Warm Blankets
Notes
Transcript
Creature Comforts
Creature Comforts
I want to start today with a look into a time that I have eluded to a few times. I’m going to be reading something I wrote a little over 9 years ago...
I am sure that many of you that are reading have had loved ones in the hospital at one point or another, I am also sure that some people have been in my shoes. I really only want one thing and I am sure that everyone reading this knows what that is. I want them to fix her, and they are albeit slowly. Docs are coming in today of course, and they are going to see if it’s possible to pull the breathing tube at some point, which will be great, not sure if they have to to another round of dialysis yet that may be a factor. I will give an update later in the day when we know more as far as her condition is. I thought I would update how our night went instead.
When I went in last night I talked to her nurse that was here for the majority of the day, what a great nurse, answered questions and asked about our life a little bit. She got on at 11 and was here till a little bit after 11 so she was here when I made my trek back to my bed, a blue reclining chair that i have against the front wall of J’s icu room.
Our routine of an evening is a simple one but it is important to me. I ask a few questions when I get into the room, hold j’s hand and kiss her on the cheek tell her I love her and then talk about you all, and about the girls, and about what we are going to do this summer. Then I pull the uncomfortable chair right next to her bed and read to her from the Bible. We are reading the psalms right now I like that a bit better than some of the other stories and chapters, somehow I don’t think she needs to hear levitical law or the genealogies at this point, still we may get there who knows. After I read the Bible to her we pray for a bit, and then I read from a story book, right now I am reading to her from a Gregory McGuire book the third one in his Oz series, it’s about the Lion I am wondering if he is going to also talk about the tin man in a book and the scare crow in another, He steers clear of Dorothy except for passing references, which I find refreshing.
After that I talk to her a bit more and hold her hand, put lotion on her feet and cover her up. I am thinking of getting some nail polish for her so she can have pretty toes and doing that if she is still knocked out today, did I just say that.
After that I just sit in my chair and watch her or type on here or watch hulu or big bang theory or whatever. It’s a nice distraction. Last night had some pretty neat additions. The staff that was back there was really great they all have been I appreciate Jim from when we first got here, lasts night staff just was very welcoming like he was but the whole staff was that way. One of them had brought all sorts of stuff to make hot chocolate and not just the swiss miss mind you but the gourmet stuff with marshmallows, whipped creme, and chocolate syrup. When they brought me my cup it was hot and looked like something that would have come from St. ARbukcs. I have missed my weekly pilgrimage to the shrine of the patron saint of coffee. (thanks Keith for the reference)
The best part of the night though is when they bring me blankets, I so want one of those warmers nice hot blanket out of the oven. What a feeling to drift off to sleep with a warm blanket.
There is a lot to unpack in that blog post. If you really are interested in the journey that we were on all those years ago I would encourage you to head over to
https://walkingonedges.blogspot.com/ click on archive more and read January 2010. You can subscribe as well, I’ll be dusting off the blog The month of November and posting weekly, hope to see you there.
Head to
What I want to focus on though is the idea at the very end of that post. The hot chocolate and the warm blankets and what they represented for me. Is similar to what we find Paul asking for.
When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.
What is going on in this verse. What is Paul asking for. Simple, he’s asking for some creature comforts as he comes to the end of his ministry. He does some important things in this chapter and we are going to unpack a few of them but right at the start I want to skip ahead to this to look at everything that he is doing at the end of this letter through that lens.
Lets look at that verse in a bigger context and then we will jump up and see what it means to wind down in a way that the task we have been called to continues.
The comfort of friends
The comfort of friends
Make every effort to come to me soon, for Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
It’s okay to need someone in your life that you trust, that you know will be able to lift you up when you are down that will listen when things are not what you want. When you feel alone, abandoned. That’s where Paul is right now. Paul wants Timothy to come see him, He has Luke with him but that’s not enough and of note is that he wants Mark to come as well. This is interesting when you realize that this is the same John Mark that broke up the Team of Paul and Barnabas.
Acts
Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul did not think it appropriate to take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. There was such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.
Paul in his age and at the end of life must have seen all that was going on and must have had opportunity to work with him again and at that point someone that was a comfort to Paul. Barnabas had been right. Give him another chance...
We need to cultivate relationships that stand the test of time, especially with people that can encourage us, call us on our mess, and love us anyway.
Pass on what you have learned
Pass on what you have learned
Now lets pop back up to the purpose of the whole letter. Paul want’s Timothy to do the work we are called to and he wants him to do it well.
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom: Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
Sometimes being a Christ Follower is inconvenient. (expound)
Notice that when we are teaching those in relationship with God those that claim to have a relationship with Jesus we are to do it all with GREAT PATIENCE and teaching. It’s not enough to just tell someone do it it’s important to teach them why. Because
For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.
Lets be clear we are all like this at times, Paul is telling Timothy don’t just abandon the people that are looking for affirmation. Reach out to the m patiently and stand firm but teach them why you are standing firm.
But they aren’t like us
But they aren’t like us
But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
If all you know is other Christ followers stop only knowing other christ followers.
This last bit of instruction before Paul goes into asking Timothy to come is so important.
Notice that Timothy’s ministry is not one sided. He is not just supposed to teach and hang out with people like he is. He is to work hard, make tough choices and reach outside of his comfort zone.
The payoff
The payoff
Paul was telling Timothy how to live a life that would wind up having meaning and purpose. A life similar to his own. While Timothy could not be another Paul, the principles that Paul lived by would serve him well in the end of his days.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.
We will all be poured out at the end. Nothing left but dust and ash, ah but what happens next…Is the greatest thing of all an eternity with the one who made us.
This Week’s Challenge Invite someone to church
This Week’s Challenge Invite someone to church
Invite someone to church.
Invite someone to church.
