Parents, Do You Have Your Jumping Shoes On?* Words From COVID 19 quarantine

 Parents, Do you have your jumping shoes on? I had the wonderful privilege of taking part in a celebration of life service for my Uncle. He was friendly, funny, and full of joy. He lived life well. He was a photographer, a theologian, a teacher, a preacher and he was very creative. Tom loved food, meals with him were like an act of worship; his prayers for the those who prepared the food were blessings unlike any other, and his thankful descriptive words about the food made your mouth water anticipating the delicious tastes you were about to experience; he always reminded us that our Heavenly Father had provided it for us. Tom loved my aunt well; she says, “he is sooo easy to love”. He loved his family and friends and was always glad to be with them. Tom was a lifelong student of God’s Word, but also a student of people. He was fascinated with people’s stories and could mine marvelous treasures from their stories, by leaning in to listen and then asking just the right questions then leaning in even closer for the responses. He would then collect the newfound priceless gems and present them back to the person in such a way that we all felt valued and valuable. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, Tom took the doctrinal views of eschatology, or “the end times” espoused by this prestigious school very seriously. He once asked us, “have you seen my Rapture Jump”? And we said, “What’s a Rapture Jump?” and He said, “it's the jump that I’m going to do when I hear that Trumpet Sound.” Then he said, “I’m going to be just that much ahead of you on my way to heaven to see Jesus and get my new body.” … and then he leapt into the air and clicked his heels twice and landed softly on the ground... kind of like Mr. Bojangles. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen Tom do… normally he would slowly and purposefully perambulate wherever he was going and sit down, just like most people who are more than 60 years old. Tom would do said “rapture jump” well into his 70’s. Because of some complications after his recent cancer treatments, Tom didn’t get to do his rapture jump, but he did get to see Jesus and now he’s healed and whole. He lived his life in anticipation of seeing Jesus when his earthly life ended, so he lived well, loved well and brought Jesus and joy to those around him.

Apparently, the church in Corinth had gotten some bad theology that said, it doesn’t matter how you live in the flesh, because only your soul is saved when you become a believer in Jesus. So, that meant you could sin and treat others badly, because your soul would be just fine. The apostle Paul knew that when we are saved, everything changes, we no longer live like we used to, we are transformed into someone new and we treat others with the kind of love God has for us. He also knew that even our bodies are transformed when Jesus comes back. Even if our physical bodies have given out before he returns, we will get a glorified body when He returns. So, it does matter how we live, love and bring God’s joy to other people. Paul gives us some wonderful news and says, “What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 (NLT2) So, get your jumping shoes on. Practice your “rapture jump.” Jesus is coming back and we are getting new glorified bodies. It does matter how we live. We can all be inspired by how Uncle Tom’s anticipation of seeing Jesus made a difference in how he brought Life to other people in the here and now.

Hang in there people! God is with us! I’m praying for us all!