5 Jun, 2008
Need a snack?
Pringles can designer is buried in his own work
Cincinnati... The man who designed the Pringles potato crisp tube was so proud of his accomplishment that some of his ashes have been buried in one of the iconic tall, circular cans. Fredric J. Baur died at Vitas Hospice in Cincinnati, on May 4. He was 89. A portion of his ashes was also placed in an urn and buried in his grave alongside the can. The rest of the ashes were put in another urn and given to his grandson. (AP)
photo & story courtesy timesonline.co.uk, 6/3/08
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)
11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:17-22 (NLT)
17 I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”
18 I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals. 19 For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless! 20 Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust. 21 For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why we are here! No one will bring us back from death to enjoy life after we die.
In today's God's Story scripture, what do Solomon's thoughts about life after death teach us?
The study notes from Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE help us understand the answer:
3:19-22 Our bodies can't live forever in their present state. In that sense, humans and animals are alike. But Solomon acknowledged that God has given people the hope of eternity and that we will undergo judgment in the next life (3:17; 12:7, 14) - making us different from animals. Because we have eternity planted in our heart, we have a unique purpose in God's overall plan. Yet we cannot discover God's purpose for our life by our own efforts - only through building a relationship with Him and seeking His guidance. Are you now living as God wants? Do you see life as a gift from Him?
Sadly, many people around us view life after death as sort of a casual topic for conversation that you would have while snacking on Pringles. I don't know anything about Mr. Baur's spiritual beliefs, but he clearly understood the spiritual truth of God the day he died. His soul found it's eternal home in either heaven or hell, even though his remains will last on planet Earth in that Pringles can for awhile.
How about you? Are you ready for where your soul will remain after your earthly remains are disposed of? Are you helping others understand how to get ready for eternity?
- Thank God for the gift of life. Praise Him that you are His unique creation, with a soul that will live forever! If you know Christ as your Savior, worship Him right now...thank Him for His promise to bring you to His Heavenly home for eternity. If you don't know Christ and have not received His forgiveness for your sins, which only He can provide, ask Him to be your Savior right now....He will come into your life and He promises that what remains for you after death is life with all of God's family in Heaven forever!
- Memorize Ecclesiastes 3:11 as a reminder that God's love for everyone is a pursuing love. He has "planted eternity in the human heart".
- Whenever you see or eat Pringles, let this remind you that people around you need to know what remains for eternity after their earthly remains are gone.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Pray every day for God to prepare you to help someone near you understand this "eternity" that God has placed in our hearts.
- The next time you are hanging out and snacking with a friend or family member who needs Jesus, talk about the Pringles guy being buried in one of his snack cans. Ask your friend if her or she ever thinks about what happens to us after we die? Your most important role here is to LISTEN.
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