Nothing Better
WHAT HAPPENS
when we pause to share feelings of compassion, concern, and love with one another? Jesus said it’s the “second best thing” we can do.
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“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”[1]
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Some of you will say, “That’s pretty cool,” and you’ll be kind of right. But it’s more than that. For Jesus, it’s the cornerstone of all true relationships. In other words, it doesn’t get any better than this.
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In my last “Perspective,” I shared that my friend, Chris, had died.[2] And your responses were amazing. A few knew Chris. Most did not. But Chris reminded some of someone else in their life and decided to reach out to them. Still others thought of the qualities of a loved one who died recently and how important those qualities were. Some shed tears. One even shared a song he had written and recorded. Everyone said, in effect, “I’m sorry for your loss, and for reminding us again that “loving your neighbor as yourself” really is the second most important thing we can do.
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SO THIS WEEK
I thought I’d pass along to Chris’ wife, Jan, her family and to you, a few of the responses I’ve received from across the country. I know the Kinzel’s would say “thank you,” if they could. It’s not necessary. They already know you love them like you were neighbors.
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Thank you for sharing such a beautiful godly friendship and Chris’s going home. Will be praying for you and his family.
—Sharon D
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I’m sorry Ward. He sounds like a wonderful friend. Loss is so very hard. Praying for comfort and peace?
—Jacquie R
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Beautiful words of tribute… my condolences Ward. Special people leave holes in our hearts when they are called home … but through the heartache, we rejoice for we know they are finally really ‘Home’. Praise be to God for the blessings He sends us in the form of dear friends
—Iomajune
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I just read your tribute to Chris Kinzel.?It brought tears to my eyes, both for you, and for being reminded yet again about life's fragile nature. Thanks for sharing and honoring your friend this way.?I especially loved the story about him flying his grandson up and meeting for a baseball game.?You gotta love that. He knew how to occasionally toss common sense out the window and celebrate life extravagantly. And provide an example to his grandson and friend that said, "Not only are you loved, you are worth going all out for!"?That was that kind of a day. Living out the truest reflection of Jesus.?
I'm sorry for your loss, and happy you had a such a friend worth celebrating. Love you,
?—Robin C
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Ward, thank you for the beautiful tribute to Chris! Yes, a great loss for us, great gain for the cloud of witnesses. He demonstrated what it is to walk alongside others in this life. He was both a wonderful encourager and important example.?We grieve and rejoice thankful he is face to face with Jesus.?
In Christ,
—Kristy C
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Sorry to hear of the loss of your good friend.?“We are sorry, not like others who have no hope.” Thanks for keeping hope alive for so many of your friends throughout the seasons of your life.
—Don D
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Beautiful Ward.?A great piece for all of us to reflect on, and it inspires me to take a minute to thank God for the people I’ve loved and lost.
Thank you.
—Rob M
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Your words sound more like music than letters on a page.
—George T
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Beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I write this in tears, even though I have no connection except that most important one that binds us together in the Family we will ultimately enjoy in an eternity perfected. God bless.?
—Nancy C
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What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful friend! It’s so hard when our friends & family members graduate to Heaven - our loss for a while and Heaven’s gain—blessings and prayers for you, Ward, and all of Chris’ friends and family.
—Donna M
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Sorry for the loss on earth of your dear friend. "The winds of hate and despair will never sink my ship. Persistent hope is my anchor."
—Steve C
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Dear Ward,
Bob Bennett here. We’re mutual friends with John Coulombe. A quick note to commend you for such a beautiful and heartfelt tribute at the loss of your friend. I hope it won’t seem presumptuous of me, but I wanted to forward along a song I wrote shortly after my good friend Roby Duke passed away in December 2007.
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Long story way short, I wrote You Went Ahead the night before his memorial service, playing his guitar, and then recorded it in 2012. I hope it might be three minutes of grace in your direction at this tender time.
In our shared faith,
—BOB B
You Went Ahead:? https://youtu.be/1OQb5aJ6tjI?si=NQQUe0TzVW6jVLOF
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领英推荐
A beautiful tribute to a friend, and godly friendships, Ward.?I'm sorry for your loss, blessed by your example.
