It All Goes Back In The Box

The death of my father made me think about how short life is and with that how do I make the most of that finite resource. The thought of time being limited tends to make you hurry up. In fact most people today are obsessed with hurry. That’s why so called “fast food” restaurants are on every corner. That’s why we all have cell phones, texting, and, e-mail, because we insist on instant communication. We can’t wait for anything anymore. We have invented these things to save us time, but it is never fast enough for us, and as it gets faster we just do it more and really have less time. So why are we in such a hurry?

Often we are in a hurry because we are working hard to get more or better things. We are consumed with getting the latest phone, computer, car, or a bigger house. We strive to get the better Internet service and the cable TV with 700 channels so we can have thousands of choices, yet we are too busy when the show we want to see is on so we record it and try to watch it when we have the time. And often we never have the time. And when we do get the next, better, or bigger thing it does not keep us content for long because there is always a newer, better, or bigger one. So because of this we continue to hurry and hurry to strive to get to the next goal, but never reach that place of contentment and many of us are too hurried and busy to do the things that are of true value. We make excuses like “once I get to a good place” or “when things slow down”. The problem is that all the stuff we are trying to obtain really has no lasting value. In fact when you are on you death bed, will it matter if it is in a big house or a little one? Will it matter what kind of car is out in the garage? Will it matter if you have 20 pairs of cool shoes in the closet? Will that so called standard of living really matter? And what happens is we just have to work harder and take more time to to maintain it. And all it does is put us in a chain gang of our own making. Volunteered Slavery

So what will matter in the end? I have never heard of a person on his death bed saying he wished he has spent LESS time with his children, spouse, or friends. But we as a society we get so busy that we don’t make these things a priority. If you wait to do what is important in life until you have the time, you will never have an important life.  Hurry is the great enemy of a spiritual life. You can’t love in a hurry. Jesus always had a lot of things to do but he was never in a hurry. In fact he always stopped and took the time to reach out with compassion for others. Jesus talked in Luke 12:13-21 about those who were busy in life trying to obtain abundant possessions. Jesus calls those types fools. FOOLS! The word Jesus uses to describe the people who forget that life could end tomorrow and that when it does those possessions will have no meaning or value.

When I was thinking of my dad’s life I thought what kind of lasting memorial is there for him, and what will there be for me. About 10 years ago a short little guy I called “Jesus Freak” named George stopped what he was doing and took the time to pray for a man who was depressed because it looked as if he and his wife would never be able to have children. He was in the middle of doing his work, but he noticed a man in sorrow, and stopped to ask what has got you down. And then he took the time to pray for that mans needs. That man was me, and a little latter my wife found she was pregnant and the conception date was when George prayed for me. Soon I was a father, and soon after that George died. George was a meek little man who drove a beat up van that said "Jesus Loves You" on it.  He wore old jeans some beat up boots and a bandanna around his head as he sweated installing wood floors (a carpenter). I went to George’s memorial thinking not many would show up for this little insignificant man. But when I got to the church on a Wednesday afternoon during work hours, the parking lot was full and cars were parked down the street. I found the church packed with standing room only, all to say goodbye to this meek poor little unassuming man. I thought that George and I had a special and rare relationship because of how he had cared for me, and changed my life forever. But what I found was it was only rare from my perspective, in fact it was an everyday thing for George. The pastor gave the microphone to people to let them express how George had impacted their lives and people lined up around the room, and for hours I heard the stories just like mine of how George took the time to love, care, and reach out. Many of the people had come to know Jesus and their lives were changed forever because of George’s acts of kindness, and I was one of them.

So how are you spending your time? Are you too busy to notice others who are in need? Are you focusing on that phone call, or that computer, and your work, while your child watches TV alone? Are you busy texting but rarely talk to the people you love face to face. Jesus says in Luke 12 that he is a FOOL who lays up treasures for himself and that where your treasure is there your heart will be also. And I think that your time is your greatest treasure, and how you spend it shows what you love. Nothing says love to a child louder than TIME.

So there is George’s lifeless body in a casket, and there is my dad’s ashes in a “box” so what is left? What is left is how they impacted those who continue on, but for them the game is over. So do you play the game forgetting the most important thing, that simple fact that for every person the game ends, and we never know when or how soon? John Ortberg a well known pastor once gave a sermon called “It All Goes Back In The Box” and in it he makes an analogy to life being like a Monopoly game. We strive to acquire to win the game but in the end acquiring has little value because “It All Goes Back In The Box”. Even the physical matter that makes up our bodies is just on loan to us and it too literally just goes back in the box. Here is a link to hear that great John Ortberg message that teaches this better than I ever could.
It All Goes Back In The Box
What is typical of God is that while I was pondering this my Pastor (Jeremy Peters) taught this message on Fathers day that deals with many of the same things, but just comes at it from a different angle. So if you have the time give this a listen to hear the 10 things that will make you a father that has a life that makes lasting impact. http://ccachurch.org/media.php?pageID=53

To show you more of how short this time can be.  As many of you know my father passed away on may 21st, since then my aunt (my mothers twin sister) has had a massive stroke leaving her paralyzed, and then my oldest sister has been diagnosed with an aggressive type of cancer.  For every one the game will end, we just don't know how long or shot a time we have.  Please be praying for my aunt, my sister, my mother, and my family as we go through these difficult times in our lives.  Thanks!

