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...

Celebs Beg to Be Voted Off Reality Show

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Jun 2, 10:18 AM EST the The Associated Press released an "article" I found strangely humorous. Below is a sampling of the publication:

"The bugs — both the ones that bite and those that must be eaten to stave off hunger — the heat and other discomforts are claiming their toll as celebrity contestants on a Colombian "Survivor"-style reality show drop like flies. Instead of trying to endure to the very end on a verdant tropical peninsula in order to collect the cash prize, several are pleading with their tribes to vote them off the show.

"Isla de los Famosos" — Spanish for "Island of the Celebrities" — has captured a broad audience, partly because viewers in a country where most people live in poverty are getting a kick out of watching models, singers and actors deal with the gritty business of day-to-day survival. The other day, two of the contestants had to slaughter and butcher a hog for their teammates. They have also been given live chickens for food, and have had to build their own huts. Those used to a more pampered lifestyle were shocked by the primeval setting."

I post this because of the weight of the quote I have posted from John Steinbeck on the side-bar. Folks, stop and think about this for a minute. The people who warm the pews with us would'nt know how to survive if it came down to it.

Remember Snake Plisskin? Few would. If you saw the movie (and I don't recommend it) "Escape from New York", there was a sequel, "Escape from Los Angeles" or something like that. The last scene of the movie is a hoot. Snake has just done his heroic mercenary stuff to save the world from a bomb that would kill all the technology of earth and would throw the world back into the stone age. In the last scene, he pressed the button and everything goes black. Then you see him strike a match to light a cigar in victory.

When I go to the pump to pay up to $2.00 a gallon for gas, or go to the store to pay $4.00 per gallon for milk, I keep hearing Larry Norman singing the words of Revelation in the elevator music of my head, "a piece of bread would buy a bag of gold. I wish we'd all been ready."

We've not yet seen the worst of times. When they come, people will not know where to turn . . .

The early church was ready because they knew that if they supported each other, they survived. Why do you think they fellowshipped by going house to house sharing everything in common? Because God provided for the fellowship of believers out of their own poverty. And they grew and flourished.

And people will be crawling under mountains begging to be voted off . . .

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