Roblog

Yesterday, I had the privilege of presiding over a time of remembrance and prayer with family and friends at the dedication of a memorial marker for Michael Schroeder, who left this world for the face-to-face presence of God on March 12, 2012.  Michael’s wife Lisa commissioned a beautiful marker (below) to provide their sons, Kyle, Blake and Derek, a means of teaching, as God wills, their children of their grandfather’s faith in the promise of God.  Here is what I shared.

The practice of setting up memorials has strong biblical precedent.  At several important junctures in Israel’s history God directed his people to commemorate an event by the setting up of stones—stones that call the people to remember God’s faithfulness.

One such occasion is recorded in Joshua 4, when the Israelites at last cross the Jordan River into the land promised to Abraham.  The crossing was by God’s power, because the river, which was at flood stage, was halted in its course so that Israel could cross on dry land.  After the crossing one man from each of the 12 tribes was to take a stone from the dry bed of the Jordan for setting up of memorial at Gilgal, east of the Jordan. « Read the rest of this entry »