Resurrection Hope: A Death & Resurrection Doula Training Conference Highlight

100:00:00.480 --> 00:00:01.720Hello, I am Laurel Nicholson.200:00:01.980 --> 00:00:04.240I'm the creator and director of the Death300:00:04.240 --> 00:00:07.380and Resurrection Doula Training Program and Community.400:00:07.640 --> 00:00:10.680Many of you are new to this community.500:00:10.940 --> 00:00:13.620I'm very excited that end-of-life doulas600:00:13.620 --> 00:00:17.240from the training program have connected inside their700:00:17.240 --> 00:00:20.360churches and found you, and I know you're800:00:20.360 --> 00:00:23.460interested in learning more, so it's really special900:00:23.460 --> 00:00:26.860to have you here, new faces for many1000:00:26.860 --> 00:00:27.300of us.1100:00:27.460 --> 00:00:28.900But we are more than just a training1200:00:28.900 --> 00:00:29.340community.1300:00:29.640 --> 00:00:32.360It's a community of fellowship, a place to1400:00:32.360 --> 00:00:37.240talk about end-of-life things from a1500:00:37.240 --> 00:00:40.920perspective of hope and resurrection, from the mercy1600:00:40.920 --> 00:00:43.340of God and Jesus Christ, and there is1700:00:43.340 --> 00:00:43.800a movement.1800:00:43.960 --> 00:00:45.100It's called Death Positive.1900:00:45.720 --> 00:00:47.320It's a part of where end-of-life2000:00:47.320 --> 00:00:50.840doulas are gaining familiarity in communities.2100:00:50.840 --> 00:00:52.560It's through the Death Positive movement.2200:00:52.900 --> 00:00:54.080I've also heard it called the end-of2300:00:54.080 --> 00:00:55.140-life doula movement.2400:00:55.700 --> 00:00:57.920So it is a real thing that's happening2500:00:57.920 --> 00:01:02.100in the 21st century, and I believe that2600:01:02.100 --> 00:01:05.140more and more churches are going to see2700:01:05.140 --> 00:01:08.960just how profound it is that God is2800:01:08.960 --> 00:01:13.160calling His people to serve in end-of2900:01:13.160 --> 00:01:16.580-life care in a non-medical role and3000:01:16.580 --> 00:01:19.760for our communities to be more involved and3100:01:19.760 --> 00:01:20.220equipped.3200:01:20.220 --> 00:01:22.820And what that takes is education.3300:01:23.240 --> 00:01:23.980It takes effort.3400:01:24.240 --> 00:01:28.440It takes willingness and a passion for God,3500:01:28.680 --> 00:01:29.720a passion for eternity.3600:01:30.460 --> 00:01:34.140And so for this ministry, this is the3700:01:34.140 --> 00:01:37.680first time that we're doing a weekend training.3800:01:38.020 --> 00:01:41.460I've been training end-of-life doulas since3900:01:41.460 --> 00:01:46.360summer 2023, and we've grown in a great4000:01:46.360 --> 00:01:46.700way.4100:01:46.920 --> 00:01:48.980And so I've been able to move this4200:01:48.980 --> 00:01:52.240to a weekend and hope to have these4300:01:52.240 --> 00:01:53.700sporadically throughout the year.4400:01:53.980 --> 00:01:55.820And this is the first time to invite4500:01:55.820 --> 00:01:58.680people that are not in the training program4600:01:58.680 --> 00:02:01.860to be with us and to learn alongside4700:02:01.860 --> 00:02:02.300us.4800:02:02.420 --> 00:02:04.520We have a really great lineup this afternoon,4900:02:04.760 --> 00:02:08.060and I'm just, again, grateful you're here.5000:02:08.880 --> 00:02:11.040So to open us up today, I am5100:02:11.040 --> 00:02:12.820going to talk about resurrection.5200:02:13.140 --> 00:02:17.700And ultimately, resurrection is our greatest hope, and5300:02:17.700 --> 00:02:20.640we have something to look forward to, which5400:02:20.640 --> 00:02:23.380is very good news in the face of5500:02:23.380 --> 00:02:23.960death.5600:02:24.220 --> 00:02:27.140It's also very good news as we live,5700:02:27.320 --> 00:02:30.860because knowing that resurrection is in the future5800:02:30.860 --> 00:02:34.060can help us live our lives differently than5900:02:34.060 --> 00:02:36.700if we don't know what our great hope6000:02:36.700 --> 00:02:37.060is.6100:02:37.320 --> 00:02:41.500And we're also going to see resurrection in6200:02:41.500 --> 00:02:43.200our lives as we live.6300:02:43.780 --> 00:02:45.540And I don't know if that's familiar to6400:02:45.540 --> 00:02:47.940you, but I'm going to unpack it as6500:02:47.940 --> 00:02:51.840we gather here in this next 45 minutes.6600:02:52.780 --> 00:02:56.260So what I want to start with is6700:02:56.260 --> 00:02:57.820this idea of a good death.6800:02:57.880 --> 00:03:01.040That is very much the catchphrase of the6900:03:01.040 --> 00:03:02.020death positive movement.7000:03:02.400 --> 00:03:03.720You can have a good death.7100:03:04.780 --> 00:03:08.460If you've been around death, that may really7200:03:08.460 --> 00:03:09.300resonate with you.7300:03:09.420 --> 00:03:10.260You could have a good death.7400:03:10.340 --> 00:03:11.300You could have a bad death.7500:03:11.380 --> 00:03:12.060Pretty simple.7600:03:12.200 --> 00:03:15.800It makes sense that planning and fulfilling practical7700:03:15.800 --> 00:03:20.920needs around end-of-life care will possibly7800:03:20.920 --> 00:03:23.120equal a better death than if you didn't.7900:03:23.480 --> 00:03:27.560You avoided it and just made it more8000:03:27.560 --> 00:03:29.600difficult than the process is.8100:03:29.720 --> 00:03:31.520Of course, there are bad deaths that are8200:03:31.520 --> 00:03:33.160unanticipated, accidents.8300:03:33.160 --> 00:03:35.380That's kind of a whole different topic of8400:03:35.380 --> 00:03:37.060preparing for death.8500:03:37.300 --> 00:03:40.140But we're very different because we're Christians and8600:03:40.140 --> 00:03:41.560because we believe in resurrection.8700:03:42.160 --> 00:03:44.560Our concept of a good death is very8800:03:44.560 --> 00:03:46.660different than the secular concept of a good8900:03:46.660 --> 00:03:46.880death.9000:03:47.000 --> 00:03:49.780And we want everybody to have a good9100:03:49.780 --> 00:03:52.460death, full of peace, full of preparation.9200:03:53.180 --> 00:03:55.120Family members get to participate.9300:03:55.440 --> 00:03:58.380The community is not left surprised and not9400:03:58.380 --> 00:04:00.860been able to contribute to it as they9500:04:00.860 --> 00:04:01.860may have wanted to.9600:04:01.860 --> 00:04:03.880That pastors are able to be a part9700:04:03.880 --> 00:04:04.360of that.9800:04:04.620 --> 00:04:06.260So there are a lot of things that9900:04:06.260 --> 00:04:09.180contribute to having a good death on a10000:04:09.180 --> 00:04:11.120practical, a spiritual level.10100:04:11.320 --> 00:04:13.760But still, there is something different for Christians.10200:04:14.020 --> 00:04:15.640And I just want to start by saying,10300:04:15.839 --> 00:04:19.180as much as the death positive movement would10400:04:19.180 --> 00:04:21.160like to say, we're redefining death.10500:04:21.280 --> 00:04:26.840We've avoided it, put ourselves through unGodly amounts10600:04:26.840 --> 00:04:29.300of chemotherapy to avoid death.10700:04:29.380 --> 00:04:30.220Let's talk about it.10800:04:30.260 --> 00:04:33.420Let's avoid denying death any longer, and let's10900:04:33.420 --> 00:04:35.040change the way that we live now.11000:04:35.500 --> 00:04:36.940It's noble and practical.11100:04:38.060 --> 00:04:40.140But Scripture says death is an enemy.11200:04:40.440 --> 00:04:43.220And in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says death11300:04:43.220 --> 00:04:44.200is an enemy.11400:04:44.440 --> 00:04:48.760It's been destroyed because Christ has died the11500:04:48.760 --> 00:04:49.380sinner's death.11600:04:49.460 --> 00:04:51.420He has been raised by the power of11700:04:51.420 --> 00:04:51.820God.11800:04:52.540 --> 00:04:55.540And