Revelation 3:14-22

Revelation 3:14-22
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

  On this Black Friday, people will storm malls and big box stores and websites the day after thinking about everything they have to be grateful for.  Now, much of this is born out of a genuine desire to give during the upcoming holiday season, and some of it is a bonding event for friends and family.  A good portion of it, however, is simply the desire for more.  Someone sent me a Ted Talk the other day by Johann Hari -- he was talking about depression, but through the lens of how the world is distorting our appetites, and so the consumerism we're engaging in isn't actually meeting the needs we want or think it will, and so we keep buying, but don't find the satisfaction we're craving.
  Clearly the Laodiceans had a similar predicament.  They thought they were rich and successful and independent, and probably lived that way, perhaps turning to God whenever they ran up against a problem they couldn't solve.  They hadn't completely turned from God, but they weren't turning completely towards God, either.
  So the message here is for them to recognize their true needs, to realize that true and lasting hope can't be purchased, and to turn to participate in God's abundant economy.  They were called to buy their gold from God, to discover the wealth of treasure in heaven, and only then will they see many of the world's empty promises for what they are.
  I don't think it's wise to completely pull back from our economy.  We're in this world, and we should participate in it -- but recognize that our truest needs, for hope and for love and for relationship, will never be met by something you can buy from a store.

Romans 5:1-5

Romans 5:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to give thanks for all the blessings in life.  I'd encourage you to look back over the previous year and think about where you were a year ago -- what prayers have been answered?  How have you grown?  What do you know about God and the depths of God's love that you didn't know a year ago?
  Life isn't all upwards growth, though.  Prayers aren't always answered, certainly not in the ways we imagine or desire.  As it has for you, this past year has been hard in many ways, and I'll admit to wondering how God is at work at times. 
  In this passage in Romans, Paul tells the Romans that he rejoices in suffering, because he takes a long-term view of suffering -- he knows that his suffering will ultimately transform into hope, which will help him understand the depths of God's love.  It isn't easy to look at suffering like this, but our suffering, be it physical, mental, emotional or relational, reminds us of our broken humanity.  Paul is telling us that this reminder can stir that longing for redemption within us, redemption that is granted by Christ's death on the cross.  Our suffering reminds us that all is not right with the world, but there is one who is setting things right, and in God we have hope. 
  So may we give thanks that our hope is certain in Christ.  I don't know that I'll ever rejoice in suffering, but I'd like to believe that suffering will remind me of the certain hope I have thanks to God.

John 21:20-25

John 21:20-25 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Heaven could not contain the love of God when humans turned from God in sin -- love raced out to redeem and to save.
  The tomb, even a new one, could not contain Jesus Christ, for God is stronger than death, hope is greater than despair.
  The world itself cannot contain the list of deeds that Jesus did, for they are too many and too great.  We have the Gospels that point to Jesus and the love of God, and we read to learn how to live and to learn how to hope and to learn how to serve, and yet there is so much more beyond the horizon.  We lift our eyes to the hills, and what we can glimpse in this life is only a hint of the beauty that awaits.

John 21:15-19

John 21:15-19
English Standard Version (ESV)

  How tender is the love of God! 
  Peter denies Jesus three times, and here, on the shores of the lake after breakfast, Jesus takes Peter aside and offers him three opportunities, one for each denial, for Peter to affirm his love of Jesus.  What's beautiful is that Peter doesn't quite realize what Jesus is doing, for Peter seems to become a little offended, but Jesus is peeling back the sin and shame and offering Peter a way forward, from denial into affirmation, from darkness into light, from death into life, from despair into hope.  Jesus is making a way forward.
  I can clearly say that I often do not understand what God is doing in my life.  At times, it seems rather ominous -- often because I forget that death is no longer an obstacle, rather a defeated enemy to step over on my way from life to eternal life.  Sometimes, God is at work redeeming previous sins on my part and I don't see it for that -- rather, I get caught up in the moment, forgetting the big picture.
  God has redeemed you, and has plans to use you as part of the plan to build the Kingdom of God.  Though there may be things in your life going on that you don't understand, don't for a minute doubt that God is at work in your life, calling you forward, and that your scope is now eternal -- even when everything doesn't get resolved in this life, there is still another life to come, one with no end that dwells forever in the Kingdom of light.

