Hello ,

I'm traveling to a small town in South Dakota today, to conduct a memorial service for someone who was a church member in a territory where I pastored long ago. I'm grateful for the opportunity to do whatever I can to bring to comfort to those who are grieving.

Every time I am faced (professionally and personally) with the loss of human life, there are a number of thoughts that run through my head. Those thoughts bring me back to "center" about life, eternity, and the importance of a relationship with Christ. 

1. If I passed away today, my employer would be attempting to fill the employment vacancy that I left in a very short period of time after I died. That's not a "slam." That's just reality. Life goes on, and I would expect them to do this.

2. My acquaintances would (perhaps) shake their heads and say, "Did you hear about Mike? Yeah, that's too bad."

3. My friends might attend a service for me (if they could get there), they might shed a few tears, but during the dinner afterwards they would be laughing and joking before the potato salad was completely gone.

4. My family would grieve my loss, and I would (hopefully) have left a loving legacy that would give them good memories of the past, and help them live better lives in the future because of the lessons that my life taught them (both positive and negative).

"whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."  James 4:14

Life is fragile. 

It's here today, and gone tomorrow. 

The only hope I have in making a lasting, eternal impact is whether (or not) I had a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

It's the only thing that will last into eternity.

"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me."  

John 5:39

A relationship with Christ will help us live better lives now, and will give us the foundation to build an eternal future on. 

Please keep me in prayer as I attempt to minister to this family, today.

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word