he is destroyed, but death is ultimately11900:04:55.540 --> 00:04:56.300still with us.12000:04:56.400 --> 00:04:58.380We know that because we get sick and12100:04:58.380 --> 00:04:58.740we die.12200:04:58.880 --> 00:05:00.080We know people who die.12300:05:00.460 --> 00:05:03.060We know that we will most likely die.12400:05:03.260 --> 00:05:05.960There is a generation that will be alive12500:05:05.960 --> 00:05:06.980when Jesus returns.12600:05:07.220 --> 00:05:10.920Maybe our generation, maybe not, but likely we12700:05:10.920 --> 00:05:13.220will face the end of our life.12800:05:14.040 --> 00:05:16.520So it's still on the playing field.12900:05:16.700 --> 00:05:17.340It's been destroyed.13000:05:17.460 --> 00:05:19.460It no longer has power over us.13100:05:19.460 --> 00:05:21.760That means that when we die as believers,13200:05:22.040 --> 00:05:24.940we go to be with Jesus, and we13300:05:24.940 --> 00:05:26.160are really not dead.13400:05:26.460 --> 00:05:30.900Our body has died, and that body has13500:05:30.900 --> 00:05:34.440got to be disposed of in some sanitary13600:05:34.440 --> 00:05:37.300way, either through burial, cremation, and burial.13700:05:37.840 --> 00:05:40.240There's a lot of new methods for disposition.13800:05:40.480 --> 00:05:43.460That's the term we use, disposition of the13900:05:43.460 --> 00:05:43.800body.14000:05:43.980 --> 00:05:45.740The death positive movement is a part of14100:05:45.740 --> 00:05:50.740making this kind of regathering around green burials,14200:05:50.980 --> 00:05:53.740new methods such as water cremation, which is14300:05:53.740 --> 00:05:55.180something you may learn about.14400:05:55.380 --> 00:05:56.940You can learn about it actually on my14500:05:56.940 --> 00:05:57.580podcast.14600:05:58.200 --> 00:06:00.060One of the death and resurrection doulas from14700:06:00.060 --> 00:06:02.580my training is a funeral director in California14800:06:02.580 --> 00:06:07.200and works for a water cremation company.14900:06:07.480 --> 00:06:09.440She gave us a tour of the facility.15000:06:09.660 --> 00:06:10.660It's very interesting.15100:06:11.020 --> 00:06:12.820So you may hear of things that seem15200:06:12.820 --> 00:06:13.460unsettling.15300:06:13.640 --> 00:06:17.060Human composting, that's becoming a thing.15400:06:17.280 --> 00:06:21.360But returning to natural methods of burial isn't15500:06:21.360 --> 00:06:22.220a modern thing.15600:06:22.300 --> 00:06:23.960It's actually a return to tradition.15700:06:24.960 --> 00:06:29.500And so as believers justified in Christ by15800:06:29.500 --> 00:06:34.080faith through grace are able to handle the15900:06:34.080 --> 00:06:37.680fact that our bodies will need to be16000:06:37.680 --> 00:06:39.640disposed of in some way, in a sanitary16100:06:39.640 --> 00:06:42.340way, in preparation for the resurrection.16200:06:42.740 --> 00:06:44.520So it's not because we just want to16300:06:44.520 --> 00:06:46.240say, oh, well, that body didn't matter.16400:06:46.340 --> 00:06:47.580Your body really matters.16500:06:47.820 --> 00:06:49.240And it matters in the way that you16600:06:49.240 --> 00:06:51.500care for it now while you're healthy.16700:06:51.680 --> 00:06:53.360It matters in the way that you care16800:06:53.360 --> 00:06:55.220for it at the end of your life16900:06:55.220 --> 00:06:58.440and how your body is disposed, not by17000:06:58.440 --> 00:06:59.480means of salvation.17100:06:59.820 --> 00:07:01.960Now, that's another thing the death positive movement17200:07:01.960 --> 00:07:04.840is on to, is they're saying how you17300:07:04.840 --> 00:07:08.100dispose of your body has salvific meaning.17400:07:08.500 --> 00:07:11.920And we know as believers there is one17500:07:11.920 --> 00:07:13.780way to salvation, and that is through Jesus.17600:07:13.940 --> 00:07:16.380It's not through any choice that you make17700:07:16.380 --> 00:07:20.080on what treatment you prefer with your cancer17800:07:20.080 --> 00:07:22.960diagnosis or whether or not you go live17900:07:22.960 --> 00:07:24.840an assisted living or whether or not your18000:07:24.840 --> 00:07:29.000body is cremated or buried without a casket18100:07:29.000 --> 00:07:29.740and a shroud.18200:07:30.100 --> 00:07:32.480These things do not affect your salvation.18300:07:32.480 --> 00:07:36.040What affects your salvation is the choice that18400:07:36.040 --> 00:07:40.500you believe in Jesus, and the Spirit draws18500:07:40.500 --> 00:07:42.540you to make that choice.18600:07:42.640 --> 00:07:45.800So we are blessed by God that in18700:07:45.800 --> 00:07:49.400the face of death, Adam's choice brought death18800:07:49.400 --> 00:07:52.280into the world, sin, now our bodies decay,18900:07:52.600 --> 00:07:56.480we make horrible mistakes, we doubt God, and19000:07:56.480 --> 00:07:57.440we die.19100:07:57.440 --> 00:07:59.760And so death is an enemy.19200:08:00.180 --> 00:08:01.680It may not always look like an enemy.19300:08:01.740 --> 00:08:03.740If someone's been really sick and they die,19400:08:04.300 --> 00:08:05.920we think of it as a blessing, and19500:08:05.920 --> 00:08:07.300certainly it is.19600:08:08.000 --> 00:08:12.700When a younger person dies or a spouse19700:08:12.700 --> 00:08:14.980dies, a child dies, someone that we just19800:08:14.980 --> 00:08:18.140cannot imagine life here without, we can say,19900:08:18.280 --> 00:08:19.800I feel it.20000:08:19.860 --> 00:08:22.320It is an enemy to God's good creation.20100:08:22.540 --> 00:08:24.900We were not created to die.20200:08:24.900 --> 00:08:27.500But I also want to say from a20300:08:27.500 --> 00:08:30.660biblical perspective, and I'm going back to the20400:08:30.660 --> 00:08:32.960very beginning with Genesis, we can say death20500:08:32.960 --> 00:08:36.720is a blessing, not from death being the20600:08:36.720 --> 00:08:38.500enemy to God's creation.20700:08:38.760 --> 00:08:41.580Recall in the very first chapters of Genesis,20800:08:42.280 --> 00:08:44.420after Adam and Eve have sinned and death20900:08:44.420 --> 00:08:47.080has entered the world, God removes them.21000:08:47.540 --> 00:08:50.360He exiles them from the garden and he21100:08:50.360 --> 00:08:52.220puts, not looking at the verse, but like21200:08:52.220 --> 00:08:54.720a cherubim with a flaming sword in front21300:08:54.720 --> 00:08:56.980of the tree of life in order that21400:08:56.980 --> 00:08:58.820they don't eat of it and live forever21500:08:58.820 --> 00:09:00.640in the sin state.21600:09:01.380 --> 00:09:03.660So that's God's mercy.21700:09:04.560 --> 00:09:06.540And he doesn't just do that.21800:09:06.700 --> 00:09:08.860He sends Adam and Eve out of the21900:09:08.860 --> 00:09:12.400garden clothed in the skins of an already22000:09:12.400 --> 00:09:15.400foreshadowing Christ who is coming.22100:09:16.220 --> 00:09:20.360Romans 5.14 says that Adam was created22200:09:20.360 --> 00:09:23.180as a pattern of the one to come.22300:09:23.340 --> 00:09:25.960So we know through the genealogy and the22400:09:25.960 --> 00:09:31.160scriptures that Christ eventually descends through the line22500:09:31.160 --> 00:09:31.640of Adam.22600:09:32.640 --> 00:09:34.880And so the one who is to come22700:09:34.880 --> 00:09:39.740is the one who has defeated death, destroyed22800:09:39.740 --> 00:09:40.220it.22900:09:40.760 --> 00:09:44.360Still, our bodies must go through that aging23000:09:44.360 --> 00:09:48.440to death process in order to be ready23100:09:48.440 --> 00:09:49.820for the resurrection.23200:09:50.280 --> 00:09:53.640I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 1523300:09:53.640 --> 00:09:54.760when you have time.23400:09:55.220 --> 00:09:57.680That