A GOLD CASKET

Flamboyant to the end, entertainer James Brown died on Monday, Christmas day. On Thursday, he was transported in a 24-karat gold casket to the Apollo Theater in New York by a horse-drawn hearse for public viewing. The following day family and friends held a private funeral service at the Carpentersville Baptist Church in North Augusta, South Carolina. Celebrities and fans filled the James Brown Arena in Augusta, Georgia for a public viewing and service on Saturday. These occasions were marked with tears, but also with joy and music, more a celebration of his life than a time of mourning.

Gerald Ford, the thirty-eighth President of the United States, died last Tuesday, the day after Christmas. His body was transported from California to Washington D.C. in a flag-draped coffin. As I write this, his body lies in state in the Capitol Rotunda. President George W. Bush and his wife Laura, along with other dignitaries, have paid their respects. A military honor guard watches over his coffin. On Tuesday, his body will be flown to Grand Rapids, Michigan for a private funeral service on Wednesday. Mourners face the cameras with a stiff upper lip. There is no cheering or dancing for a former President, only somber and dignified ceremony.

Planning a funeral is often done at the moment of necessity. Customs and preferences differ, but basically people gather to show respect for the deceased and to support the bereaved. Sometimes there is a visitation at the funeral home and a large funeral service. Some families opt for quiet graveside services. Today there is the option of cremation – not the choice of many, but in certain situations a financial necessity. There is a wide range of casket types and colors. Although it does seem to befit the lifestyle of James Brown, a 24-karat gold casket is not one of the most popular selling models.

A former President often helps to plan his own funeral – in advance, of course – just as Gerald Ford did. Protocol dictated a certain amount of pomp and ceremony, but where possible he avoided some of the trappings of grandeur, such as the hearse that transported his casket to the Capitol instead of a caisson followed by a riderless horse with boots reversed in the stirrups and an empty saddle.

Planning and perhaps pre-paying for one’s own funeral is becoming more popular. In many ways this undoubtedly helps lighten the load on the family at an emotional time, but there can be snags in keeping the deceased’s wishes. Even in times of grief, families do not always agree on what to do or who is responsible for what, even when everything is in writing.

I could not afford a gold casket, but even if I could, I have no desire to be buried in one. That’s not my style. Neither is a somber public ceremony. I never gave it much thought before, but I think I would like a simple graveside funeral, attended by family and friends who might miss me enough to shed a tear or two, and yet love me enough to celebrate my life after the funeral with some good food and lots of laughter. A simple headstone will suffice. After all, I will not be there to enjoy the view. A dead woman does not live in her grave. It is only a place where her body returns to the dust from which God created it.

What is most memorable about a funeral is the outpouring of love and support displayed to the surviving family members. When they know with undivided assurance the loved one died in Christ, they have peace to accept the loss. For those in Christ, death is only the end of physical life. Christ conquered the grave when he died and was resurrected.

As a flesh and blood human being, I can not inherit the kingdom of God (I Corinthians 15:50), but I have hope in Christ of a resurrection to eternal life. That hope is much more valuable than a gold casket or a public funeral ceremony.

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THE WAGGING TAIL

The phone rang on Christmas day and a friend asked, “We’re leaving to deliver some dinner plates. Is it all right to drop off one for you? We’ll be by in about thirty minutes.”

I decided to close my three dogs in the bedroom where they were sleeping on their blankets, so I could answer the door in peace. Just as I decided this, I received another telephone call. But, by holding the cordless phone in my left hand and moving slowly to protect my painful left arm, I was able to move the damp laundry hanging on the doors elsewhere. It was slow and tedious.

This house was built in the 1920s and the bedroom door into the kitchen doesn’t stay closed. I retrieved a ten-pound weight to block the door from inside the bedroom. Then I quietly backed out the door into the living room and closed it behind me.

Feeling pretty pleased with the success of my plan, I turned around and discovered Merci and her wagging tail were on the wrong side of the door. I forgot Merci likes to nap on a throw in the living room and I neglected to count heads. I just assumed Merci was among the sleeping dogs.

