Funeral for a Character
Jeff Strite
Ephesians
One of my favorite books in the Bible is Ephesians. Paul wrote it as a letter to the church at Ephesus and the first chapter focused on how important that group of Christians was to God. But then we get to what we call Chapter 2 and a reality check.
(God tells us that once) ''you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.'' ?
OPEN: As I was talking to the funeral director, she noted that Charlie was the most common visitor at funerals over the years (he knew so many people from being a barber in town). When asked why he was so committed to attending these funerals, he replied ''Well, if you don't go theirs, they'll not come to yours.''
When I was first introduced to Charlie and Sandy, I was impressed by how much they'd done for this church.
For example, Sandy (his widow) has always an encourager. You could always count on her sending letters of encouragement, or calls to check on folks.
For Charlie - he had taught Sunday School, taken communion to the shut-ins and he (and Sandy) bought half the books we have in our church library. And then there were the carry-ins where everyone looked forward to the ham he'd bring and prepare at church. There was rarely any of it left afterward.
But that actually wasn't the first thing I learned about Charlie. When I first came to Logansport, I was told there was one thing I wasn't allowed to do at Sunday Night Worship. The Elders said I couldn't ...
Jeff Strite
Ephesians
One of my favorite books in the Bible is Ephesians. Paul wrote it as a letter to the church at Ephesus and the first chapter focused on how important that group of Christians was to God. But then we get to what we call Chapter 2 and a reality check.
(God tells us that once) ''you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.'' ?
OPEN: As I was talking to the funeral director, she noted that Charlie was the most common visitor at funerals over the years (he knew so many people from being a barber in town). When asked why he was so committed to attending these funerals, he replied ''Well, if you don't go theirs, they'll not come to yours.''
When I was first introduced to Charlie and Sandy, I was impressed by how much they'd done for this church.
For example, Sandy (his widow) has always an encourager. You could always count on her sending letters of encouragement, or calls to check on folks.
For Charlie - he had taught Sunday School, taken communion to the shut-ins and he (and Sandy) bought half the books we have in our church library. And then there were the carry-ins where everyone looked forward to the ham he'd bring and prepare at church. There was rarely any of it left afterward.
But that actually wasn't the first thing I learned about Charlie. When I first came to Logansport, I was told there was one thing I wasn't allowed to do at Sunday Night Worship. The Elders said I couldn't ...
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