From: cwf50862@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Charles W. Fay IV)
Subject: Re: Mark Heard
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 06:38:55 GMT

ajw@cbnews.cb.att.com (andrew.j.whitman) writes:

>In article <1992Sep8.133104.28651@hsr.no> david-s@ifi.hsr.no writes:
>>In article <1992Sep4.195343.5396@cbnews.cb.att.com>, ajw@cbnews.cb.att.com (andrew.j.whitman) writes:
>>
>>> I hate death.  
>>
>>1. Cor 15,54-58: 'But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility,
>>and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the
>>word written: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, [is]
>>thy sting? where, O death, thy victory? Now the sting of death [is] sin, and
>>the power of sin the law; but thanks to God, who gives us the victory by our
>>Lord Jesus Christ. So then, my beloved brethren, be firm, immovable, abounding
>>always in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in [the]
>>Lord.'
>>
>>Phil. 1,21: 'For for me to live is Christ, and to die gain'
>>
>>Rev. 21,4: 'And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shal
>>not exist any more, nor grief, nor cry, nor distress shall exist any more,
>>for the former things have passed away.'
>>
>>These are some of the most comforting and joyful words in the Bible for me.
>>They have been to great help for me, and doubtlessly, many others, and I
>>hope they will also be helpful to you all.  
>>
>>Yours in Christ,

>These are indeed comforting, hopeful words.  I trust that Mark Heard
>is now experiencing the reality of those truths.

>In the meantime, there is the small reality of thousands of dollars
>of medical bills, and a grieving wife, and a four-year-old little
>girl who probably doesn't understand why her daddy isn't there 
>anymore.  I agree with what you've posted.  I just don't want to 
>trivialize the tragedy of death.  It matters.  And it's horrible.

>For the present time the "former things" are all too much with us.
>Good Christians still suffer and die tragically.  And I think it's
>okay to hate that.  At any rate, whether it's okay or not, I *do*
>hate it.

>The verses you've posted are sort of "bottom line" verses for me.  
>They're either true or they're not.  If they're not true, then
>suffering and senseless tragedy have the last word, and there's
>nothing left to do but despair.  If they *are* true, then we
>will eventually understand, and all our emptiness and grief and
>stupid doubts and unanswered questions will be swept away, and
>we will see God face to face.  This is what I believe.  But I 
>also know that I haven't been able to "spiritualize" away the
>pain in the tragedies and deaths that I've had to deal with,
>and I'd bet that Janet and Rebecca Heard can't either.  

>This world sucks, and this world isn't all that there is.  That's
>the tension we all live with.  And I still hate death.

>>David

>Andy Whitman
>AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus, Ohio
>att!cblpn!ajw  or
>ajw@cblpn.att.cols

I disagree the High point of life, especially christian life is death.
what we should fight against and be disgusted by is apathy.  Where would christian musice be if Mark Heard had been apathetic and thought that the world was
worth taking risks for?   I feel for the people who lost someone dear, I know what it is like.  But, I think we should all be thankful that he cared to play 
meaningful music and that he is now with the Lord.

Chip Fay
cwf50862@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
:w

:wq

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