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Volume 3 - October 2000 (46 pages)
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: Nazarene Saints Publishing© is a Bible research group for a better Scriptural understanding. We are dedicated to the preservation and publishing of Christian writings which aid Friends of the Nazarene© to "follow the Lamb no matter where he goes." (John 15:14; 3 John 14; Revelation 14:4) The Friends of the Nazarene© are a spiritual community of Messianic Christians. We are apologists dedicated to the defense of the truth that "God is One" and not three. The Bible is our creed. We view this "God-breathed" Book as inspired alone, while the thoughts of men about it are not. We wish to show respect for our multitude of Christian brethren. (1 Peter 3:15)
Contributors:
Mark Miller / Senior Editor ( Hemet, California, USA
Ralph Slaney / Senior Spanish editor ( Almeria, Spain
Luis Padilla / Spanish Editor ( Whittier, USA
Andy Weeks / Editor [Webmaster] ( Chicago, USA
Andrew Foss / Hebrew editor (Belmont Shores, California, USA
Sergei Kremenitsky, Russian translator, Kiev, Ukraine].
·
ANNOUNCEMENTS
·
FAITH PERSPECTIVES
·
NC2000 CDs ANNOUNCEMENT
·
GOD’S CURE FOR THE WEARY CHRISTIAN
·
REMEMBER THE CREATOR WHILE YOUNG [Ecclesiastes 12]
·
HOW TO KNOW THE GOD-BORN [1 JOHN]
·
FAITH – HOW CAN IT BE REALIZED?
·
“ORGANIZATION” – GOOD OR BAD?
·
HOW TO LOVE OUR GOD
·
THE LAYING ON OF HANDS
·
HOW MANY WERE PRESENT AT PENTECOST?
·
SIX BASIC TEACHINGS
·
WHEN THINKING ABOUT OTHERS
·
YOU MUST BE HOLY
·
MY SHEPHERD IS YEHOWAH
·
WELCOME NEW CONTRIBUTORS: We wish to welcome a new contributor to the Friends
of the Nazarene magazine – James Noble from Long Beach, California.
Beginning with this issue all articles will carry the name of the author[s]. The
author’s email address will be added should you wish to contact them directly.
·
FALL CONFERENCE REPORT: The meeting was introduced by Mark Miller following
prayer. Warm welcome and greetings were read from England, Oregon, Spain, and
Canada. The Friends were very happy to hear from like-minded Christians in other
parts of the world. Luis Padilla Jr., 10 years old, gave a 2 minute comment on a
verse of his own choosing, Matthew 5:8. The audience applauded this young
lad’s good example. Luis Padilla then delivered a lecture on the subject of An
Enthroned Messiah using Psalm 2 as the basic format. He showed how both
Peter and Paul had quoted various verses in the Psalm and thus proved that
Messiah became King upon his ascension to heaven in the year 33 AD. His
discussion also included audience participation. Mark Miller followed with a
three-part program on Searching the Scriptures. This first part was an
audience discussion of Romans chapter 12 around the theme of Body Unity and
the Transformed Mind. Romans 12:1, 2 were discussed with the audience. Then
the various gifts given to members of the Body of Christ were discussed with the
audience making expressions on how each of these could contribute to church
unity. Finally, some of the more than two dozen Christian attributes were
discussed from the standpoint of how these could contribute to congregational
harmony. Mark Miller handled the second portion of Searching the Scriptures
based on Luke chapter 24 and the theme, “Were Our Hearts Not Burning?” It
was stressed that despite his resurrection, the Scriptures remained he basis for
Christ’s teachings. The third portion of Searching the Scriptures was
handled by Luis Padilla on the subject of Survivors of the Great Oppression
based on Revelation chapter 7. The discussion centered on the identity of the
“large crowd” that was to “come out of the great oppression.” Several
views were mentioned and then using audience discussion brother Padilla helped
the group to see that the 144,000 and the Large Crowd were the same and referred
to the end-time Saints alive when Christ returned. He analyzed thoroughly the
phrases “in sight of the throne” and “in His Temple” showing that both
referred to heaven. Various announcements were made before Mark Miller handled
the concluding portion. It was announced that the Nazarene Commentary 2000©
CD was now available in Microsoft Windows format. Also, some hard copy materials
were made available to the audience. Mark Miller opened the audience to a free
discussion on any questions or thoughts from anyone present. Subjects included
dealing with the conflict between and earthly and a heavenly hope. Matthew 6:10
and Psalm 37:29 were discussed. The tension between conviction and dogmatism
were considered. The evil of religious control was covered. How to let the Bible
interpret itself was a subject raised. Henotheism was brought up. Coping with
depression and Paul’s words “a season of groaning pain” were discussed. We
were saddened that four families had difficulty in getting to the Friends
Seminar as “Satan cut across their paths.
