Death and Faith

This past week I received sad, horrific news about a death in my extended family. Melodie Rauch (Wendt) is a dear cousin of mine. Though we've not seen each other since 1998 (14 years ago) there is still that closeness and bond that cousins have that years cannot erase. She and her husband Walter raised 5 children out on the barren plains of far western Kansas, right next to the Colorado border. They are devout Christians, love Christ, each other, their community and are well thought of by everyone.
One of Melodie's sons, Victor, died Monday, March 26, near Buffalo, Oklahoma. He was only 26 years old. My youngest daughter will be 26 in August so this strikes very close to my heart. There is a fine line betwixt life and death. None of us are immune to death's imminent power. As a Christian, it gives me great comfort to know that I do not have to fear death because Jesus Christ defeated death and the grave at the Cross of Calvary. We can know this with confidence due to the fact that He was resurrected from the grave on the 3rd day and ascended to heaven to be our Advocate before the Father in heaven, a Witness to the angels and the entire Universe (His creation) that He had the scars to prove His death was real and that He stands for we mortals here on this earth. We are important to Jesus Christ. He loves us so much that He gave up His own eternal existence for us - to set us free.

I only talk about it because I am compelled to do so...Victor's death - any death - tells me that my priorites should be about Jesus Christ, the Father and the Holy Spirit first in my life. I do that and everything else is just extra icing on the cake of life ... rhetorically speaking. Below is Victor's obituary and picture.

Victor Keith Rauch

Published 3/28/2012 in Obituaries (Garden City Telegram, Garden City, KS)

TRIBUNE, KS — Victor Keith Rauch, 26, died Monday, March 26, 2012, near Buffalo, Okla.

He was born July 27, 1985, in Garden City, to Walter E. and Melodie Wendt Rauch.

A former resident of Tribune, Mr. Rauch was a truck driver in the petroleum industry.

Survivors include his parents, of Tribune; and four siblings, Melissa Miller and Andrew Rauch, both of Tribune, Jessica Alexander of Quinter, and Connie Murrell of Amarillo, Texas.

Funeral will begin at 2 p.m. MST Friday at Assembly of God Church in Tribune. Burial will be at Greeley County Cemetery in Tribune.

Funeral arrangements by Price & Sons Funeral Home in Tribune, Ks. Condolences may be sent at www.priceandsons.com. Memorials are suggested to the Crossroads Center in Liberal, in care of the funeral home.

Obituary of Victor Keith Rauch