SHOULD we fear death? No! DO we fear death? Ummmh......
We had a Lenten Mission at Church this week. Fr Darrel told a story about some early martyrs: They had been thrown into an underground dungeon at the stadium. They were forced into tiny little rooms in total darkness, stinking, and with all kinds of small animal life to disturb them. They could hear the screams of those who had been led into the stadium already and killed in combat or by large animals, or burned, or crucified, or tortured. When the guards came for them, and they were brought in chains up into the daylight, they looked around in joy and began singing hymns. The guards didn't know what to make of it, because usually the people they brought up were crying or begging for mercy, or cursing and screaming, but these people were singing hymns to their God. When they were led out into the stadium and placed before the lions, they gathered in a small group with their arms around each other's shoulders, and sang. While the lions killed them, they kept singing. The stadium grew silent, before the people began laughing hysterically.
They BELIEVED what you're saying. Believed it way down so they actually looked forward to whatever God had in store for them. And they KNEW where they would go and what they would do. And maybe the people in the stadium knew something too... but preferred to deny it.
Wonderful story! Challenging! Would I sing? Dunno. Would you?
In faith, Dave
Viva Texas
dave@christos.cjb.net, dpeirce@christian.net
Noah's wife was Joan of Ark.