·
WINTER CONFERENCE: A seminar is being planned for early January. Luis Padilla will be the
chairman and he may be contacted regarding details.
·
Nazarene Commentary 2000©: Three new CDs have been prepared and are available
now. For details see the article below.
·
CORRESPONDANCE COURSE: The email correspondence course is being conducted
with Bible students in the USA, Canada, England, and Belgium. If you are
interested in this course contact Mark Miller.
·
RUSSIAN NAZARENE PRINCIPLES STUDY TRACT:
We are happy to announce that a Russian translation of a Bible study tract or
booklet is being prepared by our brother Sergei in the Ukraine.
·
A CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE: This small monthly magazine is published in Spain
and contains articles and encouraging information along with fine graphics. If
you wish a hard copy by snail mail please contact the editor, Ralph Slaney.
Erasmus
(1520 AD): "If we want truth,
every person ought to be free to speak what they think
without fear."
[A
forum for the free and open expression of beliefs without fear.
We welcome brief thoughts and articles on any appropriate subject
addressed in a kind and respectful manner.]
An
interesting web [site], which looks at the Scriptures in a more balanced way.
… So this web page makes an interesting reading, without being dogmatic!!!!
[England]
>>>>>
This is a terrific magazine. Before I found your web
site … Nazarene Saints is beyond the Watchtower. It's
just what I hoped for and needed. I'm sure there are many others who feel and
will feel the same. [Long Beach]
Nazarene
Commentary 2000© CD-ROMS
By
Mark Heber Miller, Hemet, California -
Three
CD-ROMs are being prepared that contain all the material in Nazarene
Commentary 2000©. There are three CDs and we are asking for a donation of
$20 for each disc, or $50 for all three. These three CDs contain:
CD-1 -- Nazarene
Commentary 2000©
[NCMM]
This
disc contains a new version of the Christian Bible [New Testament] with a
footnote commentary on every phrase from Matthew to Revelation [including
Daniel]. The features of this new rendering include:
·
A new
rendering on most of the books of the New Testament. A few books are based on
the Revised Standard Version and Weymouth Translation.
·
An
interlinear example on Romans and Jude
·
Literal
and paraphrase versions on Ephesians and First John
·
Every
phrase is compared against various translations and most include the King James
Version
·
Key Greek
words are footnoted and referenced, many with Strong’s numbers
·
Cross
references based on a computer search are provided
·
Phrases
or verses quoted from the Old Testament appear in blue
·
Phrases
in the Old Testament alluded to appear in green
·
The words
of Jesus are in red
·
Key
subjects are cross-referenced to more details else where in Nazarene
Commentary 2000©.
·
Each
chapter, and some paragraphs include review questions for study
·
Every
chapter and paragraph has a topic heading for ease of memory
This
CD contains 812 pages of about 150 articles and many more subjects dealing with
Biblical topics. These cover materials in the Friends of the Nazarene
monthly magazine from June 1997 to October 2000. A list of these articles is
provided below.
BIBLICAL ARTICLES – A [219 PAGES]
·
DO NOT JOIN THEM! [LUKE 21:8]
·
Does John
14:19 Prove the Return of Christ Will Be Invisible?
·
What Is
the Meaning of Daniel 8:14?
·
How Is 1
Thessalonians 4:17 To Be Understood?
·
What is
"Spirituality"? [1 Corinthians 2]
·
What is
the first mention of the "resurrection" in the Bible?
·
The Only
True Religion---Does the Bible teach it?
·
Why We
Cannot Preach These Are "the Last Days"?
·
How Jesus
Died on Both a Tree and a Stake?
