Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

Ashes to ashes

By Dr Knox Herndon
Contributing Writer

I just returned from my yearly pilgrimage to Alaska. I got in Thursday night at midnight on a Delta flight from Salt Lake City into Atlanta.

The reason this is important is that the storms we have been having are creating havoc on air travel. I had never seen the airports so packed. People were sleeping on the floors everywhere and there were very few seats to be had in any of the waiting rooms. I will have to commend Delta here on their handling of the situation. They did a great job getting me back to Dee and the kids.

While in Alaska we did something very special. I had the honor of being a part of a burial service and the spreading of the ashes of Jack Fleming.

Jack is the brother of a dear friend and long-standing hunting friend, Roger Fleming. Jack had come out to this spot with his brother and shot a moose one year. Roger and I both came to North Country River Charters at about the same time.

Roger and I spent many days together watching a field for the elusive moose. Roger keeps our operation going as Bill O'Halloran's No. 2 in command. Roger has a special knack for keeping things moving in what he does for North Country River Charters. Roger is a specially talented person.

We went out to a place that was one of our many special hunting places for many years. It was strange to go to this place with all the memories that flood your mind. Each year we have had the basic same crew —Ê me, Bill, Roger, Paul and Eric.

This year for me there was a new face, Joe. Each new person adds a nuance to the dynamics of the operation. This is especially true when six men are all snoring in the same large wall tent! It has been rumored by Joe that I snore, but I could never verify it because I have never "HEARD" myself snore! There are very few men still living who have accused me of this.

God's Word says that "with Christ all things are new." This was seen in even the Alaskan landscape in which millions of acres were burned this year as never before. The wildfires created statewide smoke which could be seen in all cities. People were wearing masks in certain areas to filter out the smoke.

Although no one wants to see the fires come, they do produce "newness of life" with all the new undergrowth that is burned and replaced. This creates new habitat for all forms of "new life."

In Jack's service, Roger asked me to provide Jack with a Christian burial and then Roger spread his ashes. I shared that Jesus told His followers that He went to prepare a place for them and that all who received Him, He would receive unto Himself. I shared that Jesus said that He was "the way, the truth, and the life" and that through Him and Him alone could one have eternal life. This we all agreed on.

Roger then took Jack's ashes and spread some of them around a spot in the middle of our camp and then placed an American Flag in the middle of the ashes. I then quoted God's Word again, "ashes to ashes, dust to dust." It is certain that we come into this world with nothing and we take nothing with us.

I then asked Roger if he had any last remarks for Jack and he said, "as I spread Jack's ashes here at a spot we all dearly love, I will also spread them here at Baker Creek which will flow into the Tanana River which will converge with the mighty Yukon River which will eventually journey into the mighty Arctic Ocean." He spread them on the water and we all saluted.

I felt honored to have been a part of Jack's service and the spreading of his ashes. I only hope that when my final resting takes place, that I am there with my family and dear friends that were all circled like we witnessed at Baker Creek.

The best part was the fact that God's Words of eternal life and hope were in our hearts.

Our new church is 75 percent fininshed.ÊCome see! Check out our church website at: www.hishousecommunitychurch.com. Check out our New God and Country Outreach Website at: www.ddaytravelingmuseum.com

Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor of "His House Community Church" (SBC) on Ga. Highway 85 South near Senoia.ÊAs you leave Fayetteville going South on Hwy. 85, cross Hwy. 16 at the Senoia intersection. It is a mile on the right just below the fire station. If you are not in a church, come visit us. Church office and Prayer line 770-719-2365. E-mailÊat Khern2365@aol.com.