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Post by linsi on Oct 31, 2006 1:46:10 GMT 10
Only Fools Try To Have Pleasure All of the Time.
More fun and merriment is not what we need. More soberness is. The fool is interested only in what is currently fair, pleasant, easy, diverting, amusing and fun. He gives no thought to serious things and so never acts seriously. But the wise considers all of life rationally, soberly and seriously. So he pays his respects to the dead and considers their life, his own life and his own death.
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Post by linsi on Oct 31, 2006 1:49:14 GMT 10
Thus the condolence call is a necessary and expected duty. It is not some outdated social custom, nor is it to be left only to our parents and other older people. It is not what elders are there for and it is not what preachers are paid for.
It is the duty of all who are friends and brethren with those who are infirmed, ill and dying if for no other reason than to know that this is a part of life as well. It is not to be avoided simply because we are squeamish and find it icky.
To avoid this duty (and miss out on an opportunity for a sober lesson) is a conscious, willful act of foolishness; and the practitioner of it will always remain the fool for it.
The house of feasting may take our minds away from the very thing that we need to think about. We can learn something at the funeral. We are likely just to diverted at the feast and never see our real need.
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Post by linsi on Oct 31, 2006 1:50:16 GMT 10
Consider one final reason why we are to do this: We Are To Follow The Example of Jesus. We all know the "shortest verse in the Bible." Its is Jn. 11:35, "Jesus wept." This little verse teaches us so much about Jesus. Think again to the setting in which "He wept." Jesus came to Bethany to heal Lazarus and met the grieving sisters, Mary and Martha. As He sees their tears, and those of all the mourners present, "He was deeply moved in spirit, and was troubled." (Jn. 11:33) Our Savior consoled the family with words of hope and went to the cemetery with them. He then preformed a miracle that comforted them. We must satisfy ourselves with consoling the family with more mundane acts of kindness. But we must go nevertheless.
Jesus went not only the the wedding in Cana of Galilee, He also went to the graveyard in Bethany. Do you?
By Jay Horsley From Expository Files 7.11; November 2000
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Post by delta on Oct 31, 2006 19:23:54 GMT 10
Totoo, minsan kailangan natin na maalala ang kamatayan para hindi tayo malunod sa mga mabababaw na interes ng mundong ito.
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