The Obituary God Wrote…April 5th

At the death of a loved one we gather together and listen to an obituary. A story, a short re-account of the birth, life and death of the one who has passed. There have even been times when the one who has died is able to write his own obituary, but more often than not, a family member pens the words to commemorate the loss. But if you were at a funeral, and God were to write the obituary, what do you think He say?

In actuality, God has written an obituary. The story, the obituary, begins in the early pages of the book of Genesis as God introduces the birth of ‘Death’ as man falls from grace in the garden. Separating mankind from God, spiritual death grows, matures and continues to dominates the life of all men. But as Christ comes into the world, spiritual death is put to death (Romans 6:9), and it’s then when we can better understand the obituary as spiritual death is conquered. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?” (I Corinthians 15:55) Join us Sunday morning as we look at the obituary God wrote…

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, April 5, 2015

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“Our God, He Is Alive” – 23

God is not dead! The title of a popular Christian movie this past year is the basis for our opening song this morning. “There is beyond the azure blue, a God concealed from human sight. He tinted skies with heavenly hue and framed the worlds with His great might. There is a God, He is alive…” He is risen and death has been conquered…Amen!

“Here I Am to Worship” – no book

A ‘contemporary hymn’ for this morning, but one that exemplifies our purpose today. We don’t come because we have to. And we don’t come to worship because we’ve ‘nothing better to do.’ We come…to worship! We come to bow down and to say publicly, “Jehovah is our God!”

“It Is Finished” – 369

Written by William & Gloria Gaithers, this song of resurrection is a strong depiction of the end of Christ’s life as He puts to defeats spiritual death. The battle between heaven and hell is clearly described in verses two and three; “On one side march the forces of evil, all the demons and devils of hell. On the other the angels of glory, and they meet on Golgotha’s hill. The earth shakes with the force of the conflict, and the sun refuses to shine. For there hangs God’s Son in the balance, and then thru the darkness He cries. ‘It is finished!’ “ As Jesus breaths His last, death glories in a hollow victory, only to see Jesus resurrection three days later. Certainly there is a double meaning in Christ’s last words…It IS finished!

“The Old Rugged Cross” – 313

What do you cherish in this life? Is there something you love and hold in the highest regard? More than 100 years ago, George Bennard wrote the words to this old spiritual song directing the reader to the cross of Christ. His words of encouragement were for us to cling to the cross of Christ as our hope for eternal salvation. Why? “For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above to bear it to dark Calvary!”

“A New Creature” – 619

Are you a ‘new creature?’ Have you been ‘buried with Christ?’ The song before our lesson will remind us that in Him, we no longer live for ourselves but for our God. You and I are ‘dead to the world to voices that call me…’ We are ‘living a new, obedient but free’ life. As a baptized believer I am, ‘dead to the joys that once did enthrall (hold spellbound) me, yet it is not me (I), but Christ that lives in me.”

“Only a Step” – 940

At our invitation we’ll sing, “Hear the sweet voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me, I am the way.” What does it take to come to Him? How do I start this walk with Christ? Like a child, we begin with the first step. To come we need only to take a step in the right direction. “Come, for He loves you so” much!

“He Lives” – 346

Walking out of services this morning my hope is for you to have this tune on your heart. “He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me, He talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives! Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart.”

1, May 14, 20131, May 12, 2013

Come into the House of the Lord and Worship

“So David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself and changed his clothes; and he came into the house of the Lord and worshiped.” II Samuel 12:20

A complete review of this passage finds no songs of praise, no musical attributes and no reference to singing. But let the focus from this passage be the simple statement of what David did, “…he came into the house of the Lord and worshiped.” To understand the importance of this passage look at the context of the chapter.

David has been informed by Nathan the prophet that his son, by Bathsheba, would die. Any parent would recognize this to be heart-wrenching, devastating news. The death of a loved one hurts and leaves a void in our hearts, but the death of child has no comparison. In this passage, David pleads for the life of his child, and according to the scriptures he “…fasted and went and lay all night on the ground.” During this first (and only) week of the child’s life David pleads to God for mercy and refuses any comfort from the elders of his household. His hope is that God will renew the child’s health and let him live. But when the child dies, because of the extreme grief shown by David, the servants are afraid to tell him the painful news.

It’s interesting that though David isn’t informed of his sons death, he, “…perceived that the child was dead…”. Seeing the actions of his servants told him all he needed to know. But why did David’s demeanor change after his son died? Why wouldn’t he have mourned all the more? Most of us experience the depth of sorrow after our loved one’s death. But instead, David goes into the house of the Lord to worship. (Note: Most likely this was a demonstration of his acceptance to God’s disciplinary action for the death of his sin…the child born of Bathsheba was illegitimate. Nathan prophesied the child’s death.)

When we face the death of a loved one, we don’t see this as punishment or retribution from God’s hand. We see it for what it is, a loss. Whether anticipated at the end of a long life or unexpected in the earliest days of life, death is bitter for those left behind. When death comes, we feel its sting (I Corinthians 15:55). Perhaps that is one of the reasons why we mourn at a loved one’s death. But for the Christian, when he dies, we might consider the approach that David took in 2 Samuel 12. The Christian can worship when facing death, because of the hope we have in Christ. The loss we feel in death is temporary for the child of God because we know, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.” Psalm 116:15

Recently we have experienced several deaths at our home congregation. Some are extended family members who had been struggling with health issues and some were older, faithful servants who had lived a long life for God. But recently a young family lost their baby 8 days before she was due. Such a loss is heart wrenching and leaves us at a loss for words. How do you comfort a young couple who was excited to begin their family? What can be said to console a young lady who had hoped to celebrate Mother’s Day with her baby girl? My only consultation is to remember the words and actions of a man ‘…after (God’s) own heart…’ Acts 13:22. David said in 2 Samuel 12:23, “But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

The faithful child of God realizes that this life is temporary. We grieve when we loss a family member, but we also understand that ‘this world is not my home.’ If you are a child of God and death knocks at your door, your loved ones will have the blessed assurance of your victory. They’ll see death for what it is; precious in the sight of the Lord. Painful? For us, yes. Filled with sorrow at the loss? Certainly, but also a time for all believers to ‘come into the house of the Lord and worship.’

