We don’t even think about going church on Sunday morning, there is never a question about where we will be at 9:00 AM. For us it is time of worship, fellowship, and learning about God. Our pastor is an anointed teacher of God’s word and we look forward to hearing what God has put on his heart. For some reason today started out a little different. Our worship leader shared about the recent loss of his father. His dad had been a preacher of God’s word for sixty some years. After a week in the hospital late one night he sat up from his semi conscious state and said “I see Jesus.” While it was several hours before his body finally stopped he was already with Jesus and that was a great comfort to David. David Reynolds shared such a wonderful and poignant moment with us this morning and the worship was outstanding.

Pastor Dave Rutherford taught about the structure and makeup of the Bible. He encouraged us again to be purposeful in our reading and study of God’s word. He challenged each of us read the whole Bible in an orderly fashion over the next 13 months. He admonished us to read with an open heart, a hungry heart, and an obedient heart. He encouraged us to sincerely seek what God has for us. Pastor Dave is such a delightful preacher.

After Pastor Dave had baptized several people he said that he had very difficult announcement. He was visibly shaken as he announced that a young member of our congregation had just passed away as a result of a very aggressive cancer. This young mother was very much loved by everyone who knew her. She left a 10 year old son, a recently adopted 3 year old son, and a husband. I don’t know if I have ever felt such sadness come over a group of people. Everyone just left in stunned silence. As Alice and I returned to our car we just sat there for few minutes without saying anything. I started to pray and didn’t have any words. I don’t know Scott and if I did I don’t even begin to know how to minister to him. Alice prayed that the people that are close to Scott would be able to come around him and minister to his sons and him. This was first service so Dave had another service to do. We prayed for the Holy Spirit to carry him through.

We know in our heads that God is sovereign and has a perfect plan for each of us. Our hearts are not able to understand how that plan can include situations such as this. As God says in Proverbs “Trust in Me always and lean not on your understanding.” At times like these the words seem somehow hollow. The thief thinks that he has won a victory, he is wrong because we will "rejoice in the Lord always again I say rejoice" in the victory of Jesus Christ over the grave. Tracy’s life will be celebrated. Our prayers are with Scott that he again raises his voice in the worship of God.

Let all who read this pray for Scott, his two sons, and the rest of Tracy’s family.

Now to the question, “why go to church?” Why do we expose ourselves to the potential for pain and grief? The answer is it is God’s will for his children to gather as family to serve and to worship Him. When we are obedient God blesses us in so many ways. Yes we experience the pain of loss. The joy of friendship and fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ far outweighs any pain we might have as we remind each other of God’s love for us. It is impossible for me to imagine going through the trauma of this life without knowing that God has put me in the midst of believing, caring, and loving brothers and sisters.