·
Is The
Bible Inspired? [2 Timothy 3:16]
·
WHAT IS
"THIS GENERATION"? [Matthew 24:34]
·
CELEBRATING
The "MEMORIAL" OF CHRIST’S DEATH [1 Cor 11:26]
·
The
"LITTLE FLOCK" AND "The FAITHFUL STEWARD" [luke 12:32]
·
Who Are
the Ones That Belong to the Father?
·
NAZARENE
LOVE [1 Corinthians 13]
·
The
parousia-Judgment [2 Corinthians 5:10]
·
DO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCES POINT TO A CREATOR? [Romans 1:20]
·
MAY PRAYERS BE DIRECTED TO JESUS RATHER THAN HIS FATHER?
·
ARE THERE TWO CHOICES OR OPTIONS FOR CHRISTIANS: HEAVEN OR
EARTH?
·
THE
PROPHETIC HORIZON: How We Can Know the Future
·
ARE THE "TWO PROPHETS"
AMONG US? [Revelation 11]
·
WITH WHOM IS THE "NEW
COVENANT" MADE? [jeremiah 31:31-35]
·
THOUGHTS ON THE PROVERBS [proverbs
23:1-11]
·
"FOLLOW
THE LAMB" [Revelation 14:4, 5]
·
WHAT IS
WRONG WITH CHRISTIANS TODAY?
·
THOUGHTS
ON THE PROVERBS [proverbs 23:12-19]
·
WHO HAS
"THE TRUTH"?
·
PAY
ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF PROPHECY [2 peter 1]
·
What is
"The Love"? [1 Corinthians 13]
·
WHO IS THE
"ONLY POTENTATE"? [1 Timothy 6:15]
·
GUARD
AGAINST EVERY KIND OF GREED! [luke 12:15]
·
WHAT IS
THE "BODY" AND WHO ARE THE "EAGLES"? [Mt 24:28; lk 17:37]
·
WHERE TO
FIND “INSPIRED INTERPRETATIONS”
·
GOD AND
JUDGMENT
·
A WARNING
TO THE JUDGMENTAL! [Matthew 7:1, 2]
·
THE
MEANING OF ROMANS CHAPTER 11
·
“YOU ARE
NOT PART OF THE WORLD” [john 15:19]
·
WHAT ARE
“TEACHINGS OF DEMONS”? [1 Timothy 4:1]
·
THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF CHRISTIAN ELDERS [1 Timothy 3:1; titus 1:5]
·
WHAT MAKES
WORSHIP “WORTHLESS”? [Matthew 15:9; james 1:26, 27]
·
THE
FIFTEEN STEPS TO HEAVENLY GLORY
·
ARE THE
“LAST DAYS” 2,000 YEARS LONG?
·
WORTHLESS
RELIGION AND DEAD FAITH
·
WALKING IN
CHRIST’S DOCTRINE [2 john]
·
IMITATE
GOOD AND NOT BAD [3 john]
·
“SEAL
NOT THIS BOOK!” [Revelation 22:10]
·
HOW TO
KNOW ONE IS BORN OF GOD [1 john]
·
WHERE WILL
CHRISTIAN’S SPEND ETERNITY? [2 Corinthians 5:1]
·
DID CHRIST
HAVE A PRE-EXISTENCE? [john 17:5]
·
EVERY
CHRISTIAN AN EVANGELIST!
·
WHAT IS
“ARMAGEDDON”? [Revelation 16:14, 16]
·
Should
“Hebrews” Contain the Tetragram?
·
“IS
CHRIST DIVIDED?” [1 Corinthians 1:10]
·
priests in
the “more perfect tent” [hebrews 9, 10]
·
“BEHOLD, A WHITE HORSE!”
[Revelation 6:1, 2]
·
An
Allusion to Christ’s Pre-existence in the Synoptics
·
EIGHT THINGS TO MAKE YOUR CALLING
SURE [2 Peter chapter 1]
·
OUR LORD TAUGHT THE RAPTURE! [1
Thessalonians 4:15]
·
NAZARENE PRINCIPLES [TRACT]
·
SEAL NOT THIS BOOK! [TRACT]
·
THE PROPHETIC HORIZON [TRACT]
·
FOLLOW THE LAMB [TRACT]
·
KEEP MY SABBATHS AND STAND IN AWE!
