Category Archives: Death

Parent

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Today’s KneEmail comes from the National Review Online. Please pay special attention to the last three paragraphs. — mb

AS SOON AS the jury proclaimed Casey Anthony “not guilty,” her parents, George and Cindy Anthony, stood up, blank-faced, and walked out of the courtroom.
It was one of the few times since the trial began that the Anthonys did something I could relate to.
Just a few days earlier, Cindy Anthony attempted to convince jurors that she was the person who Google-searched “chloroform” on her home computer. When the searches were determined to have occurred during the time she was clocked in at work and logged into the company computer, she maintained her unlikely story, an obvious attempt to exonerate her daughter.
If Casey’s parents loved her enough to lie for her, there’s also no doubt that they adored their beautiful granddaughter, Caylee. Like so many other grandparents these days, they were the realparents to that little girl, providing the love and stability that their immature, partying, and selfish adult daughter wouldn’t. Casey Anthony didn’t have a job and she and Caylee lived with them — until Caylee disappeared and Casey moved in with her new boyfriend and his roommates. The Anthonys decorated their granddaughter’s room and filled their home and backyard with toys for her, including a playhouse that George Anthony built a floor onto so Caylee wouldn’t have to sit on the ground.
Like the Anthonys, my parents adore their grandkids. Like Mr. Anthony, my daddy lovingly tiled the bottom of the outdoor playhouse at their house for their grandkids. The difference between my parents and the Anthonys is that I can guarantee that if I had anything to do with the disappearance of one of my kids, or if I was lying or withholding information about my child’s whereabouts to the cops, as Casey clearly did and was found guilty of today, my parents would not be trying to help me get away with it. I am absolutely certain that they would be fully cooperating with law enforcement on behalf of their innocent grandchild.
The Casey Anthony verdict didn’t deliver justice for little Caylee. But it did give America some insight into the kind of family dysfunction and parental enabling that produces a mother like Casey: one who could move in with her boyfriend, enter a bikini contest, and get a “Bella Vita” tattoo during the time her little girl’s body was decomposing in a swamp near the family home.
Perhaps the most poignant moment in the trial was when the prosecutor described the way a different mother grieved the loss of her child in an accidental drowning. Sometime after the child was buried, a big storm came. That mother ran out to her child’s gravestone to be with her because, she said, her little girl had never been alone in a storm before. That’s how someone deserving of the title “mother” grieves. Sadly, Casey will never get enough time in prison to reflect on such things. Rachel Campos-Duffy at http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/271149/injustice-rachel-campos-duffy#.ThWzgLQAT8s.facebook
KneEmail: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventers of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:28-32
Bible reading for 07.07.11: Acts 15.1-21; Job 34-35
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Home

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alabama.jpgTHE STORMS THAT hit Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia have left devastation and ruin all across these states…
The pictures are almost surreal.
It is hard to imagine entire neighborhoods, business districts, and countryside wiped out in just a matter of seconds from the force of the tornadoes that hit.
While we were fortunate that God spared us, we need to keep many other folks in our prayers.
Of all the pictures I saw of the damage, one stood out more than the others… a couple standing in front of some damaged houses. All around them is destruction and their faces betray their dismay at the magnitude of the damage. Yet, they are holding on to each other. Everything they were familiar with, everything they had known, everything that had been normal the day before, is now gone…but they have each other.
It is one thing to lose a house and all its furnishings. It is quite another thing to lose your home. A home can exist even when the house is gone. You see, a home is made up of two or more people who share love, life, and laughter. And that home is made stronger when God is at the center of everything that takes place in the lives of those who are part of it. When God is at the center, our homes are storm proof. That doesn’t mean bad things will never happen. It simply means that when tragedy does strike, you will find the two of them huddled together, holding each other, and giving and receiving support. That’s how homes weather a storm.
Many of the houses in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia are gone. They may be rebuilt, but the greatest asset for those who have lost so much is their home. Home…where love dwells, where joy and grief is shared, and where the storms of life are not a threat…but a shelter of protection. Gary Knuckles, “Storm Proof,” Briensburg church of Christ Bulletin, 05.01.11: www.briensburgchurchofchrist.org
KneEmail: “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4.12
Bible reading for 05.06.11: Luke 23.26-56; 1 Kings 21, 22
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Osama

