Conference yukon::christian_v7

  One person that I most want to meet is John Merrick, aka
  "The Elephant Man."  This dear man was considered to be 
  by far the most deformed human being ever to make it into
  adulthood.

  Apparently, his mother had to give him up at a very young
  age and he lived in abject poverty and cruelty with a man
  who 'oversaw him' and used him as a freak exhibit.

  Apparently this man had some memory of a loving mother and
  I believe this sustained him to somehow be able to see that
  there really is good with which to ponder.

  The latter stages of his life were like a dream come true
  to him.  He was taken into a hospital in England by a Doctor
  Treves and was well taken care of the rest of his days.  He
  became sort of iconized as Britain's less fortunate and was
  paid visits by royalty and those of the theater - receiving
  numerous gifts from them.  I believe he even received a letter
  from Queen Victoria herself.

  The movie "The Elephant Man" may have glamorized things a bit,
  but there was a part where Treves was trying to get Merrick to
  be acceptable to the hospital.  Treves had snuck Merrick in, but
  knew that he would have to pass certain standards which is that
  he could not be an 'idiot.'  Treves tried to get John Merrick to
  be able to converse so that when he met the head of the hospital,
  he would not pass as an idiot.

  When the time of the appointment came, Merrick completely flopped.
  He seemed to be completely mentally disabled.  As Treves and the
  head of the hospital left Merrick's room, the head said, "Of course
  you know we cannot keep him.  He is a complete idiot."  Somehow
  Merrick must have perceived that he did wrong by coming off as he
  did and suddenly, from John Merrick's hospital room, Treves and
  the head of the hospital heard these words...

  "The Lord is my Shephard, I shall not want.
   He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the
   still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of
   righteousness for His name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the
   valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art
   with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest
   a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou annointest 
   my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy
   shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the
   house of the Lord forever."

   Later Treves asked John Merrick why he didn't indicate that he could
   converse and Marrick replied that he was always beaten when he showed
   signs of intelligence.

   As deformed as Merrick was, he had a beautiful mind.  Treves said that
   he never once complained about a thing and he always saw the good in
   others.

   John Merrick died in his sleep.  Apparently, he attempted to sleep as
   'normal' people can and lay down.  His enormous and massive head blocked
   his windpipe and he suffocated.

   Praise God that His love is so vast that it can illuminate the mind so
   much that though all seems so dark around, there can still be some
   comfort, some peace of mind.

   I suppose physical beauty will not be so important to us in eternity,
   but I hope (and even expect) that aside from Jesus Christ Himself, the
   most handsome man on the earth made new will be the Elephant Man - John
   Merrick.

   I will be so thankful to God for the oppurtunity to meet John Merrick and
   to tell him how much of an encouragement he was to me.

						Tony

  There are lots of people I look forward to meeting, and many
  I look forward to a reunion with.  Choosing just one to mention
  here though, the Mary of whom we read about it the Bible comes
  to mind - the one whose sister's name was Martha.  And I'd like
  to meet Phoebe too. These are women with whom I can identify with
  personally, even though they lived in much different times and
  circumstances.

  Leslie

    I want to meet Joseph, the man to whom God entrusted care of His only
    begotten Son in the early years of His flesh.
    
    And I want to meet one of my heroes, Barnabus, the man who discipled
    the apostle Paul.
    
    Not to mention Abraham and Job! :-)
    
    /Wayne

    Tony, was John Merrick saved? ;-)
    
    I'd like to talk to all the great prophets of the Bible, but mostly
    Daniel and John.  The only prophets in each testament that were called
    "Beloved" by God.
    
    Mike

 My mother, my grandmother and grandfather, and hopefully my Dad.  After
 that..John and Peter.




 Jim

    
    After God, my Christian relatives who have gone on, then Paul of Tarsus.
    	
    jeff

	Tony, you can visit the elephant man NOW....if you drop in on Michael
Jackson! :-)

    I want to meet the Apostle Paul and King David.  I'd like to listen
    to David's music too!
    
    
    Jill2

    Tony take another turn and choose from the bible.  I want to see if
    I can guess right.  :-)
    
    
    Jill

    hi
    
        i want to meet king david, moses and hang out with abraham for
    awhile..;-) i want to go fishing with peter and have jesus there
    telling us to cast the net on whatever side he says, what a catch that
    will be..;-)  i too have thought about john merrick i have seen the
    play "the elephant man" i cried and my heart when out for this man.i
    hope to see my mother and father and brother and other family members
    with friends who are not saved, mostly. what a time that will be when i
    see Jesus, amen.
    
                love in Christ, thomas.

  Hi Jill2,

    Who from the Bible?  Oh man...

    Paul's obvious.  Job I'd have to see.  Moses.  These men of faith, 
    but here's one for certain reasons.

    Mary the woman who broke the jar of ointment over Jesus.  When Jesus
    hung on that cross, it seemed that all forsook Him.  The disciples
    fled and who was there for Jesus?  Did anyone really understand that
    Jesus was going to die?  I wonder if Mary was the one and if while
    Jesus hung there, He was comforted by Mary's act.  When she broke 
    that jar of a year's wages, she basically gave a sermon on the cross
    where that oil was Christ's shed blood given seemingly so wastefully - 
    the prodigality of the gift!  When Jesus hung on that cross, He could
    think, "Someone has some understanding and appreciates!"  I'll thank
    Mary for consoling my Savior in His darkest hour.

    Jill, my guess is that your guess is Mephisobeth (sp?), the lame man
    who was the sole survivor of King Saul who David called to sit with
    the king.  He must have thought he was about to get executed, but
    there he is spending the rest of his days sitting with the king!  I
    will like to sit with the King with Mephisobeth.  (I can thank Jill
    for some wonderful sermons given by her pastor on grace; a couple of
    which beautifully spoke about Mephisobeth.)  I will very much like to
    meet him as well.

						Tony

    Tony -
    
    Actually my first guess was Abraham the man of faith.  My second
    was Mary.  But I like your choices too.  
    
    
    Jill2

      re: -1
    
      Theologically, I seem to use Abraham a lot.  But, thats Paul's
      fault (Rom. 4)!  Or should I say God's?  ;-)
    
      But, sure, Abraham would be great too.  As would John The Baptist
      ("no greater prophet") or Enoch and Elijah (translated!).  So
      many...
    
    						Tony

    Well, we should have plenty of time.  :-)