·
SIN OFFERING
·
THE BIBLICAL WOMAN
·
WHAT IS THE “GOSPEL”?
·
AGREE TO DISAGREE?
·
A DIFFERENT JESUS
·
BEHOLD, A RED HORSE
·
WHAT IS THE “REVELATION OF JESUS
CHRIST”?
·
FIRSTBORN MEANS “FIRST-CREATED”
·
KEY WORDS OF THE BIBLE
·
AFFIRMATION OF CONVICTIONS
·
OBSERVING THE LORD’S SUPPER IN A
WORTHY MANNER
·
MESSIAH’S SUFFERING AND DEATH
FORETOLD
BIBLICAL
ARTICLES -- D [197 PAGES]
·
CHRIST – THE DAY OF DEATH BETTER
THAN THE DAY OF BIRTH
·
DO BUSINESS UNTIL I RETURN
·
BIBLE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
·
NAZARENE PRINCIPLES – BIBLE STUDY
BOOKLET
·
THE “LOVE BOMB”
·
JEHOVAH IS OUR LAWGIVER [Isaiah
33:22]
·
FOR FREEDOM CHRIST HAS SET US FREE
[GAL 5:1]
·
MESSIAH’S PRE-EXISTENCE IN THE
HEBREW BIBLE
·
WHAT WE LEARN FROM YOUR LETTERS
[REV 2, 3]
·
WHAT KIND OF CONGREGATION WILL YOU
BE? [REV 2, 3]
·
BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED
·
TWO KINDS OF FOUNDATIONS [LUKE 6]
·
FRUITAGE THAT PREVENTS REMOVAL
[JOHN 15]
·
FEAR NOT, LITTLE FLOCK [LUKE 12]
·
INTRODUCTION TO NAZARENE COMMENTARY
2000
·
ILLUMINATED FELLOWSHIP [1 JOHN 1]
·
THE CHRIST-MIND – THE RIGHT
MENTAL ATTITUDE [PHIL 2]
·
ENTHRONED MESSIAH [PSALM 2]
·
YOUTH, REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR
[Ecclesiastes 12]
·
LAYING ON HANDS
·
HOW MANY WERE PRESENT AT PENTECOST?
[ACTS 1-2]
·
BASIC TEACHINGS TO LEAVE BEHIND
[HEBREWS 5, 6]
·
WHAT IS BABYLON THE GREAT?
[Revelation 17, 18]
·
SOUND MINDS AND HEALTHFUL TEACHING
[TITUS 2]
·
RICH OR POOR – WHAT DOES GOD
THINK?
·
HOW TO START A BIBLE READING GROUP
·
HEALINGS COMPARED
·
KEEP YOURSELVES IN GOD’S GRACE
·
WHEN WERE DANIEL AND REVELATION
WRITTEN?
·
BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED
CD-3 -- Nazarene
Commentary 2000©
[BIBLE STUDY
PUBLICATIONS]
CD-3
contains booklet to book-size Bible study publications in over 800 pages on a
range of specific subjects.
·
Nazarene Principles 2000 is a 175-page basic Bible study primer on the seven
principles found in the Lord’s Prayer. It is recommended for those first being
introduced to the teachings of Jesus the Nazarene.
·
Nazarene Commandments 2000 is a 30-page list of the 60 commandments of Jesus
the Nazarene with a brief commentary.
·
Nazarene Community 2000 is a 71-page discussion of church order and
fellowship. It includes commentary on Christian characteristics that will help
maintain congregational unity.
·
Nazarene Apocalypse 2000 is a 189-page commentary on Revelation and Daniel.
It can be used as a companion to the Nazarene Commentary 2000© on the
book of Revelation and Daniel.
·
Where Are the Dead? is an 80-page discussion on the subject of death and the after-life
according to the Bible. It begins with Genesis chapter one and follows the
subject through to Revelation.
·
The Trinitarian Error [De Trinitatis Erroribus] is a 242-page
comprehensive consideration of the doctrine of the Trinity. Virtually every
verse used on this subject is discussed. There is a substantial collection of
the comments of various Biblical scholars and historians. There is a thorough
consideration of all the “early church fathers” and their comments on the
nature of God and Christ.