Oregon Bluegrass Assoc. Gospel Show, Three Bands, 1-20-2007 (SBD)

The Sonny Hammond Memorial Gospel Show is an annual event, and fundraiser for the Oregon Bluegrass Association. It appears it is held at a church and this version has three bluegrass bands all doing gospel bluegrass. The bands are Fiddlegrass, Lee Highway, and Prairie Flyer. It fits on two CDs with the first two bands on CD one and the third on CD two.  This has some nice picking and the quality is very good. The first two bands are members of the Oregon Bluegrass Association. The third band did not show up on their website but appears to be from Washington. My friend Iggy should like this one, because it is a local show for him, being up in Forest Grove near Portland.

Sonny Hammond Memorial

Oregon Bluegrass Assoc. Gospel Show

Central Bible Church

Fiddlegrass

Central Bible Church

Portland, OR

1-20-2007

Soundboard

Chuck Haynie - banjo and vocals

Donna Reuter - fiddle and vocals

Doug Ward - dobro, guitar, and vocals

Lorri Connolly - mandolin, fiddle, and vocals

Guest players -

Bob Connolly - guitar and vocals

Holly Wyman - bass

01- intro

02- Amazing Grace

03- I Saw The Light

04- Hallelujah, I'm Ready To Go

05- If You Don't Love Your Neighbor, Then You Don't Love God

06- Wayfaring Stranger

07- Mansion On A Hilltop

08- When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder

09- The Old Rugged Cross

10- Cryin' Holy Unto The Lord

Lee Highway

Central Bible Church

Portland, OR

1-20-2007

Soundboard

John Averill - mandolin and vocals

Rich Hoglen - guitar and vocals

Sue Averill - bass and vocals

Mike Eisler - fiddle and vocals

Mike Stahlman - banjo, guitar, and vocals

01- intro

02- Take Me In Your Lifeboat

03- The Little Community Church

04- I'm Using My Bible For A Roadmap

05- God Loves His Children

06- Give Mother My Crown

07- band intros

08- Let's Walk Along Together

09- The Stone The Builders Refused

10- Shine Hallelujah Shine

11- What A Friend We Have In Jesus

12- When He Reached Down His Hand For Me

13- So Happy I'll Be

14- Cryin' Holy Unto The Lord

Prairie Flyer

Central Bible Church

Portland, OR

1-20-2007

Soundboard

Jim Faddis - guitar and vocals

Andre Vachon - mandolin and vocals

Jason Stewart - banjo and vocals

Dave Hackwith - bass and vocals

Steve Blanchard - guitar

01- intro

02- The Old Crossroads

03- Calling My Children Home

04- I'll See You In Heaven (1st Time Played)

05- I Was There When It Happened (1)

06- Take Your Shoes Off Moses Your On Holy Ground

07- Who Will Sing One Song For Me

08- Be Assured

09- I Can't Feel At Home In This World Anymore

10- When I Get Home

11- I Saw The Light

12- band intros

13- House of Gold

14- Pilgrim

15- Travelin' The Highway Home (1)

Encore: (2)

16- I'll Fly Away

17- Will The Circle Be Unbroken

(1) = w/ Clyde Clevenger on mandolin and vocals

(2) = encore was various members of all 3 bands, plus Clyde Clevenger and

MC Mason Smith

Mp3/256k

http://www.mediafire.com/?wr34n3ai1u4079t 

http://www.mediafire.com/?3d4ids2omc34tmi

Fare you well, fare you well, I love you more than words can tell

My father was born in New York. He joined the Navy in World War Two as an electricians mate. He got a degree in electrical engineering and after the war moved to Arizona. He married my mother shortly after that. Dad's first job after the war was surveying for power lines for Arizona Public Service. He surveyed for the first power into Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon, and the first power in to Crown King as well as power coming off the rim into Sedona, and power lines across Mingus Mountain running from Prescott to Jerome. He saw every corner of this state, before much development happened.  He was on the first planing and zoning commission for Scottsdale Arizona. During this time in Scottsdale my mom and him were blessed with three children. My father latter got a job with General Electric where he got in on the ground floor of the computer industry and after a while was involved with projects including computer systems for the French government, Saudi Arabian government, as well as the IRS. Latter on we moved to New York and then to California where he worked for Xerox. This was how a kid who was born in Arizona went to high school in California.  Finally he cut ties with big cooperate work and bought a Delicatessen on the beach in Ventura California, and followed his passion for cooking and fine food and developed his business into two stores and a large catering business. Finally Dad sold the business and his house and bought a motor home and my mom and him traveled for several years. It was during this time he got involved in the tour guide business, working for Caravans De Mexico out of El Paso Texas, giving RV tours down to Mexico. He soon was also working for other tour companies doing western states National Park tours. during this time my mom was perfecting her skills doing fine art oil paintings. Eventually they decided to stop traveling and let my mother pursue her dream of being and artist. They picked Cottonwood Arizona as the place to settle. My mom and dad started an art supply store and studio and my mom sold paintings, did framing and matting, and taught painting, while my father ran the art supply store.  During this time my father got a job with an over seas tour company and got paid to give tours to Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Fiji, he also gave 36 day tours to South America. About 16 years ago my father's earlier smoking habit caught up with him and he was diagnosed with emphysema.  It was around this time I moved here to Cottonwood with my wife to help out my parents.  From there on he had a slow decline until finally he was completely house bound and wheel chair bound about seven years ago. 20 months ago he was no longer even able to get out of bed, where he has been since.  My mom has been lovenly caring for him this whole time.  Finally at around 10:00 on May 21st 2011 dad passed away in his sleep at home. He was a great husband to my mom, and was a great father to me and my sisters giving us a jump start in life so we had great opportunities. He taught me a lot about many things, including cooking, working with my hands, but most of all how to love living. He love good food, drink, and music, but most of all he loved my mother.

