Stephen M. Miller – Tuesday, 28 January 2014 “Dead, what do you
want to leave behind?”
RIP. All good things come to an end. Us included. Of course, we
Christians count on the resurrection. But do we give enough thought to what
we’ll leave behind?
WHEN YOUR CARBON CRUMBLES and your casket lies locked in the dirt,
what will be left of you here?
I’ve been wondering about that lately. Not that I have plans to
crumble anytime soon. But I do have family and friends who are living life
fragile these days. Diagnoses that shatter.
One thing that bums me is how fleeting our influence seems to
be.
Take John Wayne. Biggest movie star of my childhood. My kids
don’t even know him.
So go ahead, pick your favorite star today. Then imagine the
probability that the next generation of swimmers in your gene pool won’t know
that soul from a reality show dropout.
If a star that shines that bright can fade to black so quickly,
what about us little ol’ lightning bugs?
One reason I write is to capture light and wrap it up in a word.
Yet words are just flickers in the night, more often than not.
When I was younger, I used to write songs and accompany them
with a guitar, as private devotions. And when our kids were babies, I’d make up
songs to sing to them. Recently I’ve actually taken the time to record them.
Privately. I mean, for heaven’s sake, I’m a singer best kept in the choir and
not turned loose on a microphone. Yet I feel a need to preserve the songs
before they’re lost.
I can’t imagine why. If you heard them, you’d wonder why, too.
What’s going on here? Is it a remnant of the image of God?
“Do this to remember me,” (Luke 22:10). That’s Jesus talking at
the Last Supper.
Even he wanted to leave something of himself behind. That’s how
we Christians got what is perhaps our most sacred worship ritual, known by
various names: communion, Mass, the Eucharist.
I want to leave something of myself behind, too. Something good
and godly.
I can’t believe my music will endure. I’d have to publish it
first, and that’s not going to happen. So relax.
As for my books, I can’t imagine they would endure even though
they’re published. I write, on purpose, in a style of English that is
contemporary and fleeting. Even Shakespeare goes out of style for normal people
(English teachers are so not normal).
I’m not sure those are legacies I’d most prefer to leave behind
anyhow.
When my crumbled carbon lies cold and still, probably wearing a
suit though I spurn them while I breathe, I think the legacy I’d most prefer to
leave behind would be a collection of scenes I’d want to watch from heaven, if
I’m allowed to peek.
It might come as a surprise to you, as it did to me when I
started thinking about it, but a scene of someone reading one of my books
doesn’t even make my Top Ten.
What I’d like to see even more:
If children are in the future of my kids, I’d love to see my
daughter singing to a child of hers like I used to sing to her. But in the
right key.
Or my son going to every ballgame and ball practice and band
concert and everything else his kids get into.
Or the family I’ve left behind enjoying the company of one
another.
And, from time to time, someone looking up at me and saying, “I
miss you.”
The wake behind my trail.
I’d be long gone, but still shaking things up, ever so slightly.
I’d like that.
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More to read:
Will we recognize each other in heaven?
Killer judge
Just say no to women preachers?
Am I good enough to make it into heaven?
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Hi, RezChat
This certainly is turning into a layered, long john winter.
I hope you're staying
warm.
Given the folks we feed
downtown a couple times a year, I find myself wondering how the homeless folks
are keeping warm. I was talking this week with a friend who runs a downtown
rescue mission with her husband, and she said they've been making room on the
floor.
It's a myth that
homeless people want to live that way, I'm told by people who minister to them.
Those who say they do have mental problems that need treated.
It seems uncivilized
and barbaric in this modern age we are supposed to be living in that we haven't
yet figured out a way to help these people in a substantial, systematic way.
But we can mobilize for
wars that should never have been fought.
Sometimes we fight the
wrong battles.
OK, I'll stop thinking
out loud. I start with long johns and end up in Iraq.
NEWSLETTER CONTENTS
Sunday's session: Terry Bahadur
Stolen car: Erin's son's Toyota
coffee & donutDonuts & Cafe: Karen and Bill Fitzherbert
Sunday's session:
The devil you say
We're starting into 3 weeks of 1-week wonders...stand alone
sessions unrelated to each other.
Terry Bahadur starts us
off with a walk on the wild side: "The devil, demons, and temptation.
What’s the difference between normal temptation and the devil’s brand of
industrial strength temptation?"
Bible passages, from
the New Living Translation: 2 Corinthians 11:13-14; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8;
Ephesians 6:10-18
13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers
who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will
flee from you.
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He
prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all
strategies of the devil. 12 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood
enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against
mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly
places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be
able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will
still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and
the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that
comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[b] 16 In addition
to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the
devil.[c] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay
alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.[d]
Footnotes:
6:12 Some manuscripts read you.
6:15 Or For shoes, put on the readiness to preach the Good News
of peace with God.
6:16 Greek the evil one.
6:18 Greek all of God’s holy people.
Wanted: This particular Toyota
I'LL ADMIT, the backdrop is wishful thinking. But the Toyota is
gone and the kid is wishing it weren't. Eyes on the lookout. And I's on the
lookout.
