let me give
you three Biblical principles that came to my
mind concerning the fleeting and unexpected
nature of life.
1) Enjoy life while you can. Ecclesiastes 9:7,9:
"Go then, eat your bread in happiness, and
drink your wine with a cheerful heart,.. Enjoy
life with the woman who you love, ..for this is
your reward in life." Sometimes we have to be
reminded of that, right? Beloved let me
encourage you, don't become so caught up in
the rat race around us, that you don't take
time to enjoy the gifts which God has given
you (most of all those whom you love).
Him to do right by you. Job 14:5: "Man's days
are determined. The number of His months is
with the Lord. God has set the limit of a man's
life and man cannot past that limit."
3) Most importantly, even more important than
physical life, Psalm 63:3: "God's
lovingkindness is even better than life itself."
We understand that physical life is one of
God's greatest gifts, but it in no way compares
to the love and kindness that God will shower
His children with throughout all of eternity.
So as I left the hospital last night, I was
relieved that my friend’s shoulder was set
back in place. And having been reminded of
the frailty of the human condition, I was
encouraged again to remember to enjoy
God's wonderful gift of physical life, and most
of all to be grateful for that greatest of all gifts,
and that is eternal life through Jesus Christ
my Savior.
Blessings
Pastor Dan
2) Remember that your life's days are
determined by God, and you can always trust
My Redeemer’s love grows sweeter
As eternity draws near
I’ll enjoy His love forever
At His throne for endless years
My Redeemer’s love will fill me
On the day I see His face
I will love Him back forever
And forever sing His praise
~M. Altrogge~
Plan to join us this coming Tuesday night at 7PM for our special Thanksgiving service. Come prepared to praise God for the wonderful things He has done in our midst this year!