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What It’s All About

A Norvell Note September 1, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 34

What It’s All About

We were watching one of the early-season college football games. Within four or five minutes, the announcer (a term I use loosely) declared with great enthusiasm three times, “That’s what it’s all about.” I might have commented out loud, “Well, which play are you talking about? What are you saying? What is it all about?” I sometimes talk back to sports announcers.

The announcer’s opinion does not compare to the certainty with which Solomon says, “No, this is what it’s all about, what life is all about.”

“Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.” (Ecclesiastes 12:9-10, NIV) “Then I tried to explain these things in the best and most accurate way.” (CEV) “The Quester did his best to find the right words and write the plain truth.” (The Message)

Everything you were taught can be put into a few words:

Respect and obey God!

This is what life

is all about.

God will judge

everything we do,

even what is done in secret,

whether good or bad. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, CEV)

We will experience many exciting and important events in our lives. Some will be significant accomplishments, and others will be, as Solomon said, “a chasing after the wind.” Whatever we do, accomplish, whoever we know, and regardless of how much power we have, let us always remember that what matters is our relationship with God.

How is your relationship with God?

A Few Words About Words

A Norvell Note

August 26, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 34

A Few Words About Words

I’m advocating that we practice the words from Ecclesiastes 5, whether in the house of God or the marketplace, by sharing a few words about words.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

²Do not be quick with your mouth,
    do not be hasty in your heart
    to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
    and you are on earth,
    so let your words be few.
³A dream comes when there are many cares,
    and many words mark the speech of a fool.

⁴When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. ⁵It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. ⁶Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.

Let your words be few it is sometimes better to be quiet.

Two Are Better Than One

A Norvell Note

August 19, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 33

Two Are Better Than One

Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NIV)

It’s better to have a partner than go it alone.
Share the work, share the wealth.
And if one falls down, the other helps,
But if there’s no one to help, tough!

Two in a bed warm each other.
Alone, you shiver all night.

By yourself you’re unprotected.
With a friend you can face the worst.
Can you round up a third?
A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.

(4:9-12, The Message)

Have truer words ever been spoken?

Ask the widow or the widower.

Ask the daughter or son who is the sole caregiver for their mother or father.

Ask the minister who is trying to lead a church alone.

Ask the child who is separated from her siblings in a foster home.

Ask a single parent raising children alone.

It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. If you have a partner, stay close. If you’re not trying to go it alone, that’s good for you. Why? By yourself, you’re unprotected. With a friend, you can face the worst.

Enjoy Today

A Norvell Note

August 12, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 32

Enjoy Today

When I read the first two chapters of Ecclesiastes, I sometimes wonder, “So this is the wisest man who ever lived? Life is a chasing of the wind?” Then, I come to chapter 3.

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

When we are young, we can’t wait until we are older. As we age, we wish we could slow down the aging process. We may try, but we cannot rush time, nor can we slow it down.

All we can do is live in the moment, enjoy the day, be grateful for the people we share life with, and trust God for all He is and does. Why?

¹¹He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Live today. Enjoy the day.

Mercy and Kindness

A Norvell Note

August 5, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 31

Mercy and Kindness

I was cutting it close on time to get to a meeting, so as I was leaving the neighborhood, I moved a bit faster than I should have. That’s when I noticed a police officer following me with flashing lights. So, I pulled over and stopped. He asked for my license, informed me of my speed, returned to his cruiser, and returned a few minutes later with my warning citation. I gushed with gratitude for his mercy and kindness.

For the rest of that day, I consciously tried to show mercy and kindness to everyone I interacted with, including my wife, co-workers, the hospital and nursing home staff, the workers at the coffee shop, and the cleaners. I spent the day thanking God for the officer’s mercy and kindness.

I should not have needed the police officer’s mercy and kindness to remind me to show mercy and kindness, but unfortunately, I did. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I have known for a long time that mercy and kindness are natural outcomes of accepting His mercy and kindness. But sometimes I forget, and sometimes I don’t feel like being merciful or kind.

So, I’m grateful that when a police officer chose to show me mercy and kindness instead of what I deserved, I could adjust my attitude and remember who I am and who I want to be.

I hope you get through your week without an encounter with a police officer, but if you do, I hope he shows you mercy and kindness. And I hope you will join me in trying to be an instrument of mercy and kindness.

I Don’t Know What I Am Doing

A Norvell Note

July 29, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 30

I Don’t Know What I Am Doing

I had the rare privilege of listening to my brother preach on Sunday. His sermon was based on Luke 23; forgiveness was a significant emphasis in his message. Jesus prayed as they crucified him, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

Jesus said they don’t know what they are doing. I wonder what He would say about us today.

Are we any different?

We might not admit we are as vicious or cruel as those people, but are we any better? Have we stopped crucifying the Lord? Do our actions, or lack of action, make us just as guilty? Do our attitudes show that we are any different? Do we show that we are any better by how we treat each other?

Jesus also said people will know you are my disciples when you love one another. Would He say, Father, forgive them they don’t know what they are doing.

Would He say, Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they are doing when He hears us judge and condemn people simply because they look different from us or have other opinions?

