LeAnne Hardy, author and editor
  • Home
  • BIO
  • My Books
    • Children's and Young Adult
    • Historical Fiction
    • Non-fiction
  • Blog
  • Editorial Services

My ​Times and Places
​


​​

Resurrection and Life!

2/26/2010

1 Comment

 
Picture

Forgive me if I return to the topic of death.  It’s not a usual theme of this blog, but this week I lost yet another friend to a brain tumor, and my husband was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism.  Thirty per cent of people with PE die in the first few hours; he went for days before we realized that was what was going on.  We are very grateful to God for his mercy.  My husband will be on rat poison (Warfarin®) for months while we pray that the massive clot in his leg will dissolve without further pieces breaking off and moving to his heart, brain or lungs.  

I recently read a review of Thomas G. Long's Accompany Them With Singing (Westminster John Knox) in Christianity Today. (Okay, it was the November 2009 CT [p. 69]. So I’m a bit behind.)  According to reviewer Rob Moll, Long argues that we have focused on mourners with our video clips, open-mike speeches and other celebrations of the deceased’s earthly life, rather than focus on God’s gift of eternal life.  A Christian funeral should be “a dramatic retelling of the gospel.”  Cremation is much the cheapest option in this day and age, but by not having the body present are we skipping steps in the grieving process that would take us to the foot of the cross in worship, and so shortchanging ourselves with meaningless sentimentality?

In the audio clip from my brother’s sermon on Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus, which was played at his own funeral a few weeks after he preached it, Brad talked about how to react at a funeral.  Don’t be quick to get through the intense work of grief, he told us.  Weep with others; express your anger, then worship; focus on the person of Jesus Christ who is the resurrection and the life; look for God’s glory; and then live your future with faith.  “Anger and sorrow, joy and hope can be intermingled.  They were with Jesus at the funeral of Lazarus!  He was sad and mad, but hopeful and confident….  If you keep faith in God’s plan and that God ultimately is resurrection and life, you can live your future; you can laugh again…. Face your funeral fears with the Advent hope that Jesus was born to die so we can die and live.”

My friend Don was a pastor.  In early retirement he worked with Steve to encourage theological educators around the world.  He had a good mind and a lively sense of humor.  I am angry that things like tumors exist in this world although Francis S. Collins in a book I am reading right now, The Language of God, argues that for God to prevent such natural developments would be comparable to his denying humans free will to choose or reject him.  I mourn with Don’s wife Caroline, but my desire is to fall down and worship the God who allows both tumors and blood clots and asks us to trust him as he takes us into resurrection and life.  

[The photo is the World War II American cemetery in Manila.]

1 Comment
LeAnne
1/7/2015 01:39:19 am

This post was moved from a previous site. All comments were lost.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    LeAnne Hardy has lived in six countries on four continents. Her books come out of her cross-cultural experiences and her passion to use story to convey spiritual truths in a form that will permeate lives.

    RSS Feed

    Add http://www.leannehardy.net/1/feed to your RSS feed.
    To receive an e-mail when I post a new blog, please subscribe.
    Subscribe to Blog

    Categories

    All
    Africa
    Author Interviews
    Current Events
    Devotional Thoughts
    Guest Blog
    Holidays Christmas
    Holidays Easter
    Holidays-Easter
    Holidays Other
    Holidays-Thanksgiving
    Missions And Missionaries
    Music
    My Books
    My Life And Family
    My Travels
    Non Fiction
    Orphans And Vulnerable Children
    Photos
    Publishers And Publishing
    Reading And Sharing Books
    Reviews
    Skating
    Theological Education
    Tributes
    Writing

    Archives

    June 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    March 2000

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • BIO
  • My Books
    • Children's and Young Adult
    • Historical Fiction
    • Non-fiction
  • Blog
  • Editorial Services