1 Mar, 2007
Where will Anna Nicole Smith be buried?
Anyone else getting tired of this story?
Anna Nicole Smith To Be Buried In The Bahamas; Mother Appealing Court's Decision
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Anna Nicole Smith will be buried in the Bahamas beside her son, the court-appointed guardian of her infant daughter decided last week, but Smith's mother is appealing the decision.
The judge presiding over the Smith burial hearing ruled that Smith's remains should be given to the court-appointed guardian ad litem representing her 5-month-old daughter, Dannielynn.
Broward County Circuit Court Judge Larry Seidlin said the guardian, attorney Richard Milstein, had to consult with Smith's estranged mother Virgie Arthur, her companion Howard K. Stern and her ex-boyfriend, Larry Birkhead, when he made his decision about where Smith would be buried. Birkhead and Stern both claim they are Dannielynn's father.
Arthur is appealing the decision, her attorney told FOX News.
A paternity hearing to determine the identity of Dannielynn's father may be held, also in Florida, but under a different judge.
photo & text courtesy foxnews.com, 02/23/07
Matthew 8:18-22 (NLT)
The Cost of Following Jesus
18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake.
19 Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 But Jesus replied,
21 Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus told him,
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about a total commitment to living for Jesus Christ?
First of all, don't you wish that everyone involved with the Anna Nicole Smith story could understand God's Story? I was trying to resist writing about this celebrity mess, but this story is in the news every day! So, let's find out if there's a connection with today's scripture.
This is a somewhat difficult passage to understand, so let's look at the study notes from Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE:
8:21, 22 It is possible that this disciple was not asking permission to go to his father's funeral but rather to put off following Jesus until his elderly father died. Perhaps the was the firstborn son and wanted to be sure to claim his inheritance. Perhaps he didn't want to face his father's wrath if he left the family business to follow an itinerant preacher. Whether his concern was financial security, family approval, or something else, he did not want to commit himself to Jesus just yet. Jesus, however, would not accept his excuse.
Jesus was always direct with those who wanted to follow him. He made sure they counted the cost and set aside any conditions they might have for following him....the decision to follow Jesus should not be put off, even though other loyalties compete for our attention. Nothing should be placed above a total commitment to living for him.
There are many lessons from the Anna Nicole Smith story, but one of the most obvious is that when people are focused on themselves - sin, greed, heartache and hopelessness become the focus of life.
Sadly, the people in Anna's life are more concerned about the resting place of her body (and her money) rather than the resting place of their eternal souls.
Jesus is not telling us to ignore responsibility to family, but he wants us to make sure that we are focused on His eternal Kingdom. Following Jesus has a cost and we must be willing to let go of any earthly self-serving motives.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Take a few minutes to ask God to point out to you any way in which you are making excuses to not follow Jesus completely right now. Listen.....talk....confess....receive His forgiveness and hope....
- For two weeks, keep a written daily journal where you honestly evaluate if your day was more about serving yourself or Jesus?
- Ask another follower of Jesus to pray for you and hold you accountable in your desire to follow Jesus every day, without excuse.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Pray for each of your family members to see God's Story in you and to let Jesus change their life story.
- Whenever you see ongoing news accounts of the Anna Nicole Smith story, pray that followers of Jesus will come in contact with those involved. Pray especially that Dannielynn, the 5-month-old daughter, will grow up to know and follow Jesus.
- Use this story in conversation with someone in your storysphere who needs Jesus. Find out if he or she is tired of the media talking about the burial place of Anna Nicole Smith? This could be an opportunity for you to share more of your story and why you know the location of your eternal resting place.
- May 2008 [8]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [19]
- January 2008 [21]
- December 2007 [20]
- November 2007 [19]
- October 2007 [20]
- September 2007 [19]
- August 2007 [20]
- July 2007 [18]
- June 2007 [19]
- May 2007 [18]
- April 2007 [13]
- March 2007 [17]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [9]
- December 2006 [6]
- November 2006 [15]
- October 2006 [18]
- September 2006 [12]
- August 2006 [17]
- July 2006 [14]
- June 2006 [4]
