SUNSET and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar. (Lord Alfred Tennyson, 1809-1892)
The poem by Tennyson discuss the thoughts that many a man or woman has at the end of their life, the final trip, "crossing the bar".
I like what Tennyson writes, "I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crossed the bar."
As Paul wrote:" For to me to live isChrist, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better (Phil 1:21-23)"
What better thoughts to have, than to yearn for the presence of Christ, not only in life but in death.
As hard as it may sound or seem, the end of everyone's journey is death--a physical end to life as it now exists, and then a new journey beyond.
Paul yearn to see Christ, to be with him, to look face to face with his pilot when he crossed the bar.
While Paul realised that living was for Christ, dying was his gain. While he walked this earth he served his Risen Savior, after crossing the bar, he was home.
Today we may see only the life we now lead, the problems that we face and the struggles the morrow may bring. Look ahead to the day when you too will cross the bar and see your Pilot face to face. Enjoy life today, but look forward to the day you put out to sea!
Until next time on my front porch.
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Sunday, June 06, 2004
For we yet being without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will with difficulty die for a righteous one, yet perhaps one would even dare to die for a good one. But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:6-8)
This past week has been one full of memories, both real and others formed from other people’s lives (via words, recollections, television or books).
First there is the sixth anniversary of the invasion of France, commonly known as D-Day.
Then also the 62nd anniversary of the battle of Midway and then finally the passing of a great American president, President Reagan.
First D-Day.
World War II was horrible. It has been written over and over how it could have been avoided ir only this or that had happened, but this and that didn’t happen and war came. To many countries whether they wanted it or not. Not only men and women from this country bot other countries stood up to an evil tyrant and gave their lives.
In the USA we are remembering the sacrifice of many a man that remains forever young. Who fell at Anzio, Scilliy, Tunisia, Normandy, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Pearl Harbor, in the Atlantic, the Pacific, in the air, on the sea and on the land.
Sixty-two years ago the U.S. won an important battle against Japan that basically decided the war (there were still 3 years of fighting to go)–the battle of Midway. Part of that victory was torpedo squadron 8. Out of 15 planes, 30 men, only one returned to his aircraft carrier after the battle. 29 men died in approximately fifteen to twenty minutes, just-like-that-they were gone. But their sacrifice was not in vain. Their wave top attack attracted the Japanese fighters down to the waves and allowed the American diver bombers to sink three of the four Japanese aircraft carriers. And then it was Japan’s turn to lose its young men.....
All over the world, this was repeated, men died for a cause in a country they never heard of.
The comparisons are so obvious. Jesus died for us while we were sinners, evil, lost from God and separate from the freedom that only He can give. And as we read in Romans, it is indeed to die for a righteous person, let along for just any man. But Christ died for us, even when we deserved far less.
Today, as I head out to church to worship my Creator, Lord and Savior, I will remember His sacrifice that He gave for me. Just-like-that-He died for me. Why? Because He loved me so.
Then I will remember the veterans who died to keep my country free and then went home.
Its been a week of remembrance... a week of sacrifice....let’s remember THE sacrifice that sets us all free—each and every day.
Praise the Lord!
(Romans 5:6-8)
This past week has been one full of memories, both real and others formed from other people’s lives (via words, recollections, television or books).
First there is the sixth anniversary of the invasion of France, commonly known as D-Day.
Then also the 62nd anniversary of the battle of Midway and then finally the passing of a great American president, President Reagan.
First D-Day.
World War II was horrible. It has been written over and over how it could have been avoided ir only this or that had happened, but this and that didn’t happen and war came. To many countries whether they wanted it or not. Not only men and women from this country bot other countries stood up to an evil tyrant and gave their lives.
In the USA we are remembering the sacrifice of many a man that remains forever young. Who fell at Anzio, Scilliy, Tunisia, Normandy, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Pearl Harbor, in the Atlantic, the Pacific, in the air, on the sea and on the land.
Sixty-two years ago the U.S. won an important battle against Japan that basically decided the war (there were still 3 years of fighting to go)–the battle of Midway. Part of that victory was torpedo squadron 8. Out of 15 planes, 30 men, only one returned to his aircraft carrier after the battle. 29 men died in approximately fifteen to twenty minutes, just-like-that-they were gone. But their sacrifice was not in vain. Their wave top attack attracted the Japanese fighters down to the waves and allowed the American diver bombers to sink three of the four Japanese aircraft carriers. And then it was Japan’s turn to lose its young men.....
All over the world, this was repeated, men died for a cause in a country they never heard of.
The comparisons are so obvious. Jesus died for us while we were sinners, evil, lost from God and separate from the freedom that only He can give. And as we read in Romans, it is indeed to die for a righteous person, let along for just any man. But Christ died for us, even when we deserved far less.
Today, as I head out to church to worship my Creator, Lord and Savior, I will remember His sacrifice that He gave for me. Just-like-that-He died for me. Why? Because He loved me so.
Then I will remember the veterans who died to keep my country free and then went home.
Its been a week of remembrance... a week of sacrifice....let’s remember THE sacrifice that sets us all free—each and every day.
Praise the Lord!