Moments Of Reflection

Tender moments find their meaning
In the little things you do
They're not found in noisy flatter
That too often prove untrue.

Gentle breezes of reflection
Lets the memory find a nest
For the many loving moments
That bring calm within my breast.

Often when the heart feels lonely
Walking down life's thorny path
One can almost hear you whisper
"Through all times my love will last."

So let thoughts of joyous memory
When by distance we're apart
Live in mystery's understanding
That you're always in my heart.
--B. Pent

The Book of Thessalonians

Luke tells us in Acts 16:9 that Paul went to Macedonia in response to a call: "come over to Macedonia and help us." He, along with Silas, Timothy and Luke, first arrived at Philippi. Not long after their arrival, they were arrested on false charges, flogged and imprisoned. After an earthquake, the jailer, his family and staff were converted and Paul and Silas were released.

Not long afterwards they headed southwest about 100 miles to Thessalonica. Luke tell us in Acts 17:1-9 that a great revival broke out following their conversion which spread like a wildfire. A powerful church was established with an unprecedented world outreach.

Therssalonica was the chief seaport of Greece. The main Roman road from Rome to the Orient to Istanbul (Turkey) passed through this port city. It was called the Egnatian Way. This put them in direct contact with many other important cities by land and by sea.

Of further interest is that this city of some 200,000 was an ethnic mixture of Greeks, Romans, Oriental and Jews. In 42 BC the city received the status of a "free city" from Anthony and Octavian because the people helped them defeat Brutus and Cassius. "Free City" simply meant that they did not have Roman troops in their city, they minted their own currency and had their own senate and public assembly to govern over them. Today, Thessalonica is an important Industrial and commercial city in modern Greece.

Paul wrote Thessalonians in about 51AD from Corinth which was either his first or second epistle (Galatians may have been written a year or so earlier). The imminent return of Christ is one of the central themes of I Thessalonians. During the next few weeks I want to share some insights found in each chapter that is applicable and needful for the revitalization of today's Church in the light of His imminent return.

TIME AND DISTANCE

Time and distance met one lonely day
To see what could be done about the sun
For shadows seemed to cross life's path
Too hurriedly for distant love to last.

A court convened to find a way
To solve life's mystery's interlude
That robbed life's distance from its time
By leaving broken dreams so far behind.

Opinions and objections grew
From love and hate to name a few
The former felt the pain within the heart
The later wanted time to be apart.

What can be done was heard its cry?
Can distance form a link with time
So memories past can form a nest
Within the shelter of its breast?

The sun responded in bright hope
"Though time and distance cannot change
Within the boundaries of the human heart
Two souls that beat as one can never be apart."
--B. Pent

IF YOU LIVE TO BE 100,
I HOPE I LIVE TO BE 100
MINUS ONE DAY,
SO I NEVER HAVE
TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU.
--Winnie the Pooh

A FRIEND IS ONE THAT KNOWS YOU AS YOU ARE,
UNDERSTANDS WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN,
ACCEPTS WHAT YOU HAVE BECOME,
AND STILL GENTLY ALLOWS YOU TO GROW.
--William Shakespeare

DRIFTING

I felt so strong and full of hope
The future seemed so free from stress
When suddenly a storm cloud formed
That robbed me of its peace and rest.

It was so subtle at the start
The winds of change that blew my way
Had left me drifting by the tide
Without a compass or a Guide.

Despair gave way to helplessness
As waves of doubt tore me apart
I could not reach the shore alone
Until He saw my pleading heart.

Then side by side with arms of strength
Through grace He drew me back to shore
And like an anchor to my soul
There is no drifting any more.
B. Pent

NEVER EVER GIVE UP IN LIFE