Will You or I Be Bundled With Tares or Wheat?

Satan sowing seeds

Another parable put he [Jesus] forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. (Matthew 13, KJV)

Sinners of the same sort will be bundled together in the great day: a bundle of atheists, a bundle of epicures, a bundle of persecutors, and a great bundle of hypocrites. Those who have been associates in sin, will be so in shame and sorrow; and it will be an aggravation of their misery -- Matthew Henry

Abigail pronouncing a blessing upon David

my Hope in Christ: bundle of Life!

Gospel According to Matthew, Chapter 13

Parable of the Tares (weeds)

Hymn: In Christ Alone by J Keith Getty

Happy Birthday to composer, Keith Getty (born 16 December 1974).  Below is a video of one of his most beloved, most requested, most sung, most popular hymns. Sung by his wife, Kristyn. 

Awesome lyrics (Check-out the words in the link below), and doctrinally correct; co-written by Stuart Townend. 

(BTW, whenever popular, in-the-limelight Christian folk come to mind, I often say a prayer for them, in the name of Jesus Christ.  What pressures and besetting sins they face daily, God only knows.)

Lyrics: In Christ Alone


Julian Keith Getty


Kristyn Getty


Stuard Townend

***************

Lessons from the Sparrow

"His Eye Is on the Sparrow"
by Civilla Martin, 1905 

 was chilly in Manhattan but warm inside the Starbucks shop on 51st Street and Broadway, just a skip up from Times Square. Early November weather in New York City holds only the slightest hint of the bitter chill of late December and January, but it's enough to send the masses crowding indoors to vie for available space and warmth.

For a musician, it's the most lucrative Starbucks location in the world, I'm told, and consequently, the tips can be substantial if you play your tunes right. Apparently, we were striking all the right chords that night, because our basket was almost overflowing.

It was a fun, low-pressure gig - I was playing keyboard and singing backup for my friend who also added rhythm with an arsenal of percussion instruments. We mostly did pop songs from the '40s to the '90s with a few original tunes thrown in. During our emotional rendition of the classic, "If You Don't Know Me by Now," I noticed a lady sitting in one of the lounge chairs across from me. She was swaying to the beat and singing along.

After the tune was over, she approached me. "I apologize for singing along on that song. Did it bother you?" she asked.

"No," I replied. "We love it when the audience joins in. Would you like to sing up front on the next selection?"

To my delight, she accepted my invitation. "You choose," I said. "What are you in the mood to sing?"

"Well. ... do you know any hymns?"

Hymns? This woman didn't know who she was dealing with. I cut my teeth on hymns. Before I was even born, I was going to church. I gave our guest singer a knowing look. "Name one."

"Oh, I don't know. There are so many good ones. You pick one."

"Okay," I replied. "How about 'His Eye is on the Sparrow'?"

My new friend was silent, her eyes averted. Then she fixed her eyes on mine again and said, "Yeah. Let's do that one."

She slowly nodded her head, put down her purse, straightened her jacket and faced the center of the shop. With my two-bar setup, she began to sing.

Why should I be discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?

The audience of coffee drinkers was transfixed. Even the gurgling noises of the cappuccino machine ceased as the employees stopped what they were doing to listen. The song rose to its conclusion.

I sing because I'm happy;

I sing because I'm free.

For His eye is on the sparrow

And I know He watches me.

When the last note was sung, the applause crescendoed to a deafening roar that would have rivaled a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Embarrassed, the woman tried to shout over the din, "Oh, y'all go back to your coffee! I didn't come in here to do a concert! I just came in here to get somethin' to drink, just like you!" But the ovation continued. I embraced my new friend. "You, my dear, have made my whole year! That was beautiful!"

"Well, it's funny that you picked that particular hymn," she said.

"Why is that?"

"Well . .." she hesitated again, "that was my daughter's favorite song."

"Really!" I exclaimed.

"Yes," she said, and then grabbed my hands. By this time, the applause had subsided and it was business as usual.. "She was 16. She died of a brain tumor last week."

I said the first thing that found its way through my stunned silence. "Are you going to be okay?"

She smiled through tear-filled eyes and squeezed my hands. "I'm gonna be okay. I've just got to keep trusting the Lord and singing his songs, and everything's gonna be just fine." She picked up her bag, gave me her card, and then she was gone.

Was it just a coincidence that we happened to be singing in that particular coffee shop on that particular November night? Coincidence that this wonderful lady just happened to walk into that particular shop? Coincidence that of all the hymns to choose from, I just happened to pick the very hymn that was the favorite of her daughter, who had died just the week before? I refuse to believe it.

