Without Christ...We Are Nothing With Christ...We are Everything

God led me to write this today as a major portion of a message for our Men's ministry emphasis weekend.  It will get preached tonight.  I give God glory for his grace...and that we all have a without Christ and a With Christ experience.  May We all be WITH Christ...today.

Every Man...needs Revival and Renewal.

We need....A transformation.

With Christ...Like Adam, we eat from the tree of life.

Without Christ...Like Adam, we eat from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil.

With Christ....Like Adam...we get another shot at the tree of life.

Because of the Tree of Life at Calvary!

Without Christ...Like Cain, we rebelliously offer the fruit of the field.

With Christ...Like Abel, we obediently offer the firstlings of the flock.

With Christ...Like Noah, we hear the voice of God:  Flood, Ark, Saved.

Without Christ...Like Noah, we found Noah and Son's Winery...and enjoy the alcohol our self.

With Christ...Like Abraham, we launch out into the unknown, leaving our comfortable lives.

Without Christ...Like Abraham, we fear the unknown and grow impatient, and so we settle for results of our own making, instead of waiting on God.

With Christ...Like Isaac, we are willing to lay down our lives when called upon to do so (Genesis 22)

Without Christ...Like Isaac, we permit strife in our marriages and play favorites with our children.

Without Christ...Like Jacob concoct creative ways to deceive those around us, just to get our own way.

With Christ...Like Jacob, we cling to God and say "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

Without Christ...Like Esau, we swear we're gonna kill that blankety-blank brother of ours!

With Christ...Like Esau,  we mellow in time, and let go or our angry tempers and can find forgiveness and reconciliation with family and friends.

With Christ...Like Joseph, we do our work well and faithfully, tell sexual temptation to take a hike, weep when we feel like it, and freely forgive others, even without them asking us for it.

Without Christ...Like Joseph, flaunt our favored status and create jealousy and hatred where none should exist.

With Christ...Like Moses, we hear God's call and do God's work, hard though it may be.  We intercede for "our people", and beg God to "show us your glory."

Without Christ... Like Moses, we kill our perceived enemies (in our hearts if not with out hands), throw things, (10 commandments) and lash out with violent words and actions. (Strike the Rock)

With Christ...Like Samson, we see through our blindness, come to our senses, and ask God to use us "just this once."

Without Christ...Like Samson, we spurn the wisdom of our parents and consort with multiple women and prostitutes who don't share faith with God.

With Christ...Like Samuel, we can reverently say "Speak, Lord.  Your servant is listening."...and hearing the voice of God in directing our lives.

Without Christ...Like Samuel, we become depressed and settle for our own pity parties...and take rejection too personally.

With Christ...Like Saul, we can stand head and shoulders over the rest, see visions and prophecy.

Without Christ...Like Saul, we usurp proper authority and don't keep what the Lord has commanded us (1 Samuel 13:14) flaunt God's prophetic word, our family falls apart and we end up resorting to the dark side. (Witch).

With Christ...Like David...we are a man after God's own heart, writing prophetic poems and spiritual songs, and slaying the Giants in our path!

Without Christ...Like David...we end up separated from our good friends, we linger over the sight of a naked woman or two, plan elaborate cover-up scenarios or give destructive orders to subordinates...and become men of blood!

With Christ...Like Solomon, we choose the path of wisdom (Wisest), Accurately reflect on the meaning and purpose of life, solve problems in creative ways no one would ever think of, (The Two woman and the baby) and build up the temple of the living God.

Without Christ...Like Solomon, we make alliances with wickedness, that draw us slowly but surely away from God's will. (700 wives + Concubines)

With Christ...Like Elijah, we see amazing answers to prayer and see miracles happen and hear the still small voice of God himself!

Without Christ...Like Elijah, we fall exhausted to the earth with the plaintive cry.  "I've had enough....let me die."

With Christ...Like Jehoash (King at age 7, 2 Kings 12) and Jehoiada (Priest), we bring about revival and reformation...and cast a vision for the temple of God.  Stewardship Example!