I have had the same experience with sin in my life. I abhor something I know God calls sin – it could be any sin, such as anger. I slowly and painstakingly work at overcoming it and moving it out of my life. I think I have finally made a little progress, turn around, and there it is staring me in the face, tail wagging, tongue hanging out and eager to see what mischief it can get into. Does this sound familiar in your life too?

This is the time of year when folks make a list of New Year’s resolutions. One will decide to lose weight, another to exercise regularly, one to quit procrastinating, another to give more and be less selfish, one to stop lying or stealing or drinking or being unfaithful – . Everyone has something that needs to be addressed whether or not it is on a formal list of resolutions.

Anyone who has ever made a list of New Year’s resolutions knows how hard they are to keep. You are convicted of the need to change yourself or your circumstances, but the reality is that just because you have decided to painstakingly make a list of changes, launching and sustaining the changes takes work, commitment and perseverance. In might also take some sacrifice. .

There is nothing magical about the year changing from 2006 to 2007. As you step from one year into the next one, don’t be surprised when you turn around and find your propensity for sin is on the same side of the year you are, with tail wagging, tongue hanging out, and eager to see what mischief it can get into.

But don’t despair. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Heb 4:15

Sin can appear so cute and enticing at times, an innocent act or word that sneaks up and catches you with your guard down. Always wear your armor and stay close to Christ, in the Word.

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Heb 9:28

Have a blessed 2007.

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RIGHTEOUS GOSSIP

Many years ago I attended the same church as an engaging young wife and mother. She was friendly, hospitable and outgoing, but I quickly learned when rumors were moving through the congregation, she was frequently the one supplying the AA batteries to keep them going.

One day she telephoned to see what news she could pick up to pass around, and I told her, “Gossip (not her real name, of course), you are going to hear this sooner or later, so you might as well hear it from me so you have the facts straight.”

Less than ten minutes later, another woman from church called. “Oh, Jan, I’m so sorry. You must be devastated. Are you okay?”

I was baffled. “I’m sorry. What are you talking about?”

“Gossip called. She told me all about what happened and asked me to pray for you. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Aha! I told Gossip something true and too tempting to keep to herself, knowing she would repeat what I told her, but I was stunned at how quickly she was spreading it around – and as a prayer request, no less.

“What did Gossip tell you? I asked innocently.

I was speechless at the story given to her. It was somewhat like the parlor game where one person whispers something to the next person, who then whispers it to the next person, and the last person in the group repeats it out loud to everyone, only it does not sound much like the original statement. Gossip just skipped the person to person jumble and scrambled it herself. I wish I could state she learned something from getting caught red-handed, but unfortunately Gossip continued spreading rumors, even after she eventually wandered away from the church. How many others heard this same “prayer request” and took it to heart?

I have noticed over the years that gossip frequently is presented in the same guise, as if calling it a prayer request makes it all right to break a confidence or to reveal details of another’s life without permission. There is no such virtue as “righteous gossip” in the Bible. Instead, gossip – allowing your tongue to take control of your mind and permitting it to run unbridled with someone else’s confidence – is revealed as sin.

James 1:26 is enlightening. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. (NKJV)

Gossip is not “victimless” and learning to control the tongue is not an overnight victory. It is a lifetime battle. I have lost many a skirmish, as I know you have. (Remember, lying is also a sin.) It is imperative you and I struggle onward against it.

Paul writes to the Corinthian church, For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there might be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. (2 Corinthians 12:20 NIV)

For those who make New Year’s resolutions, perhaps this will be the year you add gossip to your list of established habits you desire to break.

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OUT OF THE FREEZER

The freezer door was not supposed to be open. Neither were Percy’s rear end and tail supposed to be sticking out of the open door.

Percy has the natural curiosity of a two-year-old cat and the shelves beside the refrigerator are just the right height for him to explore this new territory. I now understand why the freezer door has mysteriously been opening itself recently. It never occurred to me to check the freezer for a snoopy cat before I shut the door. I do not want Percy to lose his life because he can not resist the temptation to see what is on the other side of the door, so I will again have to make some changes in the way the kitchen is arranged.

