Grief

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Sometimes the news comes quick. Sometimes the news comes slow. No matter how or when it comes, grief travels in the wake of the news. Grief is heavy, weighty, a burden, especially when it involves someone deeply loved. Grief is not meant to be carried alone. It’s too heavy and may last a while—and that’s ok. That’s what family and friends are for, to share the load. Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend and wept but He did not weep alone. It was a deep, human moment. “ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted ” (Matt 5:4). If anyone knows how we feel in grief, it’s Him. But His grief did not linger long, as at the mention of his name, Lazarus came forth. We are not meant to dwell in grief, but should leave room enough for it. Let it run its course. Like the song says, “ Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain .” Another song says, “ The storm We will dance as it breaks The storm It will give as it takes And all of our pain is washed away Don't cry or be afraid Some things...

Another look at "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder."

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James M. Black published "When The Roll is Called up Yonder" in 1894.  This song has been sung often by many churches through the years.  I have a few questions for your consideration, at the end:

Stanza 1:
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.


REFRAIN:
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Stanza 2:
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

(REFRAIN)

Stanza 3:
Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there."
 
A few questions for your consideration:
 
1) Do you believe that at the sound of the trump the dead in Christ will rise, the church will be raptured, there will be seven years of tribulation, then the Lord will return?
2) Do you believe what the song says? 
 
If you answered "yes," to #1 and "yes," to #2, then please continue:
 
3) After the trump of the Lord sounds, "what" shall be no more, and what kind of morning breaks (see Stanza 1)? 
4) How does one fit seven years of tribulation between trump and time that is no more, when all of life is over?
5) The Bible speaks of the tribulations faced by Christians, and the tribulations experienced by unbelievers: which one do we mean?
5) If with the sound of the trump time ends and eternity begins and "all of life is over," (see Stanza 3) and the the saved of earth are "on the other shore" along with the dead in Christ (see Stanza 2), how does this song support pre-tribulational rapture?
6) How many resurrections are there (see Matt 22:23; John 5:28-29, 6:39, 44, 54; 11:24; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:23-24)?
7) Care to make any comments?

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