Feeling Sentimental For The Elderly

Before I get started with my thoughts for this post, I want to plug another blog I started back in May. It is mainly for stories, but if I have some thoughts about writing I will probably put them over there also. The latest story is called Captain Brocc, just click on Captain Brocc to check it out


I know we haven't had a Thursdays Child for a few weeks, but I've had some other thoughts brewing in my head. I would like to share some thoughts I've had recently regarding the elderly. For the past couple of months we've been planning a trip to Florida. I haven't been to Florida since 2002, and that was a quick trip for my sisters funeral. So, in reality I haven't down there for a vacation since 2000. My dad is going to be 80 in August, so we're going to go have a birthday party. What I've been thinking about is, all of a sudden my parents have become "elderly." Since I've had this reality check, I've been more aware of the elderly. Mainly their physical characteristics. If they are bent over, if they walk slower, and just a variety of things. What really makes me wonder though, is how they must feel not being able to do the things they used to do. I currently work in the medical field. One day I was thinking about other jobs in the medical field, and how interesting, and exciting being a lifeflight paramedic would be. Then it hit me that, that is usually a job for those in the mid 20 to mid 30 year old range, and well, I have past that age range. I can't say I was devastated, or even disappointed, but that was just one event that started this train of thought. How do we go from an active, independent lifestyle, to being dependent on others. My parents are healthy and are still able to live independently but I do however see many senior citizens who aren't so fortunate. Is the growing old process like the growing up process. It's interesting when kids start having to do chores around the house. First they are excited to be able to help, then the older they get the more responsibility they get. That's when the fun wears off, but they eventually quit rolling their eyes, and they just accept it. Then all of a sudden one day they realize they've grown up, and it's time to get a job. Is that what happens when we get older? Does it happen so gradually we don't realize it? All of a sudden it just sneaks up on us and, BAM we're old? I know a lot of our problems we bring on ourselves. I also clean windows sometimes. Well, one day I was cleaning windows for a 75 yr. old lady who sat in her recliner smoking cigarettes. She coughed so much I thought she was going to hack up a lung. While I was there her 80 year old friend stopped by on her way to the YMCA to go swimming. So, I know there are some things we can do (or not do) to enjoy life as long as possible. I've just been feeling bad lately as I watch elderly people having to call a bus for a ride, or get meals brought in. I don't know why this has been on my mind so much lately, I've never really been one to freak out about my age, maybe this is my version of a midlife crisis, or maybe it's just another part of the accepting process. Whatever the reason, thanks for pondering this with me, Paul

Sudden Revelation Encore Presentation

To everyone who automatically gets my articles I apologize for everything being weird, I was having some issues getting this to post. Kind of a learning learning experience. Hopefully I've figured it out.

This week my friend over at Gnostic-Unrest and I seem to be on the same wavelength. Check out her latest post entitled Thunder Introduction & Evolution. She expands on my last post, and how hard it is to describe the feeling we get when connect with God. She nails it just right when she says it is "ENDLESS." When I read this, instantly it made me think of something I wrote last year after an experience I had driving through Wyoming. Click on her article and check it out, then continue on to read this encore presentation on Sudden Revelation. Thanks Angel

One day back in March I was driving across Wyoming, coming back to Rapid City from Gillette. I was listening to a preaching cd. The preacher was talking about God as Father and His love for us. He was saying that God is love. Now, that's a pretty common saying, but he went on to say something that really triggered something in me. He said, It's not like God has a pitcher of water that He distributes out love as we need it. He is love, He is the water, and the closer we get to Him we begin to experience that love more and more, and are able to share that love more and more. I've never been to Montana but Montana is called Big Sky Country. From what I have seen of Wyoming I think it could be called the same thing. Basically, I think that just means there is nothing to get in the way of seeing for miles, and miles. It's mostly prairie, and farm land. For me on this day that was an advantage. As this preacher was preaching I looked out of my windshield from left to right all along the horizon, and all I could see was blue sky as far as I could see. Not a cloud in the sky, just a round blue ceiling covering all of us, and it suddenly hit me that God literally is covering us with his love and all we need to do is just connect with Him and tap into that love. Could you imagine if we all did that how much better off this world would be? Shortly after my revelation I looked down noticed I was doing 82mph, noticed the flashing lights in my rear view mirror, pulled over, got my warning ticket, and continued on to Rapid City, but even that couldn't ruin my day. Thanks for searching with me, Paul

Thursdays Child John 4:1-30 Thirsty?

