Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: east texas

livelyville — August 7, 2024

livelyville

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I was cruising the backroads of East Texas when I passed through Livelyville.  Now I thought to myself, “This sounds like a fun place to live!”  Turns out – it isn’t. 

The population is zero.  It is a rural, unincorporated place.  There is not a school, post office or store but they do have a historical marker.  The town was founded by Thomas Lively back in the 1850’s, but even he eventually chose to move away.  I guess even old Thomas was bored.

But the one thing that caught my attention, was the big green sign that pointed the way to the official Livelyville Cemetery (where the population is considerably larger).

Now I decided right then, that when it’s my time to go, well that’s where I want to be buried!”  I want me a plot in that graveyard.  It seems like there might always be a hope for a man buried in the Livelyville Cemetery.

Well, the truth is, many cemeteries will be lively places one of these days, at least that’s what the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. (NETBible ®)

The people of Thessalonica were expecting Jesus to return at any moment, but He tarried so long that some of them had died.  Those left were inconsolably sad.  They assumed it was all over for those folks whose bodies slept and they grieved without a hope.

But, God through Paul said, “Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.”   (vs. 13).

And then, Paul gave them a hope. He wrote, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also, we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep” (vss 14-15).

Knowing that Christ is scheduled to return to this earth, Paul says that Jesus will, at that time, tend to those who have already died. 

He said, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (vs. 16).

The bodies of those Christians who had gone on before, will rise up from the grave.  They will become reconstituted and transformed and joined to their eternal souls.  At that time any graveyard containing the remains of the faithful will become a Livelyville Cemetery. 

And what about the rest of us?  Paul says, “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will always be with the Lord.” (vs 17)

So, at the same time, believers who are still alive will also be transformed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).   We will join those who have been raised from the dead and also the Lord Jesus Himself and we will forevermore be by His side.

In Texas, it is common to find a picnic pavilion in the middle of a cemetery.  It is the gathering place for the annual family reunion.  It will be a wondrous time when those beneath the sod join those beneath the shelter. 

I’m telling you there is going to be some liveliness in the Livelyville Cemetery one of these days.  A joy filled reunion of generations of faithful family members reveling in God’s almighty power, the richness of His grace and the taste of eternity.

And when Jesus comes, I might be a pile of dust, or I might be eating a chicken leg at the picnic.  Either way I will be with Jesus.   I hope you’ll be there too!

A PRAYER: God, remind us to share this with those who have no hope.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 

stone age snow shovel — February 16, 2021

stone age snow shovel

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Actually, the shovel isn’t really from the stone age, but it does look like something Fred Flintstone left behind.

God dropped 9 inches of snow on East Texas, where the only snow we usually see is in a cone covered with grape syrup.   Our world came to a stop.  Everyone stayed home and practiced “snowcial distancing.” 

The accumulation in my driveway had to be removed because the forecaster said more was coming.   “But how can I remove it?”  I wondered.   The only snow shovel around here is hanging on the wall down at the Cracker Barrell.

I had to improvise!  I raided my wood pile and found a cabinet door, and a 2 by 4 and then pinned them together with a lot of decking screws.  My shovel wasn’t very pretty, but it was sturdy and it worked. 

It was slow going, though.  The thermometer said 20 degrees and my fingers said, “Ouch.”   Texans have long endured the scorching months of summer and now frigid fingers too.  Is this fair? 

The snow was heavy, causing me to conclude that I overdid it on the size of my shovel.  It was at least as twice as wide as a store-bought shovel and four times as heavy.  I was ready to quit after 15 minutes of shoveling but I broke out a lawn chair and took a five-minute break instead.  (Hey, I am nearly 68 you know) 

It was tough work.  My mind was doing a two-part harmony with my back which was singing the blues.  Time for the lawn chair again.  

As I labored, I thought of one of my favorite Greek words – the word “hupomeno.”   It’s a compound word.  “Hupo” means under and “meno” means to abide or remain.  Put them together and the word means, “to remain under.”

It’s also a favorite word in Scriptures, used 23 times.  It is usually translated with words like perseverance, steadfastness or endurance.

The apostle Paul taught Timothy, his apprentice, that hupomeno was something worth pursuit.

He wrote, “But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance (hupomeno) and gentleness.”  – 1 Timothy 6:11 NETBible ®

Paul gave us a list of sterling character qualities and added endurance to it. 

So necessary!  Think of a weightlifter who has hundreds of pounds suspended above his head.  If his willpower softens and his arms sag, he may be crushed.  He must firmly remain under it to succeed and to survive.    

We may not be weightlifters, but we all face weighty challenges that stand in our way and threaten to defeat us.

– a boss that fails to recognize the value we bring to the job

– a spouse that has withdrawn

– a stubborn health issue that will not be resolved

– an addiction that seems to be an excruciating everyday battle

– or may it just be a snowbound driveway

I had to push forward through bitter temperatures, an aching back and icy fingers, but my biggest obstacle, much like yours, was internal.  “I can’t do this.”  “This is just too much.”  “What difference will it make?” 

So how do we respond?  We stand up under the weight.  We push forward toward the end and briefly rest when we need.  We lean on the kindness of others and we ask God to infuse our hupomeno with His divine power. 

It took about 4 hours of shoveling (and at least 10 breaks) but between my homemade shovel, and my commitment to persevere – we got it done. 

May you get yours done as well. 

PS: Texas is still expecting some nasty, nasty weather.  My shovel is available to borrow! Hupomeno!

A PRAYER: God help me to push on when life pushes back.