G
Gargantuas
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. & ! BY JASON GOLDTRAP 07.04.09
Last Friday, my thirteen-year-old niece Mary Allison asked, "Why is everybody dying?" She was referring to recent celebrity deaths which have brought endless hours of news coverage. One of those stars will be memorialized on Tuesday in Los Angeles. A sports arena has been reserved. Seating is by lottery. Of the 1.3 million wanting a seat, only 17,500 will receive one. Like many, I was a casual fan of his music- but not of his lifestyle. He was a bizarre; almost cartoonish figure. I admired his talent, yet, I pitied him. When he died a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised but not shocked. His work is ended, his obituary written and, as time goes by, his influence will be forgotten. Being mortal, his time among men, like this sentence, is punctuated with a period. Alas, how sad.
This Sunday, I ask "Why did one man die for me?" I refer to a death which has brought endless hours of contemplation. The best answer I find is accurate, yet incomplete. As hymnist James G. Dailey penned: "Because He loved me so." Today, we're holding a memorial. A building has been reserved in this city. Seating is open to all; but, sadly, of the thousands invited, only 100 or so will attend. Unlike most folks, I am a devoted fan of his lifestyle. His music is ever on my lips for He lived as a servant, a riveting figure devout to a divine appointment. I thank God that we don't know what He looked like so no one race or ethnicity may claim Him. I admire His character; I pity my own. Although He died a couple of millennia ago, His influence never ends. Each day, His people express His love by building houses, sharing grace, and forgiving debts. Being God in flesh, His dominion, like this sentence, is punctuated with an exclamation point! Hallelujah! He has made me glad!
LUKE 1:33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.
Last Friday, my thirteen-year-old niece Mary Allison asked, "Why is everybody dying?" She was referring to recent celebrity deaths which have brought endless hours of news coverage. One of those stars will be memorialized on Tuesday in Los Angeles. A sports arena has been reserved. Seating is by lottery. Of the 1.3 million wanting a seat, only 17,500 will receive one. Like many, I was a casual fan of his music- but not of his lifestyle. He was a bizarre; almost cartoonish figure. I admired his talent, yet, I pitied him. When he died a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised but not shocked. His work is ended, his obituary written and, as time goes by, his influence will be forgotten. Being mortal, his time among men, like this sentence, is punctuated with a period. Alas, how sad.
This Sunday, I ask "Why did one man die for me?" I refer to a death which has brought endless hours of contemplation. The best answer I find is accurate, yet incomplete. As hymnist James G. Dailey penned: "Because He loved me so." Today, we're holding a memorial. A building has been reserved in this city. Seating is open to all; but, sadly, of the thousands invited, only 100 or so will attend. Unlike most folks, I am a devoted fan of his lifestyle. His music is ever on my lips for He lived as a servant, a riveting figure devout to a divine appointment. I thank God that we don't know what He looked like so no one race or ethnicity may claim Him. I admire His character; I pity my own. Although He died a couple of millennia ago, His influence never ends. Each day, His people express His love by building houses, sharing grace, and forgiving debts. Being God in flesh, His dominion, like this sentence, is punctuated with an exclamation point! Hallelujah! He has made me glad!
LUKE 1:33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.