Without Christ...Like Ahab, we tolerate our own Jezebels, pout when we don't get our way, and behave like a little boy...and not a man.

With Christ...Like Gehazi, we witness the miracles of God up close and personal.   Resurrections, Healings, Bad Potluck Food Transformed...

Without Christ...Like Gehazi, we succumb to our greed, taking advantage of our positions, and lie to those closest to us.

Without Christ...Like Jonah, we end up running from our callings and duties, and end up going the wrong way.  We end up sea sick in storms of our own making, and eventually end up being or feeling nausious and thinking something smells fishy.  Oddly, we somehow resent it when people find God and the sparks don't fall.

With Christ...Like  Jonah, we finally get it right, say a few words and watch the Holy Spirit bring revival.

Without Christ...Like John the Baptist, we give room to discouragement and doubt when it's our time to die, rather than standing on the promises.

With Christ...Like John the Baptist, we can say "He must increase, and I must decrease."

Without Christ...Like Thomas, we cynically sneer at the good news we hear...and scoff at other's gullibility.

With Christ...Like Thomas, we kneel before our God and whisper "My Lord and My God."

Without Christ...Like Zacchaeus, we cook our books and rob both Peter and Paul to pay ourselves, all the while trying to look respectable on the outside.

With Christ...Like Zacchasues, we might do silly things just to get close to him...and then find that our greed has been replaced by generosity!

Without Christ, Like That Woman with the Perfume....we seek to find meaning in opening our soul to any man that will have us.

With Christ, Like that Woman...we take the sum total of our past mistakes, and convert it to "sweet aroma"...and pour it ALL out over the feet of our LORD and FORGIVER.

Without Christ, like Boyfriend #6 (John 4), We think a woman who has had 5 marriages will think we are finally a "keeper."

With Christ, like Boyfriend #6 - we either break off the relationship and say "Ma'am, for give me for using you." or we get on a knee and say "Will You Marry Me....?"

Without Christ...Like James and John, we seek to salve our rejections by calling down heavenly fire on people's heads.  When positions are up for grabs...we grab for them... "We'd like #1 and #2 please."

With Christ...Like James and John, we are willing to perish by the sword, if it will mean others are in the kingdom.  We learn that to follow Jesus...you need a basin and a towel...and a humble heart. (John 13)...We learn "We learn that we really are quite ignorant of spiritual things.  "I've just written a few things down...and if they were all written down...that I'm sure the world could not contain all the wonderful things that could be written about Jesus."  John

Without Christ...Like Peter, we open our mouths without thinking, boldly declare that we know best, and make rash promises we have no clue even what they mean.  We scream help as we slip beneath the waves.  We have also been known to pull a weapon...and draw blood: either physically or emotionally.  And I won't even mention the foul language!

With Christ...Like Peter, we swallow our pride and say "Lord, depart from me, for I am a sinful man."  "Lord, don't just wash my feet...but my everything too!"  In Christ, we are willing to boldly proclaim that He is our everything.

Without Christ...Like Paul, we think we are doing God's work by hurting others and running them out of church for not observing our traditions or seeing the nature of Christ exactly like we do.  We get the church board on our side and then we pass laws in our favor.

With Christ...Like Paul, we learn to say "This is a true statement, deserving full acceptance.  Jesus Came to save sinners...of which I am the chief, #1, head sinner."  We conclude that "Love is patient and kind...it isn't  jealous or bragging or arrogant.  It doesn't act unbecomingly.  It doesn't seek it's own way.  Love can't be provoked.  It doesn't keep scores or hold grudges....Love NEVER FAILS.    Faith is good.  Hope is Good....All Godly fruit is good....but LOVE is the greatest thing of all."  1 Corinthians 13.

Life Sketch of David Earl Stottlemyer

David Earl Stottlemyer

October 24, 1953 - May 28, 2013

      

       David Earl Stottlemyer was born on October 24, 1953 in Corona, CA in the old Corona Community Hospital.  He passed to his rest in his home near Kooskia, Idaho (Pronounced: Koos-kee) on  May 28, 2013.  He was 59 years, 7 months, 5 days old.

