Pastor Phil Roland - Sheepfold Ministries

August 19, 2007

T R A N S I T I O N S

Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

 “A Transition is an irreversible change in life that sets the course for a new or different lifestyle that results in a favorable outcome or an unfavorable outcome. Some transitions we have the power of choice over, some we do not.” Pastor Phil  "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Rev. 3:8

ELEVEN MAJOR SEASONAL TRANSITIONS IN LIFE

I.  A TIME TO BE BORN / A TIME TO DIE – v.2

          A. Ironies of human existence:        

                        1. Both Birthing and Dying an out-of-control experience

                        2. Both are in God’s Hands

            B. Conception and Birth begins w/a gleam in the Father’s eye

            C. Death is determined by how we live

                        1. All will eventually die – Hebrews 9:27

                        “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”

2. Either die “in Christ” or without Him

II.  A TIME TO PLANT / A TIME TO PLUCK UP

          A. Plant with dreams and joy – Psalm 126:5,6

            “Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth     weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,

Bringing his sheaves with him.”

            1. Should: weep at birthing and laugh at dying

            2. Weeping over the hardship of producing seeds

B. Harvesting in one thing: clearing the fields is another

III.  A TIME TO KILL / A TIME TO HEAL

1. Killing vs. Murdering - Exodus 20:13 - “You shall not murder. . .”

1. Taking life for food

2. Destroying life for subjective intent (personal decision or pleasure)

            B. Heal = Hebrew, “RA-PHA” – Picture: a needle pulling thread

IV.  A TIME TO BREAK DOWN / A TIME TO BUILD UP

          A. De-constructing – tearing down is a “necessary sadness”

                        1. Tear down before you can rebuild

                        2. Sad thinking of original builder’s efforts

                        3. Building house on sand – Matt. 12:26,27

            B. Building up what had been torn down is best

                        1. Building house upon the rocks

                        2. Building the house upon the Lord

V.  A TIME TO WEEP / A TIME TO LAUGH

          A. Tears cleanse the soul – Psalm 30:5

“Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.”

            1. Unresolved grief – Unshed tears are a danger to health

            2. Tears vent frustration and stress – John 11:35

B. Laughter is likewise a stress reliever

VI.  A TIME TO MOURN / A TIME TO DANCE

          A. Mourning is a necessary part of life

                        1. Rituals – Physical acts with spiritual potential for healing

                        2. All transitions come with mourning

            B. The flip side of a transition involving mourning is joy

                        1. Zorba the Greek – Dancing in the midst of conflict

                        2. Sadness for some – Joy for others

            C.  PETE SEEGER’S SIXTIES SONG:

     “To every season, Turn, Turn, Turn,

                  There is a reason, Turn, Turn, Turn,

                  And a time for every purpose under heaven. . .”

VII.  A TIME TO THROW AWAY STONES / GATHER THEM

VIII.  A TIME TO EMBRACE / REFRAIN FROM EMBRACING

IX.  A TIME TO SEEK / A TIME TO LOSE

X.  A TIME TO KEEP / A TIME TO THROW AWAY

XI.  A TIME TO TEAR / A TIME TO SEW

XII.  A TIME TO KEEP SILENCE / A TIME TO SPEAK

XIII. A TIME TO LOVE / A TIME TO HATE

XIV. A TIME FOR WAR / A TIME FOR PEACE

TRANSITIONS Text:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

3:1  For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2  a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

3  a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4  a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5  a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6  a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

7  a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8  a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

9  What gain have the workers from their toil?

10  I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with.

11  He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

12  I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live;

13  moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.

14  I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him.

STRESS AND LAUGHTER

          A continuously expanding body of medical research now confirms that laughter is a powerful medicine in alleviating the impact that stressful events have on our lives and in actually preventing accidents and reversing disease. 

Grief work involves allowing yourself to feel your feelings: ALL feelings are OK. You are allowed to enjoy a moment of laughter without being disrespectful to the memory of the person you are grieving.  In some instances, the loved one you have lost to death enjoyed humor themselves.  Allowing yourself to laugh at what they found humorous can actually facilitate the grieving experience.

Laughter is a happy and pleasant experience. It temporarily diverts our attention and dissipates feelings of fear, isolation, anger, and physical pain.  Laughter can be the doorway to purging harmful emotions and resolving mental tension. It is a form of therapy that encourages us to release the painful emotions of anger, fear, and boredom.

Laughter enables the processing of information in a new way. New perceptions can lead to different and healthier solutions. William Fry, M.D., psychiatrist and professor emeritus at Stanford University, documented physiological changes from laughter similar to intense aerobic exercise.  He stated that...
”One hundred laughs is equal to ten minutes of aerobic exercise.”

Laughter can also help the immune system.  Research at the Department of Clinical Immunology at Loma Linda University School of Medicine has demonstrated that the experience of laughter lowers the level of certain stress hormones and stimulates the immune systems by increasing the number of activated T-cells and activated T-helper cells.

In addition, mirthful laughter enhances the activity of natural killer cells that play a crucial role in preventing disease. To create more smiles and laughter, try any or all of these humor strategies:
1)  Cultivate a playful attitude.
2)  Find humor in daily life.
3)  Learn to belly laugh and tell jokes.
4)  Learn to laugh at yourself.
5)  Hang out with people who are fun to be with, who make you laugh.

Courtesy of Sheepfold Ministries, Sharon, PA - 724-981-5683

Phil Roland – 2007