In Memory of Joe Taylor
My Eulogy presentation
The Eulogy
THERE IS A STORY ABOUT A WORLD FAMOUS ACROBAT who was known for his daring high-wire walks across vast chasms; who astonished crowds as he walked a tight-rope strung between the American and Canadian sides of the Niagara Falls. He had done this on several other occasions with amazing stunts like pushing a wheel-barrel or an oven along the wire to cook an omelet halfway across the Niagara Gorge. The crowds erupted when he made another successful crossing. One day He then quieted them with a question: “Now that you have seen me do it once, do you believe I can go back again?” “Yes! We believe!” they shouted back to them, applauding.
He quieted them again. “Do you believe I could cross with a man perched on my back?”
Without missing a beat, the crowds continue to cheer and express complete confidence in the acrobat’s ability to perform such a feat. Hadn’t they just seen proof? Hadn’t they heard of his accomplishments? Of course he could!
The acrobat then gazed intently over the audience and asked “Now, which one of you will be that person and accompany me back across?”
Suddenly, there was an uncomfortable silence of consternation. The acrobat suddenly found no takers. Those who professed belief suddenly had no faith. It would not be until another day until someone finally exercised their faith- his business manager finally accepted his invitation. Both crossed and lived to see another day.
This true story is an example of our faith.
But you see- no one really studies the Bible anymore. Because of lack of understanding of the Scripture, people’s faith has become easily shaken by the latest “scientific evidence” that claims the Bible is comprised of a bunch of myths, fables, & half-truths. One person came up to me and said, “You know that the book of Genesis is not really true.” I replied, “If you can’t rely on the Scripture in Genesis, then you can’t trust John 3:16. ”
There is a lot of disinformation being produced in volumes from people who do not put their faith in the literal word of God. I simply put my faith in the word and believe what it says. Joe did too. But there’s evidence to back it up. He spent his life sharing the story of God’s creation in the fossil record and the evidence for a great deluge upon the earth called Noah’s Flood.
A Christian’s forte must be the Bible. It was Joe’s. The Bible is the compass to which God of the universe has communicated his word to us through His book, the Bible. It is sobering to acknowledge the value of our heritage that has come to us at such a high price.
When the Roman general Pompey successfully entered Jerusalem in the first century B.C., he was determined to satisfy his curiosity about certain stories regarding the worship of the Jewish people.
After conquering this city, he made it one of his personal priorities to ascend the Temple Mount to find out the truth behind the puzzling reports that the Jewish people had no physical statue or image of God in their most sacred place of worship, the Holy of Holies.
To Pompey it was inconceivable to worship God without portraying Him in a type of physical likeness, as an icon. What he saw was unlike anything he had seen on his travels; leaving him greatly puzzled and bewildered. He found no physical statue, no religious image, no pictorial description of the Hebrew God— only an empty space. He was thoroughly confused. He left the temple without saying a word!
What this powerful emissary of Rome experienced in Jerusalem, he had seen nowhere else in his travels in the empire. How different from other religions! Jerusalem represented a very different God from those to whom the rest of the world paid homage too. Pompey did not understand that God is not portrayed by wood, stone, or imagery but the Creator who inhabits eternity and revealed Himself to Moses as “I AM”. It made no sense to the Roman mind to worship a god without knowing what he looked like.
History records that in A.D. 303, Emperor Diocletian ordered one of the last and greatest persecutions of the Christians with the intent to destroy every Bible. In 299–300, the failure of a sacrifice to produce favorable omens was blamed on the presence of Christians, and Diocletian ordered that all Christian civil servants or soldiers were to participate in sacrifices or lose their positions; even at the threat of death.
Some time later, an oracle from Apollo at Didyma called for the suppression of Christianity. Thus Diocletian’s first “Edict Against the Christians” was published. This ordered the destruction of Christian scriptures and places of worship across the Empire, while prohibiting Christians from assembling for worship.
After many tireless years of ruthless slaughter and destruction, he erected a column of victory over the embers of a burned Bible. The title on the column read:
“EXTINCT IS THE NAME OF CHRISTIAN”.
However, twenty years later, The New Emperor Constantine offered a reward for any remaining Bibles. Within twenty-four hours, no less than fifty copies were brought out of hiding and presented to the Emperor.
Norman Schwarzkopf was once asked- what was the biggest problem in America. He simply responded, “Lack of integrity.”
Integrity is similar to the word “sincere”. It comes from the Latin phrase “sin-cere”; meaning- without wax. Joe was an artist. In pottery, a potter may use wax to fill in any cracks in the pottery; thus covering any visible cracks over. “The Greek term means “sun- tested”. The ancients had very fine porcelain that was greatly valued and therefore expensive. Often, when fired in the kiln tiny cracks would appear. Dishonest merchants would smear pearly-white wax over these cracks, which would pass for unblemished porcelain-unless held up to the light of the sun. Honest dealers marked their flawless pottery “sine cera” or “without wax”. A man should be “without wax” in his relationship with Jesus Christ.
