So far, I've found that there are so many more questions that I have never even thought of asking. So, it would stand to reason that there are also answers out there, just waiting for the right question to be asked.
Incorrect questions would be something along the lines of these:
1. Why?
2. How come?
3. Why him?
4. Why not me?
5. Did God do this?
6. How could God let this happen?
7. God how could you?
8. God, can we talk?
9. God?
We always question things we don't understand. That's what helps us to understand them. So then, how does questioning things we don't understand that we can't do anything about help us?
Got to blow off steam, got to feel like I'm doing something positive, got to just do something!
Ok, what am I talking about? Ah, the question...THE question....I'm talking about a 22 y/o young man...a boy really...who all of a sudden has his life ripped out from under him with one word, one word from the medical profession. LEUKEMIA! I don't even think it is a real word, I think it's just a term some bunch of doctors made up, some scientist...some somebodies...
Ok, he has leukemia, ok, lets look that up. Ok, the book says, no problem, we can cure leukemia. That's great, wow, had me scared there for a minute. What?..What?...what kind of leukemia?...well, I don't know, leukemia leukemia....how many different kinds are there?....ah....that many huh?
Well, what's the best kind to have.....Chronic...chronic?..yes, chronic...ok, he's got chronic..the doctors said they were 95 % certain he had chronic...only old men get Acute...he's not old...he's 22......he's got Acute!!..NO!, you just said he had chronic.....wrong?..wrong?..how can you be wrong, you're doctors.....it's not acute....it's Chronic in the blast phase of acute...WHAT?...now wait a minute...you're making that up....YES YOU ARE!!!
He can't have that...he's just a boy....GOD?...are you there?...God listen to me....can I just get like a couple of minutes here God?....whatever you want God...whatever it takes....I'll do it....God?..are you there?....can't we work this out?.....God?....he's my baby....let it be me...God....please....please...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Someone said....
On Tuesday, it will be the first day of fall. The first day of my 56th fall to be exact. I wonder what it will be like? No doubt it will lead to my 56th winter...ok, that's a given, if, of course, the Lord so wills it. I think it will be ok with Him and I know it will be ok with me. I have no more idea what this fall will be like than I have for what my first one was like. But, I'm pretty sure; it will be very similar to all the others I've lived through. Just like all my other years, this one has been specifically different and very similarly the same. The days came and went, that's not new. Some very different things occurred though and that was different than in days gone by.We had illness and pain. We've also had joy and laughter. Emotions can rule any day they are left in charge of. Maybe Mr. Data was right. Emotions are truly a human virtue.What about behavior though. We've learned our behavior from the life we've lived. Some have learned to be very good, kind and caring. While others have learned to be cold and brutal, getting pleasure from the pain of other beings. People or dogs or cats. If I live to be 100, I'll never understand mean people. What is it that drives an individual to cause others hurt, just so they, themselves can feel superior?Thank you Lord for another day. I pray I have not wasted it and spent it wisely. Please Sir, may I have another!
Monday, September 14, 2009
At the Mercy of the Repairman
It's the 3rd week of June, 2009. My home a/c has stopped functioning properly. I call the home warrenty company that covers my home and insures that I do not have any unexpected utility outages that cost a ton of money. They tell me that since it's been more than a month since my last call about my a/c, that I will have to pay an additional 65.00 service call, but that is all. Ok, that's a deal.
It is now the September 13, 2009. My a/c is still not working. Not working as in no cool air comes from the hole in my ceiling where the cool air is supposed to come from when the a/c is working.
Now, it is down to this: Repair vs Replace. Warrenty vs No Warrenty. If the warrenty is to cover the replacement, then I have to deal with the company that has not been able to fix it all summer, but it will be paid for. If I do not use the warrenty, it will repaired, but it will cost a couple of thousand dollars, but it will be fixed. Sometimes, I really don't like being a responsible adult. This is one of those times!
It is now the September 13, 2009. My a/c is still not working. Not working as in no cool air comes from the hole in my ceiling where the cool air is supposed to come from when the a/c is working.
Now, it is down to this: Repair vs Replace. Warrenty vs No Warrenty. If the warrenty is to cover the replacement, then I have to deal with the company that has not been able to fix it all summer, but it will be paid for. If I do not use the warrenty, it will repaired, but it will cost a couple of thousand dollars, but it will be fixed. Sometimes, I really don't like being a responsible adult. This is one of those times!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Thought you'd never ask
Everyone has thoughts on stuff. The economy, the weather. The govenment.
Usually two sides to every story. Not always though. I mean, if you got a person out there knocking people in the head with a club, I'd guess everyone would be against that! Especially if you happen to be the ones getting hit.