These
CDs may be requested by sending $20 for individual CDs, or $50 for three. Checks
or money orders should be made out to “Mark Miller” and addressed to:
NC2000
1686 Yurok Street
Orange, California 92867
It
should be kept in mind that much of the older material found in Nazarene
Commentary 2000© may be downloaded in whole or part on the Friends of
the Nazarene FREE OF CHARGE.
It
is anticipated that Messianic Confessions – A Soul’s Odyssey by Mark
Heber Miller will also be made available on CD for a gift of $20. These funds
will be used in “keeping the poor in mind.” [Galatians 2:10] Messianic
Confessions is the life story of Mark Miller’s experiences among
Jehovah’s Witnesses from 1955 to 1996. The autobiography covers Mark’s life
and the reasons he felt moved to walk away from the Watchtower Society in 1996.
====
END ====
[Hebrews
12:2-4]
by
James Noble - Long Beach, California
Many Christians struggle with a deep weariness, a tiredness that goes far beyond
the physical. There may have been a time of joyfulness when they could
energetically almost sing their way through each day. But now that's a thing of
the past, hardly even remembered. Instead, they're tired. Tired of pushing.
Tired of being one of the few people who really seems to care. Tired of sparse
results for all their hard work. Or perhaps they're tired of being taken for
granted. You may be saying, "How did you know?" That's
easy. Just about every Christian eventually experience's this firsthand at some
time in life. But a powerful and healing truth in this regard has been provided
for us in God's Word at Hebrews 12:2-4: “Observe
carefully the Arch- Leader and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus -- who endured
execution because of the Joy that lay before him -- disdained the humiliation
[of the Cross]. [He has] sat down on the right hand of the Throne of The God.
... Consider carefully yourselves such a person who endured such contradictory
hostility of sinners against themselves, SO THAT YOUR SOULS MAY NEVER GET TIRED
AND GIVE UP. In your own agony against that sin as yet you have not resisted
until [you have shed] blood.” [NCMM]
Here's
the cure for weary workers - or, perhaps also the preventive prescription. The
writer says, in other words, "Keep your eyes on Jesus so you won't get
tired and discouraged." It is a peculiar kind of weariness that can afflict
those who conscientiously take on spiritual responsibility. It is a deep
emotional kind that also saps them physically. It can come from many sources. It
may be all the many needs and demands in their lives. It may result from being a
member of the too few who carry the too much. It may be triggered by long hours
or impossible-to meet-financial needs. Or it may me be from frustrating
relationship problems.
You
will notice God's diagnosis in Hebrews 12 gives no indication that the pressures
or stresses of the Christian life and ministry are the root cause of our
weariness.
The
cause is clearly identified as taking
your eyes off Jesus. You may say, "Well, I already knew
that." No doubt you did, if you are a Christian. But is it possible you
forgot and have been doing God's work in your own strength? Although knowing
better, have you gone from God working through you to the weariness-creating
tact of you working for God?
Or
have you just wrongly focused your eyes, been looking at the results you're
producing instead of the Savior you're serving. Or maybe you started to look at
the people around you, at their difficulties, their negative traits, their
approval. Focusing on people, on tasks, on results, instead of focusing on
Christ is bound to wear one out!
Consider
the Bible's example of Jacob. Jacob worked hard for seven years so he could
marry Rachel, "But they seemed like only a few days to him because of
his love for her." So too, when your
work is all about loving the person for whom you're working, time flies and the
burden seems lighter.
Have
you stuck yourself down in Weary Ravine, made yourself prone to discouragement,
to thoughts of quitting that to which were called, made your ministry
mechanical? If so, it's time to get your sights back on Jesus Christ. His love
compelled you to serve in the first place. Go back to your true Christian roots
--Christ himself! Christ on the cross! Christ glorified at God's right hand!
Return to the love you first had, to the simple serving of God through serving
the master he appointed over us, his Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life for
us. Then -perhaps in no time at all- you will be singing praises throughout the
day again.
“Let
us fix our eyes on Jesus so that we will not grow weary and lose heart.”
