WHERE NOT TO DIE IN 2012
January 27, 2012
I just read an article on MSN entitled: “WHERE NOT TO DIE IN 2012.”
The title of the article pulled me in like a gigantic magnet. Why? Since the beginning of 2012, seven of our Pitman church family have lost family members!
So, have you guessed which state was most featured in the above article: WHERE NOT TO DIE? Our own! New Jersey! Out of all the 50 states, only New Jersey and Maryland impose both an estate tax and an inheritance tax. And of all the states that impose an estate tax, New Jersey ranks worst with the lowest estate tax exemption!
WHERE NOT TO DIE? RIGHT HERE!
REALLY?
On the contrary, I believe New Jersey, and even more specifically – South Jersey, is one of the BEST places on earth to take that final leap into eternity!
Why so?
FAITH, HOPE and LOVE are at work in this place! Service and sacrificial giving are “majored in” on a continual basis. In addition, prayer and the reading of God’s Word are central to who and what we are in Jesus!
As a church family, we just completed praying 24 hours straight and publically reading through the Gospels in one setting. All of the above seven and many others were specifically lifted up to the Father for an extra measure of His strength, His comfort, His HOPE.
HOPE … a confident expectation.
FAITH… the assurance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen.
There will come a day when FAITH will turn into sight and HOPE will turn into heaven, but until that day, I want to live and die with a family known for its LOVE one for another!
New Jersey may be the WORST STATE TO DIE IN (when viewing estate and inheritance tax impositions), but Pitman, as much or more than any church family I know, lifts up Jesus, the ONE WORTH DYING FOR!
Thank you, Pitman family, for how you bless the Sikes’ family again and again!
God is good!
Mr. Steve
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