       He is survived by his wife, Cheryl and by their two daughters: Jolene and Kayla also of Kooskia, Idaho.

       David is also survived by his mother, Carol Jean Stottlemyer of Riverside, CA and by his brothers Chris and his wife Dorinda of Grand Terrace, CA, Craig and his wife Debbie Dee of Grand Terrace, CA and by his sister, Debi Sue Barnhart-Stottlemyer of Riverside, California.

       David is survived by 4 Nephews and 3 Nieces:  Michael, Nichole, Beth Ann, Thomas, Mathew, Meghan and Marshal, also a grand nephew Brayden and grand niece Brooklyn.

       He was preceded in death by; his father, Harvey Stottlemyer, by his brother-in-law, Wayne Barnhart and both Borg and Stottlemyer grandparents.

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       David Stottlemyer was born October 24, 1953 in Corona, California.   He was the first of four children born to his parents, Harvey and Carol Jean Stottlemyer.    His dad was in the military, serving in post Korean War, Okinawa, in an army hospital.  After David was born, His dad built the home David would grow up in on the corner of Norwood and College Avenues in La Sierra (Arlington).  When David was two years old the family moved in, and it is still the home of David's mother and sister 57 years later.

       In 1957 David was joined by his twin brothers Chris and Craig.  And Debi Sue joined the family a few years later, in 1962.

       David went to school at La Sierra Demonstration School, which became La Sierra Elementary.  He continued on the same campus and was a 12-year student there, graduating in 1972 from La Sierra Academy. As a graduation gift, the whole family took a vacation to the Civil War Battlefields. At least the ones not under water from Hurricane Agnes.

       During David's childhood and youth, his parents were the directors of the Pathfinder club.  This ministry involved the whole family in Pathfinder activities on Tuesday nights and weekend campouts, conference camporees, bike-a-thons and fairs.  A beloved annual club trip was taken to either Lawler Lodge or Lawler Alpine area, where there was always an amazing and intense Sunday morning game of capture the flag, which David would organize and passionately participate in.

       David went on to college at the newly named Loma Linda University - La Sierra Campus.  He ultimately earned a Bachelors Degree in Intensive Food Production, a mixture of the Biology and Agriculture disciplines, graduating in 1977 from the La Sierra Campus.

       As a child, David used to mow lawns in the neighborhood.  Later, while in college, he worked for the La Sierra College Farm.  He could often be seen hoisting a large aluminum pipe to his shoulder and carrying it to a new section of the alfalfa pastures.  He did a bit of everything for them - plowing, planting, spraying, harvesting, pitching silage, etc.

       In 1975, God brought something wonderful to the direction of David's life.  He had never been a camper at summer camp.  In fact he was kind of prejudiced against the whole summer camp experience. Friends who were camp staff would come back from their summers singing these "insipid" songs, as David would call them.

       One day at a tire store, David was getting new tires for his van...and so was a man David recognized from Pathfinder functions.  David couldn't remember his name, but he snuck a peek at the paper work.  "Dan Savino."

       Then David introduced himself as if he remembered him.. "Elder Dan Savino.  Hello."  They got to talking and Elder Savino tried to get David to commit to being a youth pastor for the summer.  David didn't want to do that...he was interested in Agriculture. 

       David had prayed a prayer.  "God this is what I'm going to do...but I'm open to You opening and closing doors."  Well, God was opening a door for David.  When he finally got Elder Savino to give up on the youth pastor idea, he shifted tactics and suggested that David apply for summer camp.

       David filled out an application, knowing that since he didn't play a band instrument there was no way he'd be accepted for a staff position.  He didn't know that Dan was the director of the camp.  At the interview, David said the last question was "Do you play a band instrument?"  David said "No."...but was hired anyway...and worked there the summer of 1975.

       David said working at camp was one of the best things God ever brought into his life, and those of us who know of his service there would have to agree!  David exemplified the ideals of camp:  A committed Christian role model that showed people that following Jesus was the best thing you could ever do.

