11 Mar, 2008
Cemetery full, mayor tells locals not to die
BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) - The mayor of a village in southwest France has threatened residents with severe punishment if they die, because there is no room left in the overcrowded cemetery to bury them.
In an ordinance posted in the council offices, Mayor Gerard Lalanne told the 260 residents of the village of Sarpourenx that "all persons not having a plot in the cemetery and wishing to be buried in Sarpourenx are forbidden from dying in the parish."
It added: "Offenders will be severely punished."
The mayor said he was forced to take drastic action after an administrative court in the nearby town of Pau ruled in January that the acquisition of adjoining private land to extend the cemetery would not be justified.
Lalanne, who celebrated his 70th birthday on Wednesday and is standing for election to a seventh term in this month's local elections, said he was sorry that there had not been a positive outcome to the dilemma.
"It may be a laughing matter for some, but not for me," he said.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story news.yahoo.com, 3/5/08
A grave situation!
Psalm 16:10 (NLT)
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
In today's God's Story scripture, David shares the answer to facing death. What is it?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes help provide the answer:
Psalm 16:10 David stated confidently that God would not leave him in the grave. Many people fear death because they can neither control nor understand it. As believers, we can be assured that God will not forget us when we die. He will bring us to life again to live with Him forever. This provides real security. For other passages about resurrection, see Job 19:25, 26; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2, 13; Mark 13:27; 1 Corinthians 15: 12-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:11-21:4.
While we can laugh at the mayor in France who is promising punishment to those who die in his town, death is no laughing matter.
But we can face death with confidence because God promises life in Heaven forever to followers of Christ! Those without Christ will face punishment after death., not from a crazy mayor but from a holy, just God.
You can you be sure that there will be no questions about where you will spend eternity after your death. The answer is found in receiving Christ as your personal Savior. Jesus and Jesus alone can forgive you of your sins and promise you eternal life in Heaven after you die.
Are you ready to face death? What about your family and friends?
- Thank God that the answer to the question of death is found in His Son, Jesus Christ! If you have never trusted Christ to forgive you and take over your life, ask Him to do this right now. If you have, spend a few minutes meditating on this incredible truth....
- If you are trusting Jesus Christ to come into your life as your Savior today, contact us at 3story@yfc.org so that we can send you some resources to help you grow in your relationship with Him.
- Whenever you find yourself fearing death, stop and let God's Spirit remind you of God's promise to you.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Whenever you see a cemetery, pray for your friends and family who need Christ as their Savior and ask Jesus to show you opportunities to connect your story to their story and their story to God's Story of love and forgiveness through Christ.
- Tell your friends about the goofy cemetery mayor in France. Ask them if they ever think of dying and what they think happens after death? Remember to not give a lecture, but to listen....trust Jesus to show you what to say or ask next as their answer will reveal more of their story.
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