Ticking away, the moments that make up a dull day

Do you ever feel that you could use a little more time in your day? Our lives have become so hectic, that it has been said that our 24/7 lives have now turned into 48/7. We are constantly on the go, and it is hard to slow down sometimes.

Have you ever thought about what you would do if you were given more time? Maybe it wouldn’t be adding to your day, but maybe if you could be given a break or an extra hour, have you ever thought about what you would do with it? I imagine that most of us would simply do more of the same. Our days are so busy and hectic, some people feel as if they need more time.

Well, I have it for you; more time! But don’t get too excited.

This morning I heard on the news that this year, the people who operate the “world’s clock” are adding some time to our day tomorrow. Those who try to regulate the world’s clock are trying to make a more accurate count based upon the earth’s rotation, seasons, etc.

So, they are adding a second to the clock! They call it a leap second.

No, you aren’t getting one more minute per hour or even 24 more minutes to your day. Just one second! So spend that second wisely.

I find all of that talk interesting from a science perspective, but so inconsequential that it is almost beyond our need. Theologically speaking, however, isn’t it interesting that we must rely on some scientists who sit in a room that must rely on something that is much greater than them – the atom – in order to regulate the clock.

I thought a lot about that as I read Psalm 8 this morning. It is the reading for a New Year’s Watch service. It talks about a sovereign God whose glory is set high above the heavens. That sovereign God is the one who in his love rules over all of our lives and has providentially given us all things – including time.

I hope that over the next few days, you are given some time to given thanks to the one who gives us all time. Give thanks for the year that has past, and the year that is to come. For in it, we are given much by the God of creation.

Please be safe over the next few days, and I look forward to greeting you in worship this weekend.

Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg

No Brett, I was not wearing a Rainbow Wig!

Have you ever wondered why certain people hold up signs during a sporting event that simply reads, John 3:16?

I used to think that when I was younger. I may still wonder about the particular person who is holding the sign now, but I think I've come to some conclusions about why they do what they do.

I saw something recently that reinforced the answer to my question and the answer that I thought I had. On Sunday, I remember seeing "Hebrews 11" printed on a sign. I have my opinions as to why someone would do hold up a sign like that. I guess it's because if anyone really doesn't know the answer to what is printed, they are likely to go and seek out the answer. (I'm not going to give you the answer - you may have to look it up.)

It got me - I thought I knew the answer, but I looked it up just to be sure on Sunday.

Today, I was in the local "Five Dollar Footlong" eating establishment. I was wearing a sweatshirt that Tracy made this year. It has a candle and some evergreens hand painted on the front breast pocket area. Mine is a much smaller version of the sweatshirts that the girls have. But under the candle and evergreen, is the verse Isaiah 9:2. I guess Tracy could have put the words, but she chose to simply put the chapter and verse.

And I'm glad she did. Because after I paid for my half of a five dollar sub, I was asked the question. What's Isaiah 9:2?

It was a great question! And I was happy to give the answer.

Don't know it - I invite you to come to Christmas Eve Worship to find out. I hope you are well. I hope that you continue to ask good questions during Christmas. Merry Christmas.

Please pray for me and know that I am praying for you.
Greg

16 Days until Christmas! Like we need any more pressure!

My Children have one of those classic before-Christmas-paper-chains, from which they count down to the event of events, Christmas. Each day, one of the children removes one of the links in the chain as a reminder that Christmas is getting closer. It is somewhat of a secular reminder that Christmas is just around the corner. Advent Calendars serve much of the same purpose for us within the church.

Sometimes, I think that it is defeating its purpose. I think that the purpose of the Advent Calendar and the aforementioned paper chain is to prepare oneself for Christmas, to be reminded that Christmas is coming. But often times it serves as an incendiary device in our home. There is always a battle for who tore the last link; whose turn it is this time; and, a written agreement in principle for who will be the one to rip the next link.

In spite of the bellicose nature by which the link is fractured, I am sure of one thing: Christmas is only 16 days away.

So, if the tension by which my information was garnered is not enough to make me a bit tense, I’m sure the mere fact that there are only 16 days until Christmas is enough to make me a bit unsettled. In those 16 days, there is so little time, and so much to do. The list keeps growing, and the days only become shorter. Christmas is coming.

Take a deep breath!

