Celebration Of Life

From a recent celebration of life. I spoke as the “religious person.” It was well received.

Death is often with us and when it is we should take time to celebrate what that life meant to us. Rather than platitudes, which often lack comfort, we should be there for each other and talk about what each person meant to us.

$Celebration of Life From a recent celebration of life I spoke at as the “religious person.” It was well received. Death is often with us and when it is we should take time to celebrate what that life meant to us. Rather than platitudes, which often lack comfort, we should be there for each other and talk about what each person meant to us. Image IMG_6870B Jan Brueghel II ADAM, EVE, THE APPLE, THE FALL: THE MYTH. EVOLUTION ? INVOLUTION? By Jean Louis Mazieres on Flickr (Insert something personal and humorous.) Intro Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” We know what kind of peace the world gives: military force, police force, money, power. This isn’t what Jesus was talking about. Jesus gave us hope for a better world, and hope for eternal life with God. (Insert personal remembrances of the person, a little humor, some reflections on a good heart.) Weighed down We wonder if when someone passes if we will see that person again and if they are in a better place. Yet we’re weighed down by worry about things we have done that might have hurt others. Were our last words said in anger? Have we hurt someone badly? Are we worthy of being with God in a better place? In both the ancient Hebrew language and Greek language, the word for sin means missing the mark. It comes from an archery term essentially meaning missing the bulls eye on the target. We try to get it perfect but we fail. We look back at the story of Adam and Eve who were kicked out of their garden and then their son killed their other son and was expelled from their neighborhood, and with a mark on his forehead he was destined to walk alone and despised for his act of unworthiness. We all sometimes feel we have a mark on our forehead which tells everyone we’re unworthy. There are different views of the Adam and Eve allegory in which the ancients tried to tell us something important about life. On the one hand many Christian denominations look at Eve feeding the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil as original sin. We’re all rotten apples and if we don’t change we end up in a bad place. I know that in my case, my wife would have looked at some of the things I do and thought, “I need to make this guy smarter. Here, eat this! And put some clothes on!” I’m sure I would have eaten it. On the other hand, Jesus was a Jew and many Jews have a different take on this story. I’m inclined to look seriously at what they feel this story represents. Their take is that Adam and Eve wanted to become better servants to God so getting the knowledge of good and evil would help them. I think there is merit to both interpretations. We all need to become better people. And we all can become better servants. I also think God knew all along they were going to eat the fruit and end up removed from that perfect garden to learn the hard way about good and evil. It’s an experience lesson. God created us and knew that we crave knowledge and experience – it’s built into our nature by God. Yes, we’re going to do things that are wrong. We’re also going to learn how to love others as ourselves. That’s a life-long series of lessons with endless room for failure. Good News! None of us are perfect. We try to hit the bulls eye and fail again and again. Jesus said to forgive seventy times seven. Rounding up that’s five hundred times. If you’re familiar with habit formation, you know that by forgiveness soon becomes a habit. Jesus didn’t tell his apostles to take all 613 Jewish laws to non-Jews. He sent them with a simple message of the Good News of forgiveness. Jesus simply asks us to obey the law God has put in our hearts and to love each other. God has the supreme habit of forgiveness. If we try and miss, we’re forgiven just for asking God directly. Those bad things we’ve done don’t need to weigh us down forever and make us feel unworthy. We’re all God’s children, created by God, and children are never perfect but we love them anyway. They are endlessly curious and they learn from their mistakes. We love, we try, we fail, we ask forgiveness, and we pick ourselves up and try again. And of course I not only miss the bulls eye, I miss the target entirely. The Kingdom is for all The Kingdom of God is like a virtual space. It’s here, now, and forever, for those who obey they law God has put in their hearts and try to love others. To get there we’re simply asked to follow the example of love that Jesus showed us. Love as God loves. That’s a tall order and we certainly will fail. But we’re forgiven. It’s a path of transformation from people who do a lot of things that are wrong to people who love others well. Jesus said, ““I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Through Jesus means the path that he showed us, which is obeying the law that is in everyone’s heart and loving others. A place for us Jesus said in John 14, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” Those who have had Near Death Experiences report that while they were dead they saw things a dying brain can’t see, and can confirm that Jesus has prepared a uniquely wonderful place for each one of us where we will be near those people who have already passed. There are some grammar police I will likely hide from for all eternity. Celebrate We will miss this departed friend terribly, but let’s celebrate the life of this wonderful individual. If you’ve ever been to New Orleans you’ve probably seen the funeral processions in which people walk, sing, and dance in celebration of a life. They deserve to be celebrated. Leann Womack sang a beautiful song, I Hope You Dance. I hope you can find it in your heart to dance in life, celebrating life. And leave here with a feeling of peace and hope that Jesus gave to us through his life and promise. Poem {Perhaps read an appropriate and inspiring poem or song, or sing a song, or play music.) _____________________________________ You might also enjoy my new podcast, Our Times today and tomorrow and article series on Substack, which delves more deeply into a wide variety of topics with a spirituality focus. My Patheos articles (posts, whatever) will also become a podcast. (It takes a lot of work.) ________________________ The standard of belief and conduct for Christianity is love. God is love. We’re asked to be like God. ________________________ If you find these articles intriguing, please consider joining the mailing list. If I’ve challenged your thinking, I’ve done my job. ___________________ Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better. - Dorian$

(Insert something personal and humorous.)

