Topics: Life Observations, ChristianityMy uncle just passed away Friday night. Although we were not blood related, we were fairly close. I'm trying to be sad, but I can't be. I am happy. Let me explain. My uncle had cancer and he was always in pain. For most of that time he could still function - he could still travel the world and teach - but it was somewhat difficult. Near the end, things made a quick escalation and his condition became terrible. He even lost use of his legs. We all wanted him to get better, and now he has. He feels good again. Now I can't help but frequently think of that and what his reaction must be meeting God. There is some debate on if we meet God immediately after death or wait until the rapture, but does it matter? My mind automatically thinks about my uncle's intense joy, excitement, and wonder. As MercyMe's very good song says, "I Can Only Imagine" what that must be like. And that gives me joy. - James D. McIntosh Jr.
Topics: Life Observations, ChristianityI've never seen hail so big. It was somewhere between the size of golf ball and a baseball last night, coming down thick and fast. It was very scary, mixed with a thunderstorm and a tornado watch. Then this morning, on the way to work, there was a rainbow and decent weather. A rainbow is always beautiful and always cheers me up. Hail at night, rainbow in morning. That seems like it would be a nice life philosophy. It reminds me of Psalm 30:5b: Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. (New King James Version; Retrieved from BibleGateway.com) - James D. McIntosh Jr.
Topic: Life ObservationsYeah, okay. Cheesy title. But that's beside the point. What is the point is that the bad things have just as much of an important place in our lives as the good things do. Yes, I will admit we all hate the bad things and wish they did not exist. We despise them most while we are going through them. But at the same time, we gain from them. For example, my family had a rough week a couple weeks ago. First I forgot something important and then, most of all, my family had trouble with illness. THE BADGE To start off, I forgot my badge my first day back at work for the week, which was Tuesday. I do not live particularly close to where I work, and I had to drive all the way home and all the way back again. Although it meant I lost some work and income that day, it did give me some more time to rest and think, which is perhaps something I needed. At the same time, it also helped me learn to be more responsible and to pay closer attention to what I do in order to prevent future issues. THE BUG The biggest struggle that week, however, was the family taking turns having a stomach bug. All day at work on Tuesday I did not feel well and had terrible heartburn. I thought it was something that would wear off. That night and through the next day, my son and I both became quite sick. I have never been able to handle any sickness very well, and stomach bugs are particularly rough, even the relatively mild ones. I spent a lot of time praying and moaning, wishing it would all just stop forever. In our pitiful human condition, we take a lot for granted. We don't appreciate the wonderful things that we have all the time. Such as health. We need bad things such as illnesses to teach us to appreciate our health. When we are reminded of how bad we can feel, we notice how good we actually feel all the rest of the time. Additionally, I did a lot of thinking about my prayers to God. As I mentioned, I did a lot of praying asking for it to stop. But while I was doing so, I realized that it is in times like this I pray the most. And I was praying mainly for myself. That is not right. I need to spend more time it prayer all the time. I need to "pray without ceasing" (New King James Version, 1 Thessalonians 5:17). But I cannot pray more if I pray only for myself. There are other prayers that need to be said as well. Other people have needs. Additionally, I should "rejoice always" and "in everything give thanks" (5:16, 18). In our current human condition, we need the bad to highlight and produce the good. (Bible verses retrieved from BibleGateway.com) - James D. McIntosh Jr.
Topic: Life ObservationsMy daughter was born over a week ago via C-section. Although she is my second child, having a baby is an experience that never gets old. It gets tiring, but never old. Immediately after the baby was taken out of her mother, she was carried over to a table and given her first personal shot. While I never enjoy watching my children get shots, this time was one of those moments that just sort of hit me. I suppose I just sort of had a realization about the miracle of life. It wasn't much, but it impacted me. Just a day before this, my wife was getting shots for herself and the baby. They were as one person, sharing food and vaccines. Anything done to the baby was done through the mother. The next day, after a matter of minutes, one person became two and the baby suddenly needed everything done to her directly and just for herself. Her shots are her own, for now she is a new person. An internal connection was severed and split one into two, in a manner of speaking. I don't know if you feel the same way I do or if I am getting my thoughts adequately, but I thought this was worth sharing. And the impact multiplies if you consider how that second person comes into being in the first place. Two tiny cells meet and merge, and then they begin splitting. Before long, you have a great many cells forming the beginnings of an actual, complicated human being. Over time, that human continues to develop, grow, age, and become even more complicated in all of its parts, including its mind. Life is a miracle. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise. - James D. McIntosh Jr.
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