Two St. Louis Cardinals pitchers, two guys in the prime of life, two games
against the Chicago Cubs, two sets of grieving families and unanswered questions. Darryl Kile and Joshua Hancock were
supposed to pillars of the Cardinals club for years to come. Both were ushered from this life to the next in circumstances
that most would term "before their time."
I'm not sure how a family deals with that kind of
a situation. The grieving is so intense. The healing takes a long time. The scar will always be visible.
And yet, not one of us is guaranteed a tomorrow. Every day is precious and every breath is significant.
Every relationship should be treated as a sacred trust. We will not get another chance to live this day through.
Have I given this day all I had? Or did I hold back, thinking, tomorrow will have its own opportunities. Presumption
can lead to difficult learning.
On this day we saw Jon Corzine be checked out of Cooper Medical Center in Camden.
Three surguries and a few metal rods after the SUV tumble on the Garden State Parkway, the governor can see how precious life
is. It really doesn't matter that he is able to write a personal check to cover his medical bills. He's
just lucky to be alive. And he knows it. And that might make all the difference.
One of the
refreshing aspects of the gospel message is that each day is a gift from God and that each day is fraught with new potential
and with gracious blessing. We can live life to the full because we have experienced the liberating hope that salvation
affords. God is at work. God is at work in me and in you. That is a reason to put two feet down on the floor
each day and say, "Glory to God in the highest! Another blessing from above!"
We never know when the
last one will be. I pray that no matter when that is, I will be able to say that I haven't held anything back!
Dear Friends,
I want to remind those of you who would like to be reacquainted with the basics of the faith
or who would like to join the church as a new member or confirmand (that is, youth group member in 8th grade, at least), that
we will have a class on the basics beginning tomorrow morning from 9:30-10:15. Those of you who joined in November,
this is the class for you as well. I hope you can make it. The class will cover the basics of the faith as well
as the specific marks of United Methodist belief and practice.
We have all seen the images from Blacksburg over
the course of this last week. It has deeply saddended me that something like this could unfold at a University where
people are supposed to go to learn and explore in peace and in freedom. We continue to pray for those family members
who have lost loved ones and we are praying that the Holy Spirit would comfort our hearts as we mourn.
The perpetrator
of this act of violence has repeatedly been described as a "loner". Those who lived in the suite with him
were never even given his name, except for the piece of paper from the University with the rooming assignments. He had
completely isolated himself. It will be interesting to see what, if any, data can be ascertained from cell phone records
or computer records that would explicate such a senseless act.
Isolation and loneliness are deadly to the soul.
Fragmentation and brokenness can result in deep bitterness and angst that, if not dealt with in the spirit, will result in
hatred, malice, and violence. Real, genuine community in the Body of Christ seeks to answer the world's isolation
and brokenness by announcing the peace of God ruling in our hearts as a community of faith. We seek to overcome the
darkness and violence through a continued stretched out hand. We cannot accomplish this by ourselves or out of an idealism
rooted in the human spirit. Rather, we must be strengthened for this task by the Spirit of God. The redemption
in Christ Jesus does away with the myth that we are ever alone and seeks to put us in right relationship with God and with
one another. Rightly trusting in God yields to a peace beyond our own reference and to a way of life that is oriented
to love not to disintegration.
Love is all of us that will last. That love begins and ends in the redemptive
and saving act of Jesus Christ on the cross on our behalf. To see that is to see the face of God aright.
We
join with those who mourn. We pray for those who are hurting so deeply and who experience this kind of isolation that
can breed this kind of hatred. Our prayers must take flight, however, not just to heaven, but to our fellow brothers
and sisters. One place that this happens tangibly and with full reality is in the church. I hope you will join
with us for worship and that you bring a prayerful heart, ready to stretch your hand out.
Amid the chance for snow, there is the certainty of new life in Christ! Because of Jesus' death and resurrection
we have been wrapped up into the very family of God! Praise the Lord!
I hope you can join us for worship
on Easter Sunday. Our Sunrise service will be at 6:30 at the paintworks lake. Our 8:30 and 10:30 worship services
will be held as scheduled with two special acts of worship at the 10:30 service: Our interpretive dance team, under
the direction of LouAnn Gunning will minister and all of the attenders will participate in the flowering of the cross.
Also, after the second worship service on Easter Sunday there will be an Easter Egg hunt for all of our children.
May God's Blessings surround you each day... Rob
