Funeral

Today, I attended the wake of the wife of a good friend and co-worker from my department. They are both believers, one has her belief now confirmed and one is having his and his two children's' faith tested.

I saw the usual emotions and actions that go along with a wake/funeral. Consoling, wondering, advice giving, sorrow, loss, regret...but I did see one difference at this funeral verses the many others that I have seen.

The difference was hope.

I saw hope on the face of the grieving husband. I saw hope on the face of the grieving daughter. I saw hope on the face of the grieving son.

Hope found in the faith of the promise made by Jesus that while she may now be dead and lost to them, they will see her again.

Such a simple formula, understanding that we sin and we can never stop sinning, understanding that Jesus is the son of God and perfect, accepting Jesus into your heart and giving up all your sin to him so that it can be wiped clean on the cross and then allow the Holy Spirit to come in. 30 seconds maybe...?

And that allows these three people access to his promises...that death is not the final answer...life is to be found at the end of the road not oblivion.

The loss is still felt, the questions about cancer and fairness will remain unanswered, fear of the future and the new journey alone will all remain. But the small bright light in the far distance in the midst of the darkness is hope.


Luke 23:43
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

2 Timothy 1:10
but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

John 6:47
I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

Revelation 21:4
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Indiana Jones

I went with my wife and Ross to Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull. The movie was adequate but mainly disappointing when compared with the previous three.

However the biggest thing that has been bothering me about the movie is the way in which they handled the magnetism of the crystal skull. Indiana Jones finds himself in the warehouse at Area 51 and has been ordered to find the crate that the Russians are looking for, so he throws up gunpowder into the air and the extreme magnetism of the skull draws the gunpowder to it through the air. Then there is a scene as they are pulling the crate out, that the the magnetism of the skull draws the dog tags of the soldiers to it. Another scene shows gold coins being dragged to the skull through, once again, magnetism.

Here is my problem...gold coins and aluminum dog tags are not ferrous metals thus are not magnetic. Further anything with that amount of magnetic power to draw metal to it though the air would require a huge amount of energy/force to pull an item attracted to it, off of it. However in the movie they walk over to the skull and lightly pull the object stuck to it, off of it. And to top it all off in a number of scenes people are riding in metal jeeps/transports/planes holding the Crystal skull that has suddenly decided not to attract anything...should the skull not stick to the metal jeep?

Anyway if they wanted to add this plot element to the script why not think it through...it only came out as stupid and further alienated everyone from crossing from this is kind of stupid, to what a cool adventure story. Factor in the aliens and getting blasted by a nuclear explosion in a refrigerator you have the recipe for a lame movie.

Fobus

I have spent the last decade in patrol so I really have not picked up any concealable/tactical: holsters, magazine holders or hand cuff cases. So now that I almost exclusively working in plain clothes. I have finally decided to purchase some to replace my two 10+ year old leather pancake holsters.

I did some research and I finally decided on Fobus paddle style holster/cuff case and dual magazine holders. I received them today and I have to say I am very happy with the purchase.

There seem a brilliant convergent of reasonable price, low weight and seem excellent in their job of retaining my two Glocks, hinged handcuffs and double stack magazines.

This was originally an Israeli company that created this system for their countries law enforcement and military use. All of it is injected molded polymer with few individual parts.

Something you may want to consider when it comes to replacement time.

How will you be remembered when you are gone?

I was reading the Chicago Tribune when I came across the article of the tragic shooting of Chicago Elementary School Teacher Erika Prince. I was saddened as I read the news story but when I came to the following statement by one of her students I was stunned. Here is is (From Chicago Tribune By Karl Stampfl and Dan P. Blake | Tribune reporters 10:59 PM CDT, June 2, 2008):

One of her students, Brandon Russel, an 8th -grader, tried to put into words how he felt about Prince. "She was everything to me," he said. "She took me to church and got me saved. She made me step up and make it to graduation."


What an amazing woman for God. That is how I wish to be remembered (well minus the woman part and clearly I need to work a lot harder) not as a police officer, not as a friend, not as a success or as well educated. I want to be remembered as one who did the work of the Lord.

SHE TOOK ME TO CHURCH AND GOT ME SAVED...as a worker in the Chicago Public School System!

That is the key to our existence and that is the only true Gold to be found in this life and that's is how I wish to be. A man of God who took me to church and got me saved.

Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.