My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. (Philippians 1:23)
The amount of interest expressed in my last post was unusual, breaking records for the number of daily visitors to my fledgling blog. Given your kind interest, I thought I should post here that my father-in-law Albert Mast passed away peacefully around 8:00 this morning.
The funeral is planned for Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m., with visitation 5-8 Tuesday evening, both at Salem Mennonite Church in Leon, Iowa. Out of respect to Albert’s wishes, the casket will be closed.
Several hours before Albert’s passing, in the wee hours of this morning, I posted this on Facebook:
I’m 40 years old, yet I’ve never seen anyone die. How strange is that, given that we live in a world where everyone dies? I’m not sure what to think about it.
I haven’t intentionally avoided being present at anyone’s death. I simply haven’t been there. (Three of my grandparents have died, but I was hundreds of miles away when each one passed on. I’ve lost a few friends, but not that many, and never in predictable situations or in times and places where I could have been present.)
On the one hand death, like conception and birth, is a sacred event and rightly shielded from careless or voyeuristic view. On the other hand, most cultures have usually been much more open about death than our culture is, and the Preacher (Ecclesiastes) said it is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting. I wonder if I would be a different person if I had observed death more closely before this.
God knows, and he’s been observing all along with a wise eye.
I am glad I was present for Albert’s death. What a gift to share this moment with family, and with dear friends who have been visiting this morning.
And thank you so much to each of you who have shared kind thoughts and prayers over recent days. Your words and prayers are a blessing! Death, like birth, reminds us of our common humanity and also of our common need for new birth in Christ and–on that great Day to come–a full sharing in his resurrection.
Come, Lord Jesus!
If you wish to leave messages for the family, you may do so on Albert’s Caring Bridge site or on his Facebook page. Or, leave a comment here or on my Facebook page and I’ll do my best to share it with family.
If that is not enough options, prepare to greet Albert personally after your own death. The “link” for that option is faith in Jesus Christ who died and rose to rescue you from the kingdom of darkness and welcome you into the kingdom of light.
Thank you!
Our sympathy and prayers to you and Zonya and the family.
“For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain”.
Thank you, Wayne! Yes, if my deeds show that “for me to live is Christ,” then, for me, “to die is gain.” I long for Paul’s testimony to more fully be mine as well.
Our thoughts and prayers for you and yours, Dwight.
Thank you, Brandon!
I too really appreciated both of the last posts. They are extremely relevant, especially for you and Zonya. We extend our love, our thoughts, and our prayers to you as a family at this time.
We benefit from the examination of popular Christian myths. I would encourage you to examine other popular Christian myths and contribute to “straight thinking” about the subject.
Yesterday at school I encountered the fact that coaches (and dads who are into sports with their sons) teach the boys to press their advantage as long as the opposition does not pick up on it. In other words, push the boundaries of honesty and fairness as long as you do not get caught. This is a popular myth. When I asked the boys if Jesus would do that, they had nothing to say. They did tell me that such mentality is OK in the business world. Sorry, but such behavior is not integrity. Fortunately some of the business world understands that business is only good when both parties in a transaction benefit, when both employers and employees benefit. I mentioned to them that at one time John D. Rockefeller was the most hated man in America because he practiced such unChristian behavior even though he taught a Baptist Sunday School class. The boys understood Rockefeller’s hypocrisy but had a problem acknowledging their coach’s hypocrisy. And this is all within a “Christian” context! Where has integrity gone?
Chester, thank you very much for your kind comments, both about my blog articles and in comfort of Zonya and me and the family at this time.
I agree with you about the need to examine popular Christian myths. I don’t want to be known merely for what I am against, but dispelling myths, when properly done, is about more than that, for each myth dispelled will help us see the glory of Christ and walk in the truth more fully.
Blessings as you serve in the classroom. And as you study and teach history. Did I ever tell you the idea I had a couple years ago of cowriting a book about the idea/goal/vision of a pure church–with me focusing on biblical exposition and you providing the historical insights that I am lacking? This may not happen, but I mention it to affirm I’ve enjoyed your teaching of history, especially from early Anabaptist days.
God bless, and thanks again for commenting.