is Paul's exposition of what the resurrection23500:09:57.680 --> 00:09:58.680will be like.23600:09:58.980 --> 00:10:00.760What about our bodies?23700:10:01.060 --> 00:10:04.700He says, mortality must put on immortality.23800:10:05.320 --> 00:10:07.360The perishable must put on the imperishable.23900:10:07.360 --> 00:10:10.140So we are not ready yet for resurrection24000:10:10.140 --> 00:10:10.780life.24100:10:11.140 --> 00:10:14.760We're still living in this body, and it24200:10:14.760 --> 00:10:15.720is going to die.24300:10:15.940 --> 00:10:16.900And we're going to have to make plans24400:10:16.900 --> 00:10:17.300for it.24500:10:17.760 --> 00:10:19.480We may choose not to make plans for24600:10:19.480 --> 00:10:22.840it, and that could be hardship for ourselves24700:10:22.840 --> 00:10:23.660and for others.24800:10:23.780 --> 00:10:26.840But we do well to make plans, and24900:10:26.840 --> 00:10:30.000we would do well to talk about it,25000:10:30.020 --> 00:10:31.840not only with our families, but with our25100:10:31.840 --> 00:10:32.180doctors.25200:10:32.580 --> 00:10:34.740So I just want to make that clear.25300:10:34.980 --> 00:10:35.820Death is an enemy.25400:10:36.020 --> 00:10:37.420Scripture defines it as such.25500:10:38.220 --> 00:10:40.880God has also shown his mercy to us,25600:10:41.260 --> 00:10:43.700and therefore we don't need to fear death.25700:10:43.980 --> 00:10:49.340Hebrews 2, Jesus has come and taken on25800:10:49.340 --> 00:10:51.840this death for us, so we are no25900:10:51.840 --> 00:10:53.380longer bound to it.26000:10:53.480 --> 00:10:54.500We have eternal life.26100:10:55.040 --> 00:10:56.500That doesn't mean death is not going to26200:10:56.500 --> 00:10:56.920be scary.26300:10:57.320 --> 00:11:00.660Facing a terminal diagnosis, the pain that might26400:11:00.660 --> 00:11:02.660be present with that is scary.26500:11:02.660 --> 00:11:05.980Thinking of leaving those that you love and26600:11:05.980 --> 00:11:08.640aspects of this world that we love, it's26700:11:08.640 --> 00:11:10.900scary, and it's disappointing.26800:11:11.180 --> 00:11:14.340One encouraging thing we can know is that26900:11:14.340 --> 00:11:18.480resurrection is not just right upon death, you're27000:11:18.480 --> 00:11:19.460in heaven forever.27100:11:20.280 --> 00:11:23.500There's actually a present heaven where believers are27200:11:23.500 --> 00:11:26.820now with Christ, and there's a future heaven.27300:11:26.960 --> 00:11:29.380And that future heaven is going to be27400:11:29.380 --> 00:11:32.720made for us new after the dead are27500:11:32.720 --> 00:11:34.480raised, and we're going to live in it27600:11:34.480 --> 00:11:37.120in resurrected bodies, and we're going to recognize27700:11:37.120 --> 00:11:38.820it without decay.27800:11:39.120 --> 00:11:41.700We're going to be with those who we27900:11:41.700 --> 00:11:43.260love, and we're going to work.28000:11:43.480 --> 00:11:46.380We're going to steward the new creation as28100:11:46.380 --> 00:11:49.260we were intended to steward God's creation before28200:11:49.260 --> 00:11:52.720death confiscated that and sin confiscated that.28300:11:52.960 --> 00:11:54.740And not only will there be a new28400:11:54.740 --> 00:11:56.960earth for us, there'll be a new heaven,28500:11:57.200 --> 00:12:00.200and these two will be wed, no longer28600:12:00.200 --> 00:12:02.960not joined like they are now.28700:12:03.600 --> 00:12:07.700And when we experience marriage, if we do,28800:12:07.920 --> 00:12:11.360that design is on this future marriage of28900:12:11.360 --> 00:12:12.100heaven and earth.29000:12:12.260 --> 00:12:15.020So that is something we can say, wow,29100:12:15.240 --> 00:12:17.340well, this life is temporary.29200:12:17.860 --> 00:12:21.560There are many distractions and disappointments and reasons29300:12:21.560 --> 00:12:25.840to have fear, but God gives us more29400:12:25.840 --> 00:12:28.640than just a story of creation.29500:12:28.800 --> 00:12:30.120He gives us a story of His future29600:12:30.120 --> 00:12:32.960and the history that we live in and29700:12:32.960 --> 00:12:35.320what we can expect and what God's ultimate29800:12:35.320 --> 00:12:37.160goal for us is, and that is to29900:12:37.160 --> 00:12:39.360be made complete in Jesus Christ.30000:12:39.620 --> 00:12:41.800And that can happen all the way through30100:12:41.800 --> 00:12:42.920the end-of-life process.30200:12:43.980 --> 00:12:45.700I mean, you know, through the last breath,30300:12:45.820 --> 00:12:48.340because you have a terminal illness, that does30400:12:48.340 --> 00:12:51.260not mean that God's ongoing work in you30500:12:51.260 --> 00:12:52.160is complete.30600:12:52.860 --> 00:12:55.720The most maturity in your life may happen30700:12:55.720 --> 00:12:58.140in the last five days of your life.30800:12:58.360 --> 00:12:59.400You don't know.30900:12:59.820 --> 00:13:04.160God is, you know, sovereign over death, and31000:13:04.160 --> 00:13:07.500death is His realm.31100:13:07.780 --> 00:13:10.160So, you know, whether someone is really organized31200:13:10.160 --> 00:13:12.720and does a great job with planning and31300:13:12.720 --> 00:13:15.600conversations, and then there's someone who didn't do31400:13:15.600 --> 00:13:17.880such a good job and they've caused stress31500:13:17.880 --> 00:13:21.180inside their family, God's sovereignty remains the same,31600:13:21.520 --> 00:13:23.560and He's made a way in Jesus Christ.31700:13:23.680 --> 00:13:25.520So even in the most difficult end-of31800:13:25.520 --> 00:13:29.380-life situation, God, we know God has made31900:13:29.380 --> 00:13:31.660a way to the cross for Christ that's32000:13:31.660 --> 00:13:35.040opened the way to resurrection and that He32100:13:35.040 --> 00:13:38.380will make a way through the complication of32200:13:38.380 --> 00:13:39.200end-of-life care.32300:13:39.300 --> 00:13:41.420And there's a lot of complications right now,32400:13:41.760 --> 00:13:43.840and that's why end-of-life doulas are32500:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.620becoming popular.32600:13:44.920 --> 00:13:46.760People are saying, we need more help.32700:13:47.180 --> 00:13:49.000Hospice is saying, we need more help.32800:13:49.300 --> 00:13:51.740Families who have lost someone said, I never32900:13:51.740 --> 00:13:52.620want to do that again.33000:13:52.900 --> 00:13:55.340So there is a real place for end33100:13:55.340 --> 00:13:58.860-of-life doulas, and the special thing that33200:13:58.860 --> 00:14:00.540we have as believers is that we can33300:14:00.540 --> 00:14:03.420face that work with hope of resurrection.33400:14:03.600 --> 00:14:07.160And it really changes everything about our work.33500:14:07.560 --> 00:14:11.460So we cannot be compared to a secular33600:14:11.460 --> 00:14:13.340doula in most ways.33700:14:13.500 --> 00:14:15.720Some of our work might look similar in33800:14:15.720 --> 00:14:18.160the way that it overlaps, but really, the33900:14:18.160 --> 00:14:21.200gospel brings refreshing meaning to everything that we34000:14:21.200 --> 00:14:21.460do.34100:14:22.280 --> 00:14:25.060How does resurrection shape end-of-life doula34200:14:25.060 --> 00:14:25.380work?34300:14:25.540 --> 00:14:27.600For those who were on earlier, just as34400:14:27.600 --> 00:14:28.880a little bit of a reminder, we talked34500:14:28.880 --> 00:14:31.880about lawful boundaries around end-of-life doula34600:14:31.880 --> 00:14:32.020care.34700:14:32.140 --> 00:14:33.940We are not medical providers.34800:14:34.700 --> 00:14:38.040We are non-medical comfort support, and there's34900:14:38.040 --> 00:14:39.900a lot of ways we can fulfill that35000:14:39.900 --> 00:14:40.340task.35100:14:41.000 --> 00:14:45.860But the lawful boundaries are not just important35200:14:45.860 --> 00:14:50.120because of medical regulations and things that we're35300:14:50.120 --> 00:14:52.180allowed to do in our scope of practice,35400:14:52.360 --> 00:14:55.020but there's a theological reason that they're important35500:14:55.020 --> 00:14:55.540as well.35600:14:56.360 --> 00:14:59.220And so our role is not to break35700:14:59.220 --> 00:15:01.100into the process of death.35800:15:01.220 --> 00:15:03.760It's actually to support the process of death,35900:15:03.840 --> 00:15:06.520to be as natural and comforted as possible.36000:15:06.940 --> 00:15:08.720Now, Lisa will teach you in a little36100:15:08.720 --> 00:15:14.860bit that dying is not death that's painful.36200:15:15.000 --> 00:15:16.680It's the disease that brings pain.36300:15:17.100 --> 00:15:20.880And most people can receive palliative care to36400:15:20.880 --> 00:15:22.220minimize that pain.36500:15:22.700 --> 00:15:24.540Now, pain can be more than physical.36600:15:24.880 --> 00:15:27.240It can be emotional and spiritual as well,36700:15:27.480 --> 00:15:29.860and doulas can certainly play a role in36800:15:29.860 --> 00:15:31.820that part of comfort care.36900:15:32.300 --> 00:15:38.000And helping families understand the dying process brings37000:15:38.000 --> 00:15:41.360them the confidence to serve as caregivers well37100:15:41.360 --> 00:15:44.940and fulfill the task that hospice care requires37200:15:44.940 --> 00:15:46.140them to fulfill.37300:15:46.520 --> 00:15:48.860Now, that does leave out a large population37400:15:48.860 --> 00:15:50.240of people who don't have family.37500:15:50.500 --> 00:15:52.820Miles is going to handle that this afternoon37600:15:52.820 --> 00:15:54.680in our closing presentation.37700:15:55.020 --> 00:15:58.020But there is a theological reason why lawful37800:15:58.020 --> 00:15:59.860boundaries for end-of-life doula care are37900:15:59.860 --> 00:16:03.500important, and the main one is that these38000:16:03.500 --> 00:16:07.520boundaries reflect trust in God's sovereignty and reverence38100:16:07.520 --> 00:16:09.540for the human body as God's creation.38200:16:09.760 --> 00:16:11.740We're not to interrupt the dying process.38300:16:11.900 --> 00:16:14.000We're here to be a part of a38400:16:14.000 --> 00:16:17.700first-century society that is looking at death38500:16:17.700 --> 00:16:20.120once again and becoming a part of the38600:16:20.120 --> 00:16:23.520death experience, no longer just simply outsourcing it38700:16:23.520 --> 00:16:25.600to the hospital or to the funeral home,38800:16:25.680 --> 00:16:28.180but getting involved in death once again as38900:16:28.180 --> 00:16:30.640believers have in past generations.39000:16:30.940 --> 00:16:33.460That does not mean that every death has39100:16:33.460 --> 00:16:34.620to happen at home to be a good39200:16:34.620 --> 00:16:34.940death.39300:16:35.040 --> 00:16:36.620I lost a friend last week.39400:16:36.740 --> 00:16:38.260She died in the hospital, in the ICU.39500:16:39.100 --> 00:16:39.880That's okay.39600:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.940It's not a failure because you died in39700:16:41.940 --> 00:16:46.260the hospital, not a failure because, you know,39800:16:46.300 --> 00:16:47.960your death didn't go exactly the way that39900:16:47.960 --> 00:16:48.400you wanted.40000:16:48.520 --> 00:16:51.060If anyone here has birthed a child, you40100:16:51.060 --> 00:16:53.340can have plans, and it might change.40200:16:53.480 --> 00:16:55.180You may have plans for a natural delivery,40300:16:55.420 --> 00:16:57.080and you end up having a C-section.40400:16:57.220 --> 00:16:59.480You really didn't want one, but the medical40500:16:59.480 --> 00:17:01.680care hopefully is good.40600:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.960You know, the same in end-of-life40700:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.240care.40800:17:04.440 --> 00:17:06.200If death at home is not going well,40900:17:06.420 --> 00:17:07.960death may need to be moved somewhere else41000:17:07.960 --> 00:17:10.040where there is more support, and that is41100:17:10.040 --> 00:17:10.440okay.41200:17:10.980 --> 00:17:13.940And hope for resurrection is not lost wherever41300:17:13.940 --> 00:17:16.760you have death or wherever you don't have41400:17:16.760 --> 00:17:16.900it.41500:17:17.220 --> 00:17:19.660But I also want to say the beauty41600:17:19.660 --> 00:17:22.180and the lawful boundaries that we hold as41700:17:22.180 --> 00:17:25.400end-of-life doulas is that in weakness41800:17:25.400 --> 00:17:27.760and decline, God is present.41900:17:28.560 --> 00:17:30.100And so it's not our place to get42000:17:30.100 --> 00:17:30.740in the way.42100:17:30.880 --> 00:17:31.720We're there to support.42200:17:32.080 --> 00:17:35.340We're there to companion in this season and42300:17:35.340 --> 00:17:38.660remind the family and the person who's dying42400:17:38.660 --> 00:17:42.580that God is present and at work preparing42500:17:42.580 --> 00:17:44.580the way from death to resurrection.42600:17:45.000 --> 00:17:48.900So if there is something that just really42700:17:48.900 --> 00:17:51.520helps us shine in our role as Christian42800:17:51.520 --> 00:17:53.640end-of-life doulas, as death and resurrection42900:17:53.640 --> 00:17:55.940doulas, I coined that.43000:17:56.460 --> 00:18:00.680There's not a worldwide appreciation yet for a43100:18:00.680 --> 00:18:03.380death and resurrection doula, but I believe there43200:18:03.380 --> 00:18:04.740will be in the future.43300:18:04.980 --> 00:18:07.340People will probably recognize end-of-life doula43400:18:07.340 --> 00:18:09.080before they recognize that.43500:18:09.080 --> 00:18:12.040But if we really shine and set ourselves43600:18:12.040 --> 00:18:15.120apart from the secular role, it's that we43700:18:15.120 --> 00:18:19.400are witnesses to the resurrection life and even43800:18:19.400 --> 00:18:19.960in death.43900:18:20.140 --> 00:18:22.780And when we sit at the bedside of44000:18:22.780 --> 00:18:25.360someone and spend time with their family, we44100:18:25.360 --> 00:18:27.160see God's kingdom breaking in.44200:18:27.760 --> 00:18:29.860Death is not the end for Christians.44300:18:30.380 --> 00:18:32.300It is the beginning of eternal life.44400:18:32.540 --> 00:18:36.760It's necessary, as Paul said, that the mortal44500:18:36.760 --> 00:18:40.480put on immortality, that the perishable be made44600:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.320imperishable.44700:18:41.640 --> 00:18:43.320So we have to go through that dying44800:18:43.320 --> 00:18:43.980process.44900:18:44.220 --> 00:18:47.000The breaking into the kingdom, where might we45000:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.600see that?45100:18:47.700 --> 00:18:49.740Where might we bear witness to that?45200:18:49.900 --> 00:18:52.860But God's kingdom is actively breaking into the45300:18:52.860 --> 00:18:56.380present, especially where human life touches its limits.45400:18:56.820 --> 00:18:59.940As death and resurrection doulas, we have the45500:18:59.940 --> 00:19:03.180special privilege of bearing eschatological witness.45600:19:03.860 --> 00:19:06.560Death is the threshold where God's future draws45700:19:06.560 --> 00:19:06.860near.45800:19:07.440 --> 00:19:12.660Renewed faith in Christ, forgiveness, reconciliation, the lessening45900:19:12.660 --> 00:19:14.780of fear, and peace are signs of the46000:19:14.780 --> 00:19:15.980Spirit's renewing activity.46100:19:16.760 --> 00:19:19.320This goes up until the last breath, and46200:19:19.320 --> 00:19:22.220it continues for families that survive, for communities46300:19:22.220 --> 00:19:23.260that survive that death.46400:19:23.420 --> 00:19:26.600God's work is continuing to break in.46500:19:26.920 --> 00:19:29.720We may know of someone who's been widowed46600:19:29.720 --> 00:19:33.240or someone who's lost, someone very close to46700:19:33.240 --> 00:19:33.500them.46800:19:34.160 --> 00:19:36.800New life does emerge after death.46900:19:37.200 --> 00:19:38.320We continue to live.47000:19:38.680 --> 00:19:42.360God's mercy is great, and He does bring47100:19:42.360 --> 00:19:43.720new things into our life.47200:19:44.000 --> 00:19:46.680That doesn't mean that the grieving process isn't47300:19:46.680 --> 00:19:47.740real and important.47400:19:47.920 --> 00:19:49.960It may stretch on for the rest of47500:19:49.960 --> 00:19:50.680someone's life.47600:19:50.900 --> 00:19:53.320But we know that even in the midst47700:19:53.320 --> 00:19:55.060of that, God is still renewing us, and47800:19:55.060 --> 00:19:57.640He's bringing us more and more into Christ's47900:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.320image.48000:19:58.820 --> 00:20:02.100And honestly, what separates us from that old48100:20:02.100 --> 00:20:04.860self is a loss so often, and it48200:20:04.860 --> 00:20:07.000is a break in the norm, and it's48300:20:07.000 --> 00:20:09.900just the despicable pain that comes with sin48400:20:09.900 --> 00:20:11.140and death in the world.48500:20:11.420 --> 00:20:13.800That's what God uses to transform us so48600:20:13.800 --> 00:20:14.140often.48700:20:14.420 --> 00:20:15.720So we don't lose hope.48800:20:15.920 --> 00:20:18.060We can grieve, and it might feel like48900:20:18.060 --> 00:20:19.340God has abandoned us.49000:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.960That often happens in grief.49100:20:21.140 --> 00:20:23.040It may happen when someone receives a terminal49200:20:23.040 --> 00:20:23.600diagnosis.49300:20:23.800 --> 00:20:25.060I don't think God loves me.49400:20:25.200 --> 00:20:27.340I prayed and prayed and prayed that He49500:20:27.340 --> 00:20:29.580will heal me, and here I am, days49600:20:29.580 --> 00:20:32.120away from being at the end of my49700:20:32.120 --> 00:20:33.600life, and He didn't answer my prayer.49800:20:33.800 --> 00:20:35.080I mean, that is common.49900:20:35.900 --> 00:20:39.920And I think we want, in this 21st50000:20:39.920 --> 00:20:41.760century, we want to be more reasonable about50100:20:41.760 --> 00:20:45.960medical care, medical establishment, and with medical technology,50200:20:45.960 --> 00:20:49.580we can receive copious amounts of care.50300:20:49.920 --> 00:20:51.180Not all of it is beneficial.50400:20:51.480 --> 00:20:53.580In this movement, part of it is about50500:20:53.580 --> 00:20:56.620calling on the medical systems not to charge50600:20:56.620 --> 00:20:58.860us an arm and a leg by furthering50700:20:58.860 --> 00:21:00.140treatments that aren't necessary.50800:21:00.820 --> 00:21:05.240Families can go bankrupt with chemotherapy regimens.50900:21:05.580 --> 00:21:08.680Widows can be left without real funds because51000:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.820they've tried everything.51100:21:09.960 --> 00:21:11.520They've flown all over the country to see51200:21:11.520 --> 00:21:13.860the best doctors, and death still happens.51300:21:14.780 --> 00:21:17.640So we want to bring death back into51400:21:17.640 --> 00:21:19.900conversation, and we want to prepare for it,51500:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.960and know that there is a point where51600:21:21.960 --> 00:21:23.720it's reasonable to let go.51700:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.780And it's truthful to say, this is not51800:21:25.780 --> 00:21:26.260the end.51900:21:26.620 --> 00:21:29.160This is the end in this body, but52000:21:29.160 --> 00:21:32.600this body will be preserved for resurrection, a52100:21:32.600 --> 00:21:33.660transformed body.52200:21:34.020 --> 00:21:36.040These are really important things for us to52300:21:36.040 --> 00:21:38.020reconnect with in this movement.52400:21:38.880 --> 00:21:41.200As much as we need to call on52500:21:41.200 --> 00:21:46.520the medical establishment to help us make reasonable52600:21:46.520 --> 00:21:51.080decisions, we need to consider what resurrection means52700:21:51.080 --> 00:21:52.720again, and what it means in our life.52800:21:53.540 --> 00:21:55.960And the longer I spend as an end52900:21:55.960 --> 00:21:59.100-of-life doula, currently the only Christian trainer,53000:21:59.960 --> 00:22:01.960the movement's becoming more and more anti-God.53100:22:02.140 --> 00:22:02.780It's unbelievable.53200:22:03.100 --> 00:22:06.380The shift it made after COVID is unbelievable.53300:22:06.640 --> 00:22:10.000I was enrolled in some collectives wanting to53400:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.900be a part.53500:22:11.120 --> 00:22:12.700I believe in living my faith out in53600:22:12.700 --> 00:22:14.760the world, and it's dissolved.53700:22:15.040 --> 00:22:16.900I don't even see a place for me53800:22:16.900 --> 00:22:19.260at all, and for my training at all.53900:22:19.440 --> 00:22:23.100And so, talking with doulas, we've made this54000:22:23.100 --> 00:22:27.200great realization that, okay, we need to invite54100:22:27.200 --> 00:22:27.580them in.54200:22:27.640 --> 00:22:29.740We need to invite those who have lost54300:22:29.740 --> 00:22:34.120the touch with reality into this great resurrection54400:22:34.120 --> 00:22:34.500hope.54500:22:34.600 --> 00:22:36.720And it's something we can do, being a54600:22:36.720 --> 00:22:39.800movement inside this greater movement, a movement of54700:22:39.800 --> 00:22:42.400resurrection hope for the body of Christ.54800:22:42.620 --> 00:22:45.520And this takes us back to early believers.54900:22:46.060 --> 00:22:48.460And so, one thing I teach in training55000:22:48.460 --> 00:22:52.740is looking at the first century Christians, and55100:22:52.740 --> 00:22:55.260one book we study is Surprised by Hope55200:22:55.260 --> 00:22:56.200by N.T. Wright.55300:22:56.400 --> 00:23:00.040Lots of love about that book, some things55400:23:00.040 --> 00:23:03.260to disagree with, perhaps, but definitely, I believe,55500:23:03.340 --> 00:23:04.380worth the read.55600:23:04.640 --> 00:23:06.880But N.T. Wright is good about talking55700:23:06.880 --> 00:23:10.680about the early Christians and how they lived55800:23:10.680 --> 00:23:14.040in anticipation of the resurrection, and that resurrection55900:23:14.040 --> 00:23:16.120didn't begin with Christianity.56000:23:16.860 --> 00:23:21.420Jewish believers also believed in resurrection, and Daniel56100:23:21.420 --> 00:23:23.880in the Old Testament is witness to that.56200:23:23.880 --> 00:23:26.800And, you know, before Jesus died and was56300:23:26.800 --> 00:23:29.440raised, when Lazarus died and he called him56400:23:29.440 --> 00:23:31.720out from his grave, one of Lazarus's sisters56500:23:31.720 --> 00:23:33.940said, well, I know he'll be raised on56600:23:33.940 --> 00:23:34.580the last day.56700:23:34.760 --> 00:23:39.500So, resurrection and eschatology of God ending things56800:23:39.500 --> 00:23:41.680here in this present earth and making things56900:23:41.680 --> 00:23:44.700right was part of Jewish belief.57000:23:45.200 --> 00:23:47.040So, Christians have adapted that.57100:23:47.160 --> 00:23:49.220God has come, and Jesus, in the middle57200:23:49.220 --> 00:23:52.200of time, died and been raised.57300:23:52.400 --> 00:23:55.740So, as Christians, we now make that