[Alternative personalized opening: Mountain culture used to refer to heaven as “the sweet by and by.” Anybody remember that phrase? Or the old gospel song “In The Sweet By and By . . ?“ It was made a signature song by three of the greatest country and western singers of all time --- Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton. Here are the lyrics:

[You may have the congregation sing the song as the beginning to your sermon, or have someone sing it for your people.]

There's a land that is fairer than day,
and by faith we can see it afar;
for the Father waits over the way
to prepare us a dwelling place there.

Refrain:

In the sweet by and by,
we shall meet on that beautiful shore;
in the sweet by and by,
we shall meet on that beautiful shore.

Joseph Webster, an American musician and com…