worthy

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1982

Posted by edrocha1961 on October 15, 2016
Posted in: English. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

passat-evaldemeia

 

The year was 1982.

The youth group in our church planned a weekend trip to another city some 300 miles far from São Paulo where we lived.

We needed about 10 cars to take everybody, but I had a 1974 Chevette, and I was not sure if it would be able to handle the 600 mile round trip.

At that time I was dating Liz and she had an aunt who was running for a State Representative for one of the major political parties. To help their candidates the party made available a brand new VW Passat painted with their name, as well as several other candidates for other positions. Besides that, the car had loud speakers on the roof, so the candidates could advertise their platform as they drove around.

Well, I was offered to take that car for our trip and I gladly accepted, so we hit the road with this moving billboard.

During the trip we made a restroom stop at a gas station, so we fell behind the other cars from our group. That’s when I decided to catch up by going a little faster than the speed limit, which didn’t last very long: I was stopped by the Highway Patrol.

As soon as the officer came to my window he expressed his frustration over my behavior.

He said that by breaking the law I was hurting the image of “our party”. He went on and on about how bad it would look for people to see a representative of the party doing something illegal.

Despite the embarrassment, I was happy that he decided to let us go, after finishing his sermon and obtaining my commitment that I would not do that again.

Actually I had to admit that he was right: I was representing the party, and my behavior would reflect in people’s perception.

 

This memory hit me the other day when I was preparing the Bible study we are doing in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

As I started studying chapter 4, I read this: “Therefore, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received”.

In the first three chapters of Ephesians Paul presents how God has loved us and provided salvation by His grace, so we can have a relationship with Him. Now Paul starts to describe the expectations for our lives as a consequence of that relationship.

We don’t need to behave a certain way to be accepted by God, but because we have been accepted by Him.

People are watching us and the way we live may bring them closer to the Lord, or push them away.

Are we living a life worthy of our calling?

It’s Almost Tomorrow

Posted by edrocha1961 on March 13, 2014
Posted in: English. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

agingface2

Many years ago I heard the story about a conversation between two old men.

Bill is visiting Frank and as they sit in the living room he starts complaining:

“Frank, I am getting old. I keep forgetting things. I forget names, I forget what I was doing, I forget what I was going to say…”

Before Bill finishes the sentence, Frank says:

“Don’t you worry, Bill. I found these pills that are wonderful. I used to forget things as well, until I found this medication. You take one in the morning and one in the evening and your memory will be like that of a boy.”

“That is great. I can surely use something like that. What is the name of that wonderful medication?” asks Bill, sitting on the edge of his chair.

“Well… the name is… it is… How do you call that flower that is frequently red, and has thorns?” asks Frank.

“Rose?” suggests Bill.

“Yes!” says Frank, as he turns and shouts towards the kitchen: “Rose, what is the name of those pills that I take for my memory?”

Why are you laughing? We may not be there yet, but it will come. And there is nothing we can do about it.

Well… maybe there is. No, I am neither going to discuss the most recent anti-aging discoveries, nor the fountain of youth.

What I have been asking myself, and I am asking you now is: What are we going to do with the next 20, 30 or 40 years of our lives? Before our vitality and memory are gone.

Now is the time to use all we have learned and experienced. Time to teach. Time to share. Time to care. We can’t “grow weary” now. This can be our best time.

Billy Graham, who is now 95, wrote a book in 2011 called “Nearing Home: Life, Faith and Finishing Well” where he explores the aging process and challenges the readers to persevere. Dr. Graham says: “All my life, I was taught how to die as a Christian, but no one ever taught me how I ought to live in the years before I die.” By the way, he wrote two more books after that one.

So, what about you? How do you plan on using this phase of your life? How can it glorify our father?

Is this the time to switch from focusing on success to significance? It’s almost tomorrow!