A Litany to Death

Without the death of stars, there would be no planets and no life.
Without the death of creatures, there would be no evolution.
Without the death of cells in woody plants, there would be no trees.
Without the death of plants and animals, there would be no food.
Without the death of the old ways of thinking, there would be
no room for the new.

What, then, are the gifts of death?
The gifts of death are Mars, Mercury, Saturn, and Earth.
The gifts of death are the atoms of stardust in our bodies.
The gifts of death are woodlands and soils, ponds, and lakes.
The gifts of death are food: the sustenance of life.
The gifts of death are wisdom, creativity, and the flow of change.

(Written by Michael Dowd Thank God for Evolution, p.98-99)

I would add:

The gift of death is spiritual evolution: through dying one discovers rising.
The gift of death is dying to the old self to live as a new creation.
The gift of death is to end the endless cycles of doing things always the same.
The gift of death is breaking free from the dark powers and chains of this world.
The gift of death is to end suffering and pain.
The gift of death is to make way for new life.
The gift of death is Christ's blood and love covers a multitude of sins.

Death Has Lost Its Sting

Death is a defining moment.
     Not an ending but a new beginning.
          Not a disappearance but a new revelation.

Like Adam and Eve we must descend before we can ascend into perfection.
     Like Moses and the burning bush, the fire purifies but does not destroy.
          Like Jonah in the belly of the whale, the whale of death swallows up the human race.

Who can escape death for it is every man's fate.
      Leaving the world of Egypt, we return to the world of Eden.
          At the center of Eden is a tree, the cross.

It is by that cross we come to live with God in paradise.
     As we carry the cross of Christ, death has lost its sting.
          Death is swallowed up by paradise.


(Inspired from the writings of John Behr Becoming Human)

The Death of Death

My Mother died and I'm asking why?
Why does death take the people we love?
Why can't we be happy and just live together?
Why does death have the final word?

They hung my Savior on a cross.
Why did death have to take him away?
I hurt so bad that somebody is going to pay.
Why can't death just stay away.

When I look into a casket, is that the end?
Bury me in the ground with the rest of my kin.
Is life worth living if death is the end?
Does death have the last word?

When death happens, the preacher tells us not to cry.
People try to tell you everything is okay but that's a lie.
I'm so fearful of death that I weep.
Is there nothing in life to hold onto, nothing to keep?

When Jesus was laid in the ground, death thought it had won.
The ground shook, the stone rolled away,
Jesus rose from the grave and said it was done.

Death lost the victory when it tried to bury love.
For love conquers all, even death from above.
Do not let your hearts be troubled even when the world breaks you down.
Love wins in the end and now it's only death that frowns.

So if somebody asks why does all this death happen?
Tell them the death of death happened when Jesus rose from the dead,
and now whether in life or death, Jesus is our Captain.

Farewell, Friend

Chris and I lost a friend a week and a half ago, Pastor Jerry Park.  Here is an obituary.  Follow the link to the guest book for notes from people who knew him!  I only met him March of this year, but a more dedicated follower of Christ I have not met.  I knew he was ready at any moment. 

Final Destination and the Twilight Zone

"YOU'RE MOVING INTO A LAND OF BOTH SHADOW AND SUBSTANCE, OF THINGS AND IDEAS. YOU'VE JUST CROSSED OVER INTO THE TWILIGHT ZONE!" - Rod Serling

Twice this week I have found myself hiding in the basement. Why? Because the forces of nature were unleashing their powerful winds in the form of a tornado. We had a young family that called us at almost eleven at night and asked if they too could hide in our basement. They waited about five minutes too long as they came running in our house with winds up to 70 and 80 miles per hour. The mother clutching her children, I saw what looked like absolute fear and sheer terror on her face. I wondered in that moment, why so much fear? Fear of what? Do we fear death that much?

What happens after we die? Is death such an enemy, especially to those who claim they follow one who overcame death? And why do people focus so much on what happens when they die when Jesus himself talked more about not that we go to him but that He is coming to us. There were several movies called 'Final Destination" which were basically about the fact that nobody can escape in the end the grim reaper. Have you ever sensed death knocking on your door?

Scripture says that God's love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Do we really believe that? More importantly, are we living it? I am reminded of two classic twilight Zone episodes which always had moral to the story. The first one was about an old lady trying to escape death. She let no one in her home because she knew death was her enemy. She finally succumbs to compassion as she helps an injured police officer into her house. Death has a face and its Robert Redford! What this woman discovered was death came to escort her on a wonderful journey, not to be an enemy scorned but like a friend to be embraced.

The other Twilight Zone episode was about a town that thought it was being invaded from beings from another world. What they found out is they suspected everybody, let their fear run amok, and began destroying one another's lives. Again, who will win out in the end? Will it be fear or will it be love?