Mid-City Christian: Pastorgraphs: “Matter of Life and Death”

Monday, April 2, 2012

Pastorgraphs: “Matter of Life and Death”

E-Vangel Newsletter

April 2, 2012

As Easter approaches, we should rejoice in remembering that this day is the most important day of all for us as Christians. It is the day we are reminded that death is not the end of our existence. It is the day when death, the ultimate enemy of life, is swallowed up in victory.

I read a warmly reassuring story in the Jackson, MS Clarion-Ledger online this weekend. (“He’s in heaven, and he’s all right!”) In short, it is the story of a husband, Burke Aldridge, who discovered in 2005 he had advanced lung cancer and only lived a few days after diagnosis.

He promised his wife, Faye, he would send a fax from heaven, letting her know he was OK.

This is not a parable, but a real story where two doctors, his Oncologist and a Neurosurgeon who was a family friend who attended to Burke in his last days, both had “a visit” from Burke shortly after his death. Dr. Cushman was the Neurosurgeon.

“He seemed much younger, Cushman said.

"He said, 'Don't worry, Slim.' That's the nickname he called me," Cushman said. "He said, 'I'm all right. I'm in a wonderful place. Thank you for taking care of me, and thank you for recommending that my life not be prolonged with useless treatments.'”

Then the doctor added:

"I wasn't asleep dreaming it," he said. "It was him. He was there. I felt very at peace and felt like it was a wonderful thing that he had chosen to come and visit with me."

Nothing like that has happened to Cushman before or since, he said.

"It made a big change in my life," he said. "I was no longer afraid of dying. I also used it to help a number of other people who were dying by telling them that experience.

"Mysterious things happen in the world that we don't necessarily have good explanations for. They come to teach us something."

And about the fax from heaven, Faye said,

"Each doctor verbally told me about the encounters and responded to my requests for written documentation by faxing letters to me. I got my fax as Burke promised."

I continue to be amazed how many people, who do not believe in God, do believe in some super-human, alien force in the universe. There may be. But Easter reminds me there is a super-human Force Who:

1. Created us
2. Loves us
3. Paid the price that we may have Everlasting Life

Easter People, Lift Your Voices…

“Fear of death can no more stop us

from our pressing here below.

For our Lord empowered us to

triumph over every foe.

Alleluia! Alleluia! On to victory now we go.”

“Every day to us is Easter,

with its resurrection song.”

William M. James (1979) United Methodist Publishing House

Devotedly, Brother Bill

Christ United Methodist Ministry Center