As far as curiosity goes, people are no different than Percy. Men and women are often unable to resist the temptation to just take a quick peek at something they know is illegal, immoral, dangerous, attractive or different. God forbade Eve and Adam to eat from a specific tree, but Eve could not resist a quick bite when Satan presented the fruit as inviting and safe to eat.

Flirting with someone other than your mate, gambling, pornography, illicit sex, lying, cheating, stealing, drug addiction, alcoholism, pedophilia — The list is endless. And it does not apply only to non-Christians. Many sins begin as just a quick peek out of curiosity or an adventure in covetousness. Surely that can not hurt and who will know? But sin has tentacles. It captures the one who commits it and hurts innocent people – mates, children, employees, but mainly the sinner, because the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

Under the Old Covenant, the blood of the sacrificed animals symbolized the forgiveness of sins that was yet to come in Christ, but it did not forgive them. God promised a Messiah and in due time Jesus was born.

The glory of the Christ child’s birth surpasses anything written about him in story or song. Men can sing about his birth and even preach about it without true comprehension of what transpired. To many, it is a sentimental story, discussed under the mistletoe or while agonizing over what to buy for whom this year. But to one who has been forgiven of sin because of the Messiah, it is a spiritual experience of the heart. Words can not adequately describe the miracle God wrought in Christ.

If Jesus had not been born, we would have no Savior and we would all be on “death row” for our sins. Celebrate Christ’s birth with joy and worship God with a thankful heart.

And avoid temptation - stay out of the freezer.

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THE PAST SEVEN DAYS

This was written by a friend, an EMT, who deals with emergencies and death daily. Many thanks to Martha Anne for permission to share some of her thoughts on the subject of Death (the personification of death).

THE PAST SEVEN DAYS

By Martha Anne McCarty

The past seven days……. what a whirlwind of life! Tragedy, unexpected yet suspected news, fate, job occurrences, all weave a tapestry of character and inner strength on which we live out each day and hope for a better tomorrow.

I have stared at Death, in some form or fashion, each day.

Monday held a tragic, yet glorious, end to a young mother’s life. Tragic in the way she died, tragic for the hands at which she died yet glorious because this mother sacrificed her own life to save her young son, just as Jesus did for you and me. Death was so close.

Tuesday, Death peeked around the corner, just to remind me that it was there. The news at the cardiologist was not what we were prepared to hear: The potential of suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest; a defibrillator implant, and after all the lifestyle changes that have been made over the last 90 days. One problem revealing the greater problem and it is no better. Not the news we had wanted to hear.

Wednesday — a day of doing for another, just because you can. Though time had been completed for the agreed span, duty called, and I did what anyone else in that position would have done. I stayed on to finish the job, because there was a need. And in fulfilling that need, I again faced Death. Oh, so close. The impact was harsh and jolting. The impact riveted the reality of life being able to change in a split second, not only for me but for many other families.

Thursday was a day of rest and recuperation, a time of reflection. A time to see that Death is always so very close, even though we think of it being so far away.

Friday and Saturday — contact with friends who have or are traveling this same stony path, with Death already touching their lives by taking a loved one, or a developing illness that is shadowed by what we naturally fear.

Sunday, the once every 3 week workday, was no exception. It brought the news of tragedy touching a dear close friend and not knowing whether Death will gather another. A sudden collapse of a total stranger, and, lo, there is Death. A terrible fall changes a young man’s life forever …a fatal crash … a newborn babe. Death swung his sickle through our community with such quick motions, it all seemed a blur.

Yet the music during the early morning ride before dawn reminded me of the answer to it all. I can trust God to sustain me, hold me, comfort me, strengthen me—in any situation, at any time. Death has no hold over Him. For God is my Creator, my Protector, my Savior. Whether I meet Death face to face in the next moment, or pass him by in daily living for the next 40 years, I am sheltered in God’s arms. I am because He is.

And because He is, I go on each day focused on His will, because all is well. And that is something that I should never take for granted.

© 2006 Martha Anne McCarty

Used with permission

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