With all that has been going on around me, I discovered the lyrics to Demon Hunter's song "Carrry Me Down". It gives an interesting perspective on what the dying might be feeling and praying, so I hope that this blesses you all who need it.

And if you see me losing ground
Don't be afraid to lie
I know the pain inside my heart
Can't break the fear inside of yours
And if you see me losing faith in what it means to die
Don't let me leave before I know what lies beyond the stained-glass doors

Save sorrow for the souls in doubt
Bleed every care out

Will you carry me down the aisle that final day,
with your tears and cold hands shaking from the weight?
When you lower me down beneath that sky of grey,
let the rain fall down and wash away your pain.

For every word we never spoke,
We have a tear to cry
For every silence like a wall between a better you and I.
So if you see me losing sight of all the death and life
You'll find the peace in every time I failed to see the death in mine

Let all the fear inside you drown
Tear out the blade and lay it down
Save sorrow for the souls in doubt
Bleed every care out

Will you carry me down the aisle that final day,
with your tears and cold hands shaking from the weight?
When you lower me down beneath that sky of grey,
let the rain fall down and wash away your pain.

Oh, the blood is rushing out
Oh, I'm better off without
Oh, the walls are closing in
Oh, sing for me again

Will you carry me down the aisle that final day,
with your tears and cold hands shaking from the weight?
When you lower me down beneath that sky of grey,
let the rain fall down and wash away your pain.

Will you carry me down the aisle that final day,
with your tears and cold hands shaking from the weight?
When you lower me down beneath that sky of grey,
let the rain fall down and wash away your pain.

Posted from Demon Hunter: Carry Me Down article on LyricWiki.org.

It is with that in mind that I say farewell in this world to God's servant Pope John Paul II.

John Paul II
1920-2005

Yahoo! News - DEATH FOR THE POPE

Those from conservative circles are well familiar will William Buckley, one of the most popular 20th century conservatives along with Russell Kirk and a few others. When his article on the pope and death was published this week, I have to admit that I regarded it with skepticism. After all, starting off an article by saying "At church on Sunday the congregation was asked to pray for the recovery of the pope. I have abstained from doing so. I hope that he will not recover" is never a particularly popular thing to do. But after reading the article more than once, I think Buckley's argument merits some consideration.

Buckley makes the case that the Pope will never leave the throne while he is living because "To leave it before death can be construed as forsaking a mission charged by God almighty." While Buckley points out that theologians do not generally subscribe to this point of view, many in the general public could see the Pope as backing away from his duty if he left the throne while still alive. Secondly, Buckley suggests that the Pope may have some vain reasons for staying on the throne. That being said, I am willing to suggest that the Pope may be recognizing the fact that many in the Roman Catholic Church would like to see a more liberal, progressive leader put in place and he is trying to postpone that. I don't know, but I have heard more than a few in the Roman Catholic Church express concerns about the leadership that will fill John Paul's void.

Finally, Buckley asks "what is wrong with praying for his death?" The Pope is well advanced in years and is very ill; the doctors at the hospital he was rushed to this week unofficially announced that he was but ten or fifteen minutes from death when he arrived. Struggles with Parkinson's Disease as well as heart and breathing problems have plagued him in recent years. Buckley quotes Muriel Spark in closing: "When a noble life has prepared old age, it is not decline that it reveals, but the first days of immortality." Consider that the next time you are compelled to pray for his health and long life.

Lauren Hemming ran for Cherry Festival Queen in 2004. She is seen here in front of her house on Old Mission Peninsula this June. Hemming died Thursday at the age of 21 after battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Cherry Queen candidate's journey ends

By BILL O'BRIEN Record-Eagle staff writer

TRAVERSE CITY - Lauren Hemming spent the final months of her short life transforming a terminal illness into an inspirational journey that touched friends, family and strangers alike.

Lauren is also survived by her father Jed and sister Lisa. A celebration of her life will be held Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. at the Hagerty Center at the Great Lakes Campus of Northwestern Michigan College.
__________________________________________________
I write clever words on paper
I sometimes think I don't believe at all
I've never felt so fake
So false I'm such a lie
I couldn't even look her in the eyes
She was 21 like I was
But she was frail and slowly going to die
She made my faith seem worthless
The things I hold were pointless
And she fought to stay but
Always dreamed that she could leave this place

The angels wings will cover you tonight
Hallejuah
Press your head
Against the breast of Christ
Hallejuah

It made me feel so empty
Passing softly behind her bedroom door
And isn't it just like me to mourn her passing breath
When she will never suffer anymore
Beautiful her pictures
Fading black and silver
And I sing of faith but hers was true and fierce
And I will miss her

The angels wings will cover you tonight
Hallejuah
Press your head against the breast of Christ
Hallejuah
The angels wings will cover you tonight
Hallejuah
Press your head against the breast of Christ
Hallejuah

(Not my words. But they apply)
_________________________________________________
Please pray for her family and friends during this difficult time.

Collegian Article from last spring

Record-Eagle Article from June

Collegian Article from this fall

An exhausting weekend to be sure. I do not think I have ever grieved that much. Ever. Then again, no one that close to me has ever died like that. But it was a good weekend too. Giles, Prout, Jordan and I had a blast. We were able to grab dinner with a lot of my old high school friends and teammates. Despite the somber reasons for the occasion, we were able to reminisce and enjoy each other. After all, he did bring us all together in the first place. I know he would have wanted us to have a good time remembering him. Heck, even our nicknames were created by him.

