tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13287754.post113551377776161433..comments2009-07-16T13:03:56.558-04:00John Cowarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105166273383950695noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13287754.post-1135796066035481392005-12-28T13:54:00.000-05:002005-12-28T13:54:00.000-05:00This post reminds me of something Charles Swindoll said one time about funerals and death. He was talking about once he had buried his mom, he never went out to the grave again b/c he knew she wasn't there so why did he need to go and sit by the graveside of someone who was already in heaven. I heard that shortly after my own father died and it really made a lot of sense. I never felt the need to go out and visit my dad's grave after he was buried and I had felt guilty about it but Swindoll's explanation made so much sense to me. It made me realize that the reason I never felt the need to go there was because though his body lay there in the ground, it was not alive, he was not there, he was in heaven, enjoying the nature there, being the tour guide for the newcomers and rejoicing that his mental frailties here on earth no longer were there. <BR/><BR/>Great post, John!Nichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559149506126040177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13287754.post-1135631426758246772005-12-26T16:10:00.001-05:002005-12-26T16:10:00.001-05:00OH yeah, and the cartoons are funny too. :-)slackvhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348903197086889343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13287754.post-1135631406799101282005-12-26T16:10:00.000-05:002005-12-26T16:10:00.000-05:00I read a thing by C.S. Lewis that said that b/c of the non-linear nature of God, existing at all times just as much or really existing outside of time, our prayers also exist outside of time. So our prayers for the past have just as much impact as our prayers for the future. I'm re-saying it very poorly, but what we pray for in the 'now' does affect our previous selves. It's kind of a hard concept to wrap your head around, but it makes sense that God hears our prayers outside of time and therefore they have an affect outside of time as well...slackvhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348903197086889343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13287754.post-1135570996194653382005-12-25T23:23:00.000-05:002005-12-25T23:23:00.000-05:00That cartoon cracked me up -- outloud I laughed and scared the cat.<BR/><BR/>I never understood the praying for the dead, thing. It sounds so Mormon, you know? <BR/><BR/>I talk to them often, though. Well, I talk to myself too, so maybe I'm just a little touched.FunkyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12161567428373901110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13287754.post-1135527925023805202005-12-25T11:25:00.000-05:002005-12-25T11:25:00.000-05:00Merry Christmas, John. Touching post. I hope your heart is filled with peace, love, and joy today.Vickihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08601718675860240867noreply@blogger.com