The County Fair

  Not too long ago, my daughter wanted to celebrate her birthday at the amusement park.  So away we went, and I was drafted to ride the rides with her and her friends, as I had the stronger stomach of the two of us (that's not saying much, though).
  I rode the log flume 4 straight times, and then on to the roller coaster and some other stomach churning adventures, before finally we made it to some contraption designed to make you sick to your stomach, where the ride rockets up and then drops, only to repeat the process until your stomach is uncertain as to whether it's up or down. 
  Well, my daughter stood on her toes, but she was just a hair too short to ride, so she had to stand by the side while I reluctantly joined the other girls for the ride.  As I was going up, I noticed her dejected face, as she just missed out on something she really wanted.
 
  What's great about God's love is that it's not a measuring stick.  It's not as if we are completely rejected and left behind if we miss out by an inch.  We aren't trying to qualify, stretching to earn God's love and hoping that we're tall enough.  No, we are enveloped by the love and grace of God, wrapped in unconditional love, and accepted in spite of our failures.  Our qualifications depend on Christ, not on us, so we'll never be labeled as not tall or good enough.  We are enough because we are Christ's.

John 21:4-14

John 21:4-14 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  A few things stand out here to me.  First of all, the disciples only recognize Jesus after they obey him.  They have an immense amount of trust, taking orders from someone they consider a stranger, and when there is a miraculous catch, they recognize him as their King. 
  Sometimes, you may not 'feel' the spiritual high of faith.  You might feel lost, waiting on God to show up and reveal something to you.  Maybe you feel like you're just going through the motions -- everyone has seasons of faith like this.  The lesson here is to keep obeying, for sometimes  through the act of obedience, we can discover God's will for our next step.
  Peter's enthusiasm is wonderful.  He's busy fishing, and when he realizes it's the Lord, he jumps into the water and swims the 100 yards to shore.  As soon as he gets there, Peter goes back out to the boats and helps bring the fish in. 
  And then Jesus feeds them.  He has fish of his own, and he uses some of theirs, blending the gifts from God with the work the humans have done, a wonderful combination of how God is at work in the world, using us and empowering us with the work of the Holy Spirit.

John 21:1-3

John 21:1-3
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Let's just say you've been handed the world's greatest truth, the one thing that will ultimately change history, alter the way we look and death and assure us that we have an eternal hope that is gifted to us by the Creator who handcrafted us.  What would you do?
  Oh, I'd probably get my friends and go fishing.  What else to do?
  Here's evidence that the disciples didn't immediately figure everything out.  Even when the resurrected Savior shows up and illustrates his mastery over death, they're still clearly uncertain as to what to do with this knowledge.  They go back to fishing, back to what they know.  It's probably some mixture of uncertainty and fear, but they revert back to what they did before they knew Jesus, clearly unready to go tell the world about this incredible new revelation.
  So don't give yourself such a hard time when you're uncertain of exactly what God is calling you to do with your life.  The disciples saw the literal resurrected Jesus and then went fishing all night.  It's ok for you and I to spend some time in discernment and confusion as well.  Jesus is still at work -- and everything depends on him!

John 20:30-31

John 20:30-31
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Purpose.  It's what we're all looking for.  Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Life was the second most popular book ever after the Bible -- it clearly indicated that humans were looking for purpose. 
  The purpose of the Gospel of John is that you may believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 
  What's your purpose?  It may be simple and straightforward, or perhaps it's more complex and nuanced and specific.  You might say "My purpose is to love and serve everyone I meet."  Maybe you're at a place where you say your purpose is to keep asking big questions in the hopes of finding some answers.  Maybe your purpose is specific -- maybe it's to engage your co-worker David in conversation to build a relationship that might lead to deeper conversations about spiritual things in the years to come.  Perhaps your purpose is to equip and love your children.
  We all have a purpose.  Parts of it change over the years.  Parts remain the same.  We are all called and equipped by God, and at times that is very clear, while other times, it's a bit fuzzier.  Spend some time today thinking about your purpose -- if someone was writing the book on your life, what would be the purpose of this chapter?  How is God using you right now?

