Tag Archives: hope

Hope for Those who Drink (too much)

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Grose

Maybe you know someone who seems to have overcome his or her tendency to drink too much. All of a sudden, they lose everything they built up over years. Not only do you not understand what happened, they don’t either. … Continue reading →

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Offering Hope Too Soon

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Grose

When friends try to comfort us, they often try too hard. After a mother’s miscarriage, for example, someone may say to her, “Don’t worry, you’ll have another baby.” In the effort to assuage a mother’s grief, the well-meaning friend offers … Continue reading →

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Grieving, but Not Without Hope

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Grose

“If I die,” my friend had asked, “will you lead the memorial service?” “I will,” I said. We said Goodbye this week. 250 people came from as far as Menlo Park, CA  and Seattle, WA. His daughter reflected on how, over … Continue reading →

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What Hope Can I Offer the Dying?

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Grose

“If I die,” my friend said in a whispered voice, “will you do the memorial service?” “I will,” I said. I felt honored he asked me, someone who had attended and at times taught his adult Sunday School class. Now … Continue reading →

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Hope for the New Year

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Grose

2011 saw a series of some of the worst natural disasters to afflict our nation. The January D.C. snowstorm left some evening commuters stranded more than 10 hours. With two feet of snow and 60 mph winds, the Groundhog Blizzard … Continue reading →

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The Hope of Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Grose

If we lived in Judea during the time of Jesus’ birth, we’d have felt little hope. Syrian successors to Alexander had imposed Greek culture on our Jewish people, including holding games with naked athletes in Jerusalem. Antiocus IV in 168 B.C. … Continue reading →

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Hope in Self, or God? (III)

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Grose

Given our human make-up, it takes a lot to break us of our hope in our Self. We think we can handle life, avoid disaster, and that we deserve blessing. Only when Job loses it all, does he come to … Continue reading →

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Hope in Self, or God? (II)

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Grose

Even if we believe strongly in Him, when we experience severe loss, one of our first responses is to blame God. Sometimes, like Job, our closeness with God gives us that right; we feel secure enough in our relationship. Job’s … Continue reading →

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Hope in Self, or in God? (I)

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Grose

Job expresses ruthless honesty. As a result of his massive losses, life loses all meaning. He therefore desires for God to take his life (chapter 3). He also expresses intense anger with God (7). In a confrontation, like a ravenous lion … Continue reading →

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Finding Hope through Doubt

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Grose

When misfortune hits, we tend to doubt. “God has left me,” we think. “He isn’t there; He isn’t real.” When life for Job followed an upward trajectory, God felt real, present, and close. Then, when one-by-one, he lost a succession … Continue reading →

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