Thoughts about death...

Carl Emerson

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A topic rarely discussed...

I am 75 and expect another 20 years at least - my ancestors were long livers.

However, I put together this piece as one naturally ponders these things at this stage of life.


When it's time...

And the offering of my life seems far too small.
And the questions that beg, lose their strength for the last time.
And the light beyond the most distant star, beckons.
And there is no going back.

In that moment...

He takes over like I asked Him to.
Calling my spirit forth.
Calling what was always His.
And there is no going back.

At Last only Love...

What else could be needed
But total acceptance at last.
Total belonging at last.
Questions, pain, regret - gone.
Along with the me you knew.
And yes, I am new - and you will be too.

See you there...
 
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Tolworth John

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One thought, not spiritual.
Have you organised your funeral?

I thought my Father was just being weird when he told me, in the event of his death look in such and such draw for these folders.

When he died the fact that he had given me the contents of said folders, that he had a funeral plan all paid for, that he had laid out the order of servic, complete with the photos to go on it.
Meant all I did was talk to the undertaker, the vicar, the printer and florist.
No problem about hymns, readings what goes where etc just attend the service.

That is hard but made far easier knowing the service was one Dad wanted. A kid gospel based send off.
 
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Carl Emerson

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One thought, not spiritual.
Have you organised your funeral?

I thought my Father was just being weird when he told me, in the event of his death look in such and such draw for these folders.

When he died the fact that he had given me the contents of said folders, that he had a funeral plan all paid for, that he had laid out the order of servic, complete with the photos to go on it.
Meant all I did was talk to the undertaker, the vicar, the printer and florist.
No problem about hymns, readings what goes where etc just attend the service.

That is hard but made far easier knowing the service was one Dad wanted. A kid gospel based send off.

Interesting question...

I have some rather unorthodox thoughts...

We have very few close friends so a private cremation is the best bet.

I dont relate to the pretence that all of a sudden you have friends at your funeral.

Then I like the idea of having my ashes scattered at a significant spot.

My spot of choice is Tel Shiloh in Israel where the Ark of the covenant was kept.

I like the idea that He will gather me up from a significant place at resurrection time.

So small and simple is the plan.

My dad was scattered at our favourite fishing spot.
 
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RaymondG

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Interesting question...

I have some rather unorthodox thoughts...

We have very few close friends so a private cremation is the best bet.

I dont relate to the pretence that all of a sudden you have friends at your funeral.

Then I like the idea of having my ashes scattered at a significant spot.

My spot of choice is Tel Shiloh in Israel where the Ark of the covenant was kept.

I like the idea that He will gather me up from a significant place at resurrection time.

So small and simple is the plan.

My dad was scattered at our favourite fishing spot.
How then, shall the dead in Christ rise......if they are all burnt up and scattered?
 
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Carl Emerson

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How then, shall the dead in Christ rise......if they are all burnt up and scattered?

Burial results in a scattering over the years - which ever way He will gather the substance and form it into our resurrected body as happened in the tomb.

I have no reason to believe that Martyrs, burned at the stake, somehow miss out on being resurrected.
 
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renniks

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A topic rarely discussed...

I am 75 and expect another 20 years at least - my ancestors were long livers.

However, I put together this piece as one naturally ponders these things at this stage of life.


When it's time...

And the offering of my life seems far too small.
And the questions that beg, lose their strength for the last time.
And the light beyond the most distant star, beckons.
And there is no going back.

In that moment...

He takes over like I asked Him to.
Calling my spirit forth.
Calling what was always His.
And there is no going back.

At Last only Love...

What else could be needed
But total acceptance at last.
Total belonging at last.
Questions, pain, regret - gone.
Along with the me you knew.
And yes, I am new - and you will be too.

See you there...
Nice! Thanks for sharing.
 
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RaymondG

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Burial results in a scattering over the years - which ever way He will gather the substance and form it into our resurrected body as happened in the tomb.

I have no reason to believe that Martyrs, burned at the stake, somehow miss out on being resurrected.
Maybe the Martyrs were burned at the stake to hinder there passage in the after life...... maybe ancient civilization would, for instance, not allow the delivering of the body to be burnt as an extra punishment....because they believed the body had to be burnt for the soul to find its way into the afterlife....