John 20:24-29

John 20:24-29 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I've said this time and time again, but Thomas doesn't get enough credit.  First of all, earlier in the Gospels, it's Thomas who convinces the disciples to follow Jesus back to Judea, where the Jews were ready to stone Jesus.  And here, it's Thomas who continues to show up and be present with the disciples even when he isn't certain as to the truth of their accounts.  He doesn't give up, doesn't turn away -- he keeps meeting with them, and as a result of his faithfulness, he understands the truth of the resurrection and worships Jesus Christ in the flesh.
  So there's something to be said for showing up, even when you don't feel like it.  There's something to be said for continuing to persist with people you may disagree with, because Jesus may still show up, even if everyone isn't certain as to their role in the community.  There's something to be said for consistent faithfulness, and I think it's a trait sorely lacking in the world today.  In the 'cancel culture', where people are too quickly cast out and discarded, let's be patient and persevere with the community, trusting in the Savior who brings us together to show up and bind us more tightly to one another as we join in the Kingdom of God.

John 20:19-23

John 20:19-23 English Standard Version (ESV)

  What comes to mind when you think about peace?  Rachel and I recently got away for a few days without the kids, and sleeping in until 8 in the morning and not hearing the kids 'whispering' down the hall was pretty peaceful.  Similarly, going for a walk in the woods where all you hear is the birds and the wind in the trees is peaceful.
  But the peace that Jesus brings is more than that.  It's the kind of peace that nestles into the depths of your soul and whispers that your deepest fears have no power over you.  It's the kind of peace that comforts you in the dark of night when death lurks nearby.  It's the kind of peace that grants assurances when doubt is crowding you -- Jesus' peace reminds you that you are enough because you belong to Christ.
  Jesus brings a peace that overwhelms death and anxiety, a peace that transcends time and space, a peace that is meant for the universe and for the individual.  Jesus brings peace, and in doing so he sends the disciples (and us!) out into the world to announce the reign of the risen King!

X-Rays

  The other day I was having an X-ray on my arm.  The technician positioned my arm on the plate, and then quickly scurried away to the other side of a wall before activating the machine*.  Watching her walk away, I couldn't help but think that if what was about to happen was bad, I think I wanted to run away as well!
  It also makes me grateful for the love of God.  When things go sideways, when tragedy strikes, when the storms of life beat at the door, God doesn't rush off and find someplace secure.  No, God walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death.  God abides with us, even in the depths of the storms, so that we might have confidence that we are never alone and that nothing can separate us from the love of God!  When trouble comes, God stays beside us!

  *I realize that the x-ray technicians are at greater risk due to repeated exposure all day, every day.  Just made me think as I watched her find shelter and safety.

John 20:11-18

John 20:11-18 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  What is it that allows Mary to recognize Jesus for who he truly is?  When he speaks her name. 
  Jesus tells us that he is the good shepherd, and that the sheep know his voice.  Jesus is the one who creates us, who knits us together in our mother's wombs, who knows us intimately and personally, and so he is able to speak our name in a way where the creation recognizes its creator.  When Mary hears her name spoken by Jesus, she instantly recognizes him.
  In the same way, you and I are individually called by Jesus.  He speaks our name, calling us to himself, even when we are lost and confused and uncertain what the next step is.  Is it sometimes hard for us to hear, hard for us to listen, in this busy and chaotic life, but we can be assured that the shepherd will continue to call us.

John 20:1-10

John 20:1-10 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I love that we know, two thousand years after the fact, that John was faster than Peter.  The little things, sprinkled throughout Scripture, bring the text to life.  We know that the face cloth was folded up, further evidence that Jesus walked out of the tomb on his own, because grave robbers wouldn't bother to stop and fold the face cloth.
  But it's so hard to wrap my mind around -- Jesus had been in the dark tomb, where death's domain was unshakable, and at one point, he sat up, folded the cloth, calmly waited for an angel to roll the stone away, and walked out, life and light firmly ruling the moment and announcing that things would never be the same again.
  Mary, whose devotion to Jesus never wavered, even upon his death, saw the pieces but couldn't grasp the entire story.  John and Peter saw, and John believed, but still didn't completely understand.  You and I, thousands of years later, are able to see many more of the facts, grasp how God was working towards this for centuries, and the truth of it now sits before us, within us, leading us onward and pointing us towards a future with hope.
  The question is, what sort of future do you want to have?  Will you let this truth define how you interact with your time and your gifts and your money?  Will the hope of resurrection crowd out the false hopes we often cling to?  Will the Truth of Jesus Christ expose the lies that consume much of our time and energy?  Will we love and serve selflessly because we trust in the fullness of God's power?