For those not Facebook Friends with Erin Cottrell, her son's car
got stolen Wednesday from East Lawrence.
Even if you are friends
with her, it still got stolen.
Here's the notice she
posted about it:
NEED HELP! To my Lawrence friends: My son's car was stolen from
East Lawrence this morning. Black 1997 Toyota Corolla, faded gold hubcaps, duct
tape on the driver side door, anti-establishment bumper stickers on the back,
including one right in the middle that says 'The Dude Abides', scratches on the
hood and a dent on the back left driver's side door. Call police if you think
you have seen it, and PM me please. I may be reaching here, but it is worth a
shot. Below is the best picture I have of it, sans bumper stickers. But, the
hub caps are pretty distinctive, as well as the faded spots and the spoiler on
the back.
Erin added that in the car were "my son's iPod, 2 pairs of
jeans, a Fear & Loathing shirt, his Columbia backpack and books."
She predicts bad karma
ahead for those sad souls who committed the felony.
Note to Erin: Forgive
the Indy backdrop, but the boy looks like he might enjoy a pit row seat.
Have a wonderful weekend. I'm done.
Steve
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“Will we recognize each other in heaven?”
GRANNY, IS THAT YOU? Are we going to look so much better in
heaven that we won’t recognize each other when we get there? We can hope.
IT’S THE BIBLE QUESTION OF THE WEEK.
It comes from Collette Lilly, who wins a free book of mine for
bothering to ask it.
Here’s her question, which is actually a statement. You have to imagine
the question mark.
A pastor once told our Bible study group that we won’t know our
loved ones in heaven because in heaven only God and Jesus will matter. If I had
one question I could ask God, I would ask if we would recognize them.
Personally, all I know for sure is that I barely recognize
myself when I look in the mirror these days.
Especially in the morning. That’s not heaven looking back at me
from the other side.
I feel as though my younger face should be looking back. That’s
the face that steps in front of the mirror. It’s just dang-well not the spooky
one eyeballing me.
I wonder if that might explain why some folks who die for a few
minutes come back with stories about seeing young versions of their relatives
in heaven.
Take that little boy, for instance. The one whose preacher-dad
wrote a best-seller about the kid seeing Grandpa, but not recognizing pictures
of him until he came across a photo of Grandpa as a young man.
I’m fishing here. That’s because the Bible’s not throwing any
fish on the boat. The Bible doesn’t say if we’ll recognize each other. At least
it doesn’t say it directly, as in, “Steve, you’ll know your dad when you see
him.”
But it certainly does imply that.
So if I were betting in Vegas, I’d bet the wad against the
pastor you mentioned; I think he pulled that wacked comment out of some hole in
his head.
What does he mean, anyhow, when he says only God and Jesus will
matter? I love people, too. And quite frankly, if I get to heaven and see Jesus
standing next to my dad, Jesus better get in line for a hug.
It’s not that I love Dad more than his fair share. But I sure do
miss him more than a fair share.
Bible clues that suggest we’ll know each other
Saul knew Samuel when the dead prophet came back at a séance.
Sadly, as far as I’m concerned, Samuel looked like “an old man” (1 Samuel
28:14). Yeah, I’m hoping that’s a fluke.
Jesus said, “Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the
feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Matthew 8:11).
How would anyone be able to vouch for who they are, unless someone recognized
them? Or maybe they’ll wear name tags.
Then, of course, there’s Jesus coming back from the dead. The
disciples recognized him. No prob. Except they thought he was a ghost: “Look at
my hands and my feet and see who I am! Touch me and find out for yourselves.
Ghosts don’t have flesh and bones as you see I have,” (Luke 24:39).
Apostle Paul used these words to comfort Christians who wanted
to know what would happen to family and friends who die before Jesus comes
back:
[Jesus will] come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will
rise—they’ll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will
be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we’ll be walking
on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So
reassure one another with these words.
(1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)
I’d recommend a book about heaven to you, but I don’t know of
anyone who has been there long enough to write one.
Still, books on that topic sell nicely. That’s probably why a
publishing company recently asked me to write one. But I explained it would be
like me writing a tour book on China when all I really know about it is how to
order take-out.
There’s a lot of faith in the Christian faith, which is probably
why it’s called a faith.
Who to trust? That’s the question.
Trust that preacher who said we wouldn’t know each other in
heaven? Maybe. How far do you think I could throw him?
Trust those preachers who wrote best-selling books about heaven?
Perhaps. Did they give their royalties to the poor?
I think I’ll trust Jesus on this. He seemed to know his way
around the place. And he seemed to know who he was talking about up there.
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Killer judge
Which hero of the Jewish faith—one of 12 judges—managed to kill
42,000 fellow Jews because of their northern accent. They dropped their h’s.
“Don’t shoot me!” would have come out “Don’t suit me!”
Jephthah (JEFF-thuh). He made them pronounce Shibboleth
(SHIB-oh-leth), which came out Sibboleth (SIB-oh-leth). See Judges 12:5-6.
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Killer granny
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