Nevertheless....this dying stuff is religious business... I look forward to not dying:

"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
 
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RaymondG

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You would have to insert your own beliefs into the verse to get this doctrine. but the verse states:

"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

This verse is talking about the living.......the verse before this talks about those who physically died.

I know, this is not easy stuff to believe, and it is ok if we would rather dismiss it or answer Christ's question with "No I do not believe this!"
 
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Carl Emerson

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You would have to insert your own beliefs into the verse to get this doctrine. but the verse states:

"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

This verse is talking about the living.......the verse before this talks about those who physically died.

I know, this is not easy stuff to believe, and it is ok if we would rather dismiss it or answer Christ's question with "No I do not believe this!"

I have no problem with this - it is a matter of knowing what death is being talked about.

The death of the body and the death of the spirit are two different things.

Jesus body died but not His spirit. Then the resurrection.

This is the promise for us.
 
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Tolworth John

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We have very few close friends so a private cremation is the best bet

There are many parts to a funeral.
The actual disposal of the body being one that is often limited to family.
Then there is the memorial service where old work colleagues, old neighbours people you know at different churches as well as family and friends etc attend so they can say good bye and show to the family that they valued the deceased.

If you want a particular type of service then prepay for it and set out your order of service, otherwise ?
 
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Carl Emerson

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There are many parts to a funeral.
The actual disposal of the body being one that is often limited to family.
Then there is the memorial service where old work colleagues, old neighbours people you know at different churches as well as family and friends etc attend so they can say good bye and show to the family that they valued the deceased.

If you want a particular type of service then prepay for it and set out your order of service, otherwise ?

John,

We have very few friends.

Why should those who were not friends in life suddenly become friends in death?

For some of us our walk with Him has been somewhat lonely.
 
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RaymondG

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I have no problem with this - it is a matter of knowing what death is being talked about.

The death of the body and the death of the spirit are two different things.

Jesus body died but not His spirit. Then the resurrection.

This is the promise for us.
Sorry, try again. Here is the verses before, which speaks of the bodies in the grave:

"23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"

This is about a dead body, in the tomb about to be risen up again.

Now lets see what he says about those whose bodies have not died yet...in the next breath:

"26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

Like I said....I am not pushing life on you.... the way of death is fine, if one so chooses it. I just wanted to show another option.
 
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Carl Emerson

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Sorry, try again. Here is the verses before, which speaks of the bodies in the grave:

"23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"

This is about a dead body, in the tomb about to be risen up again.

Now lets see what he says about those whose bodies have not died yet...in the next breath:

"26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

Like I said....I am not pushing life on you.... the way of death is fine, if one so chooses it. I just wanted to show another option.

Can you be clear about what you are saying please...

What are your expectations when your time is up...

What do you expect to experience...

What will be happening to your body, soul ad spirit?
 
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tall73

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Can you be clear about what you are saying please...

What are your expectations when your time is up...

What do you expect to experience...

What will be happening to your body, soul ad spirit?

He seems to be relating that he hopes to be alive at the coming of Christ.

At that time those who are dead will be raised. Those who are still alive will not have to die.

Martha was familiar with the resurrection at the last day. Jesus underscores He is the basis of it.
 
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Carl Emerson

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He seems to be relating that he hopes to be alive at the coming of Christ.

At that time those who are dead will be raised. Those who are still alive will not have to die.

Martha was familiar with the resurrection at the last day. Jesus underscores He is the basis of it.

Than sounds reasonable...

But to say that my perspective is a way of death is a bit rich...
 
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tall73

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Have you organised your funeral?

If you really want some insight, laughs, and possible wake-up call, ask folks to write the eulogy ahead of time!

One of my kids did that for me when they were in their teens. Made for a fun night for the family when she read it.
 
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tall73

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Than sounds reasonable...

But to say that my perspective is a way of death is a bit rich...

Paul didn't think death was a bad option:

Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
 
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I was speaking with a pastor who was in Vietnam. He told the story of a situation in which the enemy had a radar lock on the helicoptor he was a passenger in. He expected he would panic at the sound. But at that moment he felt overwhelming peace, and was ready to be with Jesus.

Jesus had other plans as it turns out, but he still looks back on that moment as a huge realization of the truth of the gospel:

Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
 
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