John 19:38-42

John 19:38-42 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Joseph is complicated.  He's a disciple, but he's afraid of the leadership, so he's a secret disciple.  Now, it'd be easy for me to criticize him for not being willing to risk everything, but I'm not in a position to criticize -- because there are plenty of things that you could criticize me for.  Joseph does see his opportunity, though, and is willing to ask Pilate for the body of Jesus, which considering how controversial Jesus has been, seems like a very risky thing.  Joseph, however, happens to have a new tomb, and sees a Savior in need of a resting place, so he risks it -- and I doubt that he could have snuck off with the body.  Surely the leadership were watching to see what would happen, given how much work they put into having him killed.
  Now, remember that Joseph didn't necessarily know that Jesus would rise from the dead.  He's surely heard the promises, and he may have had hope, but he also saw a dead body.  Who knows what was going through his mind, and if he was bold enough to hope, but he does what he believes is right in the moment.
  What we have in front of us, each day, is the next moment.  We don't know what will happen with our choices, and we can become paralyzed by all the possibilities.  But in this very moment, God is calling you to act faithfully, regardless of whatever is in your past and however strong the opposition seems.  Follow in this moment, choose how the Holy Spirit is calling, even if the hope of resurrection seems dim.  Discipleship is one faithful choice after another, moment by moment, building a life following Christ.

John 19:31-37

John 19:31-37 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  This passage has always upset me.  If the Jews are so uncomfortable with bodies on a cross, maybe don't ask the Romans to crucify people on them, particularly someone who has been performing miracles for the past three years!
  But they ask Pilate for the bodies to be removed in the hopes that they don't have to look upon the horror.  They like the dirty side of things hidden from view so they can pretend all is fine on the Sabbath.  They brush it into the closet and hope God doesn't notice -- this is exactly what Jesus was talking about when he accused the Pharisees of being clean on the outside but filthy on the inside.
  Regarding the blood and water coming out, many will say that is a reference to communion (blood) and baptism (water).  It is evidence that Jesus is truly dead, pierced and killed for our sins, but from his death, the path to life springs forth.  Even in the darkness of death, there is hope in Christ!

John 19:28-30

John 19:28-30 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  John can be very specific here -- why does he mention a hyssop branch?  I'm glad you asked.  You'll never guess what kind of branch was used to sprinkle the blood of the passover lamb on the door in Exodus 12... 
  Jesus is the new and perfect sacrificial lamb.  In Exodus, the blood of the lamb spares the households from the death of the first born.  In the New Tesatment, the blood of Jesus spares all who are willing to submit to Christ's Lordship.  He willingly gives up his life (even weakened and beaten on the cross, death cannot claim the life of Jesus -- it has to be given, such is his strength) for you and I. 
  Note the words of Jesus.  It is finished.  What Jesus has set out to do, Jesus completes.  Jesus doesn't say, "It's almost done until Keith figures out how to finish it in a few thousand years."  He doesn't say, "I've very nearly got so-and-so saved, they'll just wrap it up once they solve the puzzle and straighten themselves out later."  Jesus finishes it.  Our salvation is achieved by him on the cross.  There is nothing more that needs to be done.  If there were, Jesus would have done it. 
  So marvel that we have a new and better lamb in Jesus Christ who willingly gives himself up so that we might be saved by his hand.  Marvel, worship, and give thanks, and know that our weary and worried souls can find peace in Christ.

My Hat!

  So there I was, sitting on a plane, waiting.  The plane should have pushed back from the gate, but still we waited, for no obvious reason.  I had a movie to watch and the time passed quickly, but 30 minutes into the delay, the pilot announces, "Sorry for the delay.  To make a long story short, a mechanic's hat was sucked into the air conditioner and they have to take the whole system apart."
  It was another 45 minutes before the repair was done and the paperwork completed.  The hat was saved, but it cost a plane of several hundred people over an hour, and then delayed the next flight as well.  All for a hat.

