When I got married to my lovely wife, Virtuous Blonde, back in 2001 I had all four grandparents at the wedding.  Today, I only have one grandparent left—my maternal grandfather.

I have yet to lose someone in my immediate family to death, and yet, by reading this book I can better empathize with those that have lost a loved one.

I believe that the part of this book that struck me the most enlightening was the idea that we mourn because of change—as humans we don’t like change even though we are in an ever changing world.  We don’t like the finality, and being forced to come to terms with the fact that our life has changed and will continue to change and go on without the person that was once an integral part of our life.

White argues that we must go through grief with hope in order to be able not to be engulfed in despair.  We cannot put off dealing with grief, and it is a process.

He concludes with some very practical advice about some of the pitfalls that will come in the following months and years—how to prepare for that first anniversary, holiday, etc.

Overall, I believe this is a great book and would recommend it to anyone who knows someone who is going through the grieving process—either as a gift, or as an aid as you try to comfort them through the process.

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.

The Facts of the Case

The basic facts of the case are as follows:

Bashire Moore was born days before Christmas with a weak heart that would kill him and when the funeral home came for the body, one tragedy was compounded by another.

The funeral home came to get the boy and his body wasn’t there.

So the problem is that there’s no baby to be found, and the parents believe that they deserve some compensation from the hospital, as well as the body.  The hospital, to its credit, is searching for the child, but doesn’t want to compensate the family and they’re basing their case on the idea that the baby was still born.  The family argues that the baby was born alive, and was given life saving treatment after birth.

The Absurdity

So, by all accounts the baby was alive, the mother wanted it, she carried it to term.  However, our culture devalues life in the womb so much, yet claims to value the choice of the mother, that when the mom wants the baby—or the baby’s body and the hospital throws it out like common trash the only thing they can cling to is the idea that, unless it was alive outside the womb, it’s common trash.

Something is very wrong here, and this case highlights the current pro-abortion absurdity.

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.

Christmas Points to a Death

Christmas is a time of joy, a time where we remember the baby that was born in the manager.  A time filled with angels, a star, wise men, and shepherds.  A time when the impossible became possible: God became flesh and dwelt among us.  He was born of a virgin and was at the same time both man and God.

And yet, from the very beginning—from his very naming—it was clear what Christmas was about.  “You shall call His name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins,” was what the angel said.  How would He do that?  By dying in our place.

We Will All Die

The Good News is that death is not the end.  Christ has had victory over death.  That babe in the manager did not stay a child.  We may accept His free gift of His life and live forever with Him.  Death is not the end!

So yes, we will all die.  It may be today, it may be tomorrow, it may be years down the road.  Will you be ready when that day comes?

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.

Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” program when he collapsed, the network said. No details were immediately available.  (MSNBC)

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

Most difficult, I believe, will be what the teen who was driving the vehicle will be going through as he contemplates what he did and did not do.  The sights and the sounds will probably haunt him from some time to come.

Fortunately, they can find hope in this midst of sorrow.  Their daughter, now absent here, is at home with her father in Heaven.  And although they may not see her for a while here, they will see her again.

We have a living hope.  Since Jesus both died and was risen again, we know that we will one day rise as well.

So pray for the family, pray for the son that was driving, and pray that they may find comfort in this time of trouble.

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…” Why is this more obnoxious? Well, for starters, I have the whole collection of Greatest American Hero, and it seems twisted in more ways than one to have Sadaam be linked with an American hero and secondly, the death of a person (regardless of whether “he deserved it”) should be something that we approach with soberness and contemplation.

This man, by all accounts, is currently serving out a sentence of eternal punishment for his sin against an Almighty God. We should not wish this punishment on anyone– even if he is a mass murderer. But for the grace of God, we could be in the exact same situation.

The even more sobering part is that it doesn’t take mass murders to get a ticket to Hell– all of us are born destined to end up there. It takes an act of faith to change that destination. Have you made that decision? Would you like to?

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.

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.

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?

It’s a hard thing for we that are left.  The man was well known in the
church and was a prayer warrior as well as a good testimony.  His
presence with us will be missed.