       In that first summer, David tells a story about "cutting the mustard" with Joe Savino.  It was their term for sneaking away to the Hopi cabin to visit and eat Macadamia nuts.  If something was really cool or good...they'd say "This really cuts the mustard."

       Once when they were thus occupied, they heard the jeep buggy usually driven by Dan Savino coming up the road.  They feared they would be busted.  There they were...windows propped wide open, goofing off.  And Joe had to appear as the model staff member for his older brother, the camp director.

       "What shall we do?" Joe asked in a panic. David, always the quick thinker said that since they were already hiding on their knees on the floor that they close their eyes and start saying "Lord, be with Elder Savino as he leads this great camp...."  It termed out the driver was one of the camp maintenance staff, and they were not caught "cutting the mustard." after all.

       The next Spring, David prayed a new prayer of submission to God.  "I'll follow You, Lord." Very shortly he was walking through another open door: accepting a student mission assignment from March - December 1976 at the Adventist Seminary of West Africa in Nigeria.  He helped there on an emergency basis, serving as interim manager of the school farm.  He also taught some guitar lessons to some of the kids on campus. 

       He told a true story of the time an amazing natural event occurred: an army of ants invaded his mission residence...and confined their occupation to the kitchen and pantry.  They came in the evening and left in the morning, carrying nearly every cockroach out on their backs with their legs helplessly wiggling in the air.

       When David returned, he again worked at Pine Springs Ranch.  He ended up working there a total of 6 summers, between 1975-1981.  In his second summer there, he transitioned to being the Nature Assistant with Bob Cook, then Nature Director (leading trips to the beach and the desert) and finally 49er Director, a program of history which he designed and wrote about California's Gold Rush, where the children would learn how to operate a sluice and pan for gold.  There were many campers that caught gold fever from David and his crew.

       David and his friend Mick Macomber also were responsible for improving the ministry of the 49er Outpost facility and program at Pine Springs Ranch.  Mick had the vision for changing the program to a dramatic flow of connected songs, stories and skits that started from the moment the campers stepped foot in the outpost area.  Together, they also had the vision to turn a small hole in a granite knoll into a walk through mine experience.  A friend of the camp did the blasting and added tracks and mine cars.  Dave and Mick also built a store front set, installed camper seating and other additions that made the location look very much like an old mining town.  In time, through their consecrated efforts, that outpost program, performed 16 times each summer, went from being the place you wanted to avoid...to the place you wanted to be!

       David also brought great energy and enthusiasm to his work for the Ranch.  If he saw work, he did it.  If he could think of an improvement, he's suggest it and then volunteer to get it done.  His camp friends still remember his characterizations in Sunday night skits ("Heavy Dirt!"), Sabbath School programs (The Hermit and the King) and the Walk-through-the Bible skits. (Goliath and the Pharisee and the Publican).

       David set an example for many others to also work at camp.  His brother Chris joined the fun quite quickly, and then a few years later Debi joined also.  He also mentored many other young adults from the Corona Seventh-day Adventist church to spend their summers in this Christian service.

       During the school terms back home in Riverside, David earned a Masters of Science in Biology from Loma Linda University-Loma Linda Campus, while working at the college.  Some of the time he worked at the creamery and some of the time as a biology lab instructor.

       For many years, the Stottlemyer/Borg families would take an August vacation trip up to Southern Oregon.  Grandparents and Uncles would join the caravan, along with some close friends and they would end up at Greyback Camp Ground, where they would pick black-berries in the morning (in search of the Mother Berry), swim in the creek in the afternoons (later panning for gold), make a Dairy Queen run in the early evening and spend the dark hours playing "Russian Car" (You don't want to know the rules!) and/or singing around the camp fire.

       In September 1980... Cheryl Medlin was casually, kind-of, sort-of dating Chris Stottlemyer...She had heard about his older brother David and David had heard about Cheryl.  They didn't meet until one day when Cheryl went for a jog with her roommate and Chris...and they stopped by the Stottlemyer's house.  David just happened to be in town, as he was spending that year working in Maintenance at Pine Springs Ranch. Eventually and shortly thereafter, Chris became interested in Dorinda (whom he married) and David and Cheryl became very interested in each other. 

