Monday, January 24, 2011

Mom

Ruth Taylor Loftus left this world on January 17, 2011. She left just as peacefully as she lived, surrounded by her family. Here are the words that were read at the service to celebrate her life and commemorate her passing:

When searching for what to say about Mom, these verses from Proverbs 31 came to mind that seem to fit just perfectly:

"A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.

She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.

She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She's quick to assist anyone in need,
and reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.

She always faces tomorrow with a smile.

When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise."

Mom was a wonderful mother and an adoring grammy and great-grammy. Better than just raising children, she along with dad raised a family. Mom loved seeing everyone together and I’m sure is pleased to see us all here now – not because we are here to honor her life, but just because we are all together with each other. Thank you for joining with us to celebrate her life.

Monday, January 10, 2011

The First Undercover Boss

Undercover Boss is a popular show, now in its second season on CBS. It premiered following the Super Bowl to a record 38.7 million viewers and continues in its popularity. I think the draw is seeing the privileged CEO's getting down and dirty working "in the trenches" with the employees that make their companies run on a day to day basis. The boss invariably returns to corporate headquarters with a new appreciation for the hard work that their employees are putting in day in and day out. In the end, the boss extends a new opportunity or outright gift to the employees.

This show is new to television, however the concept was started long, long ago by another undercover boss described in the bible. 1Peter 5-8: "Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion."

Jesus could have stayed in the glory and perfection of heaven, but instead he came to earth to live just like us so that he could know us...and eventually pay the eternal price for us. He didn't take an easy path either. Rather than putting himself in the place of the privileged class, he was born to poverty and raised to earn his way as a carpenter. He endured as much or more of the earthly troubles and temptations that any of us will ever face. So he can identify with all of us.

The best news of all is that not only did Jesus live like us and then give his life for us - he rose from the dead and led the way for us to heaven! (Matthew 28:6 "He is not here, he has risen, just as he said." That's right - he's back at corporate headquarters.

Christ wanted to know us and he gave up all of his privileges to do it. In the end, he also offers us a new opportunity...a gift. Romans 6:23 says "...the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus." Have you accepted the gift? Maybe its time.