Why Wait??

"This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than we we first believed." -- Romans 13:11

This has been a long week... and it's just Tuesday. But, in all honesty, I wish I could rewind time...

My friend Anthony and I had been talking for a few months about getting together. We met through a mutual friend at a nearby Bible college where he worked, and where I often went to study. Anthony had been reading and studying more seriously about the Church, and was really excited about what he was discovering. He'd always been excited about classroom teaching in a Bible college or seminary, but was now beginning to get excited about giving his life to church ministry. It was neat to see the light bulb going off in Ant's head, as we talked about Jesus' Bride and how much He loves His people... and how that should have a profound effect on the way we relate to people, especially those far from Jesus. So, we kept talking about getting together, and discussing more in depth (all of our dialogues were like 10-minute, in-passing conversations) about what we'd been individually learning. We'd say, "You know, we keep saying it... we just need to do it!"

I wish I could rewind time...

On Monday evening, I received a call from a friend (the same guy who introduced Anthony and I) who told me that Anthony had died earlier that day. "What? How??" He said he wasn't really sure... there weren't any concrete answers at the time. Anthony hadn't been feeling well for about a week or so, and he didn't come to work that day (they worked together). But sometime early that afternoon, he felt bad enough to call a friend to take him to the hospital... he never made it. He stopped breathing on the way there... his friend pulled over and called 911 and tried CPR, but Anthony was gone before the ambulance even arrived.

How could this be? Anthony's only 25 years old... in shape and apparent good health... what happened??

Man, I wish I could rewind time!! If I knew I wouldn't have but so much time with Anthony, I'd have been WAY more intentional about getting together and finding ways to help Christ's Church live more missionally. I wish I could rewind time...

... but I can't. And that's the way life is. We've been given "X" amount of time on this earth... we're to use it wisely... and we're to use it for Jesus. I've been asking myself since last night, "If Anthony knew he had a week to live... a month to live... what would he have done differently? Even as a sold out follower of Jesus Christ, would he have invested his time any differently than normal... knowing he didn't have much time left?" Truth is, Anthony has graduated to a better life. I already miss him alot, but he's home with Jesus now... and I know he's heard our Master say, "Well done, My good and faithful servant!" (Matt. 25:21)

But what about us? What if we knew we had a month left to live... how would we invest our time? Would that increase our desire to live more passionately for Jesus? What would we do differently, and how much differently would we live, if our days were numbered?

And if we know what we would do differently, what's stopping us from doing that... NOW?

Why wait?

"So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him." (2 Corinthians 5:9)

A Tragic Loss

I am not a Washington Redskins fan. But I've always respected their players... of which the now-late Sean Taylor was one. My prayers go out to his family, his girlfriend, his daughter... this is definitely a tragic loss. Sean was a very gifted and talented football player, who came into the NFL a couple of years ago, and immediately changed the standard for what a "prototype" safety would look like... and hit like. He was a fierce competitor... and an even more feared hitter.

I am deeply saddened by the death of Sean Taylor... his was definitely a life that ended much too soon. At a time like this, one can only trust in God's sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness... for He alone is what is steady and consistent in this topsy-turvy world.

Sadness... and Joy

A good friend went to be with the Lord on yesterday morning... Paul Guy was a great person, and a model believer. He was one of the most consistent and steady men I've known in my life... always seeking to please Jesus.

This was hard, because it happened so suddenly... he came down with double-pneumonia, and things took a turn for the worse... within a few short weeks, he was gone. The news of Paul's death was really hard for my middle son, Shawn... even though he hadn't seen Paul in a couple of years. But Paul had been Shawn's Children Church teacher at our old church, and Shawn really grew to love him.

(Please pray for Paul's family: he leaves behind a wife, Paulette, and three kids: his daughter is a senior in high school, and he has 2 college-aged sons)

Death is never easy to deal with... it seems so... final. But the Scriptures make clear that "when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house i heave, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands." For the believer, "home" is finally being with Jesus forever... not that we have to be in a rush to get there (truthfully, none of us really want to die)... but we're confident that - when that time comes - we move from this life... to more life: we will live forever, and have a new body, made by God. So, although I'm sad, I can rejoice because my man Paul no longer has to deal with the pain and suffering of the past few weeks... he has a new body, made by God. His new body will never tire or break down, because it's not a human body... it's made by God.

(If you struggle with a fear of death or dying... or you know someone who does... click here to see a very helpful video by Dr. Henry Cloud)

Paul... you've done well in this life. I look forward to seeing you again in the next one, my friend.

"So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please Him" (2 Corinthians 5:9).

Sad News...

Just found out that my niece's boyfriend, Nacarto, was killed this morning. He was around 29-30 years old. He and Krystal visited Mosaic a couple of months ago... don't know if he had a relationship with Christ or not.

Please pray for my niece Krystal, and their 4-yr old son, Nixovanni (Nick, for short).