INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Beatitudes – The nature of

perspective Spiritualization

Poor Hungry Persecuted

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Our view of weeping

Bad Weak Negative Emotional

Logic vs. Emotion

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Masculine vs. Feminine Strong vs. Weak The problem with science… Most decisions are made on

the criteria of emotional connection

Who do you marry?Who do you marry?

What house do you What house do you buy?buy?

What song is jammin?What song is jammin?

““PAPER PLANES”PAPER PLANES”

All I wanna do is (BANG BANG BANG BANG!)And (KKKAAAA CHING!)And take your money

Who do you vote for?Who do you vote for?

Do you like your job?Do you like your job?

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION The balance between logic

and emotion Times of loss, grief, pain,

and sorrow should not be wished on anyone

God’s role – Our choice

1. God 1. God UnderstandsUnderstands There are 2 definitive

scripture passages which record God physically weeping.

The Death of Lazarus Weeping over Jerusalem

1. God 1. God UnderstandsUnderstands Loss is the greatest source

of tears and sorrow The parables of Luke 15 Myrhh

The Adoration of the The Adoration of the MagiMagi

2. Tears are 2. Tears are TemporaryTemporary

Psalm 30:4-5…Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

2. Tears are 2. Tears are TemporaryTemporary

Tears are designed to be a temporary stage of life

God never intended us to grieve forever

The bible is clear tears are a thing of this world

2. Tears are 2. Tears are TemporaryTemporary

Revelation 21:4…He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

3. The 3. The PowerPower of of TearsTears

Let’s talk for a minute about laughing and crying

We tend to associate Laughter = Good

Memories Crying = Bad Memories

Mardi GrasMardi Gras

3. The 3. The PowerPower of of TearsTears

Weeping is better than Laughing

What do you call it when you laugh “hard”?

People pay to laugh, they get paid to create tears

3. The 3. The PowerPower of of TearsTears

Name the last Oscar “Best Picture” given to a comedy?

TEARS CHANGE US

3. The 3. The PowerPower of of TearsTears

Eccl 7:2-4…It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.

3. The 3. The PowerPower of of TearsTears

Sorrow is better than laughter for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

3. The 3. The PowerPower of of TearsTears

Laughing and Weeping are not opposites

Laughing and Weeping both represent a release

Depression vs. Liberation

3. The 3. The PowerPower of of TearsTears

Symptoms of Depression – Sleep too much or insomnia, simple tasks take long to accomplish, no appetite or food binging, irritable & easily enraged, and have thoughts that life is not worth living.

4. The Role of 4. The Role of HOPEHOPE

Hope is one of the 3 most powerful forces in the world

When the Devil can’t destroy Faith, then he will frequently go after Hope

4. The Role of 4. The Role of HOPEHOPE

Proverbs 13:12…Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

There are people in this room who still have faith, but have lost all hope

4. The Role of 4. The Role of HOPEHOPE

Isaiah 57:10…You were wearied with the length of your way, but you did not say, “It is hopeless”; you found new life for your strength, and so you were not faint.