Fare you well my honey
Fare you well my only true one
All the birds that were singing
Have flown except you alone

Goin to leave this Broke-down Palace
On my hands and my knees I will roll roll roll
Make myself a bed by the waterside
In my time - in my time - I will roll roll roll

In a bed, in a bed
by the waterside I will lay my head
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul

River gonna take me
Sing me sweet and sleepy
Sing me sweet and sleepy
all the way back back home
It's a far gone lullaby
sung many years ago
Mama, Mama, many worlds I've come
since I first left home

Goin home, goin home
by the waterside I will rest my bones
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul

Goin to plant a weeping willow
On the banks green edge it will grow grow grow
Sing a lullaby beside the water
Lovers come and go - the river roll roll roll

Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul

Brokedown Palace

Thanks to all those who have prayed and shown compasion. It means so much!

The Gospel Message Hidden in Genesis 5?

I have read through the bible now several times, and each time I see something else.  Most of the times through Genesis I just skim over Genesis 5 but even in this un assuming passage there is something very interesting hidden inside.  Genesis 5 is the written account of Adam’s family line leading up to Noah, and it goes like this
      When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.  After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters.   Altogether, Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.
   When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father  of Enosh.   After he became the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters.  Altogether, Seth lived a total of 912 years, and then he died.
   When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan.   After he became the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters.   Altogether, Enosh lived a total of 905 years, and then he died.   And so on until you get to Noah. 
 
So there are 10 names of guys that lived and died (except Enoch) who was raised up.  (That is another thing of interest in this simple chapter, that I already wrote about  http://arizjones.blogspot.com/2010/07/was-not-or-i-am.html )  So there are ten names rattled off like a list, kind of boring I always thought.   
But hidden in it is something interesting.  You see all the names have a meaning, like Adam means man.  So what happens when we put together the names meanings?
 
Adam = Man
Seth = Appointed
Enosh = Mortal
Kenan = Sorrow
Mahalalel = The Blessed God
Jared = Shall come down
Enoch = Teaching
Methuselah = His death shall bring
Lamech = The Despairing
Noah = Rest, or comfort.

Put it together and you have the Gospel Message. In a nice short compact version.
I think that's rather remarkable! 

Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow; (but) the Blessed God shall come down teaching (that) His death shall bring (the) despairing rest or comfort.

Here's the Gospel hidden within a genealogy only five short chapters into the first book of the bible. 

   You will never convince me that a group of Jewish rabbis conspired to hide the Christian Gospel right here in a genealogy within their venerated Torah.  Or that Moses somehow knew to do this before he even knew there would be messiah that would die for our sin.  It is just one more thing that shows an incredible interconnection and unity of this book that was written by forty different people in different languages and times.  over thousands of years.

He is Alive! Happy Easter

He is alive!  The tomb is empty.  Death could not hold Him!

Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed, for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. Then they went home.
Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
“Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.
That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

1 Corinthians 15 (writen by Paul): Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. . . . .It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message.
Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said would happen. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died (if you want to go check it out). Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. For I am the least of all the apostles, in fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

I AZ feel like Paul.  I used to mock believers and read the bible to find fault to prove them wrong.  I did not come to belief until I was 42, when God did some miraculous and radical things in my life and got my attention.  Just like Paul sometimes I feel I am not worthy at all.  But Jesus has grace for even me!

Waterdeep, Lawrence Kansas, 12-04-1998

A real fine recording of Waterdeep.  This one is rockin' worship at the start and then becomes calmer acoustic at the end.  Great music to celebrate the good news that Jesus is alive!  Happy Easter

Waterdeep

12-04-1998

University of Lawrence, KS

Soundboard

setlist:

disc 1:

The Razor Light

Razor Reprise

Everybody's Guilty

Come To Me

I Know The Plans

Cowards Never Win

He Will Come

All Along The Watchtower

Go Find John

disc2:

Sink Or Swim

Sweet River Roll

Banter(sermon)

You Can't Hide

Lonely Sometimes-> Improv

Long On Diagnosis, Short On Cure

Hush

I Could Sing Of Your Love

Mp3/320k

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OJ2XD81X

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=H4KBTRPG