This past week Nadine and I lost two of our close friends to death.  How painful to have two people who touched us so differently leave this earth.

Jeff was a close friend who was struggling with life and the meaning of life when I met him.  He was having problems with his marriage when I met him that later ended with divorce.  He wasn’t happy in his job that was inconsistent with having him being able to work consistently.  He had a horrific childhood and was estranged from his family.

I came along and encouraged him to get his GED which he did and was so happy that for once in his life he had accomplished something he could be proud of.  He was passionate about cooking and creating beautiful tones of smell and taste.  After encouragement and harassment, he applied and was accepted into culinary school where he excelled and graduated with highest honors.

More than any accomplishments we saw him attain, Jeff was a good friend who shot straight in his communication and frankness, and was a loyal comrade.  He was always there when called upon and hated the facades of christians who lived two different lives, one in public and one in private.  More than anyone in our lives that we have known, Jeff impacted Nadine and I and we will always cherish the times we spent with Jeff.

Jeff, you will always be loved and thank you for marking our lives.

The second person in our lives that died this past week was Elaine, a fellow traveler of Christ who came yearly for the winter months from Michigan.  She and her husband fellowshipped with our small group and marked our discussions with insight and wisdom she had gained reading the bible.

She always brought freshness to our discussion and we could see and hear from someone who lived out their lives supernaturally.  She was a Jesus follower but more than a follower, she was being transformed by His power.  We will miss her, but her insight will be tattooed in our lives forever.

Jeff and Elaine, have fun in heaven together.  Death for you all is a ticket to spending eternity with the Master.