WHAT IS “THE ROOM”? It was originally published in New Attitude magazine by Josh Harris in 1995.
“The Room” is about a real dream Josh had while visiting Puerto Rico for a Billy Graham crusade when he was 19. He woke up deeply shaken, grabbed his computer and began to type. The dream became an article, and the premise was this: What if there were a room of files that cataloged your every thought and action? Could you bear to review them?
It touches on the universal themes of guilt and redemption. How does a person find forgiveness for the wrongs they have committed? How can any of us know true forgiveness from a God who is holy and just?
The Room
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index-card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read “Girls I Have Liked.” I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.
And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn’t match.
A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.
A file named “Friends” was next to one marked “Friends I Have Betrayed.”
The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. “Books I Have Read,” “Lies I Have Told,” “Comfort I Have Given,” “Jokes I Have Laughed At.”
Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: “Things I’ve Yelled at My Brother & Sister.”
Others I couldn’t laugh at: “Things I Have Done in My Anger,” “Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.” I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped.
I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked “Songs I Have Listened To,” I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly and yet after two or three yards, I hadn’t found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.
When I came to a file marked “Lustful Thoughts,” I felt a chill run through my body. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.
An anger burst forth in me. One thought dominated my mind: “No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!” In a moment I toppled a filing cabinet. Its size didn’t matter now. I had to empty it and burn these cards.
But as I took the filing cabinet at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.
Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self- pitying sigh. And then I saw it.
The title bore “People I Have Shared the Gospel With.” The file handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.
And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that the hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of files in the shelves swirled in my eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.
As I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn’t bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?
Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn’t anger me or him. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and simply put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn’t say single a word. He just cried with me. Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, & began to sign His name over mine on each card.
“No!” I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was “No, no,” as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn’t be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood.
He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, “It is finished.” I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written…
Montana Dig
You thought I was going to tell stories about Joe Taylor from around the campfire. He was professional paleontologist, artist and musician- Joe was a legend in his own time. His stories of the Jesus Movement, art school, hand painting billboards on the Sunset Strip, playing and singing his song "Silver & Gold" for the Supremes, crashing a Beatles party to share the gospel, picking up Glen Frey from the Eagles hitch-hiking along the highway, playing guitar with John Denver in college, his invention of the Blippo Black font, writing numerous books including my personal favorite "It's Been Strange Being Here on Erth"; not to mention a lifetime of knowledge regarding bones, mammoths, and the fossil record was amass.
Oh, and he adopted 11 kids- becoming legal guardian of three..
As Joe was in his final weeks of going back and forth to the hospital I would talk to him once a week on the phone for about an hour. Just two days prior to Joe being admitted to the hospital, I told him everything I ever wanted to tell Joe- what he meant to me and his friendship over the 27 years I knew him. I encouraged him to hold his head high- that he had accomplished his destiny.
“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”
I reminded him of what our dear brother in Christ who went before us did- David Hall who took his Bible in the remaining hours of his life and clutched it to his chest. Why did he do that? Because of the Hope we have in Jesus.
In his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis said,
“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
A person’s wealth isn’t measured in money, but in their relationships with others. Remember, it is not how we start in life, but how we finish. Joe finished strong. The essence of Joe’s faith was trust. Like the acrobat, it was eventually his manager that put his faith & trust in his friend who crossed Niagra Falls with him on his back. Joe put his faith in Jesus Christ- crossing the chasm of life- all while holding on to the Creator of Life himself.
Do you personally know this Jesus? Do you have a relationship with Him?
You see- it’s not about bones, fossils, dinosaurs or mammoths. It’s about Jesus.
Remember the story of the acrobat?
“Who will be that person and accompany the acrobat across the wire?”
Do you know that you are assured eternal life if you just ask Christ to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart? Do not delay it any longer. You are not guaranteed tomorrow. Jesus Christ loves you and will meet you just where you are. Trust His promises found in the word of God!
Joe Taylor did. He was a great defender of the faith. His life was a living legacy to his faith in Jesus.
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PS. If you loved this article, be sure to head over to our Ancient Pathways Patreon site and download the new Book of Giants Library Volumes 1-3, Joe Taylor Radio: Giants, Fossils, Dinosaurs & Mammoths. Ohh, & Bigfoot.., Joe Taylor’s interview on Coast to Coast AM , Joe Taylor’s book “Giants: Against Evolution”, Bone Digger the Movie”, “Segments of Books by Joe Taylor”, “Fossil Facts & Fantasies” , or “It’s Been Strange Bein’ Here on Erth”.
