Replies

[Nice to know this piece of spam I got this morning turned out to be completely uninformed BS:]

Thanks for the memories, but then what? Sunday night, the world lost one of
the greatest entertainers of all time, Bob Hope. Growing up, I had the joy
of watching Bob Hope perform on TV and in the movies, and of course, his
annual Christmas Special that was always part of the holidays at my home.
While our nation and the world mourns his passing, the only thing I could
focus on when I heard the news, was, "Where is Bob Hope going to spend
eternity?" Yes, Bob Hope was one of the most gifted entertainers of all time,
yet he was also a man like you and I. He lived as a man, he died as a man, and
like ALL men, the moment he died, he was eternally with, or eternally
separated from God.

The Bible, which is our final authority in ALL matters is very clear on
death. It is final. There is no such thing as reincarnation, we are not
coming back as a petunia. We don't die and go to some special place where
people can pray us into Heaven over time. The moment we die, our body is no
longer of any use, and our soul lives on for eternity, either forever with
God, or forever separated from Him. That eternal destination is determined
by only ONE THING, our relationship with Jesus Christ. Being a member of a
certain church CANNOT save you. Being baptized as a baby CANNOT save you.
The faith of your parents CANNOT save you. Good works CANNOT save you. A
pastor or priest simply praying over you while you are dying CANNOT save
you. The ONLY THING that can save you is putting your faith in Jesus Christ
as your personal Lord and Savior. It is a choice, a conscious choice, that
YOU and YOU ALONE have to make BEFORE you die.

In talking to several dear friends in Los Angles that are very close to the
entertainment industry, as well as several that have written books on Bob
Hope's life, I can only pray that at some point later in his life he made
that choice to accept Christ as his savior. He was baptized as a baby in
the Catholic church. However, baptism does not make you a Christian. His
wife is a devout Catholic, but Bob did not share that faith, although he was
given many awards by the Catholic church over the years for his humanitarian
service. But again, good works cannot save you. No doubt a man as well
traveled as Bob Hope, had to come across many people over the years that
shared with him that faith in Jesus Christ is the only road to Heaven. Only
God knows our heart, and only God knows if at some point in his life Bob
made a commitment to Christ. But let me reiterate, as great of a life as he
had, as loved as he was, it all meant nothing the moment he died. If Bob
Hope died without confessing Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior,
he is lost for eternity!

I have no doubt that somewhere in the world, within a few minutes of the
passing of Bob Hope, a man that had accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior also
died. This man was not known by the world, he did not have great wealth,
but death is the great equalizer. If Bob Hope died without Christ, this man
that was known and loved by the world, this man that had all the wealth this
world could offer, was instantly cast into eternal darkness. At the same
time, the man who DID know Jesus, who had no fame or fortune in this life,
was instantly ushered into the presence of Almighty God for eternity. "What
does it profit a man to gain the whole world, but lose his soul?" (Luke
16:19-31)

[remainder deleted]