Rhymes with Ebola

The Kingston Trio was a group of folk singers in the 1950s and 60s.  My parents used to listen to them when I was younger.  I remember them taking use to hear them perform at Meadowbrook one summer.  One of their songs that I liked is called "The Merry Minuet". It is a happy tune that talks about bad things happening places.  Even when I was young I could appreciate sarcasm.

They're rioting in Africa, They're starving in Spani,

Thee's hurricanes in Florida.  And Texas needs rain.

Then later in the song,,,

They're rioting in Africa.  There's strife with Iran.

What nature doesn't do to us, will be done by our fellow man.

What I think is amazing is that this song is over 60 years old and most of the words still apply today.  Rioting in Aftica, check, strife with Iran, check check.  This song could almost be written today, but they would need to find a rhyme for ebola.

Here we go again

It seems that some problems are always with us.  Some politician is stealing money, or cheating on his wife.  There are racial tensions and riots, a war a kidnapping, some big storm or earthquake or fire.  The stories are the same just the names are different.  I wonder if people who write for the news could create the stories with a fill in the blank form.   There was a break in at _______.  Congressman ______ was caught in a scandal.... Sort of like Mad Libs

Not Just Them

It isn't only the news that goes in cycles, we all do.  Many of the issues that I struggle with are the same ones that I have struggled with for years.  There are good times and bad times but there they are.  

As we go through our recurring battles, there is a sense that we are less and less able to deal with it.   The thought is I've been here before and even if I get this under control, eventually I will be right back here.  And that's true if we do it on our own.  We need to realize that if these problems were easy, we would have dealt with it long ago.  It is tough and we will only conquer it with God's help.  

So we need forgiveness when we start believing and again every day.  Every day.  Every day.  The struggles continue.  We think that when we become a Christian that it should all be better.  But becoming a Christian only means that we have the right tool to do the job.  We are just getting started.

And if we have a hard time realizing that about ourselves, we have a harder time seeing it in others.  We feel like that person there is a Christian, shouldn't they be better.  But they are going through their own struggles just like we are.  They need Grace every day too.

  

Grace is needed by everyone for everyone.  When we become Christians, we have only taken the first step.  The need for grace is just beginning.