As we start John 4, the first three verses tell us that Jesus decides to leave Judea because He finds out the Pharisees were told He was baptizing more people than John. It makes me wonder what it was about John that the Pharisees preferred over Jesus. For the purpose of this story it doesn't really matter. They are just telling us why He left, and that He is now going back to Galilee. On the way to Galilee He has to go through Samaria, which is where the actual story begins.

Instead of writing the story out verse by verse, I'll just summarize it. Jesus and His disciples had to through Samaria to get to Galilee. The disciples were in the village of Sychar getting food. Jesus was sitting beside Jacob's Well by himself. A woman came up to get some water. Jesus asked her to draw Him some water. This surprised her because Jews didn't associate or even talk to Samarians, not to mention a male Jew talking to a female. She asked Him why He was talking to her. He said if you knew who I was you would be asking me for a drink of living water, the kind where you won't get thirsty again. She asked for some of that water, He told her to go get her husband. Then He went on to tell her she had had five husbands and the man she was living with now wasn't even her husband. Even though He just freaked her out, it seems funny that she doesn't just run off. She just says "oh you must be a prophet," and asks where the correct place to worship is. He told her "soon it's not going to matter where you worship, as long as you worship in spirit and truth. The spirit He is talking about is the connection I've been referring to the past few posts. When you can block everything else out and focus on God. This is also where the truth comes in. Like I said last time, when you honestly search for Him He will be there, so the two kind of go together. I naturally don't know everyone's experience, but for myself, if I'm listening to Christian music, or praying and focus on the words being sung or prayerful thoughts in my head, I can tell I have that connection. You can just tell God is there with you. There is no way to describe it except to say, Jesus tells her since God is Spirit we have to worship Him in spirit. When we are able to do that we have connected spirit to spirit. Next she says "when the Messiah comes He will explain everything to us." So Jesus tells her "I am the Messiah." This time she leaves her water jug and runs off. It says she tells everyone in the village. I was wondering, is this an exaggeration or a literal statement? If it is literal, how long did it take? How small was this village? Did she just run through the town screaming? It says the people came streaming from the town to meet him.

I encourage you today to search for that connection. Get some Christian music. You can listen to some for free online. Check out Mercy Me, Third Day, or Casting Crowns. These are Christian rock bands but, they are more of a softer rock. They are easy to get in to. Search for that connection. Leave me some comments and let me know how it goes. Thanks for searching with me, Paul

Thursdays Child John 3:33-36 John 3 Condensed Version

Verse 33 starts out by saying "Those who believe Him discover that God is true. (34) For He is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God's Spirit is upon Him without measure or limit." As I read this it dawned on me how true this is. Before we start following Jesus we always wonder if He is real. Even if you grow up in the church, that uncertainty is still there. In the public schools they teach that there is no God. So you are taught about God on Sunday and the opposite Monday through Friday. That alone is enough to make you have questions. Then when you add TV, movies, and secular music, you're little visit for that hour, maybe two, on Sunday, maybe three if you go on Sunday night, has just become way outnumbered. But, once you decide, and you call His name telling Him you want him to be in charge of your life, something happens inside of you, and you know without question God is true. It's at that moment you want to learn everything you can. One thing I wish everyone would learn first is, our eternal life starts right at that moment, and so does verse 34. God's Spirit is upon Him without measure or limit. The same applies to us since we have been adopted by the father. We have all have all the benefits granted to His Son, Jesus. (35) – The Father loves His Son (kids) and gives Him (them) authority over everything. I know this because if we jump ahead to John 14:12,13 it says we are able to do the things Jesus did, even greater things. Anything we ask in His name will be done so the Father will be glorified. (36) And all who believe in God's Son have eternal life. Those who don't obey the Son will never experience eternal life, but the wrath of God remains upon them. Let's examine the last part of verse 36. Why did He use the word obey? Why didn't He just stick with the word believe. If you check it out, the Greek word they use for the word believe means "to have a relationship with." So, not only do you have to have knowledge of Him and believe He is real you have to have that connection with Him. Now, why the word obey? Does it mean doing what you're called to do? Am I obeying now? Is this my calling? I like to teach. Adult classes, kid's classes, whatever. I write this because I like to. I don't know if anyone will stop by to read it. I do have a visitor counter so I know people do. But I do it because I enjoy it. Does God give me that enjoyment? When it's time to move on to something else will He take the joy away? Who knows. But for now I feel like this is what I'm supposed to be doing. If I didn't, would I be subjected to the wrath of God? Would He just continue to put the desire in me until I did? As we search, search for that desire in you. What do you feel drawn to? If you truly search for Him, He will be there. Thanks for searching with me, Paul