Friends,
I have to be away from the blog for several days. This past week I have been at my in-laws. We were able to be together for the last four days of my brother-in-law’s life. Bobby was 30 and died from a brain tumor. He died Saturday evening around 7:30 or so. This morning we worshiped with his congregation in Poland, Ohio.
Crowder always seems to have words.
I thank God that death had no claim on Bobby. Thanks be to God for the resurrection of Jesus Christ–our hope!
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.”
Praise God! My sister in law said something amazing this morning at worship. She said, and I don’t even know if she planned it or not, but it was brilliant: It only took 30 years for God to accomplish in and through Bobby all he desired to accomplish. Bobby was a changed man because of Jesus Christ and a powerful testimony to all who knew and loved him. Bobby was so changed that he more than once gave testimony that he ‘thanked God for [this] disease.’
He died quietly and peacefully. He was surrounded by his friends, family, and a friendly dog named Cody who roams the halls of the Hospice. But more importantly, he was surrounded by the grace of God. We thank God Bobby is safe and hurting no more. We thank God for his abundant grace that saved Bobby 6 years ago. If you breathe a prayer for us, especially his wife Brandi, thank God that Bobby didn’t have to linger on for days. Thank God for His grace.
God Bless CRN.info this week as the writers here continue witnessing the powerful grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Soli Deo Gloria!
5 Comments(+Add)
Jerry,
Grace and peace to you and your family! Sounds like a wonderful celebration of a life well lived and in now resting in the embrace of our Lord.
That Crowder song is one of my new favorites. I played it to open our youth retreat last weekend in the mountains just before serving communion. It is a wonderful word of hope and promise to know that no matter where we have come from or how broken we are Jesus is Lord and will never let go.
peace, brother.
cool song
I know a HPN l;ike group uses that song in the youtube clip called
Jesus died for everyone, even Celebrities
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL6N8f7EfIg
http://www.shoutlife.com/groups_home.cfm?group_id=3051
Thanks Jerry. One day in December of 2006 I was in the hospital losing many pints of blood and hooked up in both arms to transfusion machines, I began to feel pain in my chest, the same pain I had felt a coupld of years before. I knew it was my heart again, and I began to speak to Jesus while the nurses rushed around me.
I had no fear and I was singing praises out loud and began to tell Jesus how wonderful he was and how I had no works of righteousnes upon which to lean. My wife and three children rushed to my room and I told them that this life was but a vapor, and if I go to Christ I will see them in eternity.
I did not die, obviously, but I have shared how the Spirit hovered over me with a suprenayural peace emanating soley from the grace of our Mighty Savior. In some ways I envy Bobby, but I pray that same sense of grace surrounds you and your loved ones.
Your story is amazing… I am a pastor to college and young adults and we meet on Monday evenings. This past Monday, I was at the hospital with one of my college students as his dad was getting worse (brain tumor) every hour. I hung out with him for a while and then had to get back to church. When we gathered on Monday night, we began our time with prayer for him, his dad and his mom. after that, we moved from prayer to music with that song. After we sang, a few students went to the hospital then after they came back, another group went. I was at the church when the second group returned to do some debriefing. At about 1:00am, my friend and his mom pulled into the parking lot to let us know that his dad had passed. We prayed and cried. The amazing thing is the way God orchestrated the day so that the body was always supporting its weaker members.
Psalm 91
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
God bless you and your family Jerry. If you really think about it, nothing can really touch us, even disease which leads to death, has lost its sting. Jesus did it all, and has truly given us all an eternally long life in Him. Your brother in law is the most fortunate of all of us right now. I’m so glad you shared all of this with us so we can pray with you and rejoice in his life with Christ. Amen!
Joe