Today I went to Mr. Epperson's funeral. He was 98. He went into the hospital
a few days ago with congestive heart failure.  Up until then, he was doing well for his age.
He still drove his car around town and frequented the restaurants.

His daughter told him they had reserved a room for him when he got out of the hospital
where they would take care of him but he motioned upward and said, "No, I'm going up",
and so he did.  It was as if he knew it was his time.

I remember him as a good Christian man who sat in the same place every Sunday
so I will miss seeing him there.

There is a beautiful wooden cross high up on the wall, above the pulpit, in the
front of our church.  To look at the cross, you have to look upward.

Mr. Epperson said something about that and I hope I will always remember his words.
It is a testimony to all of us who have all of our faculties working well but often don't
do the things that we should.  Mr. Epperson couldn't hear much anymore, but he still
came to church.  He said, "I come to church to look at the cross and to give the Savior my time."

What a testimony!  Isn't that the reason that we all should have for going to church?

“But God forbid that I should boast
except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom the world has been crucified to me,
and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14
 

 by
Pamela R. Blaine
May 2, 2003