when you express compassion for their have helped to that most important issue with the man what it takes to inherit
situation. Combine your weeping with of sin and repentance and the need to be eternal life, as does the Levite, as does the
bold confidence in the goodness of God right with God. Extravagant Samaritan. Who do you
Almighty. 6. Trust God to do the miraculous in think the man would decide to listen to?
4. After you have heard from the Holy the physical and spiritual realms. I say uncertainty means opportunity!
Spirit, put action to your prayers. Touch For the sake of analogy, let’s take the
those that are wounded in the physical parable of the Extravagant Samaritan a Ken Davis, director of
realm and the spiritual realm. Let them little further. Six months after the end of Stewardship Ministries, is an
know the connection between your prac- the story as told by Jesus, let’s place the attorney and Church of God
tical compassion and a God they can man who was in the ditch in a room minister. He received his juris
trust for mercy and grace. with the three men who were on the doctorate degree from Duke
5. At the right time, point those you road that day. The priest wants to share University School of Law.
Will and Estate Planning
Even in uncertain times, death is still certain.
by JODI REECE HARRIS
spouse does not receive everything owned aster could take place. If the court decides
by the couple. Without a will, much of the for you, it may not choose the same peo-
T
HE BUGLE SOUNDS out the assets will go to the children instead of going ple you would have chosen. The court
notes to the well-known “Taps,” entirely to the spouse. could choose someone who does not live
some of the somber words of Children will need a guardian appointed the Christian life. Do you want to take that
which are “Day is done.” None of us like in your will to raise them. If you die without risk? Further, if you do not specify when
to think of those words being sounded providing instructions concerning your desire and how your children are to receive the
out over our loved ones, yet we all know for who will raise your children, another dis- funds coming to them, they will receive
that day is sure to come. The Bible says, everything at age 18. Do you want your
“It is appointed unto men once to die” child to receive a large sum of money at
(Hebrews 9:27) and that there is “a time age 18 or when they are older and more
to be born, and a time to die” (Eccelesi- mature?
astes 3:2). One of the certainties of life is Estate planning is an important step to
death. When “day is done,” in what cir- becoming that good and faithful steward
cumstance will you leave your loved ones Scripture instructs you to be. Whether you
and your estate? have or have not done estate planning,
You can “rest in peace” that you death will still come. By preparing your
made proper provisions for those individ- will, you can “rest in peace,” knowing
uals with the assets entrusted to you. Has that when “day is done” and the bugle
God blessed you with loved ones, proper- calls, you have provided certainty for your
ty, or a ministry? All of these need to be family’s future.
considered for the time your day is done.
If you pass away without a Last Will and Jodi Reece Harris serves as executive coordi-
Testament, the state statutes determine nator of estate planning for Church of God
how much of and to whom your estate Stewardship Ministries. She is a Church of
passes. That can be disastrous. For exam- God minister’s daughter, a Lee University
ple, a surviving spouse should be provid- alumnus and adjunct professor, and an
ed for and protected; however, in many attorney-at-law. She earned a juris doctorate
states, if there is not a will, a surviving degree from Florida Coastal School of Law.
10 EVANGEL • MAR 2009
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