       A friendship deepened between David and Cheryl, but not without some bumps in the road.  In the summer of 1981, David and Cheryl broke up briefly for the admitted reason that they were not growing spiritually together.  Cheryl says that it was on the back porch of the old lodge at Pine Springs Ranch that David sat down and invited Cheryl to accept Jesus into her heart.  She went back to her lodge room and was thinking about what David has said.  That night, she accepted Jesus and came out beaming the next morning.  David was skeptical at first...but saw a change in Cheryl over the next few weeks.  So, even though Cheryl never worked at Pine Springs, it played a key role in being a place where God brought them together again.

       Cheryl was baptized June of 1982, and on March 19, 1983 David and Cheryl were married at the Corona Church.   2013 is their 30th anniversary year.

       Their first home together was a small, older home on Pierce Street, near the Collette Avenue intersection.  A little while later, David and Cheryl moved to the home they bought near Grand Terrace.

       Following his Master's program, David started teaching at the LLU - La Sierra campus. His classes were:  Country Living, Vegetable Gardening, Greenhouse Culture and Organic Gardening among others.  After 7 years of work, in 1988, the Agriculture Department was closed and David was left looking for work.  Years later; the dairy was closed, the cows were sold and all the farmland was developed into the houses, businesses and new university entrance seen in La Sierra today.

       David continued his career with a position at UCR (University of California; Riverside) in October of 1988.  David's first work was for Jewel Meyer of Cooperative Extension doing irrigation research on Avocados. Later David worked for Dr. Mary Lu Arpaia and transitioned to the Avocado breeding program.  So if you enjoy creamy California Avocados; in some ways, you have David to thank.  He was at UCR for a total of 17 years, retiring in 2006.

       During the job change, David and Cheryl were expecting their first child, Jolene. A couple years later, God blessed them with a second daughter: Kayla.  Their family was then complete, and they moved forward together in love for each other.

       Among David's many talents, he was a guitarist and songwriter.  In college, he sang in the group called Daybreak, composed of himself and Mick Macomber on guitar and Harry Hartman on bass.  All three of them would blend their voices in vocal harmonies.  Occasionally Nila Grubbs (now Salisbury) would play the flute with the group.  They did concerts and special music performances all over the Inland Empire area.

       When he wasn't performing, he was leading song services at Sabbath School, Pathfinders or PSR with a large group of friends and their guitars, mandolins, banjos, basses, and even a tipple.  Later, David wrote several songs (more secular songs than religious ones) and shared them with his friend Joe Savino, who recorded two of them on his first album:  "My Jesus Can" and "Take Me Home."

       David always had a wonderful sense of humor.  He and friend Bob Cook founded a fictitious radio station and programming of  "KBAD".  The programs were made up of “local” talent (mostly co-workers from summer camp) interspersed with “fake” commercials and even news reports where their motto was “we bring you the news BEFORE it happens.”  They distributed tapes and CD's of their comedic work to their family and friends for several years. 

       In December 2004, during the world news reports about the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia, ...David and Cheryl were moving to Idaho.  2005 was a year of transition and separation for the family.  Cheryl was in Idaho, with the girls, looking for a house to buy and home schooling the girls, while David was in Southern California training his replacement.  He made many trips up and down between the two locations tending to the details of relocation.  The four of them view their move to the country in Idaho as one of the best things they ever did together. 

       For the past decade in Idaho, David and Cheryl and the girls have enjoyed life together.  David, putting his agriculture knowledge to fantastic use, turned their side yard into a mammoth garden, with fruit trees, berry vines and vegetable beds.    All of that land was tilled by hand, with David double digging the planting beds.  They were founding partners in a summer farmers market.  Local people said that their booth was very attractive; with banners, fresh produce and mini-concerts of music by David (playing guitar), Jolene (on harp) and Kayla (playing violin).  He amazed his friends at the market with what he could grow in the Idaho climate, including locally grown artichokes.

