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{Straight From the Heart} *The Last Time* 3/15/01
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Take a moment to write to Tom Norvell, a new writer to SFTH, and let
him know what you thought of his story today. Let's give him a warm
welcome!
Thanks!
Michael
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The Last Time
By Tom Norvell
My family is in the middle of a move, so we are finding ourselves doing
things and going places and saying, "This will be the last time we will
ever do this."
* We went to the beach for the last time.
* I preached for the last time.
* I wrote my last bulletin article. We visited our neighbors for the
last time.
* We ate with friends for the last time.
We are hoping to do several things one more time.
* We would like to make it to our favorite Mexican restaurant one
more time.
* We would like to visit our favorite park one more time.
* We want to take a walk through our neighborhood one more time.
* If we have a chance we will probably stop by our favorite ice cream
shop for a milk shake one more time.
* I would like to play a round of golf with my friends one more time.
Add to all the things already mentioned, there are all the people we
are seeing for what may be the last time.
When we do something for what may be the last time, we tend to view it
differently. We want to make a mental photograph that will never fade.
We want to listen to every word. We want to hold on to every image and
every comment and every relationship. Events that never really seemed
significant, suddenly take on a whole new meaning. We fear that food
will never taste so good, skies will never be so blue, winds will never
be as fresh, or love will be as real.
I wonder if Jesus felt any of those things as He
approached the cross. Do you suppose that when He walked through His
streets a few days before His death that He spoke to people and
thought, "I will never do this again." Or, do you suppose that when He
visited the synagogue He thought about how he might be doing it for the
last time? I like to imagine that He did think those thoughts and feel
those things, but I really don't know for sure one way or the other.
I do know one thing, for sure: When Jesus finished His walk through the
streets, reached the place of the skull, breathed His last breath on
the cross, and came out of the grave three days later, His message for
us was: "This the last time anyone will ever need to be afraid of
death. This is the last time you will need to mourn without hope at the
death of a believer. This is the last time you will have to wonder what
will happen to you. From now on you can rest in peace because of the
sacrifice that was given for the last time."
Doing things for the last time is an emotionally draining and a
physically tiring experience. On the other hand, unless we do some
things for the last time, then we cannot do other things for the first
time. Since we have been afraid of death for the last time, we can
approach life with joy, hope, and excitement -- maybe for the first
time. Because we have said "Good-bye!" to sin for the last time means we
can say hello to newness of life for the first time.
As the Norvell family goes through the process of moving to a new
location, we are doing many things for the last time, and the tears
flow. But, in a few days, we will begin doing many other things for the
first time, and the tears will flow.
Enjoy the day, even if it is for the last time, and make the most of it.
Tom Norvell
TNorvell@aol.com
Send Tom an email and let him know what you thought of his story!
(c) 2000 Tom Norvell
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Tom is the Family and Youth Minister for the East Brainerd Church of Christ in Chattanooga, TN. He is married and has two children.
"A Norvell Note" is a weekly email message from Tom Norvell. Feel free to pass it onto friends, ignore it, and ask me to remove you from the list, or simply find some meaningful thought to enhance your day. If you know someone who would enjoy receiving "A Norvell Note" on a regular basis, please send me their email address, and I will add the names to the list. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy it. ©Copyright 2000 "A Norvell Note"
Website: http://hometown.aol.com/tnorvell/myhomepage/index.html
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Thought For The Day:
"Seek God first and the things you want will seek you."
Verse for the Day:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you." -- Matthew 6:33
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"When you're lost, it's better to stand still than follow the wrong path."
Parent's Thought For The Day:
"Home is the place where the great are small and the small are great."
Glen Wheeler
Coach's Thought For The Day:
"Those that know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how
to make proper use of their victories." -- Polybius
Deep Thought For The Day:
"I always keep a coathanger in the glove box -- just in case I locked my keys
in the car."
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REQUESTS:
From: lvmichel@home.com (Victor and Liliana Michel)
Hello!
I have a special prayer request: A very dear friend of ours was killed in a horrible accident last Wednesday night. He leaves behind a wonderful wife and four incredible children. We are so heartbroken by his passing. My husband, Victor, was their pastor and has known them about 20 years, and I've known them since 1995.
Alfredo was such a talented person, but someone who had a lot of struggles. He seemed like he was on his way out of all of that, but one never truly knows. That is ultimately between the person and our dear Lord. Although we do not know all of the details, evidently he smashed into a semi head-on and was killed instantly. His casket is closed due to the extensive damage to the body. The funeral was Monday at 2 p.m.
I ask you and your readers to please pray for all of us, especially his widow, Irene, and their four children: Joel 11, Raquel 9, Brandon 5, and Breanna 17 months. Especially pray for 5-year old Brandon. He is really having a hard time with this.
Irene is not working outside the home at this moment. She is very sharp, completely bilingual, and educated. On the day Alfredo died, she had received her day care license # from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to have her own day care, something they had been planning for quite some time. I have no doubt in my heart that she will be successful, but she will need some help getting started.
Thank you for the prayers you can offer for this family. This is a family we love dearly and truly want to help. I'm on Spring Break this week. I know God planned it this way so that I could be free to help her.
Love and peace,
Lili Michel
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_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
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