Hello ,

 

 

How do people in our culture deal with the reality of death? 

One way is to mock death, as though somehow by thumbing our nose at it, we can prevent it from touching us. For example, since 2001 the tiny mountain town of Nederland, Colorado has hosted a celebration called "Frozen Dead Guy Days." 

 

It started when Grandpa Bredo Morstoel died in 1989 in Norway. A family member who wanted to start her own cryogenics business, brought Grandpa Bredo's frozen body to Nederland, Colorado. When local authorities found out about it, the practice of storing bodies was outlawed, but Mr. Morstoel was grandfathered in and allowed to stay in town. The town, seeing its opportunity to laugh in the face of death, started the festival. There was a frozen dead guy in their town, so why not?

 

So many people in our society will do anything to try and cope with our impending demise here on planet earth.

 

Today 20,000 people attend, (although 2020 may be a different scenario). The festival has coffin races, ice turkey bowling, brain freeze contests, a frozen salmon toss, a parade of hearses, and lots of beer to toast Grandpa Bedo. For a mere $150 you get a personal visit to the see the remains of Mr. Morstoel. Festival director Amanda MacDonald says the goal is "to drink a convivial toast to the grim specter of death or to spit in death's eye."

 

I was shocked to see a story about this gleefully macabre' weekend, but the possible spiritual applications that present themselves are many.

 

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."  John 11:25

 

If society's methods of trying to cope with death seem a bit outrageous, (like the festival in the story above,) what should Christian's response be when we are asked about the end of life?  The above verse from John 11:25 is a perfect answer.  God has a wonderful future planned for those who have chosen to allow His work in their lives.

 

 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."  John 14:1-3 

Just this past Sunday, I officiated at the funeral of a good friend of our family. What a blessing to know that we have a God Who has a plan for those who love and serve him. I used the above verse in my sermon, and am grateful for the promise that we have from our Heavenly Father about eternity.

 

Have a great day and God bless!

 

 

 

Pastor Mike / The Open Word