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This Side of the Pulpit » Entries tagged with "death"

Funerals and Resurrection

March 16th, 2011 | Add a Comment

Funerals and Resurrection

What I love about Lutheran funerals is the primacy given the Resurrection. In the prayers and liturgy, the Resurrection of Christ is dominant, coupled with the hope of our own resurrection. What bothers me is that resurrection does not take center stage at all times. What is our last enemy, after all? Is it is sin? Is it it the lack of forensic justification? Spare me. The last enemy is death, but we have the … Read entire article »

Filed under: Theology

Ashes and Ashes

March 9th, 2011 | 1 Comment

Dust and ashes. It doesn’t feel like that today, though. The sky is bright and blue, I’ve got two brand new baby clownfish in my new saltwater tank (properly cycled, thank you very much), my Flonase prescription is in the mail, but even without it I can breathe for the moment. Meanwhile a train is howling as it crosses town and the training jets from the Air Force Base are roaring by like they do every day, Monday through Friday. The hard-hatted men are pounding away on the sanctuary and secretary is typing away in the next room. So where’s the dust? Where are the ashes? Oh, M* knows it. Her husband is lying on a metal table right now.  J* sees them. He’s recuperating from a heart cath and stint and is thinking … Read entire article »

Filed under: Theology

The Resurrection of the Dead, Part I

January 20th, 2011 | Add a Comment

So what happens when you die? It’s a question we spend our whole life wondering about or fearing. When children learn of death, it’s t he very first question they ask. What happens next? Most Christians will say that believers will go to heaven and unbelievers will go to hell. When I ask them what happens after that, I get blank looks. When I ask them what happened to people before Christ, I get blank looks. When I ask them about the resurrection of the dead and life of the world to come, I get blank looks. What about the resurrection of the dead? What about the bodies lying in open caskets before the funerals? What happened to Uncle Joe and what is the hope we have? It’s not that Uncle Joe has gone … Read entire article »

Filed under: Theology

The Way of the World

September 10th, 2010 | 2 Comments

It was a Sunday afternoon and my wife had to go to the mall. I questioned the necessity of the trip, but went along anyway. She had to make a stop at Bath and Bodyworks, and I wanted to look in Radio Shack for electronic doo-dads. The two shops are close together, and as luck would have it, directly across from Jack’s favorite place: Katy’s Pantry, a small deli and bakery that prominently displayed gourmet cookies right at the eye level of every four-year-old who happened to pass by. Unbeknownst to Jack, the owners of Katy’s Pantry relocated their business to a shopping center near our neighborhood since he had last been to the Mall. We rounded the corner and Jack knew right where we were and where his favorite display … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal, Theology

Life Hurries On

August 25th, 2010 | Add a Comment

Well, the kids are all off to school today. It was a little hairy, as Eldest started her freshmen year the the High School. A little scary for me too. She was embarrassed by my car. Admittedly, it is something of a beater these days. Even the littlest starts school this afternoon, doing half day Pre-K. He is very excited. Last night he had to sign the internet use agreement, and he continually switched between his right and left hands. Things are kicking up at church, too. Choirs start next week. Midweek on September 15. I’m planning another adult instruction class this Fall. It is good that the routine begins again. Good for the kids to be in school and busier and learning. It’s bad how time flies. Wise Solomon agrees: Vanity of vanities, … Read entire article »

Filed under: Theology, Uncategorized