====
END ====
by
Mark Heber Miller [Hemet, California - ]
Ecclesiastes
12:1 Now remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
I
cannot remember when I first thought about God. I know at my birth my mother
prayed that I would be a minister or Biblical teacher. I know I first completed
a reading of the King James Bible when I was twelve. So my first memory of God
is when I was twelve, when I first accepted or received Christ and was baptized
in the First Baptist church of Hemet, California.
I
am now 62 – 50 years later !!!! – and I have been “remembering” my
Creator for most of my life. I know now for a certainty that starting to
“remember your Creator” when very young stays with you over the years. When
we are young our minds and memories are like great sponges that will absorb
either godly or satanic thoughts. So I can see the wisdom in Solomon’s word
above. I would not have understood – possibly even denied – the following
words, however.
For
before you know it destructive days will come upon you,
And the years will hit when you will say, “I do not like this!”
A
young person, in the bloom of youth and vigor, has little comprehension of what
really lies ahead in the days and years ahead. I believe now that we were
created with hard-wiring in Eden to live forever. So we begin – and often
remain through our lives – with an in-built conviction that we will live
forever and never die. It is something like the way Solomon put it also in
Ecclesiastes, “God has put eternity in their hearts.” [Ecclesiastes
2:11]
This
kernel of eternity remains with most of humanity despite hearing such maxims as,
“There are only two sure things – death and taxes.” While politicians
promise not to do the later, the former is one of life’s absolutes. We are
going to die! However, before we die something else is going to happen. We are
going to grow older and older and older.
It
is a wise youth who learns early that “destructive days” are coming and it
is best to prepare for these years when most will say, “I do not like this.”
Unfortunately western culture, and those who have adopted it, “rage against
the night” in a constant state of denial. Few people are willing to discuss
death, or for that matter, even growing old.
I
know when I was young I thought myself immortal. Accidents and death happened to
other people. I was 18 when I actually saw my first dead person. I was asked to
conduct the services for an elderly gentlemen I studied the Bible with. I can
remember my first look at that waxy face in repose as though in deep slumber. I
can remember the smell of flowers, which to do this day nauseate me some. For I
was to go on to see dead persons in several contexts, but mainly in conducting a
couple hundred funeral services from everything to a still-born baby to a person
a hundred years old. No matter what – we die.
Solomon
writes that it is the wise person who prepares for old age and death. Indeed, if
given the choice of attending a funeral or a banquet, the wise king of Israel
said: “It is better to visit the house of mourning than attend a banquet,
because this is the end of all humanity, and the person still alive should
soberly consider it. … The heart of the wise person is in the house of
mourning.” [Ecclesiastes 7:2, 4 NCMM] So rather than deny our ultimate
death, it is wise to begin to consider it early in life and then take wise and
godly measures to assure that ‘the day of [our] death is better than the day
of our birth.’ [Ecclesiastes 7:1] This will become so if we die with a good
name with God.
Ecclesiastes
12:2 Do it before sunlight, moonlight, and starlight grow dim,
And things grow cloudy, followed by rain.
I
have always had good eye sight. I can remember well the first time I began to
wear glasses. I was about fifty years old and a friend asked me: “Mark, you
don’t wear glasses, do you?” I told him I had always had good vision. It was
not more than a few weeks later than I noticed that I could not read freeway
road signs in the distance. Also, it took much longer for my eyes to adjust to
darkness. It was no longer after that I had to be begin to wear glasses for
driving. With eye strain I noticed the my eyes watered more than they used to.
There was no denying it, those “destructive days” were coming upon me.
Actually, they had begun much earlier.
Ecclesiastes 12:3 In that day the house-guards will tremble,
and valiant men
become bent.
I
remember very well when I was first aware that I was not “young” anymore. I
was about thirty-three and I discovered that I could no longer keep up with
nineteen year olds on bicycles or climbing big mountains. Also, I noticed that I
did not recover as quickly after great and vigorous exercise. Those sore muscles
and aching bones did not go away the next day. They remained a week!
I
once could do 600 sit-ups, 50 in one minute. My arms could do 100 pull ups, and
pull my body weight up with just two fingers around a small nubbin of rock. Now
I cannot do a single pull-up or sit-up. “Miller, you have gone to pot!” I
once could throw a baseball or football a very long distance. Now I would never
attempt to through anything that was not underhand.
