I just heard that my great uncle passed away last night. He was truly one of the saints of our family - a faithful Catholic, devoted husband and father, all-around great family man in the best possible sense of that concept.
This comes just two days after our grandson was born. So of course people are already saying things like, one life ends, and another begins, or God takes one and gives another. But there's something about that idea that bothers me. Not that there's anything wrong with it, per se, but I think maybe it doesn't do justice to the fact that a life in Christ never really ends. Yes, we have a new life just begun in this little newborn. But with my great uncle, after 80-something years of life, his life is also just beginning. We say, "rest in peace," and yes, that's good, but I also want to say that death is not a retirement from life so much as taking life to the next level. For 80-something years my uncle practiced and played in the minor leagues, and now he's moved up to the majors.
As he was declining, we have been praying for him. Now, I trust, he will pray for us. He has joined the cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). Not only is he now playing in the majors, but he's sitting in the stands, cheering for us, as we keep practicing and playing in the minor league. Uncle John, pray for us! Especially pray for me, so I can be as good an influence on little Zachary James as you were on me!
I'm back, up and running, and ready to go - I should have a new JOURNEY episode within the next week or so - and because you are my loyal peeps, here is an exclusive, just-for-you, behind the scenes SNEAK PEEK into my new office:
This was for March 24th, recorded for the Ascension App
Thanks for your patience - here is our next installment of The Journey - it's session # 96, but I'm also calling it PART 1 of a "miniseries" on John chapter 6.
Whoever watches it first, please let me know if it looks good or if there are any problems with it - I get through the first two sections of the text on the feeding of the 5,000.
Enjoy!
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