About 6 months before my dad passed away, in 1994, he made the comment, "son, this getting old really sucks. (he was 80). I wake up hurting and I go to bed hurting. It just never occured to me that this is the way it would be, getting old. I just figured one day I'd wake up dead and that'd be the end of it. Not all this aching and pain and stuff, just go to bed one night and wake up dead".
I know what he was talking about now. I don't really count myself as being old, not real old anyway. But the years of my youth are coming back to talk to me more and more. Those years of playing ball, hurting my knees, my back, my fingers, my toes...it seems like everything I hurt between the ages of 16 and 40 have just recently decided to start hurting and not stop.
I suppose I should thank God that I'm here to feel the pain. I will also thank Him for the resolve that I know is on the other side.
I've come to the conclusion, that if you do believe in God or if you don't believe in God, we've got to get on the same team here for a bit and do some work for our country. I have read examples of this happening back in WWII. Here at home everyone pulled together, to help with the war effort, to keep our country strong. That is what we have got to do now. The economic picture is really bleak right now. I know the govenment is "giving" away billions of dollars, but come on people, that's got to be paid back. I keep having thoughts of pushing a wheel barrow into McDonalds. It's laden down with dollar bills. I order a # 4 to go, pick up my order and leave the wheel barrow to pay for it! It can't go on like this, the dollar can't take this much longer. I see it being just a matter of months before it has to be officially devalued! Has this ever happend in the history of our nation?
Christians, Jews, Muslems, Hindu, whatever, it's the 21st century, can't we just get along? When was the last time a congregation of Baptists all joined together, marched down the street and bombed the Methodist church building? Huh, when? NEVER that's when. So why do the Muslems think that's the way to show your displeasure? Makes no sense at all. How can you profess to be peace loving, when piece causing is what you do? Can't judge a book by it's cover you say, then show me the whole book. Stop showing me the "few" that give the "many" a bad name. I want to get along, I want to be friends. I'm not niave. We have cultural differences, but that is not something you kill somebody over.
God tells us the greatest of all things is LOVE. Let's give it a chance.
Usually two sides to every story. Not always though. I mean, if you got a person out there knocking people in the head with a club, I'd guess everyone would be against that! Especially if you happen to be the ones getting hit.
About 6 months before my dad passed away, in 1994, he made the comment, "son, this getting old really sucks. (he was 80). I wake up hurting and I go to bed hurting. It just never occured to me that this is the way it would be, getting old. I just figured one day I'd wake up dead and that'd be the end of it. Not all this aching and pain and stuff, just go to bed one night and wake up dead".
I know what he was talking about now. I don't really count myself as being old, not real old anyway. But the years of my youth are coming back to talk to me more and more. Those years of playing ball, hurting my knees, my back, my fingers, my toes...it seems like everything I hurt between the ages of 16 and 40 have just recently decided to start hurting and not stop.
I suppose I should thank God that I'm here to feel the pain. I will also thank Him for the resolve that I know is on the other side.
I've come to the conclusion, that if you do believe in God or if you don't believe in God, we've got to get on the same team here for a bit and do some work for our country. I have read examples of this happening back in WWII. Here at home everyone pulled together, to help with the war effort, to keep our country strong. That is what we have got to do now. The economic picture is really bleak right now. I know the govenment is "giving" away billions of dollars, but come on people, that's got to be paid back. I keep having thoughts of pushing a wheel barrow into McDonalds. It's laden down with dollar bills. I order a # 4 to go, pick up my order and leave the wheel barrow to pay for it! It can't go on like this, the dollar can't take this much longer. I see it being just a matter of months before it has to be officially devalued! Has this ever happend in the history of our nation?
Christians, Jews, Muslems, Hindu, whatever, it's the 21st century, can't we just get along? When was the last time a congregation of Baptists all joined together, marched down the street and bombed the Methodist church building? Huh, when? NEVER that's when. So why do the Muslems think that's the way to show your displeasure? Makes no sense at all. How can you profess to be peace loving, when piece causing is what you do? Can't judge a book by it's cover you say, then show me the whole book. Stop showing me the "few" that give the "many" a bad name. I want to get along, I want to be friends. I'm not niave. We have cultural differences, but that is not something you kill somebody over.
God tells us the greatest of all things is LOVE. Let's give it a chance.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
I couldn't do it
Another day has been given to me. I get to use it any way I want. It was a gift, with no strings attatched. That's pretty cool.
I went to bed last night, tossed around a bit and finally got to sleep somewhere in the neighborhood of midnight. Then, the nocternal urge called me and I had to get up, the clock said it was only 25 minutes until the alarm was to go off. Man I hate that. I was still sleepy and including the time I had to spend in the facilities, I only had 25 minutes til time to get up and start the day. I was not ready.
I've been told that God never sleeps. I couldn't do it! If for no other reason, that should cause you to stop and ponder the power of God. Years and Years and Years....no sleep....wow!
