Sept 2, 2010

9-2-10 Thursday, 6:45 am Springfield, 70 degrees, partly cloudy.

Yesterday it rained 5+ inches in south Springfield with much flooding. Here in the Ozarks there is rapid runoff, with submerged low water bridges and retention ponds overflowing. Much to do today, including giving a washer and dryer to a church member in an apartment, and helping her give hers to a young family in the same apartment.

Ecclesiastes 1:1 – 3:22

This is a most interesting book of the Old Testament, written by Solomon. He has been given great wisdom as a gift from God, and also he has been given the kingdom of Israel to rule and govern. In this book he describes his experiences of life. As one who “has it all”, he has found that life can be meaningless. In 3:14 he says “God’s purpose is that people should fear him.” Verse 17: “I said to myself, ‘In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”. He has discovered that in a person’s work, they should find contentment; this is why they are here (verse 22).

For me, today, these three chapters of Solomon’s writing remind me about the deeper issues of life – that simply seeking pleasure appears to have the potential of great meaning, but ends up empty. Loving God, and loving others emerges as the best way to spend life on this planet, and in doing so differentiates us from animals, and places us in the hands of God for eternity. I have the opportunity and the responsibility to lead and to teach others about meaningful living. This current sermon series addresses this topic.

On the staff retreat yesterday we worked on session one from the book Life’s Healing Choices and each of us shared from our own life experiences. This is going to be a great series and I am already looking forward to the Spring of 2011 . Guide me Holy Lord today, as I live for you, for eternity, seeking to bear fruit that will last, in my life and the lives around me on the planet.