THE LIST

 

The last two Tuesdays I have taken our pastor to the hospital to have procedures done.  No big deal.  I had those Tuesdays free and I have no problem waiting.   Hospitals don’t bother me.  I can handle the smells and ….  Let’s just say, I have sat through operations for our daughter and grandkids.  I knew I would get along just fine.

 

When I picked up Pastor Larry the first time, he did something that surprised me.  When he got in the car and we were ready to go, he handed me a list.  Then he said, “If I don’t make it, start at the top and make these four calls.”  What….  Don’t make it….  Call these people.  I realized the easy part of that day was driving and waiting.  The list in my pocket was very heavy.  Heavy with responsibility.

 

I am an organized person and when I was in the hospital with our daughter, I had her list of medications, previous surgeries, how she responds to anesthesia, and a list of phone numbers.  I was prepared.  When the surgeries were for grandkids, I was support and their mother had all those lists.

 

THE LIST

 

The list Pastor Larry handed me made me think about lists and documents we all need.  We need to be prepared.  Our loved ones need to be prepared.  How do we do that?  What do we need?

 

NOTE:  The everyone and we means exactly that.  These items are a must for each of us and are not age related.  They are not only for old people.  Also, make sure these documents are where they can be found and that the people involved have copies.  If you travel, be sure to have your medical directive and healthcare power of attorney with you. 

 

WILL:  Everyone needs a will.  EVERYONE.  You might think you don’t have enough money or property to need a will.  A question for all parents of young children:  Do you know where your children will be placed if both parents die?  You might think they will go to your parents or a sibling or your best friend has agreed to welcome them into their home.  That does not always happen.  You need this in a will.  A will also makes it possible to give a certain item to a certain person and directs where all the stuff you have accumulated will go.

 

MEDICAL DIRECTIVE AND HEALTHCARE POWER OF ATTORNEY:  (Check to see if these can be combined.)  Please know I am not trying to be morbid, but you MUST have a medical directive.  This will make sure your wishes on end of life decisions are written out.  You need to name people who can make decisions when/if you are unable to make them.  You need to make it easier if/when hard decisions need to be made.

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY:  “But I don’t want to give someone the power to use my money!  They could take all my money or sell my home.”  This is often what people say or think.  Like it or not, someone needs to be able to take care of your day to day business when you are not able.  Someone needs to be able to pay your bills.  This person is usually your spouse, a parent, a child, or a sibling.  If there is no family member to assume this responsibility, it can be a very good friend or an attorney. 

 

DOCUMENTS:  Where is mom’s birth certificate?  Where is dad’s social security card?  Did my friend have funeral arrangements made?  Where do I start?  Being an administrator, guardian or the person who finds themselves with a big responsibility needs to know where to find your documents.  Bottom line:  Someone needs to know where to find your legal documents. 

 

https://www.fdic.gov/news/events/affordable/hcachecklist.pdf is a good link for documents that might be needed.

 

DISCLAIMER: This is NOT legal advice but these are things EVERYONE needs to do and in no way is this a complete list.

 

THE END

 I kept thinking all week of what to write a blog on.  Pastor Larry was sure I could find a blog out of driving him to the hospital for a procedure.  I thought about that and imagined starting it with him snoring loudly in recovery.  News Flash:  He did not snore once!  I was drawing a blank and decided to look back and rediscovered this blog from March 31, 2017.

COMING SOON -- EASTER

What an exciting time:  EASTER!! 

The baby grew up!  Mary’s little boy is no longer little and it is time for him to complete his journey on earth.  Can you imagine making sure every teeny-tiny detail leading up to Passover, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection was in place?  The entrance into the city meant the colt had to be in one exact location and someone had to have all those palm branches ready to hand out.  The room for the Passover could not have been reserved through TripAdvisor.  Judas.  The soldiers.  The cock had to be ready to crow on cue.  Details.  Details.

We know so much and we know so little.  Easter is a time of great sorrow and great joy.  It is a time completely told beforehand but not understood by those closest to Jesus.  Easter draws upon emotions from complete and utter despair to hope.

Yes.  What an exciting time:  EASTER!!  But there has always been something I could not figure out.  WHY DID THE DISCIPLES NOT GET IT?

How could they not understand?  My goodness, Jesus told them.  They heard it with their own ears.  They spent hours, months, and years walking beside him.  Listening to him.  Learning from him.  They saw him heal.  They healed through his name.  They ate with him.  They prayed with him.  They were his disciples.  He chose them.

How could they not understand?  How could Judas betray him?  How could Peter deny him?  How could…  How could…

I will tell you that I would have understood!  I would not have betrayed Jesus!  I would not have hidden and lied about knowing him!

“Mary.”

“Yes, God.  Am I in trouble again?”

