The temperature in Pittsburgh as I type is about Fahrenheit 71. I phrased the temperature such in recognition of Ray Bradbury's classic novel Fahrenheit 451 of a dystopian society where the auto-ignition of paper is estimated to be 451 degrees Fahrenheit. As it relates to this post....at what point do we....in the winter climates of the United States....when the months-long cold and freezing temperatures suddenly change to a wonderfully pleasurable ambiance....at what point do we forget ominous news stories....forget the storm warnings....close our ears to the roar of the falls....and begin to fashion our spring dreams.....(part and parcel of the American Dream)....that we are confident will come to fruition in a glorious summer to follow...."In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns...." (Tennyson, Locksley Hall)
Well....I nominate 71 degrees Fahrenheit as the temperature....today....forget the chaos....forget what North Korea may be doing....forget the Middle East.....forget the $22 trillion national debt.....forget all that and everything else that might upset our plans.....by golly....if you're a liberal....forget climate warming!
This is nothing new....it's an inherent weakness in man....that we fail to remain vigilant when things are springlike....but then the reader of the Gospel of Matthew is told...."Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath....for then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be." World War II started at the beginning of winter.....and 9/11 was at the beginning of fall....but Fort Sumter was fired upon in the Spring....a few weeks after Easter....which was early that year.
Parents....lose their children.....many parents....when they send them off to college....for it is a heady time.....full of temptation....not to mention the professors who lead them away from God. Preseason football and spring training in baseball....and the march for Lord Stanley's cup and March Madness and all down the line....they effectually tell us to take a break and enjoy what the world has to offer.
The narratives in Matthew (ch 24) and Mark (ch 13) and Luke (ch 21) all tell of such a heady time for the Lord's disciples.....they were leaving the temple mount.....amazed at it....commenting on it....and it was spring....when Jesus brought them back to reality. These three chapters should be a staple in the Christian's reading these days. The mistake that we make....in my observation....is that we limit the Joy of the Lord to be in a springtime....when the greatest joy of all....is when out of the cold and the darkness and the suffering of this world.....Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John...."I am the bread of life....he who comes to me will never be hungry....and he who believes in me will never be thirsty"....and...."I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life"....and...."I am the gate, whoever enters through me will be saved, He will come in and go out and find pasture"....and...."I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep"....and...."I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."....and...."I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."....and...."I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
Well....I nominate 71 degrees Fahrenheit as the temperature....today....forget the chaos....forget what North Korea may be doing....forget the Middle East.....forget the $22 trillion national debt.....forget all that and everything else that might upset our plans.....by golly....if you're a liberal....forget climate warming!
This is nothing new....it's an inherent weakness in man....that we fail to remain vigilant when things are springlike....but then the reader of the Gospel of Matthew is told...."Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath....for then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be." World War II started at the beginning of winter.....and 9/11 was at the beginning of fall....but Fort Sumter was fired upon in the Spring....a few weeks after Easter....which was early that year.
Parents....lose their children.....many parents....when they send them off to college....for it is a heady time.....full of temptation....not to mention the professors who lead them away from God. Preseason football and spring training in baseball....and the march for Lord Stanley's cup and March Madness and all down the line....they effectually tell us to take a break and enjoy what the world has to offer.
The narratives in Matthew (ch 24) and Mark (ch 13) and Luke (ch 21) all tell of such a heady time for the Lord's disciples.....they were leaving the temple mount.....amazed at it....commenting on it....and it was spring....when Jesus brought them back to reality. These three chapters should be a staple in the Christian's reading these days. The mistake that we make....in my observation....is that we limit the Joy of the Lord to be in a springtime....when the greatest joy of all....is when out of the cold and the darkness and the suffering of this world.....Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John...."I am the bread of life....he who comes to me will never be hungry....and he who believes in me will never be thirsty"....and...."I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life"....and...."I am the gate, whoever enters through me will be saved, He will come in and go out and find pasture"....and...."I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep"....and...."I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."....and...."I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."....and...."I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