My
legs were always powerful. I could run a mile in 4:22, race a bicycle 5 miles in
10 minutes, run 3 miles in 13 minutes, ride a bicycle 100 miles up steep Sierra
mountains. I could swim a hundred meters in several strokes all under 55
seconds. Once I leg-pressed 700 pounds. Now? I cannot even swim without pain. I
cannot walk 10 feet without pain.
I
remember distinctly when my legs began to go. In my early 30s a group of
climbers were trying to tackle a huge boulder “problem” but no one could
surmount the last move above an over-hanging lip. I reached the lip, swung my
left leg high above my head, body horizontal, and did a “heal lock” [almost
unknown then] and torqued my whole body up over the lip. I heard something snap,
and two days later I was undergoing the first of four surgeries on my left knee.
Now the joint needs a complete replacement with an artificial knee.
More
and more I noticed I had a harder time standing straight. I was becoming more
and more bent over. I also noticed that my hands were not as sure and nimble as
they once were. Sometimes, between poor eyesight and shaky fingers, I had to
concentrate to put the key in the lock to open the door.
The
grinding women will become idle because they are few,
and the ladies
looking out the window grow dark.
Now,
my teeth, that was something else. Between inheriting the weak teeth of my
mother, and lacking good sources of calcium as a child during World War Two –
as well as military dentists – I lost back molars early. In ancient cultures
– and most today – decay and loss of teeth is a natural progression of age.
Even today, when visiting and living in countries around the world, I noted that
all the older persons lacked some front teeth. It is only in the richer areas of
the western world where this problem is delayed by orthodonics and expensive
dentistry.
Glasses,
and now laser surgery, may keep the “ladies” viewing well into old age, but
ultimately the eyes grow dim. I have to be careful how I chew and bite because
my “grinding women” have become fewer. I cannot look out the window without
glasses and even then my vision is not as sharp as it once was.
Ecclesiastes
12:4, 5 And the doors to the streets are closed, also the sound of the grinding
mill becomes low. One is startled at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters
of song are silenced. They are frightened of heights, and there are unknown
horrors along the path.
Young
people can hear noises even outside in the street. My hearing has always been
good, though my father had to have hearing aids and my sister also struggles
with poor hearing. Though my hearing remains fairly good, I am plagued by
constant ringing in my left ear. I try to mask this by music or the TV, but
often it still bothers me and I have to learn to concentrate to ignore it.
Other
than hearing aids, the ears have not yet succumbed to some miracle of modern
medicine available to all. Most will lose some hearing as they grow older. Often
one observes how an older person is suddenly startled by someone coming up from
behind, even though they make some noise. I expect that in the decade or so that
I have left, my hearing will also worsen, until everyone who speaks with me will
have to repeat everything.
Whereas
I could once leap from one ledge to another a thousand feet above the ground,
now I have trouble just getting up on the doctor’s weight scale. I find myself
holding on more often going down steps or stairs. What happened to that fearless
man?
The
almond tree has blossoms, and the locust can only drag himself along,
Spring
and summer seem to go so fast now. Each summer I now say, “Make this summer
last.” And I have no more said it – and zip – it is gone and here is
winter again ticking off the clock. It may be spring but I drag along now like a
grasshopper with no spring in my step. My back is in constant pain and I note
that most elderly people I observe are bent over and walking with a cane. Almost
every person I know over 60 suffers from lower back pain. I used to like to
shoot pool or billiards, but last year I thought I would try. After but ten
minutes the pain in my back was so severe I had to put up the cue. No more pool
or snooker. Of course, ping pong is out too.
And
there is no more desire.
I
remember waking every day full of desire and passion for the new day and the
experiences ahead. I leaped out of bed ready to go. Now I do the log roll to get
to the edge of the bed. Then I have to raise myself up just right so I do not
“pull” anything. Then I must sit there a bit before standing up. The zest is
gone. There is no more desire. I remember my father in his 70s sitting at the
edge of his bed cursing over and over until he could get the strength to move to
the toilet. This was once a powerful man who could shoulder a two-hundred pound
propane tank from a boat and up a bank to a fishing cabin.
