Pastor David Maier - Forward in Hope

The Deception of DEATH – that Great Enemy

I hate death.

It is, in the big picture, an unnatural event … one that God never intended.  Life was meant to be perfect – not that we know what this is – except that it was to be an unending, intimate fellowship with God.

The parents of the human race, Adam and Eve, blew it, of course, by sinning in the Garden … and death, the consequence of sin, entered into the once perfect world.  That death, physical and eternal, has been passed on to all humanity, as Paul writes, “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)

We live in a world that is still haunted by the enemy of final demise, the inherited fatal downfall of the human race that reveals our decisive culpability -- death.

This great enemy is ugly; it is unnatural, ultimate separation!  No getting around it!  No compromise, no smoke and mirrors!

But, of course, we try. 

Trying to Blog - But Posts Are Not "Publishing" ... or Whatever You Should Say

Howdy good folks of blogdom ... and other loyal readers!

I've been trying to post about our vacation along the way and since we arrived at Still Waters (what we call our camp/property) but they don't "publish" or "upload" or whatever you would say.  I think the problem is that I've had pictures attached to the posts and the band width or speed of the internet connection has not been able to handle the photos.  (Seems I've had the same problem with Twitter these days as well.)  I plan on rewriting those posts ... and trying to find a different way to post the pictures.

In the mean time ... I will keep bloging on things that I want to write on.  It is relaxing to me and enjoyable ... and therefore will be a part of my vacation.

The next post will be on death ... NOT because I have a morbid preoccupation with it.  During the Michigan District Convention I returned home to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lansing, to do the funeral for a friend, elder of the congregation, and a tireless worker in the kingdom.  As I was being driven home and finishing the meditation for the funeral, I began thinking about how much I hate death.  It is an enemy ... the great separator of family and friends here on earth, the separator of one's body and soul (spirit) as well.

A Mighty Word of Encouragement to a Grandson from his Grandparents

Someone asked me recently about the “Health Updates” that used to be online from when both my son Joel and I were sick.  I know that they were on a different blog with a different company and I am not sure that I will be able to get them back.  However, this individual specifically asked about the letter we published that was sent from Joel’s grandparents (my parents) to encourage him after he could not attend a family gathering.  He was, at that time, very sick from his routine of daily radiation and still had roughly three more weeks of radiation treatments which closely followed upon his successful brain tumor surgery at the University of Michigan (and preceded his year and a quarter of chemo treatments).

We still have that letter … and it is reproduced below with hopes and prayers that it will encourage anyone going through a difficult time in their life.  Notice the continual dependence upon and use of the Holy Scriptures, the inspired, powerful Word of God.  I am very thankful to God, as is Joel, that my parents wrote this letter.  May it bless you as well.

The Boys Are At Camp Mak-A-Dream - July 1-8 ... Pray for Them

Joel and James have been working hard during their Big Sky Adventure summer. (It's amazing to hear about all the work they have generated - cutting trees [yes, with a chain saw], clearing land, brush piling, burning, making trails, helping cater at the Lodge in the valley [where they recently served Glenn Close].)

They have also taken a few hours and days off to have some fun. Take a look ...