Everything will be alright...

Julie B. Smith‎  

• Works at JBSmith Communications

 Yesterday, we heard from 2 Kings 2 about Elijah and Elisha. God was about to take Elijah to heaven, and he told Elisha it would be very hard and painful to lose his beloved friend and fellow prophet. But he also told him how great things would be in the end. Pastor Alix assured us that we, too, know there will be grace and mercy and peace at the end. Because we know this, we truly can believe that "every little thing will be alright." I always wondered if we were lying to each other when we said, in the midst of crisis, "Everything will be OK. You will get through this." This lesson was a great comfort and reassurance that this IS the right thing to say ... and believe.

Holy work...

The Bible is filled with references to work--to occupations and vocations--and people whose faith informs that work. If we list just a few we peer into world in many ways like our own.  There were tent makers, soldiers, politicians and monarchs, teachers, shipbuilders, midwives, healers, potters, spinners and weavers, dancers, priests and religious leaders, public speakers, scribes, guides, shepherds, parents, sowers, reapers, wine-makers, vineyard keepers, managers, jailors, builders, architects, sellers and business owners, servants, overseers, metallurgists, miners, iron workers, artists, cooks, prophets, fortunetellers, astronomers, professional mourners, grave keepers, guards, judges, librarians, dream interpreters, fishermen, musicians, and sailors...  

In the Bible work and faith are inextricably linked; there is no separation between God's work and daily work.  Martin Luther (a 16th century professor and priest) preached that our vocation--our work--was also spiritual and holy work. In his day as in ours people tended to separate the two and that simply isn't biblical. 

How often do you think of your work as God's work?  How often do you think of your workplace as holy?  According to Luther, mucking out the barn and changing the baby's diapers are just as holy--just as sacred--(and often more so) than a priest leading prayers at the altar.  What work do you perform (paid or volunteer--occupational and vocational)?  How does your faith inform what you do? What are the challenges you run into?

Jesus Doesn't Abandon Anyone!

The bane of "Rapture" and  "Left Behind" fear mongering is upon us once again in the form of a movie re-make. According to proponents of this misguided view, when Jesus comes again the "good" people will be instantly sucked up / transported into the heaven (in the air) leaving the "bad" people to suffer years of torment... until the final judgment day.  However, In the Gospels we encounter a Jesus who says he is like a shepherd who goes in search of even one lost sheep, or like a woman searching for a lost coin... never resting until all are accounted for. Jesus doesn't leave anyone behind!

The following article from Biblical Archaeology Review provides some history on the erroneous "left behind" theology, and does a good job of discrediting it.  Another excellent resource is Professor Barbara Lundsblad's book, "The Rapture Exposed" which is available through Amazon.

Blending into One: The Left Behind Movie, the Book of Revelation and the Rapture