Praise the Lord for this new week. May is marching briskly along, making way for the arrival of June and the sweet season of summer. This past weekend has been a weekend for graduations from universities and colleges across America the Beautiful that has been blessed with its fruited plain. I was looking back in my life to my graduation with my undergrad degree in 1969, the year the American Astronauts landed on moon, an epoch making event in human history. In the month of May the High School seniors go through the grand ceremonies of proms as part of the growing up rituals and sweet traditions. The Lord blessed in His House yesterday in worship and service.
Our young family in Boston spent the weekend attending a music camp in a rustic setting in Massachusetts. Janice posted a picture of our Simeon jumping in the lake for a swim. He is brave and fearless and, above all, adventurous. He loves swimming, even in cold water.
I conducted a service of death and resurrection for a man who died unexpectedly. It is a blessing to share the Good News of Jesus with people who are grieving and sorrowing. I also attended another service of death and resurrection - that of one of my senior colleagues who entered the Church triumphant. He was one of the dedicated and committed servants Jesus our Lord.
It is going to a very warm week. I am thrilled that one of the church members has ploughed, disked, harrowed, and fertilized a plot of his farm land, and it now is ready for planting. This is first time in a long time back in gardening on a larger scale. Praise the Lord for the Good Earth the Lord has blessed us with.
Jesus has promised us that "Upon this Rock, I will build my church
and the gates of hell can not prevail against
it". The Kingdom of God and of His Christ, are
continuing to move on regardless of how things may appear or what people
do. God is going to do what he is going to do, regardless. The Lord
is the God of hope. It is written " Christ in us the Hope of
Glory".
Jurgen
Moltmann one of the great theologians of the last century, said ,
“Expectation makes life good, for in expectation we can accept our whole
present and find joy not only in its joy but also in its sorrow, happiness not
only in its happiness but also in its pain. Thus hope goes on its way
through the midst of happiness and pain, because in the promises of God it can
see a future also for the transient, the dying and the dead. That is why it can
be said that living without hope is like no longer living. Hell is
hopelessness, and it is not for nothing that at the entrance to Dante’s hell
there stand the words: ‘Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.’”
Christians are people of hope. For us, sorrow is always a temporary emotion, and joy is the norm. The reason is that we know that life overcomes death, love is stronger than hate, light overcomes darkness, good will ultimately triumph and Jesus reigns. Jesus came to have his joy live in us (John 15:11).
My wife is an avid lover of "Lord of the Rings". She has the movies. She also has both the paper copy and the Audio version of the books. There is a wonderful scene where Frodo, the Hobbit, is discouraged because of all the adversity he was going through. As they sit deep in the Mines of Moria, Frodo says to Gandalf, “I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.” Gandalf says to him: “So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work, Frodo, than the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the ring. In which case you also were meant to have it, and that is an encouraging thought.” Frodo’s attitude changed when he realized that God’s hand was at work in his life, and that even the difficult circumstances could not deter God’s plan. To realize that is to experience joy. The Bible says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).
Christians are people of hope. For us, sorrow is always a temporary emotion, and joy is the norm. The reason is that we know that life overcomes death, love is stronger than hate, light overcomes darkness, good will ultimately triumph and Jesus reigns. Jesus came to have his joy live in us (John 15:11).
My wife is an avid lover of "Lord of the Rings". She has the movies. She also has both the paper copy and the Audio version of the books. There is a wonderful scene where Frodo, the Hobbit, is discouraged because of all the adversity he was going through. As they sit deep in the Mines of Moria, Frodo says to Gandalf, “I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.” Gandalf says to him: “So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work, Frodo, than the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the ring. In which case you also were meant to have it, and that is an encouraging thought.” Frodo’s attitude changed when he realized that God’s hand was at work in his life, and that even the difficult circumstances could not deter God’s plan. To realize that is to experience joy. The Bible says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).
One of my most favorite and beloved composers is George F. Handel. I listen to Messiah in all seasons. I never get tired of listening to it. The Lord always fills my cup and lavishes my heart with his Joy. In 1741 an old man was wandering the streets of London. That man was George Frederick Handel. At this point, he was angry at life. His mind kept going back to the time when he was famous and had the applause of royalty and the elite of London, but now his mind was full of despair and hopelessness about the future, for the applause was gone. Others were now in the spotlight and envy began to possess him. Added to that, a cerebral hemorrhage had paralyzed his right side. He could no longer write, and doctors gave little hope for recovery. The old composer traveled to France and began to soak in the baths which were said to have healing effects. The hot mineral baths seemed to help, and his health began to improve. Eventually, he was able to write once more, and his success returned.
Then Handel faced another reversal. Queen Caroline, who had been his staunch supporter, died. England found itself on hard economic times, and heating large auditoriums for concerts was not permitted. His performances were canceled, and he began to wonder where God was. Then one night, as he returned from his walk, Charles Jennens was waiting at his home. Jennens explained that he had just finished writing a text for a musical that covered both the Old and New Testaments, and believed that Handel was the man to set it to music. Handel was indifferent as he began to read the words which Jennens had put together. But then his eyes fell on such words as ‘He was despised, rejected of men. . . he looked for someone to have pity on him, but there was no man; neither found he any to comfort him.’ His eyes raced ahead to the words: ‘He trusted in God. . . God did not leave his soul in hell. . . He will give you rest.’ And finally his eyes stopped on the words: ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth.’ He became aware of the presence of God. He was aware in a new and profound way, and as he picked up his pen the Spirit of God was moving, and music seemed to flow through him. He finished the first part in only seven days. The second section was completed in six days.
Many will remember that when the classical work was first performed in London, and the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ was sung by the choir, King George II was so moved that he stood to his feet. To this day, people still rise to their feet as the great chorus is sung in praise to God.
In reflecting on Handel’s Messiah, Joseph E. McCabe wrote: “Never again are we to look at the stars, as we did when we were children, and wonder how far it is to God. A being outside our world would be a spectator, looking on but taking no part in this life, where we try to be brave despite all the bafflement. A God who created, and withdrew, could be mighty, but he could not be love. Who could love a God remote, when suffering is our lot? Our God is closer than our problems, for they are out there to be faced; He is here, beside us, Emmanuel.”
In Jesus our Lord.
Brown
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