A couple had been debating the purchase of a new auto for weeks. He wanted a new truck. She wanted a fast little sports-like car so she could zip through traffic around town. He would probably have settled on any beat up old truck, but everything she seemed to like was way out of their price range. "Look!" she said. "I want something that goes from 0 to 200 in 4 seconds or less. And my birthday is coming up. You could surprise me." So, for her birthday, he bought her a brand new bathroom scale. Services will be at Downing Funeral Home on Monday the 12th. Due to the condition of the body, this will be a closed casket service. Please send your donations to the "Think Before You Say Things To Your Wife Foundation," Dallas, Texas. WE JOKE ABOUT DEATH A women accompanied her husband to the doctor's office. After his checkup, the doctor called the wife into his office alone. He said, "If you don't do the following, your husband will surely die: 1. Each morning , fix him a healthy breakfast. 2. Be pleasant and make sure he is in a good mood. 3. For lunch, make him a nutritious meal. 4. For dinner, prepare him an especially nice meal. 5. Don't burden him with chores as he probably had a hard day. 6. Don't discuss your problems with him. On the way home, the husband asked his wife what the doctor said to her. "You're going to die," she replied. WOODY ALLEN "I'm not afraid of death. It's just that I don't want to be there when it happens." - Woody Allen THE TRUTH OF CHRIST I once scorned ev’ry fearful thought of death, When it was but the end of pulse and breath, But now my eyes have seen that past the pain There is a world that’s waiting to be claimed. Earthmaker, Holy, let me now depart, For living’s such a temporary art. And dying is but getting dressed for God, Our graves are merely doorways cut in sod. (Calvin Miller) Death is painful, death is an enemy. For those who have a living, real relationship by faith in Jesus Christ, death is the final pain and the last enemy. 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 (ESV) For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. THE HOPE OF HEAVEN: CHRIST WILL SWALLOW UP DEATH FOREVER Isaiah 25:6-9 (ESV) On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” WHILE WE DO NOT HAVE TO FEAR DEATH, WE DO NEED TO PREPARE FOR IT.  We will reap in Heaven what we have sown in this life… Galatians 6:7-10 (ESV) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. HEAVENLY FOCUS WILL PRODUCE CHANGES IN OUR EARTHLY LIFE...  Purchases…  How will this enhance my life in eternity  Could this money be used to benefit someone for eternity?  Relationships  Will this person enjoy life with me in the New Jerusalem  What can I say or do to touch this person for eternity?  Possessions  Do I love things that I will be able to enjoy on the New Earth?  Will I get upset over this on the New Earth?  Works of my heart and hands?  Any chance this will survive the fire?  How will this influence the New Earth to come? PREPARE FOR OUR LIFE ON A NEW EARTH 2 Peter 3:7-13 (NASB) But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed

• published: 01 Jul 2011
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