“No.  OK.  Just a bit.”  (He chuckled when he said that so I knew the 2X4 was coming out.  You know.  The one he uses to get my attention.)

“Mary, do you understand all of My Word?  You know:  the Bible.  Do you understand it completely?  Every word?  Every syllable?”

“No, but…”

“There is no ‘but’ here.  Your answer is no.  And that is okay.  You are learning.  You are, after many years, beginning to put it all together.  You are digging deep.  But, face it child, you have it right there in front of you to go over again and again and again.  Did the disciples have that?”

“No, but…”

“There is no ‘but’ here.  They did not!  You were going to say, ‘but they had Jesus himself.’ weren’t you?  They did and they learned so much.  They were good disciples.  I love every one of them.”

“How could they not understand?  How could Peter deny Jesus?”

“They were afraid.  How would you feel if all of a sudden the Trinity was taken away from you?  You have the Bible.  What if you no longer had that?  What if you could no longer feel the Holy Spirit in you?  What if you could not have the forgiveness of the Cross?  What if you could not pray?  What..”

“I would be afraid.  I would feel lost.  I would feel abandoned.  I would not understand.  I would hide.”

“My child, the disciples did learn and they wrote it down for you.  They wrote it down so you would know the truth.  So you would have hope.  So you would have faith.  Eternal life.  The disciples did understand.  They spread the Gospel from one believer to another to another to another.  Do you understand now?”

“Beginning to.  The disciples were chosen by Jesus but they were also human.  They had their support – Jesus – taken from them and they were afraid.  I guess the answer to my question is they did know.”

“Shall I put the 2 X 4 down for now?”

“Yes, please.  But keep it handy.  I am sure you will be getting it out again shortly.”

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

Can you imagine making sure every teeny-tiny detail leading up to Passover, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection was in place?  Every detail – even how the disciples reacted so they could “therefore go.”

 

 THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

A number of years ago, the church we attended had three services.  An upcoming event meant I needed to make an announcement at each service.  I was headed to first service, listening to the radio, and going over what I was to say.  Normal drive.  Not much traffic.  About 8:10 AM.  Then the news came on and they reported on a truck driver in California. 

A truck driver?  My dad had been a truck driver before he died so, anytime news involved a truck driver, I listened. 

The news began with saying there had been an accident in a tunnel.  One of the vehicles was a semi.  The driver did not survive and I said a prayer for his family.

“You have to tell.” I couldn’t shake those words.  “You have to tell.  Someone needs to hear this.” Tell who? Really, tell what? Tell about the accident.  All I knew was that a man died.  Someone I didn’t know… “You have to tell.” Tell who? Tell when? “You have to tell.” Those words would not go away.

First service: Nothing.  Sunday School: Nothing.  Second Service: This is the service we attend and Bill asked me, “Are you alright? You seem a bit on edge.” I told him yes and I would explain later.  But still, nothing.  Third Service: This was a modified service.  Only the basics for the 20 or so that were not early risers and those that had small children who found the timing better.  The service was about over, the minister was ready to say the closing prayer, and I knew it was time. 

Of course, the minister got that deer in the headlight look when I stood up and said I had something to say.  I started by saying, “I do not know why I am to tell this and I do not know who needs to hear this, but I want to tell you about a trucker and a tunnel.” I told them about a trucker, just doing his job, entering a tunnel and never coming out. 

We hear about the light at the end of the tunnel, but, on this day, for this trucker, there was no light at the end of the tunnel.  And I wondered if he was a believer.  I told them that if he was not, he was lost.  I told them that if they were not believers, now was the time before it was too late.  And I sat down.  The pastor prayed.  I left.

On that morning, finally during third service, my job was to tell and that is what I did.  So I left.  Did anyone stay and talk with the minister? When I walked out the door, I did not know.  I had done my part.  I told.  I talked with the minister a few days later and he said someone had stayed until everyone was gone.  (Notice until everyone left.)  One person was to hear about the trucker and that one person heard.

We do not know who needs to hear or what they need to hear.  Although it is all the same story, one person might be saved because they hear why Jesus lived and one person might be saved because they hear why Jesus died.  We need to tell so the light at the end of the tunnel is there for everyone.

<   <   <   >   >   >

Since this is the Easter season, I felt I should tie this in some way.  The obvious choices are

• Jesus is the light
• Jesus is the savior
• Jesus died for our sins

BUT — don’t ya love it when I put in a BUT — the tie to Easter comes after the tomb was empty.

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””

   Matthew 28:16-20 NIV

There it is! The tie in!

GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES — in plain English:   GO AND TELL!

 

COMMUNION

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Matthew 26:26-29

We take Communion the first Sunday of each month.  I do not take it lightly.  I do not allow it to become a habit instead of an honor.  When I hold the bread and the cup, I realize my sins are real and my salvation has come at a price.

