Favorite Animal

March 17, 2017
Death Marches On
Please skip this intro if you don't want to listen to "heavy stuff."

There's something about the month of March that I don't like – mostly it's because it was a year ago that my Mom met Mr. Death.

This March, Death has been extra busy. He was there when our local police officer Keith Boyer (53) was shot in front of our church. He was there again, days later, when my friend Jerry's brother died of medical complications after his premature release from Kaiser Med. Last week, Heather's son had a heart attack and drove into a major accident. Death is waiting as her son remains in a coma with massive head and heart injuries. Death was also waiting for Shirley (93) last Saturday but her doctors pulled her out and she's recovering. I wish I could say the same about Marcus who was also in the hospital. We comforted his girlfriend who was sobbing uncontrollably and we prayed for him; but Death still took him away. Peya waited 104 years until Death finally caught up with her last Tuesday. I know of others whose friends and families are meeting Death very soon.

Ever since we were born we were drafted in this race called life. Death will be waiting at the end of the finish line. We know he's there but we don't know how far that line is to where we are.

Statistically, consecutive bad news isn't supposed to happen. So I asked God – why?

I believe His answer was – "To remind you."

To remind me that death is just around the corner. To remind me that many races are ending sooner than expected. To remind me that I don't have enough time to share my faith and hope to everyone that I love. To remind us that Christ came to give hope – Jesus Christ wins over Death – it's not even a contest.

Of course this is just me. I'm not selling anything. I'm not better than you. I say this as a friend because, at the rate Death is working, I want to make sure you know you can talk to me about this.

If you have spiritual questions, "ask." Many believers have lost their sensitivity because even if they are aware of the urgency, they have tried to share their faith but only received ridicule and rejection. They love you but they don't want to offend you. They don't know when it's okay to share. And if they share and you don't "buy it" that's okay too. At least you would have gotten some answers, right?

Please figure it out now before Death comes marching your way.

People get ready, there's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith, to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord
— Curtis Mayfield

TGIF people!

My Favorite Animal
Contributed by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Some people can't handle the truth.

Our teacher asked what my favorite animal was, and I said, "Fried chicken."

She said I wasn't funny; but she couldn't have been right, because everyone else laughed.

My parents told me to always tell the truth. I did.

Fried chicken is my favorite animal!

I told my dad what happened, and he said my teacher was probably a member of PETA. He said they love animals very much. I do, too. Especially chicken, pork and beef.

Anyway, my teacher sent me to the principal's office.

I told him what happened, and he laughed, too. Then he told me not to do it again.

The next day in class my teacher asked me what live animal was my favorite. I told her it was chicken. She asked me why; so I told her it was because you could make them into fried chicken.

She sent me back to the principal's office.

He laughed and told me not to do it again.

I don't understand. My parents taught me to be honest, but my teacher doesn't like it when I am.

Today, my teacher asked me to tell her what famous military person I admired most.

I told her, "Colonel Sanders."

Guess where the heck I am now.

TGIF Videos