I think I was given a gift this morning on the way to work.
I was driving on the interstate, listening to the radio, looking out my fogged up back window, trying to merge into the other lane, watching the car in front, to the left and behind me, all at the same time. Pretty cool huh? NOT. I was so busy watching all those things, that I forgot to watch the speedometer! Just about the time I saw the car, about 50 yards in front of me, hit his brakes, I also saw the state trooper setting on the left hand side of the highway, then I remembered my brakes and my speedometer. I was probably going about 10 to 15 mph over the limit, but with the flow of traffic. I passed him and went on toward work more mindful of my speed. After about 2 miles, I looked in my rearview, and guess who was there? Yep, Mr. Arkansas State Police cruiser. He did not have his lights on, I was going about 2 mph under the posted limit this time. Like I said, I was paying more attention. I moved to the middle lane, he moved up next to me, then slightly ahead then, he hit his lights....for about 2 seconds...then turned them off and cruised on off down his lane. I think that was a gift. From him to me, letting me know that he knew and that he knew I knew I had been going too fast. For whatever reason, I was grateful.
I need coffee!
Mike
I went to bed last night, tossed around a bit and finally got to sleep somewhere in the neighborhood of midnight. Then, the nocternal urge called me and I had to get up, the clock said it was only 25 minutes until the alarm was to go off. Man I hate that. I was still sleepy and including the time I had to spend in the facilities, I only had 25 minutes til time to get up and start the day. I was not ready.
I've been told that God never sleeps. I couldn't do it! If for no other reason, that should cause you to stop and ponder the power of God. Years and Years and Years....no sleep....wow!
I think I was given a gift this morning on the way to work.
I was driving on the interstate, listening to the radio, looking out my fogged up back window, trying to merge into the other lane, watching the car in front, to the left and behind me, all at the same time. Pretty cool huh? NOT. I was so busy watching all those things, that I forgot to watch the speedometer! Just about the time I saw the car, about 50 yards in front of me, hit his brakes, I also saw the state trooper setting on the left hand side of the highway, then I remembered my brakes and my speedometer. I was probably going about 10 to 15 mph over the limit, but with the flow of traffic. I passed him and went on toward work more mindful of my speed. After about 2 miles, I looked in my rearview, and guess who was there? Yep, Mr. Arkansas State Police cruiser. He did not have his lights on, I was going about 2 mph under the posted limit this time. Like I said, I was paying more attention. I moved to the middle lane, he moved up next to me, then slightly ahead then, he hit his lights....for about 2 seconds...then turned them off and cruised on off down his lane. I think that was a gift. From him to me, letting me know that he knew and that he knew I knew I had been going too fast. For whatever reason, I was grateful.
I need coffee!
Mike
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Another thing
Wow, VBS at Somers is history for 2009. How "cosmic" was it that the total attendance for the 4 days was 2009 people....wow...that's pretty cool....ok, I borrowed "cosmic" from Dr. K, but he won't mind, we are like, really close friends...ha.
Thanks to everyone that told me how much they enjoyed the skits during VBS. Ya'll are very nice.
Thanks to Janet, who's idea and imagination brought it all together. Charlie, you da best "operation" guy ever..haha..
Dr. K, the doctor of electricity, you da bomb man, good job...and Steve M, you got that silver tongue thing working...
God is great.
Mike
VBS at Somers
The Somers Avenue Church of Christ, North Little Rock, Arkansas, has been having vacation Bible School for the past 3 nights. This is a combined effort with the congregations from Levy and Sylvan Hills. What a blessing this has been. I've gone home tired each night. But what a tired it has been!
God continues to amaze me, even at my age, with how many different ways He can find to bless me and uplift me. Surely Paul's bones must have ached much more than mine do at the end of my day. But, he did not quit. Even after being beaten nearly to death, he got up, walked back into town, let himself be seen, and then, and only then, did he leave the town, walking, of his own accord.
Thank you God for the ache in my bones, for the soreness in my knees. Thank you God for the song in my heart, for the smile on my lips, put there by seeing the little kids (and the adults) that were at VBS. Thank you God for the lessons learned this week. Some from the Bible and still others from my daily walk in life.
God continues to amaze me, even at my age, with how many different ways He can find to bless me and uplift me. Surely Paul's bones must have ached much more than mine do at the end of my day. But, he did not quit. Even after being beaten nearly to death, he got up, walked back into town, let himself be seen, and then, and only then, did he leave the town, walking, of his own accord.
Thank you God for the ache in my bones, for the soreness in my knees. Thank you God for the song in my heart, for the smile on my lips, put there by seeing the little kids (and the adults) that were at VBS. Thank you God for the lessons learned this week. Some from the Bible and still others from my daily walk in life.
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