Bishop Walter L. Underwood wrote a book a few years ago called Being Human Being Hopeful. The last chapter is on the subject of death. He refers to a statement made by actor Woody Allen, who said, "I don't want immortality through my work. I want immortality through not dying."1 I read that book with great interest. Then I learned that Bishop Underwood died not long after I had read his book, and I went back and read that last chapter again. It is a great affirmation of our faith in the face of life's greatest question.

When Christian missionaries landed on the island we now call England, they were taken to see the king of Northhumbria. The missionaries told of their Christian faith. When they were through with what they had to say, someone asked, "Can this new religion tell us anything o…