The Works of God

Sam Crabtree, one of my pastors, has started a blog at Bethlehem’s web site and talked about a recent turn of events that left him incapacitated for a time.  He was no longer ‘temporarily able-bodied.’

That term, ‘temporarily able-bodied’ shows up now and then in things I read.   Generally it is used to poke at anyone who thinks ‘normal’ physical and mental functioning is, in fact, the norm.  If we live long enough, most of us will experience a loss of function, and eventually we will all die.  Thus, being able-bodied is termed by some to be the temporary state of our lives.

Pastor Sam wrote two blog posts following his hospitalization that firmly state what he hopes in – and it isn’t physical functioning, normal or otherwise.  Here is an example:  

5.    My disappointment in this deteriorating body is soaked with hope. While in the emergency room I looked Vicki in the eyes and quietly said, “I might not be around tomorrow.” Because of Christ, we both know I’ll be around Tomorrow. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.—2 Corinthians 5:8

Disappointment – yes!  We do experience disappointment when our bodies fail us.  Or when we watch our children with disabilities struggle with their  bodies or their minds.

Soaked with hope – yes!  Like the post yesterday of Pastor John’s greeting, we can hope in God (Psalm 42:5) in all circumstances, particularly when things seem at their worst. 

Because of Christ, we both know I’ll be around Tomorrow – yes!  Our current state will be replaced with a great and permanent and increasingly joy-filled eternity with Christ.  But only because of Christ – not through anything we did or could hope to do to earn it.

Paul, writing to the Corinthians, put it this way:  sorrowful, yet always rejoicing (2 Corinthians 6:10). 

Thank you, Pastor Sam, for living like you preach – with integrity, good humor, and deep affections for Jesus.  You are a great encouragement!

You can read his two posts here:  

Eight Ways to Not Waste the Blood Clots on My Lungs, Part 1

Eight Ways to Not Waste the Blood Clots on My Lungs, Part 2