When
I was young there was not only a lot of desire, there was so much it was a
problem to keep under control. I remember distinctly thinking that I could not
wait until I was 60 – I have no idea why someone in their 20s would think
“60” – when these “desires” were not so profound. Now that I am 62
“desire” has virtually vanished. I could not even dream it up. Why has all
of this happen so … so QUICKLY?
Because
humankind is moving toward a dwelling of unknown time,
when the
mourners parade down the street.
The
once “immortal” youth now wonders how much time is left. Irreversibly time
and age march on toward an Absolute Truth – I am going to die. Just like
everyone else. Whether there will be mourners marching down the street I do not
know. But I can faintly hear that sound. In the distance – and they are moving
toward me.
I
am not afraid of death, largely because of my faith. Dying is very easy. I
actually have done it once and come extremely close a handful of times.
It is getting there that is the hard part. We seem to “begin to die”
around middle age – which is 35-45 – not 60. In the last three years my
mother, step-mother and father have all gone to that “dwelling of unknown
time” – the grave. All my grandfathers and grandmothers and my aunts and
uncles are all gone. I am at last an orphan. Most of us will end up as orphans.
It
is a sad story because “death is an enemy” and not a friend. [1 Corinthians
15:26] Death takes our family and our friends. However, I also know that the
same writer who said death was an enemy also said, “Death is swallowed up
forever” and “Death, where is your sting?” [1 Corinthians 15:54, 55] I am
so blessed and grateful that I learned these things in my youth. I not only
thought about God – I remembered Him! By constant reading of His Word He is in
my memory.
Ecclesiastes
12:6 [Do it] before the silver cord is removed,
I
have remembered my Creator well in advance of that time when that silver cord of
life is removed or broken. I will die with God as the Source of my life now and
also in the future. I am so grateful that I have remembered my Creator
throughout over 50 years now. I do not have to fret about wasted youth and now
only in my later years first begin to remember Him. Really, I do not know how
people exist who have not remembered God during their youthful and productive
years.
And
the golden bowl is crushed,
My
brain is not what it used to be. Now the brain that scanned everything important
in English history and literature cannot remember whether I took my morning
medicines. Faces are familiar, but names are not. I know that my brain will be
“crushed” at death and I will enter an unconscious sleep in the dust of the
earth. [Ecclesiastes 3:19-21; 9:5, 10]
And
at the jar at the well is broken, and the water-wheel at the spring is crushed.
My
athletic heart – that marvelous pump that has worked so many years – is now
weaker and I must be careful of strain. Medications control blood-pressure to a
degree and occasionally I have an irregular heart beat. My grandparents and
parents all lived into their 80s and most died quickly of a stroke. It is likely
that is how I will die when that trusty jar and water-wheel stops. It can only
beat just so many times. It has already beat more than seven million times,
accept for one moment when it stopped for almost two minutes.
Ecclesiastes
12:7 At that time the dust returns to the ground as it was,
I
have seen men and women die. I have seen well over two-hundred deceased persons
in many different contexts. I know from the Bible, like animals and most living
things, we will all “return to the ground” from where our first father came.
Adam was created from the clay of Eden. [Genesis 2:7] Right here in
Ecclesiastes, Solomon compares humans and animals in their deaths: “Eventually
the same thing happens to humans and animals. Eventually they all die, because
they all have one breath. So a human is not superior to animals because
everything is futile. All go to the same place. They have all come from the
ground and thus they are all returning to the ground. Who is aware that the
human breath ascends and the animal breath descends into the earth.” [Ecclesiastes
3:19-21 NCMM] With this David agreed: “The human breath escapes and they all
return to the ground. On that very day all their thoughts must end.”
[Psalm 146:4 NCMM]
And
the breath returns to the God who gave it.
I
know that God is the Source of all life, including His only-begotten Son. [Psalm
36:9; John 5:26] When I die that miracle of the life-force that kept me
breathing “returns” to the Creator. Job said as much: “If God
determines it regarding any human and He gathers that person’s breath to
Himself, then all humanity will breathe their last, and earthlings will return
to the ground.” [Job 34:14, 15 NCMM]
I know ultimately this old, tired and painful frame will
turn back into dust.