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NEARLY TEN YEARS ago, while Americans wept over the September 11th attacks on the United States, news crews in Palestine showed men and women dancing in the streets as they chanted, “Death to the USA…!”
At the time, I remember how amazed I was at such a calloused response by a people. However, last night it was our turn. After President Obama announced that Osama Bin Laden had been killed by U.S. military forces, men and women took to the streets outside of the White House and they chanted, “Nah, nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, hey, goodbye” and “USA, USA, USA!”
As I watched this reaction, I immediately recalled the words of the Lord when he said, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live…” (Ezekiel 33:11). In light of the Lord’s eternal perspective, you decide if such dancing in the streets is appropriate.
Consider some additional thoughts.
I am not opposed to justice. I am not a pacifist. God gives government authority to execute wrath upon evil-doers (Romans 13). Bin Laden was guilty of crimes worthy of death. I support the USA in their military action.
I have a dual citizenship. I am a citizen of the USA and a citizen of Heaven. I have loyalties to both. I have a deep sense of nationalism that runs through me, but I must continually keep in check the priorities of my citizenships. I am first and foremost a citizen of Heaven. Never do I want to lose sight of my Heavenly citizenship and its agenda as I pursue a temporal agenda of my national citizenship.
I also am well aware of the many imprecatory psalms and statements sprinkled throughout the Old and New Testaments. These statements invite calamity upon those who oppose God. However, I believe that these imprecatory statements have to be interpreted in light of divine justice and a pursuit of God’s divine agenda. The chants of “USA, USA, USA” betray the purpose of the rejoicing that was taking place in the streets. These people were not celebrating because gone was one who stood in opposition to God. They weren’t celebrating because they saw this as a great step forward for God’s kingdom. They were celebrating, not because they are children of God, but because they are Americans. To apply the imprecatory statements of the Bible to nationalism rather than God’s divine agenda, is a misuse and misunderstanding of these statements.
I would simply suggest that before we take to the streets in celebration, we remember who we are. We are the people of God who have been given the task of reaching the lost. While I defend the right of government to enforce capital punishments, I don’t defend speaking and behaving in such a way that when such actions are required, that I alienate those who I am trying to reach with the gospel. Steve Higginbotham, “Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye!”, Preachinghelps.org
KneEmail: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3.9
Bible reading for 05.02.11: Luke 22.1-20; 1 Kings 10, 11
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Through

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grieving_woman2.jpgTHE KEY WORD is through…
God promises you will get through the waters of grief, the river of sorrow, the furnace of pain. Somehow you will get through. What you experience today will not last forever.
One encouragement here is God knows who you are. He is your Creator, and he calls you by name (Isaiah 43.1). You are His, and He will take care of His own. In time of sorrow you feel unimportant and unknown. God knows you, and you are important to him.
God also knows where you are. He knows when you’re fighting the current of the river of sorrow, when you’re walking through the firey furnace of suffering. Others may not know what you’re experiencing. One the outside you may have everyone believing you’re fine. But inside you’re about to drown. God knows — and He is there for you.
When Daniel’s three friends were thrown into the furance, the king watched (Daniel 3.22-26). And what he saw amazed him: the men were not harmed, and a fourth person was with them in the furnace.
God knows how you feel: alone, afraid, uncertain about the future, isolated, maybe rejected. God made you with your emotions, and he knows how they can overwhelm and control you. God will never condemn you for the way you feel. Tell him how it feels — He will listen.
God knows what you need. You need someone to share the pain, to walk through this long valley with you. He promises His presence. He also promises His love. God gave you His Son to conquer death and give hope.
Live on promises, not on explanations. Even if God explained by your loved one died, the answer wouldn’t end the heartbreak or quench the questions. Instead of explanations, God gives promises, which keep you moving ahead, giving hope and new strength.
You’ll get through your grief. It won’t end today or next month. But there is an end. Just face today. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Don’t burn today’s energies on tomorrow’s problems that aren’t here yet.
You’re going to make it through. David W. Wiersbe, “Going Through,” Gone But Not Lost, 77-78
KneEmail: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” Isaiah 43.2
Bible reading for 03.03.11: Mark 8.22-38; Numbers 28 – 30
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Diet

