School’s Out

Congratulations to my son Matt who graduated from Hastings High School yesterday.

In honor of this great achievement, I’ve created a slide show of Matt throughout the years.

***A special thanks to Mr. Alice Cooper for coming over to the house at the last minute to lay down the audio track for this presentation.  The background music was a fitting theme for the occasion and it turned out great… but we could have used a bit more cowbell in my opinion.

Darwin and Death

There is an old axiom which says:

Those who do not know their opponent’s arguments do not completely understand their own.

Throughout the years, I’ve carefully studied both sides of the evolution/creation debate and can say that I thoroughly understand the opposing viewpoints of each camp and can articulate the fundamental basics of each.  With that being said, I often wonder what true Darwinian evolutionists think about their eventual demise.  Here is one possibility:

Charles Darwin’s (1809-1882) final words were: “I am not the least afraid to die.”

Apparently Momento Mori wasn’t an important issue for Darwin.  Or was it?  In either case, he now knows for certain whether he was right or wrong.

Are You Ready?

One of my favorite “dead theologians” to read is J. C. Ryle.  He was the first Anglican bishop of Liverpool and lived from 1816-1900.  As a man, minister and missionary, he was then, and is still respected by many in reformed and evangelical camps.

His communication style while preaching was concise, no-nonsense, basic, bottom-line, understandable and highly practical.  Maybe that is why he resonates with me so well.  Here is an excerpt from one of his sermons which really caused me to ponder things:

Are you ready for death?  It must come some day: it may come this year.  You cannot live always.  This very year may be your last.  You have no freehold in this world,-you have not so much as a lease: you are nothing better than a tenant at God’s will.  Your last sickness may come upon you, and give you notice to quit,-the doctor may visit you, and exhaust his skill over your case,-your friends may sit by your bedside, and look graver and graver every day: you may feel your own strength gradually wasting, and find something saying within, “I shall not come down from this bed, but die.”  You may see the world slipping from beneath your feet, and all your schemes and plans suddenly stopped short.  You may feel yourself drawing near to the coffin, and the grave, and the worm, and an unseen world, and eternity, and God.  Reader, if death should come upon you, are you ready?

To read the whole Momento Mori sermon in its entirety, click here: Are You Ready?

Life Without Limbs

My internet surfing brought me across a guy by the name of Nick Vujicic.  I was totally enamored and blown away by his deep faith and positive outlook on life.  Here is a small snippet of this amazing man and his steadfast faith:

His website is called Life Without Limbs and is a showcase of his travels, speaking engagements and ministerial heart towards others.

I never complained of my condition but once, said an old man - when my feet were bare, and I had no money to buy shoes; but I met a man without feet, and became contented.   -H.  K. White

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13)

My minor problems, little aches and inconvenient pains are nothing in comparison to this.  God’s grace should be sufficient for me.

There is no need to remind people like Nick of Momento Mori.  It is I who need constant reminding myself.

Deep Thoughts

“Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis.”

Jack Handey has a way of making Momento Mori not so serious.

Beating the Grim Reaper

I recently finished reading a book entitled, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August 2007.  He was given 3-6 months to live and is now into his 9th month since the fatal diagnosis.  Over the weekend, he addressed the graduating class at Carnegie Mellon University.  Here are his words:

Some quotes from his speech to think about:

• “You don’t beat the grim reaper by living longer but by living well and fully.”
• “It is not the things we do in life that we regret on our deathbeds, but it is the things we didn’t do.”
• “Find your passion and follow it.  Your passion cannot be found in things or money.  But rather should be grounded in people and relationships.”

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. (1 John 3:23)

Momento Mori.

Now or Later?

Begin at the green “Start” arrow & work clockwise around the illustration.

(Click on the image below multiple times as needed to view the text next to each arrow)

For some reason, I ended up following all of the ‘everybody else’ blue arrows all the way around.

I wonder where the privileged, beautiful, ruthless, charismatic, courageous and gifted doors lead to?

At the end, (if I were to really have a choice in the matter), I would likely choose the “Later” door over the crushing “Now” alternative.  But I’d only find the same set of doors that I encountered the first time around.  Too bad the illustration didn’t offer other doors to choose from.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:7)

Could it be that the belief system of the artist is that death is the end and all that there is?

If I were the artist, I would have included another illustration which branched out from the bloody “Now” area and labeled it: Hebrews 9:27-28.

A Momento Mori mindset is not only concerned with “Now” or ”Then” but also with what comes after.

Where Did I Go Wrong?

A couple of thoughts that keep me awake some nights are:

Like sheep, we have all gone astray (Isaiah 53:6), and for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Thankfully, I’ve never heard a voice respond back to me and say that it was going to be a long night.  But instead, I am comforted by the promise of 1 John 1:9.  I sleep pretty well after that.

Momento Mori helps me to keep a short account of my offenses.

We Get What We Give (Sometimes)

Congratulations to my son Ben who is graduating from the University of St. Thomas this week.

In honor of this great achievement, I’ve decided to debut his music video from a recent class project.

One question: How come I never had projects like this when I was in school?

Anyway, here’s a small glimpse of what four years of college (and some conservative upbringing from two imperfect but extremely wise parents) resulted in:

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.  (Matthew 7:12)

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.  (Luke 6:35)

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Momento Mori not only emphasizes our reasons for living but also results in a joyous generosity (even if our giving is not always reciprocated).

Life

(Click on the photo below by artist Adonis Werther for better detail)

What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Momento Mori.