257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105
(262) 763-3021
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We have purchased land on Highways A & W and are planning to build soon! Drive by and take a look at our future home!
“Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it.”
Irving Berlin
September 20 th, 2009
Those are insightful and very optimistic words from the man who displayed an eternal optimism by lyricizing that he was dreaming of a “White Christmas with every Christmas card I write.” That, though, was typical for Irving Berlin. His real name was Israel Baline. He was born in Russia in 1888 and his family had to flee to the United States because of persecution. One of his earliest memories was of lying on a blanket by the side of a road, watching his house burn to the ground. It had been torched during an antisemitic Russian riot. He was one of eight children and his family lived in abject poverty. His father, a strict Jew, was overly stern and nearly abusive. Three years after arriving in New York City, his father died, forcing Irving Berlin to work on the streets in an attempt to help support the family.
In Russia his father had been a cantor in the synagogue. With few survival skills and little education, Berlin realized that formal employment was out of the question. His only ability was one he acquired from his late father's vocation: singing. He joined with a few other youngsters and went to saloons in the Bowery to sing to customers. Music became his sole source of income. Eventually, he became a “singing waiter.” In his free time he taught himself to play the piano. When the bar closed for the night, young Berlin would sit at a piano in the back and pick out tunes. He began writing songs and using the name, Irving Berlin, which he found was easier for others to remember. He wrote hundreds of songs and became very popular. In 1912, he married Dorothy Goetz, but she died six months later of typhoid fever contracted during their honeymoon. But the man who had known so much pain and sadness in his life, gave us that wonderful patriotic song, God Bless America. It quickly became the second National Anthem after America entered World War II. Over the decades it earned millions for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, to whom Berlin assigned all royalties.
That phrase “God Bless America” was taken from Berlin's mother. While he was growing up on the Lower East Side of New York City, she would say “God bless America” often, to indicate that, without America, her family would have had no place to go.
This morning we’re beginning the study of another Jewish young man, Joseph. Though their lives are separated by some four thousand years, Joseph, too, could have easily written those words, “Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it.” His life speaks eloquently to us today as we are pounded by the crashing waves of trials and tribulations. As our businesses fail, as we’re laid off, as our kids rebel, as our parents age – too often ungracefully, as our siblings say and do cruel things, as our friends forget us or worse, betray us – whatever we face – we need to remember one simple yet powerful truth: God is at work in the midst of the pain and the adversity. As He was with Joseph – everywhere and in every situation – so God is at work in our bodies, souls, and spirits even when it seems that the pieces of our lives are nothing more than painful and jagged edges.
Over the course of the next few months we’ll be working through Genesis 37-50, When Life is crushed out of you: A Study of the life of Joseph. As we study this young man’s life, we need to ask “How could Joseph cope with all these disappointments?” It was because Joseph knew and trusted that ultimately God was in control.
Does this absolve Jacob, his wives and sons of their sin? No, they did exactly what they wanted to do, yet a sovereign God used even their sinful actions to accomplish his purpose. When told to curse God and die Job responded biblically, "Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?" Our response is, “Wait a minute! Satan was behind Job's trouble.” Yes he was, but it was God who allowed it.
Like Joseph of old, your life and mine are not ruled by good luck or bad omens. On the contrary, we are objects of God's sovereign care, under His all wise and loving hand. Bible students call this providence, God's constant care for and absolute rule over all His creation for His glory and the good of His people. As God's people we must dismiss the idea of coincidence or fate. Behind the scenes of life stands a sovereign God directing all situations through His gracious providence, working out "everything in conformity with the purposes of His will."
There are times when providence is sweet; other times when it is painful. Joseph’s life is the Old Testament Romans 8:28, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Joseph's life is a wonderful illustration of this truth. This narrative screams hope for those of us who are hurting. We're tempted to wonder if God cares...is He in control? Yes, He cares and He is in complete control. During these demanding days the message of Joseph is one that we desperately need. Joseph’s story is a powerful reminder that we all need to remember that our God truly is in control. As the English hymn writer wrote in the 18th century:
Sovereign Ruler of the skies
Ever gracious, ever wise.
All my times are in thy hand.
All events at thy command.