Does our unwillingness to forgive those who hurt us prove that we need Jesus to pray the same prayer for us?

Reflecting on Jesus’ words from my brother’s sermon, my observations of the world around me, and often the condition of my heart, I must pray, Lord, forgive us; we don’t know what we are doing. Forgive me, I don’t know what I’m doing.

I Trust in You, Lord

A Norvell Note

July 22, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 29

I Trust in You, Lord

At a time in history when wars were raging and the world was in chaos, David wrote:

But I trust in you, Lord;

I say, “You are my God.”

My times are in your hands; (Psalm 31:14-15, NIV)

I don’t know what will happen as I go through the day, but I trust You, Lord, to get me through it.

I don’t know what storms or crises are ahead for me and my family, but I trust You, Lord, to walk with me or carry me through any dark times that may be ahead.

I don’t know how many more days I have on this earth, but I trust You, Lord, to help me live each of those to the fullest and bring as much joy as possible to the people I know and love.

I don’t know what the future will bring for my children and their children, but I trust You, Lord, to help them find their way through their lives as they bring glory to You.

There is so much I don’t know about life in the present and the future, but I trust You, Lord. You are my God. My times are in your hands.

What Can I Do?

A Norvell Note

July 15, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 28

What Can I Do?

It was quite a weekend.

I don’t know about you, but I much prefer watching a Yankees game, the Scottish Open, a good movie, an episode of Parks and Recreation, or the replay of the Celtics championship game, and just about anything instead of Breaking News reports about the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate.

Unfortunately, that was not the case. Once again, we are afraid, fear, chaos, confusion, and uncertainty. Once again, we learn of another young man who decided that the best way to get over his troubled past was to fire an automatic rifle and kill as many people as possible.

It was another heartbreaking, troubling weekend. I wish I could stop the violence and hatred in the world. I wish I could stop the hatred. I wish I could change hearts. I wish I could help people sleep peacefully. I want to, but I can’t. I can’t fix the world.

But I can “… not let any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)

I can, “as far as it depends on me, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)

And I can be a peacemaker.

I often sing along with Willie Nelson, “At a time when the world seems to be spinnin’ hopelessly out of control” (Hands on the Wheel), wanting to be a better person. So, I will try to be kinder, listen before I react, forgive quickly, and pray more.

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
   your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
   Give us today our daily bread.
   And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

For Yours is the kingdom and the power

And the glory forever. Amen.

You Are My Shepherd

A Norvell Note

July 8, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 27

You Are My Shepherd

Lord, You are my shepherd (and most of the time, I am a devoted sheep); I lack nothing (and yet, I often want more).

You make me lie down in green pastures (sometimes You must make me lie down because I often want to keep moving),
You lead me beside quiet waters (even when I don’t always appreciate the quietness),

You refresh my soul (and I sometimes miss that refreshment because I seek it in other places and things).
You guide me along the right paths
for his name’s sake (but sometimes I stray from that path).

Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley, the valley of the shadow of death (and all the other dark valleys I have gone through and will go through),
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me (at least I try not to be afraid);
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me (Your presence comforts me despite the times when I get distracted by the things around me).

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies (You bless me despite me).
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows (yet unbelievably, You continue to shower me with Your love).

Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever (those words are almost more than I can grasp. But then I remember that You are my shepherd).

Thanks, Wonder, Awe, Joy

A Norvell Note

July 1, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 26

Thanks, Wonder, Awe, Joy

I am late to the game, but I only recently discovered Uncrustables.^©On the golf course, my son handed me one and said, “You want one of these?” Whaaaaat? A peanut butter and jelly sandwich that is not messy? Uncrustables^©are amazing!

Then, last week, my wife informed me that she could get them at the grocery store. She did. I took one in the car for work and enjoyed it for a late-morning snack, in the car. No mess. Uncrustables^© are amazing. Uncrustables.^© Where have you been all my life?

I listened to John Ortberg’s podcast, Become New, as he suggests that our response to the world and the universe around us might be thanks, wonder, awe, and joy. I listened, and I pondered those thoughts.

My response to Uncrustables^© was of thanks, wonder, awe, and joy. I reacted similarly to the beauty of the golf course we were playing. And to the sunrise, I by at the ocean. I responded similarly to the rainbow we saw after a brief rain shower. The sunsets and the massive waves crashing on the rocks filled me with thanks, wonder, awe, and joy. I experience thanks, wonder, awe, and joy as I notice the growth and maturity of our grandchildren.

We heard an unusual sound a few nights ago, so I stepped onto our back porch and discovered a jet drifting across the night sky. That is amazing, but the backdrop of stars brought feelings of thanks, wonder, awe, and joy.

Everything I’ve mentioned above ignites feelings of thanks, wonder, awe, and joy. But none compares to the feelings of thanks, wonder, awe, and joy when I ponder these words: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8)

Author: TomNorvell

What It’s All About

A Few Words About Words

Two Are Better Than One

Enjoy Today

Mercy and Kindness

I Don’t Know What I Am Doing

I Trust in You, Lord

What Can I Do?

You Are My Shepherd

Thanks, Wonder, Awe, Joy

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