Intro

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

We know what kind of peace the world gives: military force, police force, money, power. This isn’t what Jesus was talking about. Jesus gave us hope for a better world, and hope for eternal life with God.

(Insert personal remembrances of the person, a little humor, some reflections on a good heart.)

Weighed down

We wonder if when someone passes if we will see that person again and if they are in a better place. Yet we’re weighed down by worry about things we have done that might have hurt others. Were our last words said in anger? Have we hurt someone badly? Are we worthy of being with God in a better place?

In both the ancient Hebrew language and Greek language, the word for sin means missing the mark. It comes from an archery term essentially meaning missing the bulls eye on the target. We try to get it perfect but we fail.

We look back at the story of Adam and Eve who were kicked out of their garden and then their son killed their other son and was expelled from their neighborhood, and with a mark on his forehead he was destined to walk alone and despised for his act of unworthiness. We all sometimes feel we have a mark on our forehead which tells everyone we’re unworthy.

There are different views of the Adam and Eve allegory in which the ancients tried to tell us something important about life. On the one hand many Christian denominations look at Eve feeding the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil as original sin. We’re all rotten apples and if we don’t change we end up in a bad place.

I know that in my case, my wife would have looked at some of the things I do and thought, “I need to make this guy smarter. Here, eat this! And put some clothes on!” I’m sure I would have eaten it.

On the other hand, Jesus was a Jew and many Jews have a different take on this story. I’m inclined to look seriously at what they feel this story represents. Their take is that Adam and Eve wanted to become better servants to God so getting the knowledge of good and evil would help them.

I think there is merit to both interpretations. We all need to become better people. And we all can become better servants.

I also think God knew all along they were going to eat the fruit and end up removed from that perfect garden to learn the hard way about good and evil. It’s an experience lesson. God created us and knew that we crave knowledge and experience – it’s built into our nature by God.

Yes, we’re going to do things that are wrong. We’re also going to learn how to love others as ourselves. That’s a life-long series of lessons with endless room for failure.

Good News!

None of us are perfect. We try to hit the bulls eye and fail again and again. Jesus said to forgive seventy times seven. Rounding up that’s five hundred times. If you’re familiar with habit formation, you know that by forgiveness soon becomes a habit.

Jesus didn’t tell his apostles to take all 613 Jewish laws to non-Jews. He sent them with a simple message of the Good News of forgiveness. Jesus simply asks us to obey the law God has put in our hearts and to love each other.

God has the supreme habit of forgiveness. If we try and miss, we’re forgiven just for asking God directly.

Those bad things we’ve done don’t need to weigh us down forever and make us feel unworthy. We’re all God’s children, created by God, and children are never perfect but we love them anyway. They are endlessly curious and they learn from their mistakes. We love, we try, we fail, we ask forgiveness, and we pick ourselves up and try again. And of course I not only miss the bulls eye, I miss the target entirely.

The Kingdom is for all

The Kingdom of God is like a virtual space. It’s here, now, and forever, for those who obey they law God has put in their hearts and try to love others. To get there we’re simply asked to follow the example of love that Jesus showed us.

Love as God loves. That’s a tall order and we certainly will fail. But we’re forgiven. It’s a path of transformation from people who do a lot of things that are wrong to people who love others well.

Jesus said, ““I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Through Jesus means the path that he showed us, which is obeying the law that is in everyone’s heart and loving others.

A place for us

Jesus said in John 14, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”

Those who have had Near Death Experiences report that while they were dead they saw things a dying brain can’t see, and can confirm that Jesus has prepared a uniquely wonderful place for each one of us where we will be near those people who have already passed.

There are some grammar police I will likely hide from for all eternity.

Celebrate

We will miss this departed friend terribly, but let’s celebrate the life of this wonderful individual. If you’ve ever been to New Orleans you’ve probably seen the funeral processions in which people walk, sing, and dance in celebration of a life. They deserve to be celebrated.

Leann Womack sang a beautiful song, I Hope You Dance. I hope you can find it in your heart to dance in life, celebrating life. And leave here with a feeling of peace and hope that Jesus gave to us through his life and promise.

Poem

(Perhaps read an appropriate and inspiring poem or song, or sing a song, or play music.)

_____________________________________

You might also enjoy my new podcast, Our Times today and tomorrow and article series on Substack, which delves more deeply into a wide variety of topics with a spirituality focus. My Patheos articles (posts, whatever) will also become a podcast. (It takes a lot of work.)

________________________

The standard of belief and conduct for Christianity is love. God is love. We’re asked to be like God.

________________________

If you find these articles intriguing, please consider joining the mailing list.

If I’ve challenged your thinking, I’ve done my job.

___________________

Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.

– Dorian