The Meyer Minute

The Meyer Minute for July14, 2011

One of the saddest things imaginable is for expectant parents to hear that their baby has a terminal illness.  If the child is pre-born, abortion is often urged.  Rejecting that advice and bringing the sick baby to birth is a heavy, heavy emotional burden.  Giving birth to a child destined to die early, again, is so, so heavy on the heart of loving young parents.  The Haven Network of northern Illinois is "a perinatal hospice (that) works from the heart to help families during this difficult time.  The multidisciplinary team journeys with families who are experiencing grief and are in need of compassion, understanding and education." I am impressed.

 

Martin Luther: "Oh, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing this faith.  It is impossible for it not to be doing good works incessantly.  It does not ask whether good works are to be done, but before the question is asked, it has already done them, and is constantly doing them.  Whoever does not do such works, however is an unbeliever.  He gropes and looks around for faith and good works, but neither knows what faith is nor what good works are." (Preface to Romans)

 

OK, so you go to church.  Good!  Where during the week are you putting your faith into action?

The Meyer Minute for July13, 2011

What should you think about the deadlock over the debt ceiling?  Do you like the Democrat position?  The Republican position?  Is there something more for us to consider than just here-and-now partisan positions?

 

When George Washington left the presidency, he had advice about credit and debt.  His words require serious listening.  "As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit.  One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible, avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating peace but remembering also that timely disbursements to prepare for danger frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it, avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt...not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burden which we ourselves ought to bear.  The execution of these maxims belongs to your representatives, but it is necessary that public opinion should co-operate."

 

The Bible doesn't answer every question of daily life but does suggest an appreciation for history.  "Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.  I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:32). But maybe the Bible's council that we take our elders to heart is too much work, too much self-discipline for our twitter age.

The Meyer Minute for July12, 2011

Taking time off, as I did last week and will do again in early August, is not easy.  Our routines and minds get so wrapped around work that it's impossible to suddenly become carefree.  Slowly we do slack off but as we do a new fret enters our minds, at least mine.   Why must I go back to the grind?  Why go back to the challenges of...of people.  It would be so much easier if it weren't for people.

When the King James Bible was first published, the Preface included these words.  "Whoever attempts anything for the public, especially if it has to do with religion or with making the word of God accessible and understandable, sets himself up to be frowned upon by every evil eye, and casts himself headlong on a row of pikes, to be stabbed by every sharp tongue.  For meddling in any way with a people's religion is meddling with their customs, with their inalienable rights.  And although they may be dissatisfied with what they have, they cannot bear to have it altered."

That is as true today as it was when the Preface was written 400 years ago.  So why plunge back into work?  Our boss tells us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and  follow Him (Matthew 16:24).

The Meyer Minute for July11, 2011

My name is Andrew, Andrew Dale.  I am the newest member of Opa's writing team.  I am 4-months-old.  I move my legs and arms fast.  I am calm.  But when I look out over my big baby cheeks, I wonder what I am.

 

After last week I think I am a football.  Daddy and Mommy took me to something called a "family reunion." Sometimes I was down with everybody hunched over me.  Then someone picked me up, tucked me in their arm, and got going.  Sometimes I was carried for a long time.  Oma was good about long carries.  Opa held me for short times and always lateraled me off.  I was worried that someone might pass me...but the reunion turned out to be a ground game.  At the end of the game, I got cleaned up, just like a dirty football.

 

Opa said, "Let's write this up as a Minute.  We'll close with Colossians 3, "Clothe your selves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Andrew, you'll learn a lot about yourself...and you'll learn the blessing of family.