understanding mourning

Last week one of Veronica's good friends in Seattle past away. She had two kids, the same age as our kids, and Veronica scrapbooked with her on a regular basis. It's hard to really understand how different people mourn, and without that understanding, it's hard to know how I should respond to them, especially my wife.

Sometimes it makes me think that my heart is callous, and then I get convicted thinking that I'm not having the right attitude. At other times I feel like I should be focused on my family and giving more to them knowing that she was our age, and it just as well could have been one of us. Probably both are right.

Either way, in most passages I've seen in the bible, it's not a short term thing. Most cases God's people took days of mourning ( See References ). In some cases (such as Joseph mourning his Dad), up to 40 days were spent in mourning. My conviction is that it's not something that should be taken lightly, and we need to all do what we can to help people through the mourning process.


Genesis 50:7

So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh's officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

30 days....

30 Days at the foot of the cross...

Something I desparately need. It's so easy to lose the 'reason' at times. I have had the same problem with Team in Training as well. The whole purpose of Team in Training is to raise money for the Luekemia and Lymphoma Society to help find a cure for cancer and hopefully make patients lives easier. You'd think if anyone could keep their focus on the cause, I could. Yet still I forget at times and just focus on the fun and training.

I have the same issue with being a disciple. I forget the purpose is to walk with God and help others find their walk with God. There'd really be no reason to keep us here on earth after baptism if the purpose were just to be close to God.

I hope that September will be a month that I draw near to God and can keep the reason at the forefront of my actions as I spend the next month at the foot of the cross....

friends -the good, the bad, and the ugly

He who covers over an offense promotes love,
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

- Proverbs 17:9

New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

I was able to hang out with Peirre Newsome last night. He reminded me how important friends are, especially when it comes to keeping strong spiritually over the years. As the proverb says, it's so easy to ruin a relationship over little things, and yet it only takes one to decide to 'cover an offense'.

So many (including me at times) have gotten bitter because of both little and big offenses commited by different people, many of them old friends. I believe the only way to make it to the end with your friends at your side is to practice that proverb. No matter how great your friend is, at some point, they will commit a terrible offense against you - after all, they are only human. The question is, how will we respond... :)