Somewhere Over The Rainbow?

I AM LOOKING FOR THAT PLACE: SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

I am not happy here? I was not happy there? But I will be happy over there?

I. WHAT IS IN MY REACH? AIM HIGHER! LOVE TO SERVE.

Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

A. RONALD REAGAN HAD A DREAM:

HE CALLED HIS DREAM A THOUSAND POINTS OF LIGHT.

He went on to say:

"No man stands so tall as when he reaches down to lift another man!"

B. Several years ago I read where some mountain hunters had played a trick on another hunter in their COON CLUB.

They lowered the sight on his rifle.

After they did this their friend was missing everything at which he was shooting.

He shot at a raccoon in a tree. Of course his bullet went under the coon.

One of the hunters climbed the tree and shook the tree.

The coon fell out of the tree on one of the "JOKERS" head.

The friend that had his GUN SIGHT ALTERED took aim at the COON on top of his friend’s head...

As the coon was resting on his head, the JOKER started WHISPERING AS LOUD

AS HE COULD: AIM HIGH! PLEASE, AIM HIGH!

B. SOMETIMES IN LIFE WE MUST AIM HIGHER.

C. It is better to aim at a star and hit the moon, than it is to land in the MUD-PUDDLE EVERY TIME.

II. WE ARE DREAMING OF ANOTHER PLACE? A BETTER PLACE? AN EASIER PLACE THAN WHERE WE ARE?

SOMETIMES TO WISH TO BE ANOTHER IS TO WASTE WHO YOU REALLY ARE?

A. There was a beautiful song written and released in 1939... in THE WIZARD OF OZ.

B. "SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW"

Music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg

Somewhere over the rainbow way up high,

There’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue,

And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.

Someday I’ll wish upon a star

And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.

Where troubles melt like lemon drops away above the chimney tops

That’s where you’ll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly.

Birds fly over the rainbow.

Why then, oh why can’t I?

If happy little bluebirds fly

Beyond the rainbow

Why, oh why can’t I?

C. YOU REMEMBER DOROTHY, THE TIN MAN, THE SCARECROW AND

LION? DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN THEY FINALLY MADE THEIR LONG JOURNEY DOWN THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD? THEY FOUND THE WIZARD WAS JUST A SMALL MAN WITH NO SPECIAL POWERS.

THE WIZARD SAID TO DOROTHY --- SHE HAD THE POWER ALL ALONG THE WAY: CLICK HER HEELS THREE TIMES AND SAY:

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME, THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME...

III. I CAN’T SEEM TO FIND THAT PLACE AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW? THE GREENER GRASS SYNDROME CAN OFTEN BE EASILY EXPLAINED.

Proverbs 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

A. Often greener grass grows over big septic tanks?

The bigger the septic tank, the more manure, the greener the grass.

B. There might be another LOGICAL EXPLANATION...

IF YOUR NEIGHBOR HAS MUCH GREENER GRASS THAN YOURS,

HE PROBABLY HAS A HIGHER WATER BILL?

IV. SMART PEOPLE COME TO SMART PEOPLE FOR SMART ANSWERS? SOLOMON --- YOU ARE PRETTY SMART --- WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY?

A. Solomon was very smart. He had great understanding.

B. Solomon made gold and silver as ordinary as rocks in his reign.

C. Solomon increased his HORSES and WIVES... (800 plus 200?)

Solomon lived in EXCESSIVENESS --- there was no BALANCE ...

Solomon no longer depended on the LORD GOD...

D. SOLOMON HAD THE MOST POWERFUL ARMY OF HIS DAY.

THROUGH MARRIAGE SOLOMON MADE ALLIES OF ALL HIS ENEMIES.

His enemy will not attack their grand children.

E. Solomon pens some very sad, sad words.

Solomon NEVER FOUND SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW...

KJV

Eccles. 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

NIV

Eccles. 1:2 "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless."

LB

Eccles. 1:2 In my opinion, nothing is worthwhile; everything is futile.

V. SOLOMON KNEW EVERY COURSE KNOWN TO MAN... HE TRIED THEM ALL... AND THERE WAS STILL A EMPTY HOLE IN HIS HEART...

1. SOLOMON CHASED THE RAINBOW OF PLEASURE...

Eccles. 2:1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

To satisfy the five senses, sensual.

Self-gratification, given to desires and inclinations.