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Rev Patrick Notley
Rev. Patrick Notley is the Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church located at 525 N. Broadway in downtown Wichita. Reverend Notley received an MA in Divinity at San Francisco Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, VA. Born in Denver, CO and raised on the East Coast, Reverend Notley along with his wife, relocated to Wichita in 1997 to join the church, where he is responsible for Evangelism Educational programs. You can reach Reverend Notley at (316) 263-0248 ext. 22 or by email at pwnotley@firstpresbywichita.org
Religion
2005-09-01 11:27:00
“We can all be certain they are in a better place.” How do we know?
: I recently attended my nephew's funeral.  He had been killed in a car accident.  He was only 27.  The minister who gave the eulogy said three different times, "We can all be certain that Tommy's in a better place."  I am sure he said this to help console the family, but isn't there another way?  Why do members of the clergy say this at funerals so often when there is no way to know where Tommy's soul is... for sure?
ANSWER:  The eighth chapter of the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans, offers a great deal of clues to why members of the clergy often use words that claim a certainty about where a person ultimately resides after their death.  Paul uses some of the most powerful and poetic words to share his understanding that God's intention is to bring all of creation into a holy and healthy union with God's self.  Paul notes that there is nothing that will separate God from those whom God chooses as God's own.  Paul, in later chapters goes on to explain that while we do not have any control over whom God will choose, it is God's intention from the very beginning of time that all that has been created will come under God's ultimate reign.  So it is with that understanding that I, when officiating at a funeral can with confidence state that the person who has died is now with God, because I understand that God's will is that all people, in fact all creation will be rectified and will thus be with God.
 
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