By Chris Brekke Sometimes a person will get to the point where they are not sure whether it’s better to live or to die. On most of our pleasant and prosperous days in this blessed nation, we just cruise on with life. With little depth of awareness, we will often go about our […]
1617) Dead or Alive Read More »
By Alvin Rogness (1908-1992) , Book of Comfort, 1979, pages 100-104. I knew grief when my father and mother died the same summer at 66, but that grief lifted. It was different when our son was killed at 24. My parents’ death left me sad to think that I had no one
1590) When Grief Won’t Let Go Read More »
By Rebecca Mitchell, at: http://www.dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/2017/06/30/2130-2-kings-20/ ************************** II Kings 20:1-6a — In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Hezekiah turned
1544) Put Your House in Order Read More »
In the final petition of the Lord’s prayer we ask God to deliver us from evil. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism also refers to such protection from evil in Luther’s explanation to the First Article of the Apostle’s Creed where he says God, “defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all
1482) Deliver Us From Evil Read More »
Above painting: The Death of Socrates, 1787, Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) ************************ All of the wisdom of this world is but a tiny raft upon which we must set sail when we leave this earth. If only there was a firmer foundation upon which to sail—perhaps some divine word. –Socrates —————– This thought is
1431) Socrates, Jesus, and Paul Read More »
To many people, life after death remains an unsolvable mystery. It is far too awesome for them to comprehend. I like to think, however, that it is best understood as something very simple. Some years ago I conducted funeral services for Neil Collum, a good friend and a good man. I
1426) The Narrow Way Read More »
FROM A FUNERAL SERMON: When Ralph told me about his mother’s last few months, during which she knew she was dying, I thought of the Latin phrase “ars moriendi.” The phrase means ‘the art of dying,’ and it comes from some books by that name written in the 1400’s. These books offered Biblical
1317) Ars Moriendi Read More »
Above: 2nd Massachusetts Lieutenant Colonel Wilder Dwight (1833-1862) —————————— On September 17, 1862, Lieutenant Colonel Wilder Dwight was on his horse waiting for the order to go into battle at Antietam. He took out a paper and pen and began to write his mother a letter. He wrote: Near Sharpsburg. Sept. 17th 1862.
1290) Last Letter Home Read More »
Pictured above: Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Moody and grandchildren —————– From The One Year Christian History, by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten, 2003, pages 670-1. Dwight Lyman Moody, (1837-1899), was the greatest evangelist of his day. He preached to more people than any of his contemporaries, and was the catalyst of great
1257) A Grandfather’s Love Read More »
Above: The Resurrection of the Widow’s Son at Nain, James Tissot (1836-1902) **************************** It is interesting see what Jesus does when he is around death. We will consider three accounts from the Gospels. To more fully comprehend the message of these old familiar stories, we’ll try to imagine what it would be like
1157) Interruptions Read More »
