Dear Mike.

I regret not knowing you as well as I could have. I only met you when you first got here and we never really hung out much. I had New Testament with you though and i DO remember laughing almost every time you said something, or gasped when you got a question wrong, or shouted when you got it right.

I've sent you a friend request that I know you can never answer... but I also know that if you were still here you would have accepted it right away, happy to have a new friend. Just wait buddy, when I get to heaven I'll get to know you better than I ever could have down here.

My Memories of Mike.

Mike was a great friend to me. Mike was a great friend to everyone. As I thought back over the short two months I spent knowing Mikey, I thought of all the great qualities he possessed. The main thing I noticed about Mike was his closeness to God. He always had something good to say about his relationship with God. Mike was a great testimony to all those around him. Another quality I notice about Mike was his infectious smile. I never saw him too depressed or overloaded with homework to smile about something. That smile made you feel like you had known Mike your whole life rather than just a few short weeks. Mike was always up for a little mischief and he always had a joke to share. I believe that Mike never met a stranger and I know he made a huge impact on my life. Although we are saddened by his passing, we must carry on with happiness knowing that Mike is rejoicing in Heaven. I know that his life is an inspiration to me and I am striving to live a Godly life so that one day I will be able to my friend in Heaven once again.

The day that Mike passed I was in a Bible class with him, and in that class he testified as to what God had done for him, and how he had turned his life around. As I was thinking about it later, I thought how glorious it was that Mike had left no doubt in our minds as to where he was going to spend eternity. I will never understand why God chose to take Mike to be with Him so soon, but I trust God's wisdom and I know His plan is perfect. Your upbeat attitude and ever present smile will be greatly missed Mike!

Dear Mike,

I never got to say goodbye,

And I do not understand why.

I know God has a plan,

And I must trust His hand.

Now you’re on the glory shore,

And I’ll see you here no more.

Though it hurts to see you leave,

How long can I bereave?

For this I surely know,

Whate’er may come or go,

Again I’ll see my friend;

Heav’nly rejoicing without end.

For then we’ll be together,

And share our time forever,

Talking on the streets of gold;

Telling stories untold.

Words cannot express the way I felt when I received the news of Mike's passing. It came as a uncontrolled shock wave. My knees went weak as a feeling of helplessness forced adrenaline through my body. I honestly didn't know what to do. Every time I thought of Mike I wanted to pray for him, then realized it wouldn't help. I don't understand it, and I can't express my feelings but I tried to through this poem anyways. Mike, you will be greatly missed until the great day when we all get to go home.

My Memories of Mike

One of my best memories of Mike is the time two guys wanted to give him a haircut. He was trying to decide who could come up with the better deal. I thought it'd be fun to be the negotiator and we quickly decided the best deal was for him to receive ten dollars for his haircut. However, the guys offering to cut his hair did not agree to these terms.

I didn't know Mike well, though I wish I did, but I knew he was a fun guy to be around. He was always smiling and always happy. And he had a good reason to be happy. God had come into his life and made him a new creature. And I know he's happy now because he's with the one who made him happy.

Even though we miss Mike very much, it's good to know he's in a better place. And one day we can see him again, and he'll have the biggest smile ever.

Mikee.. the guy with a smile

Mikeeee!! Oh, how I'm missing you and your cheerful spirit! When I was down you'd always find some way to pick me back up. I'm thankful that I got to know you better in the short time that we were in classes together here at GBS. Also thanks for being just a good friend. One thing about it, when you studied you studied, and when you played you played hard. You lived for the ups and downs of life. Remember how you desperately wanted a young lady to like you? Well, you certainly don't have to worry about getting married now.. Your waiting for the marrage supper of the Lamb. Ohh ya! (But, now I'm stuck on this earth patiently waiting.. haha!;)
    You also, were guy that has been an incouragement to me! I remember the youth camps we were at together, the study times, the laughing and the crying times. You definitely loved Jesus! He changed your life!
    I will miss you, but I know you are in a better place. I'm praying for your family MIkee! I'll never forget you... see you in heaven someday. ~ "Jeffeyy."

So long Mike,I hardly knew ye

Monday, October 03, 20111:31 AMI am sorry to say I didn't know Mike all that well, but I know he was very happy here. He always had a smile on his face. He was one of the few I have ever met who could show an ear to ear grin even after spraining his ankle in a volleyball game. Campus wont't be the same without him, but I have no doubt in my mind that he is happy where he is now and can't wait to see us there. I was also among those fortunate enough to hear his testimony in that New Testament class. It was amazing. I have no doubt in my mind he was content. In my book Mike you are irreplaceable and will be greatly missed, even by those like myself who didn't get to spend alot of time with you. You had a huge impact on us all. If through nothing else, your attitude and sense of humor touched us all. It was indeed an honor to know you, and to call you friend.

