MInTheGap

When is a Baby a Baby?

In New Jersey, it depends on whether it lived outside the womb.  I recent case that is drawing attention once again to this question centers around a small body that was thrown out with the hospital’s trash.

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You R Going 2 Die

So said the scrawling on the bathroom stall I found myself in Monday morning.  Now, I guess I could have taken it as a warning, and left immediately, but instead I found myself reflecting on the fact that we’re all mortal, and we all have a short time on Earth to make an impact.

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Tim Russert Has Passed Away—Age 58

I respected this journalist as someone that didn’t play favorites, did his homework, and made people from both parties squirm.

He will be missed:

WASHINGTON – Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press,” died Friday after collapsing in the bureau, NBC News said Friday. He was 58.

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In Memory of Maria

By now you’ve probably all heard, Maria Chapman, the 5-year-old adopted daughter of singer Steven Curtis Chapman, was stuck and killed by an SUV being driven by an older teenage brother.

Words cannot express how difficult this time will be for the family, and what they will be remembering this memorial day.

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Sadaam Hussein’s Eternal Home

In case you haven’t heard, Sadaam Hussein died December 29, 2006. The political blogs are swirling. Michelle Malkin talks about some interviews done of Fox News. Say Anything has a link to the video on the Drudge Report. The BBC has the account from the Iraq State TV– which didn’t show the actual hanging, but describes the lead up to it.

But by far the most obnoxious statement is from Wizbang under a post entitled “Believe it or not, he’s walking on air…” Read the rest of this page »

What to Say When Someone Dies

This is a tough topic for many reasons. If you’ve never lost someone close (as I had not until this past February), it’s hard to empathize with someone who has lost their loved one. For one thing, you feel like anything that you say is never enough to quench the grief– and yet that’s what you want to do. You want to take away the hurt, to provide comfort, but the absense cannot be replaced with meer words.

If the person did not know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, then there is not much hope that you can give– though you can provide comfort to those that remain through hugs, tears and shared memories. If they did, then you can encourage them that they have gone to a better place, and be thankful that they are no longer in pain.

The biggest impact I think that you can have in the family who has lost a loved one is in your follow up. Many people will show up to the funeral, and many people will remember the lost loved one the week after, but do you remember the anniversaries that the loved one will have that they will no longer be able to share? How about the departed’s birthday or any special occasion that would be marked with the person’s presence.

You see, the greatest impact you can have on a family member is through your support when everyone else forgets.

Reagan Remembered

What do I remember about Ronald Reagan the President?  Not much.  I was 4 when he first was elected to office. 

I can remember being told he liked jelly beans.  I can remember
watching the election returns in ‘84 when he beat Mondale with almost
all of the states and how good that felt because my parents had voted
for him.  I think I remember seeing his farewell address, and hearing
about, if not reading his farewell due to his affliction.

What do I think about last week’s mourning?  Appropriate.  I back this
up with just how many people watched, visited, lined up on roadsides,
etc.  Had these people not done these things, I would think that it was
just a grand show, but the outpouring of love from people that had not
seen this former President for 10 years made all of the pagentry and
formality seem fitting.

I do not think that we will see such
a showing at a state funeral ever again.  I may be proved wrong with
Bill Clinton’s funeral, but we’ll see.

What was most touching
through all of this, for me, was the faith that shown through the
mess.  It was in Michael’s statements from the day he died to the
memorial service that Friday night.  It was in the comments from
everyone from Jerry Fallwell to Billy Graham.  The clear message that
you can know where you are going, and that it is a gift was probably
the greatest tribute to Ronald Reagan’s death.  I won’t go to guess
what the greatest thing he did in life may be.

The Passion Review

Well, I saw the passion this past Friday. Here are some random thoughts:

Is the Devil really a woman?
That was the first time I thought of Jesus being roughed up on the way to trial.
What was up with the kids that turned into evil beings chasing Judas?
and the evil looking child the Devil held while Jesus was being whipped.
Do you really think Jesus was corny enough to build a table for nowadays back then?
Where were Jesus other sibilings in the scene with Mary? Maybe they were out at the market.
Could you come away with a message other than– man, he was really beaten up?
Did Simon of Cyrene carry the cross the entire way behind Jesus (as the
Scripture says) or part of the way with Jesus (as in the movie).
Where was the Roman soldier who said “Truly, this man was the Son of God.”
Did the earthquake break the temple floor as well as rip the curtain?

So, what message did you get out of it?