our57400:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.260great hope.57500:23:56.620 --> 00:24:00.620Early Christians, they had burial associations.57600:24:01.080 --> 00:24:04.600They tended to one another in community fashion.57700:24:05.060 --> 00:24:07.420And so, you know, we're kind of getting57800:24:07.420 --> 00:24:08.600back to something like that.57900:24:08.680 --> 00:24:10.680You know, we're looking at communities again, and58000:24:10.680 --> 00:24:13.080how do we become a part of, you58100:24:13.080 --> 00:24:15.300know, this end-of-life commitment that we're58200:24:15.300 --> 00:24:17.960committed to with Christian truth?58300:24:18.680 --> 00:24:20.940And so, I'm just going to read a58400:24:20.940 --> 00:24:21.260quote.58500:24:21.640 --> 00:24:24.280This comes from a book called Classical Pastoral58600:24:24.280 --> 00:24:25.660Care by Thomas Oden.58700:24:25.940 --> 00:24:28.520The care of persons takes place within a58800:24:28.520 --> 00:24:31.280vision of history that looks toward history's end.58900:24:32.020 --> 00:24:34.660This is for us the perfection of love,59000:24:34.840 --> 00:24:36.860to have confidence on the day of judgment.59100:24:36.860 --> 00:24:39.380And this we can have because in this59200:24:39.380 --> 00:24:42.600world, we are as He is, 1 John59300:24:42.600 --> 00:24:43.6404, 17.59400:24:44.140 --> 00:24:47.080Perfect love, the final end of the Christian59500:24:47.080 --> 00:24:49.400life, is seen under the aspect of hope.59600:24:50.080 --> 00:24:54.840Early Christian pastors thought often and deeply about59700:24:54.840 --> 00:24:57.560this end-time vision of fulfillment and viewed59800:24:57.560 --> 00:25:00.760this perspective as an integral part of their59900:25:00.760 --> 00:25:02.540care for the living and the dying.60000:25:02.540 --> 00:25:05.240So here, we're called back, you know, calling60100:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.720this community back to this.60200:25:07.040 --> 00:25:11.880And further into the New Testament, the Thessalonians60300:25:11.880 --> 00:25:15.560who were alive after Jesus had been raised60400:25:15.560 --> 00:25:18.760from the dead, they were in that first60500:25:18.760 --> 00:25:21.980generation, community members began to die.60600:25:22.160 --> 00:25:26.040And they were converts and, you know, from60700:25:26.040 --> 00:25:27.540pagan religion.60800:25:28.000 --> 00:25:32.100So they were, are Gentiles, and they had60900:25:32.100 --> 00:25:33.780to learn a whole new way about death.61000:25:34.220 --> 00:25:36.220You know, pagan people, they did not have61100:25:36.220 --> 00:25:37.600a concept of resurrection.61200:25:38.280 --> 00:25:40.580And so they asked Paul, well, what about61300:25:40.580 --> 00:25:42.080the believers who have already died?61400:25:42.460 --> 00:25:47.420Paul responds in 1 Thessalonians 4, I'm reading61500:25:47.420 --> 00:25:52.00015 and 16 here, according to the Lord's61600:25:52.000 --> 00:25:55.060word, we tell you that we who are61700:25:55.060 --> 00:25:57.760still alive, who are left until the coming61800:25:57.760 --> 00:26:00.880of the Lord, will certainly not precede those61900:26:00.880 --> 00:26:01.940who have fallen asleep.62000:26:02.560 --> 00:26:04.440For the Lord himself will come down from62100:26:04.440 --> 00:26:07.180heaven with a loud command, with the voice62200:26:07.180 --> 00:26:09.280of the archangel and with the trumpet call62300:26:09.280 --> 00:26:12.020of God, and the dead in Christ will62400:26:12.020 --> 00:26:12.720rise first.62500:26:12.760 --> 00:26:14.560I don't think we think about that at62600:26:14.560 --> 00:26:18.080end of life, that when Jesus returns, those62700:26:18.080 --> 00:26:20.280who have died in Christ, the believers who62800:26:20.280 --> 00:26:22.760are with him now in the present heaven,62900:26:23.360 --> 00:26:26.740have priority in their transformation, even over the63000:26:26.740 --> 00:26:26.960living.63100:26:26.960 --> 00:26:29.120So they are prioritized.63200:26:29.860 --> 00:26:32.760And I mean, how much more can we63300:26:32.760 --> 00:26:34.700say to shape the way that we care63400:26:34.700 --> 00:26:36.800for people who are dying?63500:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.180So it's right there.63600:26:38.400 --> 00:26:40.820And so I want to say that, you63700:26:40.820 --> 00:26:42.840know, we don't know when that'll be, if63800:26:42.840 --> 00:26:46.260it's our generation that Jesus returns to, if63900:26:46.260 --> 00:26:49.100it's one, seven generations from now, we don't64000:26:49.100 --> 00:26:51.340know, doesn't do us any good to guess.64100:26:51.400 --> 00:26:53.240The Bible says that only God knows the64200:26:53.240 --> 00:26:56.180Jesus doesn't even know, but there will be64300:26:56.180 --> 00:26:57.400a generation that is alive.64400:26:57.980 --> 00:26:59.200And the scripture says that.64500:26:59.400 --> 00:27:01.480And what should we be doing?64600:27:01.580 --> 00:27:02.760There's a lot that we should be doing.64700:27:02.860 --> 00:27:05.700We should be tending to God's current creation.64800:27:06.060 --> 00:27:09.580And that becomes, we become more freed up64900:27:09.580 --> 00:27:13.040to do that in God's will, as he65000:27:13.040 --> 00:27:16.820frees us from our, you know, negative proclivities65100:27:16.820 --> 00:27:20.460to ourself, turned inward, what we love about65200:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.020ourself.65300:27:21.500 --> 00:27:23.080What we, you know, want everybody to know65400:27:23.080 --> 00:27:25.880about ourself is often not really where we65500:27:25.880 --> 00:27:26.160serve.65600:27:26.900 --> 00:27:28.320But one of the things we will be65700:27:28.320 --> 00:27:29.740doing is we'll be tending to the dying.65800:27:30.020 --> 00:27:32.360And we're looking at this generation, we have65900:27:32.360 --> 00:27:35.980baby boomers, you know, largest generation in American66000:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.580history.66100:27:37.580 --> 00:27:40.520And we have, you know, I think they're66200:27:40.520 --> 00:27:43.860saying 10,000 people turn 65 daily.66300:27:44.820 --> 00:27:49.100You know, more statistics inside my head, 6566400:27:49.100 --> 00:27:53.220and older, single adults is over 15 million66500:27:53.220 --> 00:27:54.840people, that's just here in America.66600:27:55.440 --> 00:27:59.540We've got real statistics ahead that are going66700:27:59.540 --> 00:28:01.200to change the way that we do end66800:28:01.200 --> 00:28:02.820-of-life care, not just here as Christians,66900:28:03.000 --> 00:28:05.160but across the board and across the world.67000:28:05.320 --> 00:28:07.580A lot of these aging seniors are our67100:28:07.580 --> 00:28:07.940doctors.67200:28:08.200 --> 00:28:10.300Great book, not written by a Christian, but67300:28:10.300 --> 00:28:11.600still very much recommended.67400:28:11.820 --> 00:28:15.300It's required in the professional training, recommended in67500:28:15.300 --> 00:28:18.740the volunteer training, Being Mortal by Atul Gawande.67600:28:18.900 --> 00:28:19.720He's a surgeon.67700:28:20.980 --> 00:28:24.320He says that gerontology, one of the most67800:28:24.320 --> 00:28:28.520just simplistic professions, like, that's what aging people67900:28:28.520 --> 00:28:28.780need.68000:28:28.840 --> 00:28:29.900They need a gerontologist.68100:28:30.280 --> 00:28:34.300Gerontologists provide aging people with very simple explanations68200:28:34.300 --> 00:28:35.900to some of their physical problems.68300:28:36.000 --> 00:28:37.620It may be you simply need to change68400:28:37.620 --> 00:28:38.060your shoes.68500:28:38.220 --> 00:28:41.380But he said that field is full of68600:28:41.380 --> 00:28:42.140baby boomers.68700:28:42.460 --> 00:28:43.920And when he wrote his book, which has68800:28:43.920 --> 00:28:46.840probably been, I don't know, eight years, people68900:28:46.840 --> 00:28:48.420aren't going to that specialty anymore.69000:28:48.600 --> 00:28:49.680I mean, that's a loss.69100:28:51.020 --> 00:28:55.340And so, you know, government, stock exchange, people69200:28:55.340 --> 00:28:58.260are looking at the silver tsunami, they call69300:28:58.260 --> 00:28:58.400it.69400:28:59.120 --> 00:29:01.440How is this going to impact our country?69500:29:01.600 --> 00:29:03.860How is it going to impact our financial69600:29:03.860 --> 00:29:04.740state?69700:29:05.360 --> 00:29:07.140You know, we think of Social Security and69800:29:07.140 --> 00:29:09.240Medicare, and I think I've heard before that69900:29:09.240 --> 00:29:13.640most Medicare funds are used on end-of70000:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.140-life care.70100:29:14.960 --> 00:29:17.680So these are serious things to think about.70200:29:17.740 --> 00:29:20.060And it presents a crisis, and a crisis70300:29:20.060 --> 00:29:23.080that resurrection is not at the front of70400:29:23.080 --> 00:29:23.620the conversation.70500:29:23.820 --> 00:29:25.480So I hope that we can bring it70600:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.960to be there.70700:29:29.020 --> 00:29:31.880You know, this can be a little touchy,70800:29:32.040 --> 00:29:33.740and so I just ask you to take70900:29:33.740 --> 00:29:36.700it with, you know, ease and pray about71000:29:36.700 --> 00:29:36.860it.71100:29:37.000 --> 00:29:41.140But there we have an idea often in71200:29:41.140 --> 00:29:44.200evangelicalism, and it's been here for a long71300:29:44.200 --> 00:29:47.400time in the church, but that there's, you71400:29:47.400 --> 00:29:51.380know, immortality at creation, and that there's, you71500:29:51.380 --> 00:29:53.880know, an immortal soul that leaves its body71600:29:53.880 --> 00:29:57.240and is in heaven forever or not in71700:29:57.240 --> 00:29:57.800heaven forever.71800:29:58.040 --> 00:30:00.040And I don't really want to get into71900:30:00.040 --> 00:30:01.700a theological debate about it.72000:30:01.700 --> 00:30:03.120I just want to point a few things72100:30:03.120 --> 00:30:05.580out in Scripture that might bring us hope.72200:30:06.300 --> 00:30:08.720And one of those is in Timothy.72300:30:08.920 --> 00:30:10.820Actually, two of them are in Timothy, one72400:30:10.820 --> 00:30:13.020in the first book and one in the72500:30:13.020 --> 00:30:13.740second book.72600:30:14.480 --> 00:30:17.800Scripture declares immortality is revealed only in Jesus,72700:30:18.140 --> 00:30:21.580and this is 2 Timothy 1.10. It72800:30:21.580 --> 00:30:23.780has now been revealed through the appearing of72900:30:23.780 --> 00:30:27.180our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has destroyed death73000:30:27.180 --> 00:30:30.280and has brought life and immortality to life73100:30:30.280 --> 00:30:31.320through the gospel.73200:30:31.740 --> 00:30:34.080Contrary to what we may believe, only God73300:30:34.080 --> 00:30:37.440is immortal, that immortality is revealed to us73400:30:37.440 --> 00:30:38.660in Christ through the gospel.73500:30:38.900 --> 00:30:41.900So the importance of us sharing the gospel73600:30:41.900 --> 00:30:45.580with someone is to reveal immortality that's only73700:30:45.580 --> 00:30:48.340available in Jesus Christ or to be bearers73800:30:48.340 --> 00:30:48.880of the news.73900:30:49.040 --> 00:30:50.780We're not the ones who reveal it, but74000:30:50.780 --> 00:30:52.400we're bearers of the news.74100:30:52.910 --> 00:30:56.000And so the immortal soul is a misused74200:30:56.000 --> 00:31:01.580concept of human immortality, often referenced in Christian74300:31:01.580 --> 00:31:03.680theology, preaching, and evangelism.74400:31:04.220 --> 00:31:07.880And as a matter of corrective, we should74500:31:07.880 --> 00:31:09.860pay close attention to these words of Paul74600:31:09.860 --> 00:31:11.160to his companion Timothy.74700:31:11.740 --> 00:31:14.100So I messed up.74800:31:14.180 --> 00:31:16.380I didn't read after, contrary to what we74900:31:16.380 --> 00:31:17.680believe, only God is immortal.75000:31:17.860 --> 00:31:20.860That is written in 1 Timothy 6.16.75100:31:20.860 --> 00:31:23.940So if you're taking notes, I recommend just75200:31:23.940 --> 00:31:27.100writing down 2 Timothy 1.10 and 175300:31:27.100 --> 00:31:30.980Timothy 6.16 and reading those passages and75400:31:30.980 --> 00:31:35.200just seeing how you view that, how you75500:31:35.200 --> 00:31:36.720read that.75600:31:36.860 --> 00:31:38.200But I want to harken back to Genesis75700:31:38.200 --> 00:31:41.260for a minute because this revelation is not75800:31:41.260 --> 00:31:44.380new to Timothy and us by reading the75900:31:44.380 --> 00:31:47.340New Testament, but it begins in God's story,76000:31:47.680 --> 00:31:49.000salvation story in Genesis.76100:31:49.000 --> 00:31:52.240And so I said that Adam and Eve76200:31:52.240 --> 00:31:54.960had eaten of the tree of knowledge of76300:31:54.960 --> 00:31:55.580good and evil.76400:31:55.760 --> 00:31:58.260And so God exiles them out of the76500:31:58.260 --> 00:32:01.480garden so that they would not take of76600:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.860the tree of life and eat forever.76700:32:03.020 --> 00:32:07.820That's Genesis 3.22. So he creates us76800:32:07.820 --> 00:32:10.780for immortality, but he must bestow it by76900:32:10.780 --> 00:32:11.260his grace.77000:32:11.360 --> 00:32:14.060It's not inherent to human creation.77100:32:15.300 --> 00:32:17.900So God guards the way to the tree77200:32:17.900 --> 00:32:20.720of life, preserving Adam and Eve from the77300:32:20.720 --> 00:32:24.380chance of immortality in their simple condition, and77400:32:24.380 --> 00:32:27.480sends Jesus, who is complete with immortality, to77500:32:27.480 --> 00:32:30.200be crucified on the life-giving tree and77600:32:30.200 --> 00:32:32.440grant it to those who believe in him.77700:32:33.020 --> 00:32:37.860And that's noted 1 Peter 2.24. So77800:32:37.860 --> 00:32:42.180immortality, when the early Christians buried their dead,77900:32:42.420 --> 00:32:46.200they would say, he is alive or she78000:32:46.200 --> 00:32:48.020is alive on their headstone.78100:32:48.700 --> 00:32:50.320We could do that.78200:32:50.500 --> 00:32:55.780We might want to consider that, thinking again78300:32:55.780 --> 00:32:57.780about those that we love so much that78400:32:57.780 --> 00:33:00.400are in the present heaven with Christ being78500:33:00.400 --> 00:33:02.440alive and being well and alive.78600:33:02.660 --> 00:33:04.720They're doing better than we are.78700:33:05.060 --> 00:33:09.280And another thing that might be new is78800:33:09.280 --> 00:33:10.340the interim state.78900:33:10.440 --> 00:33:13.820Again, not wishing to enter into a theological79000:33:13.820 --> 00:33:16.920debate because there's a lot of different views79100:33:16.920 --> 00:33:20.280on the interim state between death and resurrection,79200:33:20.680 --> 00:33:22.380but just a couple of points I want79300:33:22.380 --> 00:33:23.100to say.79400:33:23.300 --> 00:33:25.720It's a time of worship, joy, and refreshment79500:33:25.720 --> 00:33:26.620for God's people.79600:33:26.900 --> 00:33:27.640It's called paradise.79700:33:27.940 --> 00:33:29.960When Jesus speaks to the thief on the79800:33:29.960 --> 00:33:31.300cross and he says, you will be with79900:33:31.300 --> 