What Will They Say When I Die?

In my position at my church, I work with College students, sometimes the young singles, and much of my time is in the Media ministry. This means I am the resident IT tech of the church, work with videos and techy stuff, and take care of other similar areas. It also means, however, that I work with the sound systems for funerals and many weddings.

I have run the sound and/or video for many funerals and put together many a picture montage for families. Some funerals have been short, and some have been long. Some have been sad and emotional, and some have been joyful. Some have just been plain cold and emotionless. And some of have been crowded, and some have been barely attended. Funerals always have someone officiating them as well, and some are good, and some are bad.

So being around many funerals has given me many unique insights. One is that if someone stands up a podium and says, “I just want to share a few things,” or “I just want to talk for a few minutes,” it almost always means this person is going to talk about much more than a few things or much more than a few minutes.

Probably the most interesting thing I’ve noticed about funerals is people say the best things about a person at his or her funeral. No matter who it is, the best comes out at a funeral. This past week I saw this with the news covering Michael Jackson’s death. Granted, this wasn’t a funeral, but it was the moments right after he died. Everyone talked about his music, his family, and all the good things, but the negative aspects of Michael Jackson were rarely mentioned. I heard some reporters say, “You almost forget about the allegations of illegal actions about Michael Jackson,” and phrases similar to that.

Where this concept gets interesting is when there is little or much to say. One funeral I recall was for an older man in our community. He did not go to our church and I did not know him, but they needed a larger place for the funeral. So I sat at the sound booth listening to this man’s friends and family speak of him. At his funeral, even the nicest things said about him could not totally hide that this guy treated people badly often. He had treated a few people well, but many he had not treated well at all.

Some of the speakers would say things like, “Even though he was hard man, he really helped a few people.” As I sat there I thought about what someone might say at my funeral. I heard this summer from a friend of mine about a funeral of a man who mentored and discipled people for the Kingdom of God. At this man’s funeral, the only thing the preacher who was officiating said was, “If this man has impacted your life for Christ I want you to stand.” At those words everyone in the church stood to his or her feet. In this case, the man’s actions spoke much louder than words. You could see the legacy he left as he left this world.

What will they say at your funeral? What will they say at mine? Today I’m at a funeral for a young man who was only 26 years old. That’s how old I am. I’m not trying to be morbid, but we really do not know when we are going to die. When this young guy woke up that morning, he did not know what would happen. James describes it very well in this verse in James 4:

3Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— 14yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

Our lives are so short, but we can do so much for the Kingdom of God. That’s why we are here. Our mission is to bring God glory. It’s all about saving the world.

14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” –Matthew 5:14-16

What will they say at your funeral? What will they say at mine? Are we living life today that is pointing people towards God and leaving a legacy for the Kingdom? Don’t wait for the right time to start. It starts right now.

Grace and peace,
Doug – John 15:13


2 Timothy 1:1-14
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
2To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Peanut Butter Jelly Time

Do you ever have one of those days where you just wonder, "Why?"

I've been reading through Habakkuk in the Old Testament, and he sat back and asked that out loud to God. He was wondering why the bad guys win sometimes and the good guys are dying in the streets. He was like, "Where are you God? And why don't you do something?" God converses with him and gives him some answers to those questions. If you're interested in what they said, you should check it out.

But Habakkuk was burdened with this. It was heavy for him, and it weighed him down. Do you ever feel like that? Do you ever feel like someone tied this huge weight to your heart and it is just pulling you to the floor? Sometimes I'll ask the questions like Habakkuk. Sometimes I'll ask why do guys like Osama Bin Laden and Hugo Chavez reign terror down on people, both righteous and unrighteous? Why are innocent people in Iran, Africa, and through the Middle East suffering because of corrupt leaders? Why does the rain fall on sinners and saints? Sometimes my questions are different though. Sometimes I'll wonder why my life turned out this way. Why are things like this, and not like that? Why do I have to feel this way?

And that's when life just get's heavy. The world's on my shoulders and I just can't handle it anymore. I love to help others and be there for people, but soon my problems get so big I can't see past them. I get like Habakkuk, burdened.

So today, in the midst of all of this, I got hungry. Not metaphorically, but actually hungry. Why? Well, it was lunchtime. And all I could think about was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They're so good. Bread - good, jelly - great, peanut butter - amazing - put them all together and you've got a 3 punch combo that would make Rocky jealous. So I went to the store and bought the sandwich trifecta, came back to the office, made a sandwich (or two), and ate in utter delight. And for a moment, my problems were lost in a simple awesome sandwich. I hadn't had one in I don't know how long, and it felt really good just to eat one again.

Then I got to thinking, "Is this like God and my problems?" I get all wrapped up in my own little world and questions, and then I get weighed down so much I can't get up. You know what God told Habakkuk? "Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith." (Hab. 2:4) God told Habakkuk to trust Him. Why? Because He is God. He's got this. God is going to take care of the bad and the good.

In my doubt and my worry and my grief, I felt this need for a sweet PB&J. The sandwich is a lot like my faith. In my grief and despair, I need God more than anything. And just like I know that PB&J is going to be awesome, I know God is going to be Righteous and Providential. Do I think my problems are big? Yeah, but I know Jesus is bigger (John 16:33).

