Life...It's All About the Shoes

I officiated a funeral the other day. Troy was 44 and larger than life, both in his big 6'3"/300+ lbs frame and his heart. God gave him a large body to house his huge heart for people. Many great things were said about Troy. Funny things. Sad things. Memorable things. But it was the funeral director's words that have stuck with me. Here's what she said (my paraphrase, except for the last line) as she came to the podium to close the service.

"You all came here today to celebrate the life of a man who lived only a short time on this earth. He is home now. It serves to remind us and make us think that life is short. None of us are promised another moment. We never know when our next moment might be our last. So, if you need to tell someone that you love them, then do it. If you need to forgive someone, then go forgive them. If you need to thank someone, then when you leave here today, go thank them. Because when you put your shoes on in the morning, you never know who might take them off at night."

I loved her sentiments. So, take her advice. Go live them in light of the fact that tomorrow might be too late. As a good friend of mine said to me today, "Go out with your boots on."

Relax. I Took the Sting!

There is a story about a father and son who were traveling down a country road one afternoon in the springtime when all of a sudden a bee flew in the window. Being deathly allergic to bee stings, the boy began to panic as the bee buzzed all around inside the car. Seeing the horror on his child’s face, the father reached out and caught the bee in his hand. Soon, he opened his hand and the bee began to buzz around once again. Again…the boy began to panic. The father reached over to his son, and opened his hand showing him the stinger still in his palm. “Relax, son,” the father said, “I took the sting. The bee can’t hurt you.”

Now I don’t know if this story is true or not, but I like it just the same. It reminds me of a another tale that I know is true. That story of Easter.

I will not take the time to recount the events of Easter except to say that Jesus Christ, the Son of God was crucified for the sins of humanity and buried. Three days later, He was raised from the dead and the tomb in which he was lain was empty.

The empty tomb is the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also the promise that every individual who finds Jesus and follows Him will be raised to eternal life.

I pray that you are confident of the Easter hope.

Every Christian knows that Jesus took the sting out of death. Saint Paul even sarcastically taunts death, "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55). Death is no longer something to be feared because God took the sting when Jesus was raised.

So, what do you really have to fear? One day, you will be raised also to live forever with God in Heaven?

Celebrate Easter every day.

Grave Robber

My favorite contemporary Christian band is Petra. They were the pioneers in Christian rock. Their classic, "Grave Robber," is all about the hope every Christian has after he or she dies. The lyrics are built off of 1 Corinthians 15:54--"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" Don't you just love Paul's sarcastic jab at death? It has no hold over those of us in Christ Jesus. Check out the lyrics as you watch the video of Petra's final performance after 33 years of ministry.



Grave Robber
There's a step that we all have to take alone
An appointment we have with the great unknown
Like a vapor this life is just waiting to pass
Like the flowers that fade like the withering grass

But life seems so long and death so complete
And the grave an impossible portion to cheat
But there's One who has been there and still lived to tell
There is One who has been through both heaven and hell
And the Grave will come up empty handed that day
Jesus will come and steal us away

Where is the sting tell me where is the bite
When the grave robber comes like a thief in the night
Where is the victory where is the prize
When the grave robber comes
And death finally dies

Many still mourn and many still weep
For those that they love who have fallen asleep
But we have this hope though our hearts may still ache
Just one shout from above and they all will awake
(And) in the reunion of joy we will see
Death will be swallowed in sweet victory

When the last enemy is gone from the dust will come a song
Those asleep will be awakened - not a one will be forsakened
He shall wipe away our tears - He will steal away our fears
There will be no sad tomorrow - there will be no pain or sorrow