Paul's Letter

Today I shall post something that is not my own. The following is from a very dear friend of mine, one whom I shall refer to as PBurton, the pragmatic burlyman. He wrote this email a few months back, and I wish now to leave you to travel through this man's neurons instead of mine own.


"Dear friends,

"It is an interesting thing when a man realizes that all of his life, and everything that has led up to the end of it, has been utterly meaningless. I say this, not because I feel like I am living a hopeless existence, but because I have come to a new realization that my life in and of itself means nothing. Let me say it another way. If my life were simply meat to be lived, enjoyed, savored and love by me, there would be not point to living.

"I deal with dying patients every day. For those of you that don't know, I work on a cancer ward. The point of this is, when I talk to people about their lives, and how they lived when they could get around, they are happy to talk about it. But invariably there is an awkward silence when they remember that they are here in the cancer ward because the days of their lives are coming to a close.

"What does a man think about when he is waiting for the death that he knows is coming? Well, I can safely say that none of the patients that I have cared for ever told me about this hot girl he made out with in high school, or how he used to hang out with his buddies and get into mischief. No, for the most part I hear about family, loved ones, and regrets. Then many times their thoughts turn to what happens after death. Some don't know, or won't listen to God. Others smile with joy to know that soon they will be "Going Home". Without getting into a debate about ethics, truth, or morality, I can still say this: Christians, (True Christians) die happily. I have never seen a person who was glad to die, who was not a Christian.

"You may argue with me, but what I say is true. True Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship. A friendship with the Creator of everything that exists. We find in our lives that there is no way to "work off" the sin* in our lives, and also realize that Jesus Christ made a way so that our sin could be erased. Once you realize that one fact that is universally true, you find new meaning to life. A life that was once spent serving self is instead used in praise and service to the God that saved you from death and will one day bring you into His eternal Kingdom. Praise be to the Mighty God who Saves.

"I want to close with this. If a man who knows that his death is coming in the next few weeks wants to focus on praising and glorifying God, then why do we, who have no clue whether this breath will be our last, spend so much time avoiding Him? When you enter into God's eternal presence, would it not be better to know that the last moments of your life were spent showing others the grace of God? Brethren, sistren, why are we so concerned with pleasing ourselves? do we really think that video games, money, sex, fame, acceptance, glory or any other thing will satisfy us? No. Only knowing that we did everything to please God; Only knowing that He was our satisfaction; Only knowing that all we want is for others to be blessed and to see God. To find salvation, and love in Jesus Christ, that is the meaning of life.

"I pray that this letter finds you all well, and that you would all be blessed with a newness of life as you strive to acknowledge, praise and serve God in everything.
Bless you all,
Pburton (Back from the dead to serve up another slice for the CCCC)

"P.S., now that I'm back, I've got this great looking ethereal glow to add to the CCCC's crop mashing antics.


"*Galatians 5:19-24 says this:
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
(Paul, the writer of Galatians also says that we daily struggle to kill the old nature that causes us to sin. This means that we are not perfect simply because we are forgiven, but that we can be forgiven and seen as perfect.) "

Good Stuff.