       In recent years, David also authored a series of lectures on gardening - and has presented these seminars in many churches and community centers in Southern California, Washington, Oklahoma, Missouri and Idaho.   He received many callbacks to repeat the seminar in the same location.  David's enthusiastic personality and good humor came through in these teaching moments, making them memorable events for all in attendance.

       In the Spring of 2008, David and family returned from a mission trip to Bolivia; the only mission trip they have participated together as a family.  At that time, David noticed a small swelling on the side of his neck.  It wasn't painful.  Antibiotics didn't take care of it.  They watched it for a few months, and then sought medical help.  A biopsy didn't show anything.  After 3 months of tests without a diagnosis, a doctor said "I'm cutting you open to find out what this is.   I can't wait any longer."   It ended up being a spontaneous eruption of a rare Thyroid cancer.  David had endured two major surgeries - one on his neck and a couple of years later one that removed most (two-thirds) of his right lung.  David and Cheryl sought the best medical care for him, and Cheryl also provided amazing medical and nutritional support at home.  Jolene and Kayla have been amazing daughters supporting their dad and mom through every twist and turn during these years of David's infirmity.

      

       God, by His sovereign grace, has laid David to rest - no more pain and no more struggle. He has entered the temporary sleep of death.  Soon, Jesus will come and call him forth to everlasting life in heaven and on the earth made new.  It is the reality of the truth of the resurrection of the dead that gives hope and comfort to us today.  Our heart tells us it will be "soon", but our mind reminds us it won't be soon enough.

       Our lives have been enriched because we loved and were loved by David Stottlemyer.  He has been a Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Nephew, Uncle and Friend!   And add to that...he was Ranger Dave!  He enriched the lives of so many people and he will be truly missed.  We place our hope in the resurrection and the reunion that awaits us all in heaven.  May God bless us with His comfort and His peace this hour...and always.

- Prepared by David, Cheryl, Jolene and Kayla Stottlemyer along with the rest of the family; with Elder O. Kris Widmer

Begun:  March 7, 2013,    Finished June 3, 2013

And My Award is With Me

"I am coming soon.  And my reward for you is with me."  Revelation 22:12

The entertainment award season is upon us - the Oscars, the Emmy's, the Tony's, the Grammy's, the Golden Globe, the People's Choice...even the Razzies (an Oscar spoof - awarding the worst movies/actors).  It's a time of year when artists of all kinds are told "you done good"...and here is the highest accolade we can give you.  For the category of "Best ___________"...the nominees are....May I have the envelope please...and the award goes to ___________________.  Applause.  Acceptance speech, etc."  We've heard or seen it many times.

While watching the least hour and a half of the Oscars the other night, it struck me that most of the jobs people have and do...receive no such red carpet treatment.  Who gets the award for "Best Nursing Care of a Trauma Victim Between the Hours of Midnight and 6:00 a.m."?  What about "Best Burrito Made for Minimum Wage."?  or "Defensive and Polite Driving a Bus." or "Most Childhood Booboos Kissed in Calendar Year." or "Best Remodel of a Bathroom."  For most occupations, there are no award shows or trophies handed out.

In my own work realm, Adventist pastoral ministry, there are no award categories either.  But what if there were...

·      "Most tactful delivery of a wedding homily where the bride was obviously pregnant."

·      "Best eulogy for a reprobate."

·      "Best letter written in response to a person asking to have their membership removed."

·      "Best attempted reconciliation of feuding church members."

·      "Most organized church board notebook."

·      "Best polite comment made after eating inedible potluck food."(photographs and recipe submission required.)

·      "Best explanation of the 2300 day prophecy to a person under 15 years of age." (study handout submission required.)

·      "Most phone calls received using the pastor as directory assistance."

·      "Longest Board Meeting Endured"  (agenda submission required.)

Pastor's are no different than the rest of the population of the human work force.  We don't expect to be featured at the Kennedy Center Honors or told how wonderful we are.  We know that the greatest award ceremony is not of this world.