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images (3).jpgI WAS RECENTLY talking with a friend about a documentary he just watched with his children…
Someone decided to test the quality of food in one of America’s most famous fast-food restaurants. The thirty-day plan was to eat nothing but fast food morning, noon, and evening. Tests were done prior to the experiment and would be done after the experiment to evaluate levels of fat, triglycerides, weight gain, and overall health.
Unfortunately the experiment did not last thirty days. After twenty or so days of steady diet of only fast food, the man’s body began to shut down. The high-sugar, high-fat, fried, and processed food began to build up toxins to such a degree that he had to be hospitalized. Ironically the food tasted great; tragically it almost killed him.
Sometimes what tastes great isn’t very good for us. And what reseachers tell us is that we acquire a taste for certain foods (like sugars and sweets) that can actually become addicting. It may look good, smell good, and taste good, but that doesn’t mean it is good. All those foods promise pleasure, enjoyment, and fun (and an occasional burger never hurt anyone), but a steady diet of foods high in calories, high in fat, and low in nutrition will literally kill you. As someone has wisely said, “We are what we eat!”
THOUGHT: What most Christians don’t realize is that the same thing is true spiritually. If we fill our minds with the world’s value system, we will die. We will experience death or separation in our relationship with God, ourselves, and others. Fast food, it tastes good, looks good, and promises a wonderful time only to deliver death. In order for us to enjoy and get the very best from God, it requires a change in diet. Chip Ingram, “Could Your Mental Diet Be Killing You?,” Living on the Edge, 71-72
KneEmail: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12.2
Bible reading for 02.25.2011: Mark 5.21-43; Numbers 12-14
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Success

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YUSUF WAS A Yussif 350-pound wrestling champion in Europe a couple of generations ago…
After he won the European championship, he sailed to America to wrestle our champ, whose name was Strangler Lewis — a little guy by comparison who weighed just a shade over 200 pounds. Although he wasn’t very big, Strangler had a simple plan for defeating his opponents and it had never failed to work. He put his massive arm around the neck of his opponent and cut off the oxygen. Many an opponent had passed out in the ring with Strangler Lewis. The problem when he fought Yussif the Turk was that Yusuf didn’t have a neck. His body went from his head to his massive shoulders. Lewis could never get his hold and it wasn’t long that the Turk flipped Lewis to the mat and pinned him.
After winning the championship, the Turk demanded all five thousand dollars in gold. After he wrapped the championship belt around his vast waist, he stuffed the gold into the belt and boarded the next ship back to Europe. He was a success! He had captured America’s glory and her gold!
He set sail on the SS Bourgogne. Halfway across the Atlantic, a storm struck and the ship began to sink. Yusuf went over the side with his gold still strapped around his body. The added weight was too much for the Turk and he sank like an anvil before they could get him into a lifeboat. He was never seen again.
Maybe you think, “What a fool! He should have had a lot more sense than that!” But, the truth of the matter is, we all tend to grasp the things of this world and hold onto them even while we’re sinking. Solomon made this observation: “Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun: There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, ‘For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?’ This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.” (Ecclesiastes 4:8)
Solomon describes a man, like so many today, who doesn’t know how to quit. He can’t slow down. He’s driven to succeed, to achieve, to accumulate. He works harder and harder to become that successful person he so wants to be. And never once does he pause long enough to ask the question, “Who am I doing this for? Why do I feel compelled to run faster and faster in the rat race?”
Success promises a view from the top. But, without God in the picture, success will drag you down just as it did for Yusuf, the Terrible Turk. Alan Smith
KneEmail: “Better is a handful of quietness than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:6)
Bible reading for 11.09.10: Hebrews 6; Jeremiah 46-47
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Vulnerable

