endings
Yesterday's annual visit with my PCP went well enough, lab work all normal, he renewed all my meds, and we discussed my Being. He was concerned about the edema in my legs, but said taking too much furosemide to control it would threaten the kidneys. I asked him about my CHF-related syncope episodes, and he scheduled me for a neck ultrasound for next Monday morning. We'll see the results and recommendations of that, eh?
Meantime, I've bought a kippah to wear covering last week's unsightly dermatology sutures on my shaved head.
The rumors are coming true about doctors' appointments in one's ancient aging.
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What can I do competently anymore? Read a bible passage and comment on it stretches my limit, so here's one for the upcoming Sunday:
Romans 10:5-15
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say?
“The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
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Paul's assertion is well known and quoted by some as the condition for being saved: "if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." So, it's conditional, then, grace is, eh? You have to confess and believe, is it? And what specifically does Paul mean by "saved"?
By "saved" Paul does not mean the soul's immediate translation into Heaven at death (directly or via Purgatory), as the Church has evolved to hope, teach, and many believe; rather, Paul means that when the trumpet sounds at the End of Days, the "saved" will be those faithful who, having been raised into the air to meet Jesus for judgement, will get into the new kingdom of God on Earth that will be ruled by God's regent, Jesus returning as the Son of Man. To differentiate then, between Paul and us, Paul's is more a "future hope" than our "present hope."
When, though, will the End of Days come?
Some online thoughts here, that mix with my own uneasiness about religion that is so unchangingly dogmatically certain, instead of tentatively hopeful, that it cannot be reconciled with natural revelation in our Time.
Natural and Astrophysical Limits
Scientists know the absolute limit for Earth's survival based on how stars work.
1 Billion Years: Solar brightness will increase by 10%, causing a moist greenhouse effect and evaporating Earth's oceans.
1 to 2 Billion Years: Plant life will die out due to a lack of carbon dioxide, destroying the oxygen cycle and ending animal life.
4 Billion Years: A runaway greenhouse effect will heat the surface enough to melt the rock, ending all life forever.
7.6 Billion Years: The Sun will turn into a red giant, though Earth itself might escape being completely swallowed.