Blogging

A wonderful evening.  I set up a blog for my good friend Robert Cluff.
Happy Blogging, Robert....Welcome

Sabbatical for a Sabbatarian

I'm happy to report that my sabbatical has been approved for this year.  It all begins March 1...and will last until June 1.  I am looking forward to the time away from the stress of day to day ministry.  Consider it nearly 2 years worth of Sabbath's that I have been cheated out of...do to it being arguably a pastor's busiest days.

On Beauty

Prescription for True Beauty

         Adapted from Sam Levenson by O. Kris Widmer

"Let your beauty not come merely from outward adornment and salon processes, but also come from the beauty of your inner self, the unfading beauty of the gentle and generous person you are.  This is the way God's beautiful men and women have always attained true beauty"  1 Peter 3:2-4 - Paraphrase

For attractive lips - get those collagen injections, but also speak words of kindness and grace.

For lovely eyes - use your full palate of liners, mascaras and shadows; but also watch for the good in others.

For a perfect nose - by all means get that rinoplasty, but also keep it out of other people's business.

For pretty ears - in addition to those pearls, learn how to really listen when others are speaking.

For tight abs - get busy and do those crunches, but also sit up and pay attention to life.

For a slim figure - by all means, try that new fad diet; but also share your food with the hungry.

For perfect skin - sure, get out that wrinkle cream, but also flash your radiant smile.

For shapely legs - go on, shave, wax and No-No, but also be known for going the second mile.

For beautiful feet - brush on the sparkle polish,  but also run and tell someone the good news.

For gorgeous hair - get some new gel or a super cut,  but also let a child run their fingers through it once a day.

For poise - walk with that book on your head, but also walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

For truly "Charm is temporary and beauty is brief, but the person that serves the Lord is really worth talking about!" -  Proverbs 31:30 Paraphrased

Will We Know Each Other in Heaven

Will We Know Each Other In Heaven?          by Pastor Kris Widmer

1.     Isaiah 65:17 - This text sais that the former things will not come to mind.  I believe this refers to the pains of earth.  They won't come to mind in glory.  But certainly we will remember the good things of earth...and the redemption of Jesus.  How can we sing the song of redemption in glory (Revelation 14:3) if we have no recollection that we once were lost...but then were "found" by God.

2.     2 Samuel 12:15-23 - David expressed the hope of going to his dead infant son, after he died.  This implies recognition.

3.     Luke 9:30 - Moses and Elijah went to heaven: one after death and one without dying.  Both were recognized by the disciples.

4.     Matthew 8:11 - When we get to heaven we will sit down (at God's wonderful dinner table.) with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  This implies we will know them.

5.     Jesus was recognized by those who saw him after the resurrection.  John 20:19-29 and Mary recognized Jesus voice!  John 20:11-18

6.     1 Thessalonians 2:19,20 - In the context of "the Lord Jesus at His coming", Paul says that these believers are his hope, joy and crown of exultation (I'm proud of you all." and look forward to being with you a that time.  You are our glory and joy.....(not just for now...but for the end/eternity.)

7.     2 Corinthians 1:14 - "You are our reason to be proud.....in the day of our Lord Jesus."   What a day of healthy pride it will be for all those who have worked for souls to see them redeemed in heaven!

8.     1 Corinthians 15:42-49 - Paul is teaching that there is a difference and a correlation between the natural body and the spiritual body.  We will still be "us" when we are raised.

9.     1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - Paul's comforting point is that those who have fallen asleep will be restored to us in the resurrection.  There is no point in being comforted if we wake up to a group of strangers on the resurrection morning.

10. 1 Corinthians 13:12 - This text is often quoted out of context...but it does imply a "knowing" completely then in ways we only know in part now.

11. Revelation 20:4, 6 - Those resurrected in the first resurrection are priests of God...and are considered to be blessed and holy.  They reign with Christ.  It is assumed they will know Christ and know each other.

12. If there is no recognition than there can be no heavenly reunion...and if there is no reunion...what is the point of being comforted by the words of 1 Thess 4:13-16.