Post by Caretaker on Mar 5, 2024 4:58:09 GMT -6
Our Fire Chief, Richard Rich Allen has just lost his battle with cancer and has gone 10/7 with the department, March 3 2024, but 10/8 in Glory with our Lord, our true incident Commander. Rich has always been my hero and one of our greatest. When he was available or just on the radio it was like having an extra crew on duty. Thank You Lord for blessing us so greatly with Rich and Karen Allen and their family, which has such a special legacy of faith and commitment to the Dunlap, Council Grove, and Morris County community. Karen, Nick, Richard, Shelly, and their families are in our hearts and most fervent prayers.
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1683025318385995&set=a.509323822422823
A message from Rich's daughter in law, Mary.
Sunday morning, March 3
3:22 AM - can’t sleep
4:25 AM - Rich’s alarm sounds, time to get up for work
4:45 AM - got Rich off to work, strangely he mentioned being shaky
4:45-5:47 - felt a tug to write some thoughts out
7:30 AM - heard the news 💔 that Rich’s dad departed this life at 5:15 AM, after a heroic 17 month battle with cancer
Here’s what I had written…
Do we really believe Philippians 1:21 where Paul says “to live is Christ, and to die is gain”?
The reality is…we are all dying. Each day, one day closer to our earthly chapter closing. Death seems so unfair. So final. An abrupt end to a story not yet finished. To dreams just beginning to be lived.
I have to consider though, the many times Death tries to take us out early, before our appointed time is up. We may never know those miracles before Heaven, or maybe we do realize some of those close calls when we could have lost a parent or a child too young, but for God’s staying hand, those accidents were averted and several more decades were filled with the relational joy and wisdom of their presence. Without us realizing the magnitude of the gift of their life till it’s ebbing away with our hearts. And our kids’ hearts. Every day is certainly a gift.
I believe to die is gain. I know it is. For the believer never dies, he transitions from this life to the next. Like a baby being delivered from the womb, the transition isn’t pretty, but it’s a good thing for everyone, if it’s their appointed time. Trusting God with this timing is the hard part. To say the least. I want to see death as an interruption, not an ending.
Death is horrible to us but it is not The End. I don’t believe it was ever God’s intention that we should die—in his foreknowledge he knew sin and death would enter his perfect creation, for more on this read about free will and its effects in Genesis. In the grieving that our losses bring, how good and gracious God is to be planning our joyous family reunions on the other incomparable side where death is considered the entry point into glorious eternity. Into forever. Where death has no place, and where there will be no more tears. Where the story keeps getting better.
What a day THAT will be, for those that love Jesus. ❤️
******
This life will never be the same without him, but we’re infinitely grateful for the years we had. Grief like this only comes attached to great love, and great love is a rare treasure trove indeed. Blessed to be grafted into the Allen family, married to a man who reflects the same strength and qualities of his father, and to be shoulder to shoulder with a family who gathered on this saddest of days to strengthen and mourn together at church.
Your prayers, messages and calls mean so much…❤️
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1683025318385995&set=a.509323822422823
A message from Rich's daughter in law, Mary.
Sunday morning, March 3
3:22 AM - can’t sleep
4:25 AM - Rich’s alarm sounds, time to get up for work
4:45 AM - got Rich off to work, strangely he mentioned being shaky
4:45-5:47 - felt a tug to write some thoughts out
7:30 AM - heard the news 💔 that Rich’s dad departed this life at 5:15 AM, after a heroic 17 month battle with cancer
Here’s what I had written…
Do we really believe Philippians 1:21 where Paul says “to live is Christ, and to die is gain”?
The reality is…we are all dying. Each day, one day closer to our earthly chapter closing. Death seems so unfair. So final. An abrupt end to a story not yet finished. To dreams just beginning to be lived.
I have to consider though, the many times Death tries to take us out early, before our appointed time is up. We may never know those miracles before Heaven, or maybe we do realize some of those close calls when we could have lost a parent or a child too young, but for God’s staying hand, those accidents were averted and several more decades were filled with the relational joy and wisdom of their presence. Without us realizing the magnitude of the gift of their life till it’s ebbing away with our hearts. And our kids’ hearts. Every day is certainly a gift.
I believe to die is gain. I know it is. For the believer never dies, he transitions from this life to the next. Like a baby being delivered from the womb, the transition isn’t pretty, but it’s a good thing for everyone, if it’s their appointed time. Trusting God with this timing is the hard part. To say the least. I want to see death as an interruption, not an ending.
Death is horrible to us but it is not The End. I don’t believe it was ever God’s intention that we should die—in his foreknowledge he knew sin and death would enter his perfect creation, for more on this read about free will and its effects in Genesis. In the grieving that our losses bring, how good and gracious God is to be planning our joyous family reunions on the other incomparable side where death is considered the entry point into glorious eternity. Into forever. Where death has no place, and where there will be no more tears. Where the story keeps getting better.
What a day THAT will be, for those that love Jesus. ❤️
******
This life will never be the same without him, but we’re infinitely grateful for the years we had. Grief like this only comes attached to great love, and great love is a rare treasure trove indeed. Blessed to be grafted into the Allen family, married to a man who reflects the same strength and qualities of his father, and to be shoulder to shoulder with a family who gathered on this saddest of days to strengthen and mourn together at church.
Your prayers, messages and calls mean so much…❤️
