From “How I Know Dogs Go to Heaven” by Joshua Rogers, posted July 30, 2013 at http://www.joshuarogers.com    I was 10 years old when I saw my neighbor run over my dog, Spot. In a horrific flash, Spot went under the tire, thrashed around in the front yard for a few seconds and then […]
3117) Do Dogs Go to Heaven? Read More »
    At Eternity’s Gate (above) is an oil painting that Vincent van Gogh made in 1890.  The painting was completed in early May at a time when he was convalescing from a severe relapse in his mental health troubles, and just two months before his death, generally accepted as a suicide.  The painting was
3114) At Eternity’s Gate Read More »
   Each New Year’s Day, as does each birthday, brings with it the unsettling reminder that another year is gone.  I would guess that everyone (after a certain age, anyway) thinks about that at least a little bit.  We get only so many years here, and these annual reminders seem to come around faster
3111) A Psalm, a Hymn, and a Prayer for New Year’s Day Read More »
   Last Tuesday Ben Sasse, age 53, wrote a “Letter to America” announcing that he had been diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer. Sasse served as a Republican Senator from Nebraska from 2015-2023.    He resigned from the Senate in 2023 to become the president of the University of Florida. The following year, he
3107) “Friends… I Am Going to Die” Read More »
Above image: WILL THERE BE CHOCOLATE IN HEAVEN? *************************************    (…continued) Pastor Rob Kemppainen wrote many songs. He wrote for the worship services at his congregation, for his confirmation classes, for his Barbershop Quartet, and just for the fun of it. The six songs below each have a spiritual message, told with winsome and
3106) My Friend Rob and His Music (2/2) Read More »
Above photo: Reverend Robert A. “Rob” Kemppainen November 28, 1951 – April 27, 2024 ——————- When my good friend Rob died, his wife Marilyn asked me to say a few words at the end of the funeral service. In today’s meditation you can read what I said. I am posting it now, the day after
3105) My Friend Rob and His Music (1/2) Read More »
The story at the beginning and some of the ideas for this sermon (from several years ago) were found in “Look Up: An Advent Meditation” by William Willimon, Christian Century; November 30, 1983. ———————————— Luke 21:25-28: (Jesus said), “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in
3097) It Ain’t Too Late for You… Yet (1/2) Read More »
Above drawing: Woman Praying at a Deathbed, 1864, by Swiss artist Benjamin Vautier (1829-1898) ——————————————- The day will come for each of us when we will need these prayers. FOR THE DYING: O my heavenly Father, God of all comfort, I thank you for revealing to me your dear Son, Jesus Christ, in whom I
3085) Prayers When Death Is Near Read More »
James Dobson, Sr. and James Dobson, Jr. (approx. 1956) ————————  James Dobson, Christian psychologist and author, died this past August at the age of 89. In this 2017 post from his website, he describes the last time he visited his father. The visit ended with this prayer of thanks. ***********************************    In August 1977,
3074) A Final Prayer of Thanks Read More »
An article by Joel Belz in World magazine, July 18, 2009 (with slight editing). Note that this article was written sixteen years ago, so the dollar amounts have increased significantly; but the issue is the same, the debate has continued, and we are all sixteen years closer to the time that each of us may
3066) Decisions About Dying Read More »
