death Archives - Baptist & Reflector

WHAT TO DO WHEN A LOVED ONE DIES?

April 17, 2021

By Johnnie C. Godwin
Contributing columnist, B&R

Editor’s note: The following column is Part II of a two-part series. The first part was printed in the March 24 issue of the B&R.

In a movie on the apostle Paul, I saw Paul in prison before his martyrdom. Dr. Luke was with Paul but not imprisoned: Luke was free to come and go in making visits to Paul.

Now, Luke wrote almost half the content of the New Testament when you put the Gospel of Luke and Acts together. Mostly we read of Luke’s recording of Paul’s testimony and messages in the Book of Acts. Luke had accompanied Paul as a minister and physician.

In the movie’s most poignant scene for me, Paul and Luke reminisced. Then, in a pause, Paul looked kindly at Luke and asked, “Luke, where would I have been without you?” With loving kindness on his face, Luke replied with just one word: “Dead.” The two looked at each other with joy, despite the fact that Paul faced a martyr’s death. It was obvious they had a peace that passes understanding in knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Paul knew and shared that death would be brief and that life with God would be eternal. [Read more…]

WHAT TO DO WHEN A LOVED ONE DIES?

April 2, 2021

By Johnnie C. Godwin
Contributing columnist, B&R

Editor’s note: The following column is Part I of a two-part series. Although Part I is the joint effort of Allan Legard and Johnnie Godwin, it is mostly Godwin’s writing. In Part II, Legard will identify 10 essential next steps when a loved one dies.

Ideally, all loved ones would die like Abraham; and families would celebrate their lives despite the grief of the parting. Abraham lived to be 175 years old. Then, the Bible says, “He took his last breath and died at a good old age, old and contented, he was gathered to his people” (Genesis 25:7-8, CSB).

But in reality, circumstances vary so much that many of us hardly know what to do first and following the death of a loved one. That is true in times of pandemic but also for families in all eras of life.

Friend Allan LeGard and I put our hearts and experience together for this column to suggest what we hope will be helpful to you when a loved one dies.

What we write is just the tip of the iceberg, but there is voluminous literature on dealing with death, grief, and next steps after loved ones die.

Still, we may be helpful with a few suggestions for the living before they die and for family when death comes. [Read more…]

EASTER: GROWING UP WITH AN ESSENTIAL TRUTH

April 18, 2019

By Chuck Kelley Jr.
President, New Orleans (La.) Baptist Theological Seminary

Chuck Kelly

My childhood was different than most. I grew up in the home of a funeral director. For the first years of my life, we literally lived in the funeral home itself in an apartment above the family rooms, casket room and chapel.

Far earlier than most, I learned an essential truth about life: Death is inevitable for all. [Read more…]

THE NOBODIES ARE REALLY THE SOMEBODIES

January 30, 2019

By Chris Turner
Director of Communications, TBMB

Lois Perkins

Lois Jodie Jamieson Perkins, “Mottie” as her family called her, closed her eyes and peacefully slipped into eternity last week at the age of 97.

For most of the world, she was a “nobody.” To my mother-in-law and the rest of her family, and the people who knew her, she was definitely somebody. In fact, she was everything. She was the matriarch of a family that included three children, eight grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren with one on the way. Her influence while alive cast a lasting legacy across generations. [Read more…]

DEATH, DYING EXAMINED BY STATE BAPTIST NEWSPAPER

July 31, 2018

By Grace Thornton
Baptist Press

GREENVILLE, S.C. — In 37 years as a pastor, Rudy Gray sat at the bedside of many terminally ill church members. He stood at gravesides with many grieving families. He sought to speak comforting words — at least he hopes they were comforting. [Read more…]

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