God has been arranging encounters in human history since the beginning of time, and it's no stretch for me to imagine that he could reach into a coffee shop in midtown Manhattan and turn an ordinary gig into a revival. It was a great reminder that if we keep trusting him and singing his songs, everything's gonna be okay.

The next time you feel like GOD can't use YOU, just remember...

Noah was a drunk

Abraham was too old

Isaac was a daydreamer

Jacob was a liar

Leah was ugly

Joseph was abused

Moses had a stuttering problem

Gideon was afraid

Samson had long hair and was a womanizer

Rahab was a prostitute

Jeremiah and Timothy were too young

David had an affair and was a murderer

Elijah was suicidal

Isaiah preached naked

Jonah ran from God

Naomi was a widow

Job went bankrupt

John the Baptist ate bugs

Peter denied Christ

The Disciples fell asleep while praying

Martha worried about everything

The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once

Zaccheus was too small

Paul was too religious

Timothy had an ulcer...AND

Lazarus was dead!





Original post
Starbucks & Sparrows






*******************************************

Remembering Air Force Soldier Kim

It has been 13 years since Kim's untimely death. 
I will never forget my feelings of utter shock and disbelief on that Sunday morning.  I had to read the awful news on the Church Bulletin, for pete's sake!  Why hadn't I been personally told the night before?  They attempted to call me on the phone, someone responds. (I was not yet on FB then).

Her hubby is not at all in the daughter's life. Guilt, perhaps? And/or  gazing at R would be a very painful reminder of what he lost -- and the life he could have had -- if only.

I've noticed more than ever how much R's features are very much like her Mom's.  Kim's own sister even says that their gait is similar.

R's auntie & grandma

Links

J & B's Wedding

Burial Site

**********************************************************************

Wheaton College: Dad of Ethan Roser Asks for a Million More Ethans

Mark Roser's son,  Ethan, was killed in a sport-related accident at our son's college in the Spring of 2017. A fine, upstanding, Christ-loving young man --- gone in an instant. I wept then.  I weep now. Yet ...




Link
Student Killed in Track & Field Accident


Link
Family & Wheaton College Lean on Jesus

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Revelation 14:4-5

Memorial Day 2013 for a Fallen Soldier

Happy Memorial Day

This is the cemetery plot of our friends' daughter. She died a few years ago, as a soldier, but not in the hands of an enemy combatant. Our hope remains in Christ, and we will see Kim in heaven. I want to honor her and all soldiers who have served their country honorably on this Memorial Day 2013.  






************************************************************
24.10.30.17

Why I do not ♥ this picture

Sept 5, 2009

There's Dad...as usual.  Standing by the door of my childhood home as we piled into our van for the return trip home. It would have been the end of a long and wonderful day with he and Mom. We would have had Lunch or dinner, or both; with the requisite dish made of vegetables from their garden.  Around them, we had no need for permission to lounge around...and gossip...and reminisce...and joke...and laugh out loud. Time to let our hair down and let go of our adult responsibilities.  Grown-ups having fun --no wonder the children never minded visiting Grandma and Grandpa's house.  We were all happy.


And there's the Jungle, aka the front lawn. The object of envy in the whole neighborhood. No square-foot unused/unturned. Such abundance. Flowers. Plants. Colors. And the bees....they ♥ the Jungle and the back yard. It must have been front-page news in the Bee Times.  The Bee internet must have been  a-buzz with the news:  Come one, come all.  This small plot is the next best thing to our hive.  Sweet stuff from bee heaven.  The bees were happy too.

Alas, this was the last known picture of Dad taken by my Brother-in-Law, Chris.

The house has been sold
The front garden has been replaced by sod

There is no repeating of this scene. A season of life has ended.  Forever
Is it such a surprise that I do not heart this picture?

9.7.23.18

Andy Williams Fans & Moon River

Since my youth, I've been influenced by the music I hear.  Andy William's version of "Moon River" has just been played and I want to bawl like a baby.  My parents were fans of Mr Williams.  The lyrics of the song remind me of two lovers with dreams and hopes and doors of opportunity in front of them -- as my parents did many moons ago. Their marriage, their family life, their three daughters, their decision to move to the USA, their careers --- all were part of their personal "river" on which they journeyed as husband and wife.  And now, their trip is over. Their river has run dry.  They've reached the end of the rainbow. They're gone and, for the moment,  we can not follow.  

Moon River, wider than a mile, 

I'm crossing you in style some day. 

Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker, 

wherever you're going I'm going your way. 

Two drifters off to see the world. 

There's such a lot of world to see. 

We're after the same rainbow's end-- 

waiting 'round the bend, 

my huckleberry friend, 

Moon River and me.

(music by Henry Mancini,

 lyrics by Johnny Mercer)

7.8.23.18