1, March 26, 20121, March 27, 2012

A Much Better Place

This morning I asked a friend of mine to write an editorial for one of our sisters here at church who passed away this morning. She was 93 years old and has touched thousands of lives with her smile, her peaceful demeanor and her pen. My friend (Mike Fairchild) wrote the following memorial:

“This morning my good friend and sister in Christ, Hattie Dumerauf, passed from this life. Her passing, while sad for those of us left behind, has allowed her to reach her ultimate goal of spending eternity with God. Hattie is in a much better place.

Little was I to know that over nine years ago a phone call from Dub Harrison, a former Waterview minister, would change my life forever. He asked me if I would consider picking up a lady on my way to church Sunday morning. She had recently moved to Richardson, Texas from Davenport, Iowa and wanted to attend services at Waterview Church of Christ. That first Sunday I drove up, and there was Hattie waiting for me on the front porch with a big smile on her face. That exact scene was duplicated hundreds of times over the years. Her big smile and a wave greeted me every Sunday morning…rain or shine.

Our trips down Waterview Drive on Sunday mornings were always filled with conversations about the beautiful trees and flowers that we would see. Hattie would say that they are gifts from God and how thankful we should be for them. She loved to watch the squirrels play and listen to the birds singing. All part of God’s creation. She loved to talk about how she had been so blessed over the years and how much she looked forward to church on Sunday morning. She couldn’t wait to see the ‘smile greeters’, as she named them, when we would drive up to the building. As we would drive home after services, she always talked about Waterview and that we have the nicest, most caring church members she had ever know.

Every Sunday she would pass out her words of encouragement* that she had written the previous week. She touched so many lives with her written word. She told me that she wasn’t able to do much, but she felt that her writing was her ministry. I have hundreds of her notes and will cherish them for the rest of my life.

To sum up my time with Hattie over the years, I would say she had a life well lived, full of the Spirit of God. I have never known a more Godly woman who cared so much for others. When I look to my left during church next Sunday, there will be an empty space next to me where Hattie always sat. But I know she will be looking down and enjoying the service as she did throughout her life.

My Sunday mornings were blessed by my time with Hattie and I will miss her so much… until we meet again.”

Mike Fairchild
Waterview Church of Christ
Richardson, Texas

*Some of these ‘words of encouragement‘ will be posted here during the next few weeks.

1, March 26, 20121, March 26, 2012

Hear Me When I Call…

This morning a friend of mine passed away. He had lived a long life, but unfortunately had struggled much during these last few months and years. Without a doubt this gentlemen was an inspiration to me, and not to me alone. His faithful spirit and gentle demeanor served as an encouragement to all you had the privilege of knowing him. When I heard of his passing this morning, I cried. Not because I grieved for his soul, or was unsure of his relationship with God; the tears came because I wasn’t ready to say ‘good bye’. There were still things I wanted to say to him and memories I wanted to share, but during the early hours on Sunday morning (March 25th), in the warm embrace of his family he slipped away to be with his Father. Perhaps it’s fitting that he died on a Sunday morning…certainly in time to worship around the Father’s throne.

It’s never easy to say good bye to those you care about; whether it’s the end of a family vacation and everyone has headed home, or if it’s the passing of a loved one who held a special place in your heart. I guess you’d say I’m a bit sentimental, so ‘Good Byes’ have never easy for me. And because of my sentimental nature, there are some songs that mean more to me as we consider the message (the words). A song tends to reach into my heart in a way that the spoken word can’t. I don’t think it’s the melody alone, but the melody coupled with the words that impacts my emotions like nothing else. My friend had a favorite songs that was written in the early 1960’s and (though I’ve only come to know it recently), it has since become one of my favorites as well. Written by Tillit S. Teddlie in 1962, this old hymn is sung as we speak to God asking that He hear us during times of distress and sorrow. Notice these four verses…

“Hear me when I call, O God, my righteousness;
Unto Thee I come in weakness and distress.
Hold my trembling hand, lest helpless I should fall;
O hear me, Lord, hear me, O hear me when I call.”

“Hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer;
More and more I need Thy mercy and Thy care.
Clouds of doubt arise and faith grows weak and small;
O hear me, Lord hear me, O hear me when I call.”

“Hear my voice, O God, and cleanse my soul within;
Mercy doth I need for all my doubts and sin.
Only in Thy grace I trust my all in all;
O hear me, Lord, hear me, O hear me when I call.”

“Hear my prayer, O God, I need Thy cleansing power;
Let me feel Thee near each moment of each hour.
Hold my trembling hand, lest helpless I should fall;
O hear me, Lord hear me, O hear me when I call.”

It’s important for me to take this time today and reflect on the impact and friendship I shared with a brother who has gone on. His smile and kind heart will remain in my memory for years to come. He has inspired me to be more like Christ; never looking out for his own interest, but always for the interest of others. The book of this man’s life has come to a close and the final chapter has been written. He will be missed here on earth, but I know we’ll meet again, because our God does indeed ‘hear us when we call.’ Fred Epps, thank you for the lessons in life that you taught me through your beautiful, Christian example. And thank you for showing me the kindness of your heart. You were a wonderful and dear friend!

“Lord hear me, O hear me, Please hear me when I call…”