Every new year begins for me with a renewed commitment to get myself into better shape. This year will be no different. My membership at the local recreation center will be used to swim, run, lift weights, play a few sports and keep up my juggling skills. The few extra pounds that I carry all seem to concentrate in a couple of body zones--tummy and tush. This year I have to deal with an extra challenge, a hernia that has worsened over the last year and requires surgery. This, of course, changes what I will do for awhile until I am properly healed.
Being healthy is much more than just having my body in shape. Jesus talked about the mind, soul and spirit, also. Therefore my attention is also focused upon getting into better spiritual health. A small Bible study group with which I meet once a week has just embarked upon a set of studies from Abiding Life Ministries. Our weekly meetings will now be augmented by personal daily devotions which engage us with the material. Then our meetings become a time of sharing and mutual ministry based on the spiritual issues with which each of us wrestles. This regular spiritual exercise helps us grow and strengthen spiritually much like my time at the recreation center will helps me physically. If you are interested in Abiding Life Ministries please follow the link that I place with this blog. Don't be surprised if some of the reflections I share here in 2007 come from this material.
All in all I am looking forward to a boost to my health in 2007, both physically and spiritually. My only apprehension is that some spiritual condition may be identified for which the Lord will prescribe surgery, a sort of spiritual hernia operation.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Monday, December 4, 2006
Who Cares?
The answer is: He cares! A song from my high school chorus days says it all...
"Who cares if you live or die? Tell me, who cares if you laugh or cry? Who cares if the world falls in on you? He cares, Jesus is His name. We care for He bore our shame. He cares, He cares. He cares about you."
Then there's a verse... "Died on the cross for everyone; the Man from heaven, God's only Son. The debt is paid, the battle's won. Do you care? Die to self, be born again. Be God's child today my friend. He cares, He cares. He cares about you." Then repeat the first chorus.
People need to know that He, Jesus, cares. People in today's world struggle for meaning. Those that do have a dream of some kind find many obstacles preventing it from ever becoming reality. I believe Jesus is there to help us through to a reality that begins with dreams stirring in our spirits. He cares about each and every person regardless of who or where they are.
And because He cares, I care. When I see or hear the news, meet people in my community or connect with someone from the other side of the world, a maze of issues emerge. Some private, some public, but all of concern for various reasons to people. Often my heart aches for people. Sometimes I am made to smile, chuckle, or outright rejoice. Through reflection and sharing we can discern the heart of our Lord that will equip us to face our issues. Let's do this together and see if we can find ways to heal and reasons to celebrate.
I will truly care because I know He cares!
"Who cares if you live or die? Tell me, who cares if you laugh or cry? Who cares if the world falls in on you? He cares, Jesus is His name. We care for He bore our shame. He cares, He cares. He cares about you."
Then there's a verse... "Died on the cross for everyone; the Man from heaven, God's only Son. The debt is paid, the battle's won. Do you care? Die to self, be born again. Be God's child today my friend. He cares, He cares. He cares about you." Then repeat the first chorus.
People need to know that He, Jesus, cares. People in today's world struggle for meaning. Those that do have a dream of some kind find many obstacles preventing it from ever becoming reality. I believe Jesus is there to help us through to a reality that begins with dreams stirring in our spirits. He cares about each and every person regardless of who or where they are.
And because He cares, I care. When I see or hear the news, meet people in my community or connect with someone from the other side of the world, a maze of issues emerge. Some private, some public, but all of concern for various reasons to people. Often my heart aches for people. Sometimes I am made to smile, chuckle, or outright rejoice. Through reflection and sharing we can discern the heart of our Lord that will equip us to face our issues. Let's do this together and see if we can find ways to heal and reasons to celebrate.
I will truly care because I know He cares!
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