You will truly me missed

All though I did not know Mike that well He will truly be missed. I believe i lost the chance to get to know a great person.

It Is Finished

It is finished, the battle is over.

It is finished, there'll be no more war.

It is finished, the end of the conflict.

It is finished, and Jesus is Lord.

God gave me this song the morning after Mike died. Thankfully, the war is over for Mike, but for us still on earth, sometimes it's hard to see it that way. I think one of the main things I liked about Mike was the way he was friends with the entire school. He was literally friends with everyone. We all miss you Mike, and can't wait to see you in Heaven!

Mike

I really didn't know Mike all that well but that just makes me sadder that i cant get to. What little i did know about hi was good he always seemed to be happy and was always smiling. One of my favorite memories of Mike was one day that we played softball he had hurt his leg and really wasn't able to play but wanted to so bad that he would limp around thus not getting to first without being hurt. But perhaps my favorite memory was the time before a test in christian beliefs he was saying to many people that it was going to be his last day at GBS, he did it in such away tha it was really funny and i enjoyed talking to him about it. Mike was a great guy and i wish that i could have got to know him better.

Dear Mike,

I'm so glad you chose to serve Jesus so that one day you could spend eternity with Him and so that I could see YOU again one day! You made such an impact on my life during college and I never want to forget those amazing times we had together! You are greatly missed!

..."Nothing we can say, and nothing we can do, can take away the pain, the pain of losing you."

"But we can cry with hope, we can say goodbye with hope, cause we know why goodbye is not the end, and we can breathe with hope cause we believe with hope, there's a place where we'll see your face again..."

~Steven Curtis-Chapman

Mike's Last day

Thursday, September 29 2011 started out like any other day. I had atleast one class with mike, New Testament. In our New Testamnet class our teacher asked if anyone wanted to give testimonies, and mike stood up and gave one. I thought it was just very appropriate and memorial, for it to be the exact day that mike went to be with his Father in heaven. He talked about how God saved him, and turned his life around.
I also sat right across the table from mike at lunch time on thursday. He was his normal happy self! Just smilin' and talkin' with everyone. Even though Mike had such a short life, I know God still used him. Mike was a great guy and added extra life to this campus.
Im so glad that i got to meet and know mike, and I am SO thankful that He is with God in heaven right now!
-Katie Bryan

The Kaddish for Mike

There is a traditional prayer/blessing in Judaism that is recited when mourning. I will only give the English translation, for the sake of the ones who cannot read Hebrew. The Kaddish is for the mourners; may it bring comfort to those who read it.

Glorified and sanctified be God's great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen.

May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.

Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are uttered in the world; and say, Amen.

May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.

He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.

*You do not have to be physically Jewish for this to apply to you :)

- A Poem for Mike-

You made us smile with your out going spirit. Your genuine love assured us when we wanted to give up and quit. Mike you left so soon, there is an empty place in your room. 18 years old and in my freshman class, I knew you for only a moment, but it made a friendship to last. You cared for ohers, even if they didn't care for you, and that is the type of person I look up to. God is good, so good to me...for He sent you to us for a short time in this eternity.

Mike Made It Home...

"This is our temporary home.

it's not where we belong.

Windows and rooms that we're passin' through.

This is just a stop, on the way to where we're going.

I'm not afraid because I know this is our

Temporary Home."

I don`t usually listen to secular music, but these lyrics really spoke to me when I realized how free Mikey is now as he made his way home on Thursday. I don`t believe he was afraid at all as He looked into God`s face as God welcomed Mike into His kingdom. Mike was a walking testimony. You rarely saw him without a smile. It was quite refreshing to see him laughing during a bad day.

We imagine what it will be like when we die, if Heaven is like what our Pastors describe... like the pictures we see in our illustrated bibles, and in the songs...

"I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by your side. I can only imagine what my eyes will see when your face is looking at me. Surrounded by your glory what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus? Or in awe of you be still Will I stand in your presence? Or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing Hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? Imagine, I can only Imagine I can only Imagine all creation bowed down The whole universe saying your name out loud I can only imagine all our broken lives Resurected in the healing light, Surrounded by forgiveness what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus? Or in awe of you be still? Will I stand in your presence? Or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing Hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine oh I can only imagine"

Our comfort now rests in the fact that Mike is in the presence of All Mighty God! Quite a few of us heard his testimony in New Testemant on Thursday, we should have no doubt where Mike has gone... He is home! While the rest of us wait to join him, we should be so thankful for where he is.

