Serving Christ

Let's listen in on the funeral of Colonel Bo Brekke:

‘WELCOME in the name of the risen Christ!’ With these words General Shaw Clifton greeted the congregation which had gathered for the funeral of Colonel Bo Brekke on 9 October 2007 at 11am in the Oslo Temple Corps, Norway. ‘We are people who know about resurrection, about Heaven and eternity with Christ,’ he continued, adding: ‘It is a beautiful death to die in Christ.’

‘When we run out of words we turn to Scripture,’ said the General, wanting God’s Word to be foremost on this occasion. He quoted Matthew 10:28: ‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.’ He told the congregation: ‘Do not be afraid! We need to take this to heart. We have no guarantee of tomorrow, but Revelation 2:10 tells us that, if faithful, even to the point of death, God will give us the crown of life.’

He continued: ‘I have one more question. There is now a gap in the ranks of soldiers, officers and senior leaders. The Army is hurting. Which of you will step forward, ready to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice: “You must stand in the gap”? Out of evil, ugliness, sin and cruelty it is God’s nature to bring something of surpassing beauty that today we cannot see. Unmatched beauty will come from all of this. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.’

2 Thessalonians 1:12 (MSG)
12 If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.