Church

Someone has said that old age gets old!

Well, I’m not really old aged.  Of course, I remember hanging around 85 year olds who didn’t like to go out with those “old ladies” who were 90!  So, I’m just over the hill a bit, and as I’ve started running down the other side some of my parts are wearing out.

So, today and the last few days, I’ve had slight back spasms.  Probably due to compensating for bad knees.

I know people who live in constant pain move in a different realm.  If you ask how they are doing, they will often say “fine”.  In relation to yesterday they are!  In relation to me or you, they have problems with concentration.  They live in pain that distracts them from happy times. 

When I experience just a bit of that pain in my back, I feel debillitated.  Maybe I’m just a wimp!

My kingdom for a back!

So, Grandma had the camera.  And here is the result. 

Our daughter, Allison, and her son, Christopher.

I love getting money.

I love when money comes unexpectedly.

I love when you have a savings plan in place.

Today I think I achieved all three at once.  A rebate came from our provincial automobile insurance plan (OK, so its not quite a savings plan — in fact I think I lose money on this “plan”). 

Now we’re a little over $70 richer.  Or is that $70 that we should never have been charged in the first place.  Or is that just semantics.

Regardless, we’re off to the bank to deposit the cheque! 

“The kingdom of heaven.”

When I was 17 I memorized whole chunks of Scripture.  Our Bible quizzing program required that type of involvement.  The biblical book, Matthew, was one of those “chunks”.  There the phrase “the kingdom of heaven” constantly occured.

A kingdom to me seemed old fashioned.  I didn’t have experience that helped me flesh out my understanding of  “kingdom of heaven.” 

I lived in a democracy.  I knew what a Prime Minister was. 

I did not have a king.  I did not live in a kingdom.

35 years later I’m “perspectivizing” the kingdom of heaven.  Like finding another peep hole in a kaliedescope, I’m taking time to re-encounter the original context in Matthew.   The picture “looks” different but the content is the same.  And somehow the picture brings a new sense of God, godliness, love, people, obedience, holiness, relationships and much more. 

Who said being over the hill doesn’t mean there are no new adventures!!

P.S.:  On my theology blog today, I put a quote that was given by a man the same age as I am.  And it sounds like some of the circumstances I have encountered this past year.