Dealing with bureaucracy...

Andy and I had fun today, trying to update his state id. Found out that the certified copy of his birth certificate was not accepted by the DMV. So we had to order one through the Pennsylvania vital records, it cost us $38 and we may not get it for almost a month. At which point we have to bring it back to the DMV, and hope that they will expedite it (they no longer print them out right there). We're supposed to be flying out on September 11, I hope we have this all straightened out by then. Pennsylvania vital records would not speed up the process any. So we're both rather frustrated and not particularly joyful. Had I known how long these things would take and that the copy of the birth certificate Andy did have was not acceptable, I would have gotten on this sooner. However, the TSA website does list a state issued id as acceptable, so maybe they'll still take his old id. The website also says that if you don't have an id with you, that won't necessarily stop you from flying, you'll just go through extra screening. So that was our fun today.

I came across a passage today in 1 Peter 4:

Of course, your former friends are very surprised when you no longer join them in the wicked things they do, and they say evil things about you. But just remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was preached even to those who have died-so that although their bodies were punished with death, they could still live in the spirit as God does. (1 Peter 4:4-6)

I don't understand this. It almost reads like the gospel is being preached to those who have died, that even if someone has died, it's not too late for them to accept Christ? Does anyone understand this? Maybe this is a foolish question, but I really don't understand that passage, and I don't want to be led astray. In the New King James version it reads: "For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh; but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Peter 4:6) I would be genuinely interested in discussing this with someone who knows, because I find discussing Scripture and figuring out His word a joyful experience. I took a roundabout way to talk about joy today, but I'm trying to write about obstacles to joy and finding ways to overcome those obstacles.