00:33:33.680me in paradise today, we can think of80000:33:33.680 --> 00:33:35.280this place as paradise.80100:33:36.240 --> 00:33:40.180And it's not soul sleep.80200:33:40.580 --> 00:33:42.780Paul says the body's sleeping.80300:33:43.000 --> 00:33:45.780That's what's sleeping, but the believer is alive80400:33:45.780 --> 00:33:48.320and with Christ and conscious.80500:33:49.300 --> 00:33:52.620The Bible's not very clear in my understanding80600:33:52.620 --> 00:33:56.180of what exactly we look like.80700:33:57.040 --> 00:34:03.700Body-soul dualism, soul escaping, that's also popular80800:34:03.700 --> 00:34:05.620in Christian thought today.80900:34:06.000 --> 00:34:08.639But our soul is all of us.81000:34:08.820 --> 00:34:10.420It's not the physical part of our body,81100:34:10.500 --> 00:34:11.500but it's our personality.81200:34:11.719 --> 00:34:13.560It's everything that makes us who we are.81300:34:14.020 --> 00:34:16.360And if you've had a chance to see81400:34:16.360 --> 00:34:19.500someone after they've died, it's very apparent that81500:34:19.500 --> 00:34:21.360they are not there.81600:34:21.679 --> 00:34:24.179And as a believer, I find that for81700:34:24.179 --> 00:34:26.120those that I love that are in Christ,81800:34:26.260 --> 00:34:27.719I'm relieved at that.81900:34:27.719 --> 00:34:30.739So when we put their body in the82000:34:30.739 --> 00:34:33.540grave or cremate it, prepare it for burial,82100:34:33.880 --> 00:34:34.440it's okay.82200:34:34.699 --> 00:34:37.639That body, I mean, it's going to decompose82300:34:37.639 --> 00:34:40.340if nothing has happened, either decompose in the82400:34:40.340 --> 00:34:43.580ground or be cremated, but it needs to82500:34:43.580 --> 00:34:44.040be, right?82600:34:44.080 --> 00:34:45.400That's caring for the body.82700:34:45.580 --> 00:34:48.540Giving it a final resting for that earthly82800:34:48.540 --> 00:34:50.699body is ultimately important.82900:34:51.020 --> 00:34:54.480But that person who is now away from,83000:34:54.480 --> 00:34:57.700absent from the body is whole, but not83100:34:57.700 --> 00:34:58.900yet in the resurrected body.83200:34:59.000 --> 00:35:01.260That's coming at Christ's return.83300:35:01.420 --> 00:35:03.360So it's a lot to get your mind83400:35:03.360 --> 00:35:04.080wrapped around.83500:35:04.540 --> 00:35:07.000It's a lot to say, and a lot83600:35:07.000 --> 00:35:08.360of people have a conception.83700:35:09.460 --> 00:35:12.040I know my spouse is like this and83800:35:12.040 --> 00:35:13.880happened, or I've had a dream of my83900:35:13.880 --> 00:35:16.880brother visiting me, and I'm not an expert84000:35:16.880 --> 00:35:18.880there with any of those things.84100:35:19.020 --> 00:35:21.100I'm not an expert with near-death experiences,84200:35:21.460 --> 00:35:24.920but I look to Scripture and see the84300:35:24.920 --> 00:35:26.840promise that the dead will be raised and84400:35:26.840 --> 00:35:28.520the dead in Christ will be raised first,84500:35:29.100 --> 00:35:32.280and that there will be a new heaven84600:35:32.280 --> 00:35:34.500and a new earth, and that we will84700:35:34.500 --> 00:35:35.780live in it, we will steward it.84800:35:35.980 --> 00:35:37.520So we have so much to look forward84900:35:37.520 --> 00:35:37.840to.85000:35:38.240 --> 00:35:40.440But I go to baptism when I think85100:35:40.440 --> 00:35:43.320about what might be happening right now in85200:35:43.320 --> 00:35:45.820the present heaven, and I just think of,85300:35:46.500 --> 00:35:51.240we're closed with Christ's righteousness at baptism, and85400:35:51.240 --> 00:35:54.560that we can trust that in God's mercy85500:35:54.560 --> 00:35:57.280and goodness that at death, that same righteous85600:35:57.280 --> 00:36:00.080covering is on the believers.85700:36:00.420 --> 00:36:03.420And so that is enough for this interim85800:36:03.420 --> 00:36:05.640period, whatever that may look like or whatever85900:36:05.640 --> 00:36:08.020that may mean, but they are safe and86000:36:08.020 --> 00:36:08.840they are at rest.86100:36:09.220 --> 00:36:11.020They are not lacking anything.86200:36:11.260 --> 00:36:14.480We lack so much more in our present86300:36:14.480 --> 00:36:17.100bodies of decay than they lack in that86400:36:17.100 --> 00:36:18.240present state.86500:36:19.200 --> 00:36:20.540So comfort.86600:36:20.920 --> 00:36:21.840Dying is not easy.86700:36:22.080 --> 00:36:23.480It's not easy for the people who are86800:36:23.480 --> 00:36:25.420facing it with the person they love.86900:36:25.520 --> 00:36:28.720The complicated nature of medical care, funeral plans,87000:36:28.980 --> 00:36:30.920burial plans, it's hard.87100:36:31.100 --> 00:36:33.260And it reminds us that it was not87200:36:33.260 --> 00:36:36.440part of what God created us to be.87300:36:36.820 --> 00:36:40.440So He has blessed us with mercy, with87400:36:40.440 --> 00:36:43.220salvation, in spite of human choice.87500:36:43.520 --> 00:36:45.360And we can rest in that now.87600:36:45.600 --> 00:36:47.300We can rest that those that we love87700:36:47.300 --> 00:36:48.460are with Christ.87800:36:48.880 --> 00:36:53.620And that brings us to say the good87900:36:53.620 --> 00:36:56.200news of the gospel is really the good88000:36:56.200 --> 00:36:56.540news.88100:36:57.000 --> 00:36:58.880So my time is up.88200:36:59.060 --> 00:37:02.660I hope that I taught you something today88300:37:02.660 --> 00:37:05.340that is meaningful for your work.88400:37:05.340 --> 00:37:08.280And if you are just here as a88500:37:08.280 --> 00:37:10.860guest, not part of the training community, that88600:37:10.860 --> 00:37:14.620you will come join us inside our community88700:37:14.620 --> 00:37:17.380because we do have fellowship opportunities and we're88800:37:17.380 --> 00:37:18.440only at the beginning.88900:37:18.700 --> 00:37:20.820We're developing more fellowship opportunities.89000:37:21.360 --> 00:37:25.060We're waiting for the platform, convene communities.89100:37:25.320 --> 00:37:27.740They are about to have a brand new89200:37:27.740 --> 00:37:28.120platform.89300:37:28.220 --> 00:37:30.120And it's not just a little upgrade, like,89400:37:31.040 --> 00:37:32.760you know, it's not an upgrade.89500:37:32.900 --> 00:37:33.820It's a new platform.89600:37:34.160 --> 00:37:35.240And we can kind of think of it89700:37:35.240 --> 00:37:37.400from the aspect of faith.89800:37:37.700 --> 00:37:39.260When God really comes in and does something89900:37:39.260 --> 00:37:40.620in our life, He doesn't just do a90000:37:40.620 --> 00:37:40.940little bit.90100:37:40.980 --> 00:37:42.260He does a lot oftentimes.90200:37:42.860 --> 00:37:45.280And we're made new in areas of our90300:37:45.280 --> 00:37:48.480life that have been stuck to bondage to90400:37:48.480 --> 00:37:48.880sin.90500:37:49.300 --> 00:37:51.560And He is merciful.90600:37:52.080 --> 00:37:53.880And so sort of as a joke, we're90700:37:53.880 --> 00:37:55.700getting a whole new platform and it's going90800:37:55.700 --> 00:37:58.720to work in a whole different capacity, yet90900:37:58.720 --> 00:38:03.940retain the very good attributes such as being91000:38:03.940 --> 00:38:05.520able to collaborate and connect.91100:38:05.900 --> 00:38:08.020And it's just going to make that easier91200:38:08.020 --> 00:38:09.360and more user-friendly.91300:38:09.660 --> 00:38:11.540There's more to talk about with Resurrection Hope.91400:38:11.680 --> 00:38:14.100This is, you know, what I have time91500:38:14.100 --> 00:38:15.820spaced out for today.91600:38:15.980 --> 00:38:19.080But this discussion is to continue and it's91700:38:19.080 --> 00:38:21.720threaded throughout the training curriculums.