(His six children worked together to produce this obituary)

TRAVERSE CITY - Dr. John R. 'Ham' Haberlein, 57, of Interlochen, died unexpectedly in an automobile accident on Tuesday, April 20, 2004, and went home to be with his Lord.
Born July 4, 1946, in Galesburg, Ill., he was the son of the late Dr. Charles R. 'Bus' and Jennie 'Jay' (McIlvoy) Haberlein. On Jan. 2, 1971, he married the former Mary E. Demaray at the First Congregational Church in Traverse City.
John honorably served his country as a First Lieutenant with the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was a decorated veteran, receiving the Bronze Star, an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Army Commendation Medal, with a 'V' for valor in combat.
Upon returning from Vietnam, he attended Michigan State University, graduating with his doctorate of veterinary medicine. In 1975, Dr. Haberlein set up his large animal practice in Traverse City, and continued to work as a veterinarian until his death. Four years ago, he also began working with the state and federal governments in their continuing fight to eradicate bovine tuberculosis.
More important to him than the animals he worked with were the people he came into contact with every day. John's clients were more like family, thinking of him as their friend, rather than just their doctor. It was not unusual for him to rush out in the middle of the night to deliver a calf, or to comfort a grieving family. If he was needed, he was there.
One of John's favorite hobbies was basketball. To many, he was known simply as 'Coach,' because his love for basketball resulted in him coaching his sons' basketball teams for 14 years. Coach Haberlein spent countless hours researching and reviewing offensive and defensive strategies to use in future games. His teams were also like family, and he truly cared about each and every player he coached. At times, John would devise an entire play just to ensure a player would score his first basket. After he retired from coaching, John continued to attend every game he could, and he was the ultimate cheerleader. He could inspire even the most reticent fan to stand up and cheer.
Before his passion for basketball led him to coaching, John actively participated in the 4-H program. His love of children and expertise with animals made him a natural choice as a veterinarian and mentor to all involved in 4-H.
John and his wife, Mary, were married for 33 years and had six children, ages 15 to 28. Undeniably, his first priority was his family. To him, money was only a means to live, but his family was what life was all about. He valued each child as an individual and made each one's personal interests his own. From writing to basketball, he enthusiastically participated in all of their activities. John did not just tell his children how to live; he lived, and let them watch him do it. What his children will remember most is his childlike enthusiasm for life. He was never too tired to wrestle or 'shoot hoops' with the boys, or to take walks and listen to the dreams of his girls. He entertained them with impromptu bedtime stories of the Adventures of Benjamin and Alfred, and could often be seen driving the roads of Leelanau County, dodging elephants and crocodiles. He was a fun Daddy.
John would not have been the man he was without his strong faith in his God. He was not a preacher; rather, he was a man of virtue and faith whom people respected as if he were an ordained minister. His life was his ministry. For him, a personal relationship with Jesus was more important than where you went to church. His beliefs came not from the doctrines of a denomination, but from the Bible. John would be the first to admit he was not a perfect man, but in all he did, he strove to be a good and Godly man. For this reason, and many more, John was deeply loved and will never be forgotten by those who truly knew him.
He leaves behind his wife, Mary; his children, Nina (Daniel) Newsom of Lake Ann, Cameron Haberlein of Omaha, Neb., and David Haberlein, Angela Haberlein, Seth Haberlein and Susanna Haberlein, all of Interlochen; and one grandson, Mason Newsom. He also leaves two brothers, Charles (Ellen) Haberlein of Falls Church, Va., and James (Patty) Haberlein of Grand Rapids; and a sister, Nan (Al) Lynch of Grawn. He will be missed by his mother-in-law, Jean M. Demaray; and his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, David (Pat) Demaray, Mike (Sannie) Demaray, Pat (Tim) Kelley, Nancy (George) Dunn and Dan Demaray; six nephews and nine nieces, including Lindsey Demaray, to whom he was like a father; and 12 great-nieces and great-nephews.
Friends may call on Friday, April 23, 2004, from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Church of the Living God on Brimley Road in Traverse City. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 24, 2004, also at the church. Pastor Gary Bower will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the John R. Haberlein Memorial Fund, 1966 N. Reynolds Road, Interlochen, MI 49643.
Arrangements are by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.

Leaving Hillsdale this afternoon to make it to the visitation tonight. The funeral is tomorrow morning. I am not sure what will happen. I do not want to cry. But he saw me cry before. More than once. TC Christian. Last game of my junior year. Chris, Zach, and Coach's last game ever. We lost. I remember that. He saw me cry. I cried then because it would be hard without him. I'll cry again today. Because it will be hard without him.

One of my best friends, a man who was more or less a second father to me, died today in a car accident. It is believed that he had a heart attack or something of the sort that caused him to run off the road and hit a tree. I'm not bitter at God in the least. I know Coach is in a much better place where he has no pain. I just can't imagine having to go to a basketball game and not hear him in the crowd, cheering the Traverse City Bulldogs on no matter what the score. He was loved by many. He raised a whole group of guys on basketball and life. He was a military veteran and he ran his practices like a drill sergeant. More than once his teams were required to march around the basketball court for failing to perform well. Yet his lessons brought both success and devotion from his players. We wanted to perform well, not because we feared his wrath after a sloppy game but because we knew that it would make Coach proud if we performed to the level at which we were capable. He was one of the most virtuous men I have ever met. His life lessons still resonate in my head. Those of his boys who are in college now will attest to things like "half of the reason I go to this school is because of his encouragement" and "Coach was so excited to hear that I was doing this with my life." He retired from coaching after my junior year, but even today, three years after his last varsity game, he is still Coach.

Coach, if you read this, I won't forget: if you miss two from the outside in a row, drive it in. Your boys are proud of you. You always encouraged us to strive to be the best and now you have your reward. An eternal crown in heaven. Love you always and see you soon - Fuzzy