  God's love works like that.  There is no one too inconsequential that God would not pay the ultimate price to liberate them from sin and death.  We all feel small and wonder about our role in the cosmic drama, but God pours his love out on each of us.  As Augustine says, God loves each of us as if there was only one to love.  Though the price may seem huge, God will gladly pay it to redeem even one from the bondage of death.

  You are loved, and you are worth the price, even the sacrifice of God's own Son on a cross, to redeem you.

John 19:23-27

John 19:23-27 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Here is Jesus, hanging on the cross, and what is he doing?  Providing for his mother.  Still thinking of others.
  It's an impossible example.  Jesus is the most selfless person that has ever lived.  Even in his death, he is dying for others.  In his suffering final moments, he is providing for others.
  Jesus calls us to follow in his footsteps, but strides so far ahead that we struggle to keep up, leaping from one task to the next, often falling and finding ourselves overwhelmed with discouragement.  This is where grace comes in -- the grace that reaches down and out from the cross is the same grace that helps us to our feet and then reminds us that faith is a gift and perfection is not required.  So may we continue to leap, trusting that we will be caught when we fall.

John 19:17-22

John 19:17-22 
English Standard Version

  Jesus certainly didn't deserve to die like this, between two convicted thieves on a hill outside Jerusalem, but he spent his life among the people with the least hope in society, so in many ways, it was fitting.
  He went to the lepers, to the outcast, to the socially marginalized.  And who is more marginalized than convicted thieves on a cross, condemned under Roman justice to die a brutal and public death?
  The cross wasn't just a painful way to die -- it was public humiliation.  Jesus was elevated, in misery, and naked for all to see.  Messiahs aren't supposed to die like that.
  But Jesus endured it all out of love.  He endured the pain and the shame and the separation from God so that sin could be beaten.  He wasn't the Messiah many expected, but his mission was larger than they thought -- Jesus didn't come to conquer Rome.  Jesus came to fight something far bigger and more powerful than the Roman army.  Jesus did something that transcended the limitations of time and space, so that his death then has a direct impact on your life today and your eternal future.  The temporary pain has a lasting impact -- the salvation made available to all through Christ. 

John 19:12-16

John 19:12-16 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Don't give up.
  Jesus talks about the road to discipleship being narrow and challenging, and he often speaks in such a way that makes it sound almost impossible.  If we tackle it with human effort alone, it is impossible.  But remember that Jesus also speaks in such a way, and lives in such a way, that demonstrates the incredible grace and unlimited power that is poured into us through his Lordship.  When we bow the knee before Christ, we are submitting to a Savior who chooses to be for us, who chooses to love us and freely bestow unmerited favor upon us.  Our response, then, is to endeavor to walk the challenging road of discipleship and do everything in such a way that consistently honors Christ. 
  I fail at this constantly-- it's one of the things I consistently do.  We all do, in small and big ways, and there are pages and chapters in our lives that we'd love to have a second chance at.  What also happens is there is a little voice that constantly reminds us of those failures, and the opposition encourages us to give up, to throw in the towel, because we'll never be good enough, never quite measure up.
  Don't give up.
  Pilate, as we understand it here, wanted to release Jesus, but the opposition was too strong, and he did not release Jesus.  Pilate gave in, and verse 16 is a tragic end to Pilate's role in Jesus' life. 
  As Paul reminds us, let us fight the good fight.  Let us strive to serve more faithfully each day.
  But do remember, that even when you fail, God's mercies are new every morning, and the love of God is from everlasting to everlasting.

John 19:1-11

John 19:1-11
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Some people try and explain away the crucifixion by saying that Jesus was only kind of dead on the cross, and that he woke up later in the tomb, somehow pushed the rock away, and then wandered out.  This theory conveniently forgets the fact that he was flogged beforehand, a practice that sometimes killed the one being flogged.  If Jesus had managed to survive being flogged and then crucified, I doubt he would have cut a very inspiring figure that would have led his disciples to go to their deaths claiming he had been raised from the dead.  He probably would have looked like something the cat dragged in and spent weeks, if not months, recovering.  A nice walk to Emmaus probably would have been out of the picture.
  The events leading up to the crucifixion were filled with brutality.  Jesus was beaten and then rejected by those he came to save.  The physical and emotional pain would have been immense with every passing second, all the while knowing that the worst, separation from God, was still to come.
  And yet he endured it all for you, for me.  Jesus did it out of love, love that is hard to fathom, but it was done with you in mind.  May the reality of Jesus' dedication to your salvation amaze you today!

