Death

3260) Advice for the Future

If only we could go back in time and share some wisdom with our younger selves.  Today’s meditation is about one little girl who wrote some advice to her older self to be read ten years in the future. ——————       On April 13, 2013 twelve-year old Taylor Scout Smith (2001-2014) wrote herself […]

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3232) “In Jesus’ Name”

     A few days ago, Emailmeditation #3228 told the story of William and Wilhemina Kruse, South Dakota pioneers, who lost nine children to diphtheria in 1894.  Upon reading it, my friend Tim emailed to tell me that the story was very personal for him.  He sent me a brief account of his family faith history. 

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3228) Take Heart

     Pictured above are William and Wilhelmine (Minnie) Kruse behind the counter of their store in Humboldt, South Dakota.  Both were born in Germany; William in 1849, Minnie in 1851.  Both immigrated to America as children with their parents.  They were married in 1871.  Along with their store, they also farmed.  The 1915 census recorded

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3227) You Might Not Finish Reading This

By Francis Chan, from his 2008 book Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God      You could die before you finish reading this meditation.  I could die while you’re reading it.  Today.  At any moment.      But it’s easy to think about today as just another day.  An average day where you go

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3175) One Week to Live

By Randy Alcorn, January 27, 2025, at:  http://www.epm.org ——————————————      I asked the men in my weekly small group, “If you knew today you had only one week to live, what would you do?”  We came up with a number of answers and then asked ourselves why we wouldn’t do those things soon—this week

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3165) “What are You Doing Here?”

     There were two criminals crucified with Jesus.  At first, according to Matthew’s account, both men mocked and insulted Jesus, just like much of the rest of the crowd present that day.  Then later, according to Luke, one of the criminals apparently had a change of heart.  He stopped mocking, and then had a

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3163) Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust (2/2)

     (…continued)  In Martin Luther’s darkest days it seemed all he had to look forward to was failure, disgrace, capture, and execution.  In those dark days he said:  “It occurred to me that it has always been God’s way to create something out of nothing.  So if before God can do anything through me,

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3162) Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust (1/2)

     “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” we say as we bury our dead.  Ashes and dust are two powerful Biblical images of our mortality.  And now, even as we look forward to Spring when everything comes to life, the church year brings us that same reminder of death– Ash Wednesday.  Worshipers go forward

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3159) A Skull on the Altar

     A while back my wife and I went to a Saturday evening worship service at a Roman Catholic church near where we live.  The church building was well over a hundred years old and was built in the traditional, ornate style.  It was a beautiful sanctuary with an elaborate, huge altar in the

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3151) “I’m Just Fine”

From a funeral sermon: ————–      Elsie and her husband Ray lived in many places, did many different things, and endured many challenges together.  In the early 1940’s Elsie worked for Boeing as a riveter; like “Rosie the Riveter” in the World War II posters.  She was small, so her job was to crawl

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