I saw on Rose`s post where she said "Give God a high five for me" and i can just imagine him doing that for us!

Mike-we will miss your laughter, your jokes and your smiles! Thank you for the inspiring testimony you left for us! Though we are left with the sadness of your death, we rejoice in the eternal life we know you have inherited! We love you! We will miss you but your memory is forever engrained in our hearts! As Rose said, Give God a high five for us!! :)

Forever Friends,

Jessie

What do we know?

Will we ever know why?

Maybe not,
but we do know some things:

"…I Know WHOM I have BELIEVED in, and am persuaded that He IS able to keep that which I have committed, unto to Him against that day." 2nd Tim 1:12

"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." Psalm 23:4

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward YOU, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jere 29:11

"And we KNOW that ALL things work together for GOOD, to those that love God, to them who are the CALLED; according to His purpose." Rom 8:28

"For THOU art my ROCK and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake LEAD me, and GUIDE me…
Into thine HAND I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, oh LORD God of TRUTH.
…I will be GLAD and rejoice in thy MERCY: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast KNOWN my soul in adversities." Psalm 31, selections.

Just some verses that helped me to trust God, even in this most difficult of times.

Mike

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" Philippians 1: 21

I couldn't know Mike as well as others, but if he was here I'm sure this verse was his desire. We don't know when is our time to leave. God is the only one that knows that. That is the reason why we trust that Mike is now with the Lord, where everything is happiness and joy, there is no pain, no suffering, Mike is doing what we want to do but it's not our time. Being face to face with our precious Lord. He is happy now!

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be conforted" Matthew 5: 4

We were not close, but we knew eachother. We did not ever hold deep theological discussions, but we shared many laughs and mutual friends. We came from different states and different family backgrounds, but we were both students at GBS, and we were both part of the family of Christ. I always see faces of students in the cafeteria, I may not talk to you then or sit with you for that meal, but it was affirmation that everyone who needed to be there was there. Now I will glance back during chapel and see that empty chair, even after it's been filled. I will step outside to eat supper and I will no longer see you sitting at one of the tables. I will always wait for you to stand when we've been asked for testimonies. I will watch as attendance is taken, and search for your name long after it's been erased. Everytime I enter the commons to check my mail I will picture you sitting there smiling at me like you always did even on my grumpy days. I will look back at the group of guys laughing behind me and realize that you're not laughing with them any more. Even with this empty feeling, I know that God has a plan. I know that you are joyful in Heaven and that at least you are now able to understand why everything has taken place. I am so amazed that the last words I directly heard you say were honoring God and I know that God was more than honored to welcome you into the kingdom. I don't want to say rest in peace, instead I want to say live in peace Mikey, because I know that you are dwelling with a great and mighty king. Miss you, and praying for your family.

Like Mike

Mike and I attended the same camp for several years. I was well aware of who he was and of his testimony. We both graduated this year, came to GBS, and were in the same division. Though our paths crossed in so many ways throughout our teen years, I regret that I never took the time to get to know him and build a friendship. One thing I do know about Mike is that he was an extremely happy person. So many times when we passed each other on campus, he was either laughing or smiling. I also believe that he lived in such a way that his testimony was clear and that, today, he is standing in the presence of God praising Him for His amazing grace. The last thing I remember Mike saying was that he didn't understand why he had to take English. He already knew how to speak that language, so why didn't the school teach him a NEW language:-) It was just Wednesday of this week that he made this statement and today he's gone. My mind can scarcely even comprehend this.

This tragedy has so vividly reminded me of how fragile life is and of how much we take it for granted. I have decided that I want to be like Mike. I want to live life with a clear testimony, a cheerful attitude, and to be used of God to have a positive impact on others' lives. Mike, you have definitely left a hole in the GBS family and will be greatly missed!

I

I am still in shock from Mike's death. I didn't know Mike very well, although we've known each other for a few years from camps and such. I actually hung out with and talked to him more this week than the entire two months we've been at GBS.In fact we had planned to hang out today, but I guess God had a much better place for Mike to be. It's so strange..hanging out one day, talking and laughing with friends,waiving at each other when you pass by..and then a person can be gone just like that. If nothing else is learned from Mike's passing, we should all be a little more thankful for our friends and family and to always be ready at any time for God to take you home. I miss you Mike and I wish I'd taken more advantage of the opportunity to get to know you better sooner. I'll see you in heaven.