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The Light Years
“Papa, how old are you?” my young grandson asked. “I’m 73.” “Whoa, and you are not dead yet?” That was pretty much the end of the conversation as he had moved on but it was one more reason to think about this stage of my life. Some people have what screenwriters call a “story arc” where life moves from a calm beginning, a middle where narrative momentum builds to a peak, and an end where the conflict is resolved. Everything seems to progress along a plot line with one scene leading naturally to the next and at the end of their life we can say it fit together. It was…
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Deuteronomy 4
First, I have often wondered why Moses even bothered to take one last opportunity at the end of his life to instruct the Israelites. After all, for forty years they had been rebellious and stiff-necked. They had repeatedly disobeyed, complained, grumbled, and gone their own way. Not only that but as he says in verse 21, “The Lord was angry with me because of you and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the Lord your God is giving you as you inheritance. I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over…
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Galatians 6:10
Preface: This is a shortened lesson to help us think about a class project we are going to do with the rest of the church – a day of service in the community. For the shortened lesson this morning I want to focus on Galatians 6:10. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.” This comes at the end of a passage where Paul is writing about reaping and sowing – and the natural cycle of cause and effect. There is no season…
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Jacob Wrestles With God
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The Long Goodbye
Earlier this week Carol and I had dinner with three other couples, and the four men got around to talking about their relationships with their fathers. Last week, I wrote about an issue that occupies the minds of friends young and old. I think this is the same. For some of us it is a complicated and often unresolved issue, and for others it is a source of continuing support and encouragement. That is why I decided to post something from the past today. I hope you don’t mind. Virtually every time I mention my father in a blog people will comment about how interesting he must have been. Some…
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Deuteronomy: Forgetting and Remembering
1. Some of us are getting to the age where we have trouble remembering and an easy time forgetting. I like the stories of Einstein forgetting where he lived. He would get lost in thought and have to call the campus guard to find out where he lived or he would lose his ticket on the train and not know where to get off. That reminded me of an old story.A couple had dinner at another couple’s house, and, after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen. The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, “Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it…
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Unfinished
Transitions from the founder to the next leader are notoriously difficult. Everyone is at risk in one way or another. Founders are often reluctant to leave as their whole identity is wrapped up in the organization. Successors are unsure of themselves. The people feel caught between loyalty to and affection for the founder and it takes time for them to adjust. Sometimes they don’t and there is a simmering rejection. All of these work against the success of the transition. Of course, some work better than anyone expects. For example, the transition from Moses to Joshua was remarkable. While Joshua was doubtful about himself Moses was doubtful about the people…
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Numbers 27: Leadership Transition
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim Range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.” Moses said to the LORD,“May the LORD, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s…
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In My Mind’s Eye
Twice each year the Thursday blog is a sampling of photos and quotes. It’s that time again and I hope you enjoy both. “If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.” ― G.K. Chesterton “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” – Fred Rogers “The morals of our people are much better; their manners are more polite and agreeable, they are purer English; our language is better; our taste is better; our persons are handsomer; our spirit is greater, our…
