 My birthday is less than a week away and it seems like the last one was just a couple of days ago. I’m getting old fast and I don’t particularly embrace all of its aspects. A year used to be a very long time, but now it passes in a heartbeat. It’s sort of like money. A dollar used to buy a bunch of stuff and now a dollar is like a nickel. What’s up with that?
I used to be young. I did young stupid things and got away with it. I drove my ’58 Chevy across the country with little sleep, no seat belts and bad tires. I rode my motorcycle down the railroad tracks over the train bridge dozens of times. Once there was a close call, so I traded the bike for an airplane. Now I’m an old guy. I don’t do dumb stuff like that anymore…because I can’t. I joined AARP, signed up for Medicare and became a snowbird. I go north for the summer now because it’s too hot in Phoenix and my arthritis is killing me! Some people think that God is old too. They think of him as they would think of an eccentric, out-of-touch old codger. They might envision an old crotchety, hippy-like character with a long grey beard, shaggy hair, wearing a white robe and Birkenstocks hanging out in heaven…if there even is a heaven. Some call Him the “Grand Old Man” or even “The Old Man Upstairs.” However, God is not old as people think of old. It is true that He has been around for a very long time, you might even say for an eternity. You see, God always was, and now is, and will always be. Here is how the Bible describes Him: God is Spirit. He is a living and active divine person who is infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, truth and love. He longs for fellowship with us whom He created in His own image and redeemed by His grace and He always acts in harmony with His perfect nature. Doesn’t sound like a tired old guy to me. God lives and acts eternally outside of time. As a matter of fact, He created time and some day He will reach in and take each of us out of this time-machine to live with Him forever. I look forward to that day more and more as the years pass. Mike Means, Elder/Treasurer
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 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 NKJV
I've been confronted lately with more suffering and death than usual. From the suffering and death of a family pet to the suffering and death of friends, acquaintances, and family. Suffering and death is fact of life. Unavoidable for us. But as my heart aches for two husbands that lost their wives recently... as I listened to the testimonies of impact, loss and grief... as I hear and feel the anxieties and fears of people left behind and those facing trials now... and as I stood in the cold veterinary exam room and watched the life of our dog be snuffed out... I was struck once again with the realization that suffering and death ought not to be. It wasn't so in the beginning, and it will not be so at the end of this age. It's hard to imagine a world with no suffering and death, but that is the reality of how life began. God, who is life, imparted life, and there was no death. But sin entered, and death by sin. But Life, Himself, came and conquered sin and conquered death. Jesus has given us hope that will not disappoint because He cannot fail. He has promised us that He will do away with them once and for all at the appointed time. This is the only thing that enables me to endure. And so I look to Jesus... and I live.. and I hope... and I wait. In Christ, Mikey Moomey Pastoral Staff |
AuthorWords of encouragement from the leadership at Calvary North. Archives
October 2018
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Calvary Chapel North Phoenix
14201 N. 32nd St. Phoenix, AZ 85032 Office 602.992.6922 Service Time: Sundays at 10am Church Office: M-Th 9am - 4:30pm School Office: M-F 10am - 6pm |
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