Communion does not require a huge production.  It does not need a stage to be set or music to be played to enhance a mood.  Communion can be taken with others or alone on a snowy night …

We lived in Michigan and attended a Methodist Church.  It was Christmas Eve and there was no formal service that year.  The church was open.  Yes, open.  Unlocked.  Anyone could enter.  The church was open and Communion was available to any who entered.  This Communion has never left my heart and was the most memorable Communion I have ever taken.

The kids were finally asleep.  Christmas gifts were ready for the next morning.  Bill stayed home.  It was 10:30 PM and I headed to church.  It was snowing.  The church was empty when I arrived.  When I opened the door to the sanctuary, the lights were dim.  As I walked down the aisle, my spirit calmed.  It seemed like each step left a care or worry behind.  My focus was on one thing: A small table holding the Bread and the Cup.

I sat down and talked to God.  I thanked God for sending HIS SON.  I thanked God for the hope … trust … mercy …forgiveness.  I took the Bread and the Wine sometime.  I cannot tell you when.  Time seemed to stand still as I sat in that church … on a snowy Christmas Eve … with the lights turned low enough I could see, but dim enough to keep me from seeing anything but the table.  Eventually I stood up, walked out, and went home.

I do not take Communion lightly and on that night, my Communion was as true and honest as it was the night Jesus served the disciples.  On that night, I wept as I took broken bread.  On that night, I took the cup and rejoiced a risen Christ.

And someday I will drink from the fruit of the vine with Jesus in His Father’s kingdom.

 SPRING FORWARD, FALL BACK

Sunday, March 12, Hawaii and most of Arizona, where common sense prevails, will not use precious time changing the time on clocks and watches.  If I counted right, we will change the time on 22 clocks, watches, timers, devices, and vehicles.  What a waste of time!!!  Everyone says follow the science.  News Flash!!!  You can call it Daylight Savings Time, but there are only so many hours of daylight and messing with the small hand or a digital number will not make one bit of difference.

This got me to wondering what other stupid laws are on the books.  Without googling, I already know the answer: WAY TOO MANY!!  I googled anyway.  Did you know that, in Alaska, you cannot —- get ready —- wake a sleeping bear to take a selfie?  If you are a pickle producer, in Connecticut, make sure your pickles bounce.  Yes, the state ordinance says that a real pickle should bounce when dropped from the height of one foot.

Want to be kind and surprise a friend or neighbor with a pizza or other food delivered straight to their home?  Better think twice if you live in Louisiana.  You could be fined $500 or be thrown in the slammer for six months!  This is considered harassment.  Thinking about food — if you are in Claremont, New Hampshire, do not — I repeat — do not consume alcoholic beverages or have a picnic in a cemetery.  Continuing with another food law, if you want some good, like grandma made, fried chicken, do not steal a feathered fowl in Rhode Island.  They take stealing chickens very seriously and you shall (not could, but shall) be punished by imprisonment for not more than five years or a $500 fine or both.

I am glad I do not live in Philadelphia.  All businesses are required to pay a one-time $300 license fee or $50 annually to operate in the city.  Recently the law was extended to include bloggers.

How are we supposed to know all these laws?  How are we to obey all these laws?  I am sure the Israelites felt the same way.  Leviticus is full of laws.  Some make sense and I particularly like Leviticus 19:32.  Some do not, such as Leviticus 19:27.  Some sorta make sense.  I sew and understand Leviticus 19:19.  Sewing two kinds of material does not always work.

The Old Testament is full of God’s laws and they were hard to keep.  The priests used their power and continued to add to God’s laws.  That means a double dose of you shall and you shall nots.  Confusion!  How can a person keep every law?  The truth is simple:  We cannot.  Try as we might, we mess up.  We break the laws of man and we break the laws of God.  We have no hope of ever being a 100% law abiding person.  No hope… No hope …

We will never be a 100% law abiding person, BUT we do have hope!  We do have a way!

Jesus Christ fulfilled the Prophets in that, in His first coming alone, He fulfilled hundreds of prophecies concerning Himself (e.g., Matthew 1:22; 13:35; John 19:36; Luke 24:44). Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law in at least two ways: as a teacher and as a doer.  He taught people to obey the Law (Matthew 22:35–40; Mark 1:44), and He obeyed the Law Himself (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:22).  In living a perfect life, Jesus fulfilled the moral laws; in His sacrificial death, Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial laws.  Christ came not to destroy the old religious system but to build upon it; He came to finish the Old Covenant and establish the New.   

Taken from https://www.gotquestions.org/abolish-fulfill-law.html

Jesus was speaking in Matthew 5:17 and declared that he did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.  He told us that he came to fulfill them.  Jesus fulfilled the law for us!

Now isn’t that just the best news you have heard today?