Key Bible Verse: Yet we have this assurance: Those who belong to God will live; their bodies will rise again! (Isaiah 26:19). Bonus Reading: Romans 8:18-25

Winston Churchill arranged his own funeral. There were stately hymns in St. Paul's Cathedral and an impressive liturgy.

But at the end of the service, Churchill had an unusual event planned. After the benediction, a bugler high in the dome of the cathedral on one side played "Taps," the universal signal that the day is over. There was a long pause. Then a bugler on the other side played "Reveille," the military wake-up call.

I wish I could have been there. If I had been there, I know what I would have done. I'd have looked at the people seated near me and smiled at each one. I'd have smiled because I think Churchill, in addition to signifying his waking up in heaven, was sending a wake-up call to every living soul in that church. He was saying wake up to the fact that you are alive.

One day "Taps" will be played in the heavens for each of us as we depart this planet, but right now we need to awaken our souls to what lies before us. We need to shake off the dust of our past, live in the present, and on occasion take a glimpse into our future. As we do, we guard that final day of ours from being burdened with if-onlys.

—Les Parrott in Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda

My Response: If you died tomorrow, what would be on your "wish-I'd-done-it" list?

Thought to Apply: "Everyone knows they're going to die, but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently."—MORRIE SCHWARTZ (in Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie)

Adapted from Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda (Zondervan, 2003) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Lord, help me match my stance toward physical death with my confidence in the eternal life You gave me.

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