John 18:33-40

John 18:33-40 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Pilate asks the question that we all spend our lives answering -- What is truth?
  We have a plethora of options.  A popular one at the moment is to say that there is no truth, but that's just another truth, isn't it?  Someone who claims that all truths are valid is claiming a truth in the same way as anyone else, whether they would agree to that or not.
  Other options are to believe that power is truth, or perhaps influence, given how much sway social media has in the world today.  Money has always been a popular truth.
  What is the fundamental truth around which you will build your life?
  Jesus offers us truth, but it's not something to be possessed.  If it were, we could lose it.  Holding the truth in the palm of your hand only works as long as you have the strength to hold your fingers around it, and I wouldn't recommend building your life around something that fits in your hand anyway.
  The truth that Jesus offers us is a person, a relationship, a love that comes from outside ourselves and exists in eternity, but the love is so deep that the person enters into our world and offers us a pathway that leads outside of ourselves and into a deeper relationship, a deeper love, than we can ever imagine.  That relationship was severed for a time, but a selfless act of sacrifice allows the rift to be healed, and we have a pathway back to our Creator, one who knows us intimately and has created us for joy beyond what we can begin to imagine in this time and place.  Jesus does not claim that this relationship will always be easy in this life, and Jesus shows us the cost, but promises us that this truth, this eternal truth, goes beyond the grave.  It speaks the language of the depths of our hearts, of redemption and forgiveness and grace.
  I am the way, the truth and the life.

John 18:28-32

John 18:28-32
English Standard Version (ESV)

  If you're a religious leader whose laws don't allow you to put someone to death and so you've gone outside of the system and are busy convincing the civil leaders to put him to death, only you can't meet with them because you're worried about being defiled before one of the holiest days of the year, you're doing something wrong.
  Now, the Jewish leaders often don't get a fair shake.  It's a tough spot they're in, trying to determine if Jesus really is the Messiah or not.  I don't envy them.  But they clearly compromise their integrity little by little.  I'm sure they barely notice at first, but it's a slippery slope -- before long, they're asking Pilate to meet with them outside the headquarters so they can use the Roman killing machine to have Jesus put to death.  At some point, surely they looked around and realized how far they were from where they wanted to be.  At some point, surely there was a voice inside telling them that this isn't what they thought it would be.
  It's easy for you and I to compromise as well.  Little by little, we can make small choices that don't seem momentus at the time, but compounded over years or decades, and soon we're a long way from where we imagined we would be. 
  So please, surround yourself with companions along the way, brothers and sisters in Christ whom have permission to speak truth into your life, be it encouragement in difficult times or to confront you when you've begun to lose your way.  It's never easy to hear these words, but it is vital.  Small words of correction now can save us from much larger problems later.

John 18:25-27

John 18:25-27 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Ahead of time, Peter said he would go and die with Jesus, but in the heat of the moment, he failed.  The great thing?  Jesus still loves him, Jesus still redeems him, Jesus still uses him to build the church..
  Ahead of time, you and I say the right things.  At church on Sunday, I promise God that I'm going to do better this week, that I'll spend more time in prayer and study, that I'll choose the challenging path of faithfulness.  In the heat of the moment?  I hit the snooze and stay in bed.  I zone out and read something easier.  I spend my free time prowling the kitchen rather than diving into Scripture. 
  The great thing?  Jesus still loves you.  Jesus still redeems us.  Jesus still uses us to build the church.

  So let not your head be bowed beneath the weight of unfulfilled expectations and disappointment.  You are precious and treasured, and the hope of the future is always bright, even (and especially) in the darkest of nights.

  Today is All Saints' Day, celebrated since the 4th century.  Originally focused on martyrs, it was expanded to include all who have passed through the veil of death and reign in the fullness of the Kingdom of God.  Today, may we give thanks for those who have gone before us, and may we give thanks for the God who makes death a defeated shadow and promises life beyond the grave.