—Nancy E
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I am so sad for you Ward but so happy for Chris. Even better than watching baseball. Who knows? Maybe he will be seeing the game. Chris will be waiting to see you again.?
—Jo S
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Ward:
That was amazing. Even before I read it and had only seen the title, I immediately began to think about my boyhood friend, Ron Prinzing. I remember things we did together when I was four years old. Interestingly, I had a dream about him last night. I woke up thinking I would phone him today. I will. Now we are both old men. Our parents were the closest of friends until they all died. God is good to bring those kinds of special people into our lives. That number is diminishing fast during this period of life.
Thanks for blessing me today! ?You’re the best.
—Denny D
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Hi Ward,
What a special tribute to your friend.?I'm sorry for your loss.?I've lost my father and mother within a span of 18 months and your analogy of 'removing the umbrella' resonated with me.?We grieve and move on...rejoicing in a future time together and grateful for God's promises to His people through Jesus.
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I enjoy reading your emails and hope you and Gage are well.
With friendship,
—Liz P
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So beautiful...thank you for sharing such heartfelt thoughts and experiences that are so much a huge part of our lives. ?? You give great tribute to Chris and to God's presence in our lives.
Love and blessings.
—Jan K (Chris’s wife and very best friend)
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My condolences I am so very sorry for earth's heartache yet so elated for Chris, may he have heard "well done thou good and faithful servant ". Praying for you and his family
—Sheila P
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This is such sad news.?Chris had THE most compassionate?heart and wonderful sense of humor.? He and Jan were so special together and so welcoming and giving.?To say he will be missed is probably the understatement of the year.?I'm so sorry Pastor T. You were amazing friends together.
—Susan H
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Your special friend is now face to face with Jesus!? How anxious I am to join him when I am called home!
Blessings,
—Betty M
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I’m so sorry for your loss, Ward. He was a special man. Losing an old friend is so hard. It seems in this season of our lives that it is happening more and more often. Beautiful words and tribute to him!
In Him,
—Paige and Chuck A
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Sorry for your loss, Ward. ?What a beautiful example of a real, honest down to earth friend. sweet that his son wants to stay connected with you.
—Ginny R
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Ward, Thanks for sharing your friendship with Chris Kinzel, I loved this statement…. “Earth is better because you were here. Heaven is better because you are there”. What a tribute…..trust you are well my friend.
Cheers, —Jack M
Thank you for sharing this ! VCC was an answer to prayer as a young couple we were transferred to the Bay Area . Dublin/Pleasanton is where we landed. We visited the church and had a small group visit us in our condominium soon after.
Ward , your messages helped guide our growth as Christ followers along with Dixie. The individuals of Sunday Morning Singers and Tide’s Concept 5 in the Sunday School program , and the friends of our Young Marrieds group were such a great family to be apart of. The Kinzels were apart of all that!! God bless Jan and the family through their loss of Chris.
—Laurie Z
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The Kinzels and the Beuermans were our first friends at VCC. We 6 joined 24 others to grow VCC from 80 members to 110 in one pastor’s class. It was a magical time when God was bringing ppl from all walks, religions, and no faith at all to be shepherded by you & Dixie into faith walks that have endured. I’m so glad we saw Jan & Chris at the 60th celebration of your ministry a year and a half ago. Chris was as solid as they come in every aspect of his life. Thankful for eternity for so many wonderful reunions. Praying for Jan & the family.
—Pat and Connie C
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I was so young in 1974... 50 years ago. Jan Kinzel took me in and taught me so much. Both she and Chris were mentors to Buck and I. Thank you, Ward Tanneberg for sharing... it brought tears. Heaven is getting closer for all of us. We want to go but hate to leave. Selah...
—Sue C
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To my readers, thank you for caring, for sharing, for reaching out to someone you love who has made a difference in your life … go ahead,? make a difference in theirs.
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May Jesus keep us close.
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[1] Mark 12:30,31 NIV