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I AM NO political activist, and I was in no small way annoyed and worn out by the political phone calls and ads…
Yet, there was an amendment on the Colorado ballot that did have my undivided attention. It was simply called “Amendment 62,” an amendment to our state constitution recognizing the independent “personhood” of the unborn child. By an overwhelming 7 to 3 ratio, our state’s voters denied that amendment.
There are many reasons to recognize the personhood of the unborn child. The child has its own unique DNA, fingerprints, blood type, many times is even of a different gender, and is distinctly identified as a human being. The child develops early and rapidly, having blood vessels form in the third week after conception, eyes and the beginning of esophagus, gallbladder, liver, lungs, pancreas, pharynx, stomach and trachea form in the fourth week. The face of the child begins to look human by week five, and the heart begins beating around the same time. The brain of the child can sense smell by day 35. The beginning of the toes are evident by day 42. Consider that all of these developments are occurring before or around the time a woman discovers she is pregnant (cf. http://sfuhl.org/). The most compelling reason requires a belief both in God and scripture, which not only gives us our moral bearing regarding life and love of children but also gives us God’s view of the unborn child.
The Bible tells us that God knew the unborn child even before He formed the child in the womb (Isa. 44:1-2; Jer. 1:4-5). It further states the love and relationship God has with the unborn child (Ps. 22:9-10; 139:13-16). In Luke 1:39-44, Elizabeth recognizes the personhood both of the unborn child in her own womb and that in Mary’s womb. If Mary had been pro-choice and had sought to exercise that choice to abort (and why would a pro-choice Christian deny her that “right”?), the world’s only Savior would not have been born.
The greater concern here is the collective callus on the heart of a nation. For just short of four full decades, we have legally sanctioned the killing of unborn children. With the practice now entering a third generation of legal and societal acceptance, I am very concerned about the conscience of an entire culture.
There is an incredible website out there called www.physiciansforlife.org, a voice for medical professionals against the horrific practice of abortion. On the site, they say, “How ironic that the ‘love’ generation should spawn such a culturally accepted abomination as abortion.” The site is filled with studies and data about the health risks and problems for the mother who makes this choice as well as an endless amount of statistics and research on the matter.
Our task is great. It begins with our valuing all human life and the eternal implication residing in every person. This deserves our prayers and our concern. If we will be more aggressive in teaching the gospel to the lost, we stand a better chance to reach the heart of a nation hardened by years of choosing evil rather than good on this matter. May God grant our nation a softened heart and may He bless us all, including those unborn who simply want to live. Neal Pollard at: http://preacherpollard.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/how-the-nation-views-its-most-vulnerable/
KneEmail: 16 unborn.jpg 17 a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood.” Proverbs 6:16-17
Bible reading for 11.03.10: Philemon; Jeremiah 30, 31
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Know

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death.jpg “WHEN YOU’RE MARRIED so long, you know what the other person is thinking before he even speaks…
Your minds are so close that you miss that too, ” says Nancy after the death of her husband.
What a blessing to have someone who knew you so well and who loved you just the way you are.
Let God fill this need in your life. He knows you inside and out. He knows even the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7). Nothing about you is hidden from God. Bill Dunn and Kathy Leonard in Through a Season of Grief, 124
KneEmail: “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.” Psalm 139:1-4
Bible reading 05.13.10: John 3:19-38; 2 Kings 17, 18
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Advantage

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GOD’S PLAN OF salvation has completely leveled the playing field…
In almost every area of life people have some kind of advantage. In the system called Christianity, all so-called advantages disappear. This is conclusive proof that God views the prominent people of society in the same way as factory workers and housewives. Men may put more value on the converted souls of the rich, powerful, well-educated and “well-connected,” but God does not.
An elderly couple had worked in Africa for many years. They were returning to the United States on an ocean liner. On this same ship was President Teddy Roosevelt (he was returning from a big game hunting expedition). The missionary couple watched the fanfare given the President and his entourage. When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet him. The Mayor was there to welcome him. Several newspapers had sent reporters to cover his return.
During the commotion the missionary couple slipped quietly off the ship and found a cheap apartment. They had no pension, were in poor health, and felt discouraged. The husband was especially disturbed. He could not understand how God would allow the President to be treated so well while the years of service he and his wife had offered seemed to be unnoticed and unappreciated. He claimed that God was being unfair to them. He bitterly complained to his wife. She finally turned to him and said, “We’re not home yet.” Brad Price
KneEmail: “And the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God–and righteousness and sanctification and redemption–that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.’” 1 Cor. 1:28-30
Bible reading for 04.05.10: Luke 8:26-56; 1 Samuel 1-3
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Still

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cancer3.jpg WHEN THE X-RAY comes back and it doesn’t look good, remember…God is still faithful…
When you read that heart-breaking note from your mate, remember…God is still faithful.
When you hear the worst kind of news about one of your children, remember…God is still faithful.
He has not abandoned you, though you’re tempted to think He has. Charles Swindoll
KneEmail: “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:9
Bible reading for 03.18.10: Mark 15:26-47; Deuteronomy 32-34
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