I'll Never Get out of this World Alive

Snippet

The negatives don't define our lives.  God's positives define us.  What negatives do is leave room for the main action.  God's action. Eugene Peterson Practice Resurrection pg 196

Scripture

For hardship does not spring from the soil,
    nor does trouble sprout from the ground.
Yet man is born to trouble
    as surely as sparks fly upward.
“But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
    I would lay my cause before him. Job 5:6-8

Song

Hank Williams I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7FQeFOBtBk

Now you're lookin' at a man that's gettin' kind a mad

I had lot's of luck but it's all been bad

No matter how I struggle and strive

I'll never get out of this world a live.

My fishin' pole's broke the creek is full of sand

My woman run away with another man

No matter how I struggle and strive

I'll never get out of this world alive.

A distant uncle passed away and left me quite a batch

And I was livin'g high until that fatal day

A lawyer proved I wasn't born

I was only hatched.

Ev'rything's agin' me and it's got me down

If I jumped in the river I would prob'ly drown

No matter how I struggle and strive

I'll never get out of this world alive.

These shabby shoes I'm wearin' all the time

Are full of holes and nails

And brother if I stepped on a worn out dime

I bet a nickel I could tell you if it was heads or tails.

I'm not gonna worry wrinkles in my brow

'Cause nothin's ever gonna be alright nohow

No matter how I struggle and strive

I'll never get out of this world alive.

I could buy a Sunday suit and it would leave me broke

If it had two pair of pants I would burn the coat

No matter how I struggle and strive

I'll never get out of this world alive.

If it was rainin' gold I wouldn't stand a chance

I wouldn't have a pocket in my patched up pants

No matter how I struggle and strive

I'll never get out of this world alive.

Sentence Prayer

Father;
A Grain of wheat is a solitary grain
till it falls to the ground and dies.
a grain of wheat is a solitary grain.
but dead it bears a mighty harvest.

Praise to Jesus, the resurrection and the life.
All who have faith in Christ,
though they die, they will come to life;
and no one who is alive in faith will ever die.

For the Son of Man was raised
so that everyone who believes in Jesus
may have eternal life.

Look on Jesus, lifted up,
lifted high to redeem the world.  Amen
(New Zealand Prayer Book pg 107)