And just because I know other people have big problems doesn't make mine any smaller either. Everyone has stuff, big and small. But you know what's awesome? Our lives can be defined not by our problems, but by our faith in a God that loves us and knows our name. I used to work for an ECU VP Dr. Williamson, and he used to say, "Douglas, we don't focus on problems, we focus on solutions." And he's right! I'm going to focus on God. So where are you today? Do you feel weighed down? Do you feel so deep in a hole that you can't see out? Take a deep breath, make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with your favorite jelly, and sit down and enjoy it. And while your taste buds are rejoicing with hallelujahs, may you take a time to rejoice with them to God for creating such a wonderful taste. And may you rejoice in the fact that we can have faith in God, because he's got it under control.

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich may be temporary fix, but God fills us forever.

Grace and peace,

Doug

Canker Sores, Ouch.

Okay, so this is funny that I am writing what might be called a "spiritual life metaphor" days after my friend Coffee and I were talking about this concept and how it's taken to the extreme sometimes. I'm not trying to we weird or anything, but this was something I thought about last week.

Last week was a very difficult week for me. Not emotionally or anything, but physically. I got back from Super Summer just drained, and I the day I was leaving my jaw started to hurt. Unusual maybe, but I had my wisdom teeth taken out two weeks earlier. Everything had been okay, but I guess I overdid it, not sure. Anyway, my jaw started to get worse over the weekend. The pain became so bad I could not even chew! Monday comes, and I start to feel this stinging when I drank water or ate something. I then realized - I had canker sores. Bad ones. They hurt bad. Ugh.

They didn't go away either. I did some internet research like any good home physician does, and found that I had what webMD described as "severe" canker sores. I tried some home remedies, no luck. Paid money at the store for some medicines, no luck. What I probably needed was rest, but this week happened to be one of the busiest with lots of talking and singing. 

Okay, so you're probably tired of hearing about me and all this and are like, "Get on wit it!" like the crowd in Monty Python and the Search for The Holy Grail. Okay, well, Thursday night I was sitting still for a moment and realized, hey, my mouth doesn't hurt right now. When I went to smile I felt the sting again and thought, "Nope there it is." But I realized, if I didn't move, nothing hurt. I also realized, if I didn't move, nothing was accomplished.

I think there is some spiritual application here. Often when we want to accomplish something for the Kingdom of God it's not a very comfortable or pleasant process. Jesus even said that  "¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, 

      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 ¹¹"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." - Matthew 5:10-11

It's easy to just stay put and not do anything, because it's comfortable. It would have been much more comfortable for Jesus to not endure the cross, for Stephen to not be stoned, for Paul to not have endured beatings, and all other martyrs to endure what they have. But they did. 

Am I willing to move? Am I willing to be uncomfortable or endure pain? 

Sometimes I think I am even wrapped up in my life so much that I do not even want to look at ways I CAN move to where God is moving and working. What is God calling me to do? What is God calling you to do? 

So this whole thing may be really corny, but it did make me think about this. Maybe a painful experience in my life can help you think about it as well. Are you willing to move, to go, even if it hurts?

Peace,

Doug - John 15:13

ps...My mouth is semi-normal again. My jaw still hurts. Not as bad though. I am enjoying food and drink once again.

Interesting Words from Penn Gillette

Zane Newton showed us this video during the Super Summer leader retreat. It's from Penn Gillette, a magician known from the duo of Penn & Teller. He describes his encounter with a Christian who gave him a gift. I think this video from Penn, an outspoken athiest, challenges me to share my faith in an interesting way. Thoughts?

Why Me?

Have you ever just looked at your life and asked yourself, “Why me?”

It’s easy to do that in our different life situations. We get frustrated with our job, our school, our parents, our spouse, our team, and our fill in the blank. You stare at the floor one day and just ask, “Why me?”

Have you ever wondered about that question before? Who are we asking that question? Many of us are asking God. Maybe it’s more like, “God, why is my life like this? Why did you let this happen to me?”

I’ll be honest; I’ve asked this before. I’ve wondered if the grass is greener somewhere else. I have a friend that I talked to today about this very thing, and I think he deals with it more than I do.

I’ve been studying some stuff in the Bible that speaks about this. In 1 Peter 1:1-2, Peter writes this particular letter to followers of Christ in what is now modern day Turkey. Their lives were not easy and comfortable in any way.

            “ 1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

   

To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

              May grace and peace be multiplied to you.” 

These people were not highly of in their day. What made them so disliked is followers of Christ were blamed on the burning of Rome by the real fire-starter, Nero. In addition to this, other social problems were blamed on Christianity. All in all, it was not a fad to be a follower of Christ. 

I think some of the people that this letter was written for may have wondered, “Why me God?” I might be wrong though. Peter’s words here are interesting. He describes them as “elect exiles,” “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” What? God knew this was going to happen? And He LET it happen? 

Indeed it seems these folks were in this place for a reason. Peter understood and encourages the believers that God has a purpose, a mission, for them in these tough times. That purpose to make a difference in the lives of those around them. So them who Christ REALLY is and what He’s REALLY like. Jesus never said following Him would be easy. 

He DID however say, it would be worth it. Luke 9:23-25 says, “23And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” 

I’m not saying this concept is an easy one to accept. It’s much easier to write about than to put into practice. But maybe instead of saying, “Why me?” I should say, “Why here?” “What’s my purpose here God? What are you doing here that I can be a part of Your Kingdom.” Living with God’s purpose in our minds can change our despair with our lives to desperation to serve the Kingdom. It can put God before us. It can give us purpose. It can put a fire in us to make a difference. 

Check out Luke 21:10-19 for more.