"We often ask the question, why does God permit the continuance of so much sin in the world? The district church visitor, going through her rounds amid scenes of moral misery, the philanthropist threading his way through paths of deep pollution, the home missionary coming into contact with forms of life that would make the angels weep- - all put the question to their heart, Why does not God interfere? And to each there ought to be one answer: He does interfere, He is at this moment interfering; He is interfering through you.

This is exactly what Paul says: "God has given unto us the ministry of reconciliation." The Lord has asked us to take up His burden -- the burden of human sin. He has asked us to interfere for Him, to act for Him, to strive for Him, to love for Him.

It is not for His sake that God makes you His fellow-laborer; it is for your own. He has put the reins of the moral world into your hands - not because the steeds are unmanageable, but because you need training as a charioteer. When you go forth to dispense your charities among the destitute, never forget that you are yourself the largest beneficiary. " George Matheson.

"Blessed are the peacemakers." 

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 "In Genesis we read that during creation, Darkness gave way to light, that is the order of God's universe. It is not light giving way to darkness. What is your perspective about life, do you see this world God's way or are you the type of religious person that sees light giving way to darkness.  It matters! If you see only darkness, and light giving way to darkness, it will affect all your perspectives, your relationships you positivity, emotional life and thinking.  

It matters because when you view life as darkness giving way to light you see what's best, and good and true: the beauty, the best,  and what's working. It will filter down to your kids, your marriage and all of life." Pastor Eric.  

"The church has lost it's savor."

 "The church as lost it's savor."

  There are currently 60 Christian denominations with about 45,000 churches in the U.S.
The Dept. of Human Services, HUD, estimates there are 40,056 veterans homeless at any given night. 
If each church supported one Veteran: and I mean supporting them completely until they were either able to support themselves or be in a permanent, safe, respectable residence where they were known to all the members and treated as we would have ourselves treated, it would be a step towards restoring Christ's glory in the world. 

If the church then went on to find the most desperately oppressed in our society and, one by one, did the same, we would find favor with God. 

Does your church even consider this? If not, why not?

  When I saw this photo it just moved me so. Here this poor little angelic child sits in the dirt in the midst of her poverty. But by the merciful hand of God she is unaware of much of it. She has found some little discarded thing to entertain herself with and the mercy of God has graced children with the ability to find contentment, even in grinding poverty. I see her mother has lovingly woven her hair, though she hasn't enough to dress her well. 

  To those who know little about the causes of addiction this startling statement may make no sense. But to those who know about it they get this tragic statement. After working with people struggling with addiction for eleven years now and countless interviews I learned that childhood trauma is the link that 99% of addicts share. Addiction is a symptom of complex trauma, and it is a tragedy. 

Christ's call

The call of Christ - Jesus asks, "Will you come with me to the place where the thorns are thickest, to the land where the roses are most rare? Will you follow me down the deep shadows of Gethsemane, up the steep heights of Calvary? Will you go with me where the hungry cry for bread, where the sick implore for health, where the weary weep for rest? Will you accompany me where pain dwells, where danger lurks, where death lies? Will you walk with me through the lanes and alleys where the poor meet and struggle and die? Will you live with me where the world passes by in scorn, where even disciples have often forsaken me and fled? Then is your love complete, my triumph perfected." George Matheson.

My Christian influence for years, was not the above description; it was to study my Bible, worship and praise and keep myself from being stained by the world. Not different from the Pharisaical way of living, good, but one thing I lacked: working, caring and loving the poor. At best but half of Christ's good news.

"How does it feel to be at an age when you are losing everything that matters to you?"

That question was asked of me by one of my sons.
Not the easiest question to answer on a day that you find out your grandfather died, but I understand the question.

I often fume about how it feels: midlife so quickly turns from incoming tide to outgoing tide more quickly than you ever imagine. Sometimes the sand under my feet is moving in a manner that funks with my inner equilibrium.

C.S. Lewis wrote in Letters to Malcolm:
"Of course I pray for the dead. The action is so spontaneous, so all but inevitable, that only the most compulsive theological case against it would deter me. And I hardly know how the rest of my prayers would survive if those for the dead were forbidden. At our age the majority of those we love best are dead. What sort of intercourse with God could I have if what I love best were unmentionable to Him?"

I understand those prayers now way more than I ever did in earlier days.

There has been a lot of goodbyes in this season and I know that only increases. But what also increases is the ability to see and hear things you couldn't before in life, even when your natural sight and hearing lessen.

Life is full of loss but it's also full of receiving, even from what you lose. All that passes through your hands, head and heart leave you different. I have found that age and faith have a transformative power in life. So much so, one can keep growing even among the battering of winds. It may be a twisted growth but all that bears down on it shapes it in a manner that leaves it more beautiful.

Just as the body enhances or compensates for parts that may be injured or lost, so our soul expands and deepens in such a manner that we grow younger even in our aging.

That renewed youth is very experiential.

-You soften, even as life gets harder in many ways and you feel it more profoundly.

-Your delight in small things amplifies.

-Pleasure becomes more broad and accessible.

-Joy becomes a surprise again instead of pursuit.

-People matter but not in a way that is just utilitarian.

-Memory increases in animating power, like incense, even if accuracy diminishes.

-Silence expands and that can be mournful in many ways but it also enhances one's ability to truly treasure what is said or heard in a manner that a previous loud life couldn't.

-Meditation and prayer are no longer an act of survival or duty but a movement of desire from a smaller and calmer life.

-When others leave, the ones who stay become more full of glory.

It may appear that midlife starts to become an undertow but it actually just becomes a more strong tide that can seem to withdraw way more than we want but then comes rushing back in with unforeseen ecstasy and revelation.

The wonder of new marriages. 
The birth of grandchildren. 
The loss of concern over everyone's opinions and demands. 
The freedom of thought and living that wisdom brings. 
The grace of boundaries that purpose, pain, and age bring. 
The immovable strength that conviction and time build. 
The power of prayer that builds over the years. 
The delight of simple things. 
The gift of quiet. 
The surprises of discovery that slowing down gives. 
The freedom of wealth from living responsibly.

Yes, loss is real, but not all the tears are those of sorrow, many are the result of seeing what is most meaningful, true, good and beautiful...like never before.

  This woman inspires me: here she is at an advanced age still in the thick of it with full force. I've found that seniors can be some of the most stingy people with their time. Now I'm a senior and my entire life I worked and raised a large family, so now that I'm retired and finally have the time, I pray I don't waste the precious time I have left.