   Father Rick Frechette (1953- )(pictured above) is a Roman Catholic priest who has given his life to serving among the poorest of the poor in Haiti.  He has been there for over 30 years, and has loved his ministry with the Haitian people.  They have such miserable lives, he says, but are always […]
702) “May the Angels Lead You Far, Far From Here” Read More »
Funeral Sermon for Anna    I read in the obituary that Anna died at the age of ninety-seven years, one month, and thirteen days.  Hearing the length of life figured out to the day like that is a reminder that while our time on earth is usually measured in years, our lives are lived
677) Can’t Get Enough Read More »
Life is uncertain. Â We begin this new year fully aware that it could be our last. Â Young wife and mother Kara Tippets (pictured above with her family) knows that it will be her last year. Â This month could even be her last month. Â Kara has stage four terminal cancer. Â After a long hospitalization she went
FROM A FUNERAL SERMON, June 2006:     Death is never on time.  It always comes either too soon or not soon enough. What that means is that death hardly ever suits OUR timing. God’s timing is, of course, another matter, and I am not about to make any judgments on that. But when
546) Coming and Going Read More »
 By Randy Alcorn, September 24, 2014 blog, at:  http://www.epm.org    Years ago when my children were still at home, before leaving on trips, sometimes I would say to them, “I’m not expecting anything to happen, but remember, if it does, I’ll see you again in Heaven.”    Some would consider this morbid or
533) Being Open About Death Read More »
  The rapid progression of Evelyn’s disease shocked everyone who heard of it. First, she wasn’t feeling well, and then she didn’t have an appetite. Then, her skin turned a little yellow, and the doctor was called. Test were taken, but even before the results were in, she had to be taken into the
504) Death at Work / A Funeral Sermon Read More »
 Pictured above:  Samuel Johnson’s wife Elizabeth (1689-1752)    (After 27 days) Almighty and most merciful Father… look down with pity upon my sorrows, and grant that the affliction which it has pleased thee to bring upon me may awaken my conscience, enforce my resolutions of a better life, and impress upon me such conviction of
487) Prayers by Samuel Johnson After the Death of His Wife Read More »
Painting above: The Raising of Lazarus, Rembrandt, approx. 1630 ************************ From my sermon at the funeral of my mother-in-law, November 5, 2010.  The sermon text is John 11:1-44.    John chapter 11 begins with these words, “Now a man named Lazarus was sick.”  JoAnn’s family in this past year has seen plenty of what
432) Sickness Unto Death; First Century and Today Read More »
Johann Gerhard (1582-1637) was a German Lutheran pastor and professor of theology. Â He wrote dozens of books, including Sacred Meditations, a collection of 51 meditations published in 1606. Â This piece was taken from the chapter 44 of that book. Â Â Â Keep Christ, your blessed Savior, always in mind, and you will have no dread
419) ‘Consolation on the Death of Friends’ by Johann Gerhard Read More »
Above: The earliest known photograph of Abraham Lincoln from the mid-1840’s William Knox was a Scottish farmer and poet.  He is not very well known except for this poem, and this piece is remembered primarily because it was Abraham Lincoln’s favorite.  Lincoln first read it when he was a young man.  He liked it so
352) Abraham Lincoln’s Favorite Poem Read More »