I had a conversation with some folks this morning who were asked to consider the question, “What will you DO in the coming weeks to become a more fully devoted follower of Christ?” We noted that the word “do” was capitalized, just as it is above. It brought with it the very strong connotation that in order to be a follower of Christ – you had to DO something. It made us feel less likely to want to “do” anything. “Doing” only added to the things that we are expected to “do,” feel as if we need to “do,” and know that ultimately we will have to “do” in the coming weeks.

Our conclusion was that we might be better served at simply trying to “BE” more fully devoted followers of Christ. And I think we were onto something.

Christmas is only 16 days away, and I hope that you don’t lose the true meaning of this season in the midst of everything that you have to “DO.” I encourage you to simply “BE.”

This week’s epistle lesson is a good reminder. The writer says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24.

That will be my prayer for you this week!

In Worship this Sunday, our children will be sharing a story entitled “’Twas the Year Before Christmas.” I will also be sharing a very brief message entitled, “Who will it be?” I hope that you will be a more fully devoted follower of Christ and invite someone to experience the wonder of Children and God’s Word. Stay following worship for a fellowship meal and share in God’s grace. I look forward to greeting you personally.

Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg

Growing Children

Sometimes I think that the growing church is like a growing ten year old child. They always want to blame someone else for their jeans shrinking!

Always a first time

The Steelers posted an 11-10 win over the dreaded San Diego Chargers yesterday at Ketchup Field yesterday. It was the first 11-10 decision in nearly 13,000 NFL games.

Just some mindless drivel on which to ponder on a snowy Monday morning.

I love my sister

Only one person in the world still reads my blog. She keeps me accountable for my writing or the lack there of. I therefore will write a post today, my day off, even though I have nothing witty, entertaining, salient, intelligent or inappropriate to say.

I love you, Barb. You should post a picture of your new hair-do so that Brett can see that we both have beautiful curly hair!

Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb?

I may be among the very few when I say this, but I like cemeteries. There is something about them that is both mysterious and hopeful. I enjoy them for their history, and I especially like them for their architecture.

Some thoughts come to mind when I think of cemeteries. I remember playing in one when I was a child. My brother and I went on a walk for several hours one afternoon when we were visiting my grandmother in New Jersey. We had a great day, exploring not only the Greenwood Cemetery but also Kiddy City, that day’s Toy’s-R-Us. We had fun until we were gone too long, my grandmother sent the Sheriff looking for us.

I think about some older cemeteries that I’ve visited over the years. When I was at Allegheny, I would visit a cemetery close to campus. Meadville has a fascinating old cemetery that actually was both a park and a burial ground at its inception. A former Supreme Court Justice, several former Allegheny Presidents, and some other notable figures are buried there. When I served in Titusville, I’d visit Woodlawn Cemetery. Woodlawn has oil tycoons, and even the grave of Ida Tarbell who wrote about some of them in her work on the Standard Oil Company.

I enjoy driving and even walking through cemeteries. It is fascinating to look at the markers, think about a person’s place in history, and even wonder about what would have been. Flags often mark the location of a fallen hero, sheep mark the location of small children lost far too early.

The evolution of burial practices is complex, and I should not dare attempt to distill it into one page. Unfortunately, much of what we think about, particularly this week is shrouded in fear. Halloween and the practices that surround it, often cause us to think about cemeteries as bad places. It takes us back to some of the medieval ethos that caused people to be gripped with fear. Far too often, they cause us to be fearful of death. Death in those times was often a threat used to discipline the living.

But part of the reason that I find some solace in a cemetery is because of my strong sense of hope that I find in our Christian faith. Cemeteries not only allow me to reflect upon those who have gone before me, history, and things of nostalgia, but also upon hope.

This Sunday, we remember those who have gone before us. We move past the fear of Halloween that our secular society clings to, and cling to something more lasting and more hopeful – and that is everlasting life. We celebrate life, we celebrate the saints of the church on All Saints Sunday.

Today, I’m thinking about those who have gone before us, not only from this year, but all those I have seen only through the words of a headstone. Some of them I know, some of them I have only heard of, most of them God knows. And as I remember, I remember the words of scripture that say, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain. But if it falls into the earth and dies, it will bear much fruit.”

In Christ, we will live again. And for that, I give God thanks.

I hope to see you in worship this week as I share a message entitled, “Unrevealed” and we share together in remembering those who have gone on to life eternal. Following our time of remembrance, we will share in communion. I hope you will join us for worship.

Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.