Haiti

I've been really impacted by the stories coming out of Haiti.  We have been praying for Haiti a lot.  At meal times and bed times with the kids and tonight Ashley asked what was going on.  It is such an art to give the right amount of information to the audience.  Not wanting her to be waking me up thinking there was an earthquake every time Nicole rolled over in the lower bunk I decided against explaining Earthquakes- but explained that lots and lots of people were hurt and things were broken.    It seems so nice in some ways to be totally naive but I wouldn't want to be oblivious to it; and we need to learn about the pain in life.  That God doesn't make our life easy, but he comforts us through the storm.

All that to say: I think God had the same delima with us.  He couldn't tell us how the future was going to play out in detail but he told us a lot.  Too much and we'd freeze with fear or try to plan around it.  Not tell us anything and we wouldn't know what life was really about; what real life is like. 

I just finished reading Job.  And I think one of the main points of the book is that we tend to ask the question of "why?!" and I don't think God minds, but His answer isn't what we expect.  His answer is "I am great and powerful."  And from an earthly perspective that sounds crazy, but in God's economy, it isn't.  Because God being with us is more important than everything; more important than life; more important than comfort; entertainment..

Dying, even loosing a son or daughter (or in Job's case all his children) isn't the worst that can happen to us.  It sound almost evil to not say that but we cannot hold too tightly to the things of this earth.  Death isn't that bad because through the amazing work of Jesus Christ on the cross we have hope of far greater things after it.  This side of death however we need to do all we can to love, protect and encourage one another; especially our children- and that is a responsibility that I still can't believe God trusts me with.  But He doesn't make mistakes so He will give me the strength.

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Soli Deo Gloria- To God alone be the glory!

Memorial Service

On Tuesday I went to the memorial service for a close neighborhood friend of ours who died of lung cancer last Thursday. He was always a very cheery guy and had a standard response to my greeting of "how you doing?" He'd say, "O, gonna make it another day." He used that response a lot less since his diagnosis in June. It was a fast, though painful last 5 months. And I guess what it has me thinking is that none of us know if we are gonna make it another day.
The thing is, that with my neighbor for example, we had a good relationship that mostly revolved around discussions of weather, lawn care, kids- occasionally city news or politics. But it wasn't until his last months that I shared scripture with him or took the chance to pray with him. Too often we confuse the personal with the private. Faith in God is a very personal thing- but that doesn't mean it needs to be a private thing. Not that any of us can have assurance of someone else's salvation- that is left for us to know- but I have no indication if my neighbor ever put his trust in the Lord- or didn't- but all that to say, don't assume we have another day- seek out opportunities to share the joy of knowing the Lord as savior.

Jobs in Heaven

This is all just speculation and doesn't really matter much, but just the first of many random thoughts I thought I'd jot down.

So I've been pondering recently what professions might still be needed in Heaven. I don't think there will be harp playing in clouds as much as there will be God glorifying, satisfying, fruit producing work for God. I'm in health care, so it's pretty certain that I won't be doing my current job there.
(Rev 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." )
And I could see Worship Leaders still having a job (though maybe not if we all are in perfect communion with God Himself, no one will need to lead us in worship, we will just know how to do it perfectly.)
So that puts counselors out of a job too. Police and Fire seem pretty unnecessary in a non-fallen world. Armed services not needed either, angels will have that covered. Can't see Law being needed as there will not be sin.
IT/Communications might be needed, though most of what we do is trouble shooting and I don't think there will be problems like that in heaven.
Education (i.e. Ski instructor)? Food preparation perhaps? Government have a function? Historian? Farmer? Manufacturing? Accounting? Tour guides? Transportation (i.e. Pilots, drivers)?

Welcome

Welcome to "Brandon B Random"

Many of you likely got here because you have followed our family blog (http://5brown.blogspot.com ). I've taken that site over as my personal blog a few too many times, so I've decided to leave that for fun kid stories, pictures and the like. On this site I'll be posting my more blog like entries here. And as the title of this blog indicates it is likely to be on a random topic.

Thanks for coming and being my audience.