I will always remember the moment I realized I was meant to be a pastor. As a child the pastor of our church was a good man that my family really looked up to. I often watched him preach or serve over communion and other things during worship wondering if that was something I could some day do. It's funny how simple and seemingly pleasant his job appeared to be (man was I off). I mean after all pastors only work 1 day a week right...at least that is the running joke out there amongst parishioners in churches all over the states. The further along I get in ministry the more I realize just how difficult this job really is. Something that one of my colleagues told me once, has stuck with me all these years. He told me, "John being a staff member in the local church is the one job that everyone at some point in time thinks they can do." Think about it, we don't walk into a bank and think we can be a teller. We don't get on an airplane and think we can do a better job flying the plane then the pilot. However, when it comes to church probably everyone of us has thought I could do this, or in some cases I even have a better idea of how to lead a church than the pastor.
Being a pastor is a challenge and while it is rewarding it can be a painful & lonely experience. You quickly find that everyone has an opinion on how you are doing and they have an opinion on how the church should run. And they feel free to share that opinion with anyone and everyone who will listen except for you. Sadly, 95% of those opinions only exist to represent our own personal wants and desires... while the pastor is responsible not for making individuals happy but to lead and entire Body of Christ in the way that God wants it. Throw into that mix being in a small town and you quickly realize that you are a regular source of conversation and criticism. This is why you see pastors dropping out of the ministry and pastors kids never stepping into a church the rest of their life because of the hurtful things they witness. There are times where being a greeter at Wal-Mart seems like a great job.
The struggle for any leader boils down to this...do I try and make everyone happy and be a people pleaser (which by the way is impossible). Or do I stick with being True to who Christ has called me to be and called the church to be. I bet you can guess where I fall in my convictions on this one. Still though it doesn't make all the hurtful things you hear said about you any easier. I mean pastors are human. But every once in awhile God will throw you a bone. He will give you a nugget. God will remind you why you do what you do. He will remind you why it is worth all the criticism and hard choices to stay the course and keep leading with truth and conviction. I had one of those moments today.
I was in a counseling session with a gentleman who had been attending our church off and on for the last year or so. During the conversation it was evident and apparent that God was working on his heart. He did not have much of a church background at all but God was definitely doing something in his life. He said that because of his experience in worship on Sunday God was doing something new in his life and he could sense it. To make a long story short he gave his life to Christ right there in my office! After a long conversation and prayer he left. I found myself overwhelmed with tears and sobbing uncontrollably. In that brief but powerful moment I was gently reminded by God why it is I do what I do. Why it is I take the criticism. Why it is that I stay the course even when people want to jump ship or throw others under the buss. Because people matter to God and each of us needs Jesus Christ! That's why I do what I do.
Thanks God for the reminder that all the pain, difficulty, and challenges are not for nothing. I will stay the course, and remain faithful and true to who you called me to be. I will continue to do what it is I do for your Kingdom no matter how difficult it is. Because in the end people's lives are at stake and that cause alone is worth all the criticism in the world.
When has there been a time where you have felt like bailing...where the struggle doesn't seem worth it...where the criticism is overwhelming you. Maybe God wants you to stay right where you are and trust that he is in control and has a plan for why you are doing what you are doing... for why you are going through what you are going through. A good friend shared this verse with me today that I will cherish in my heart forever. John 13:7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
I encourage you to stay the course and to endure the criticism or the struggle because Jesus is about to do a miracle through your faithfulness. May God walk with you and bless your life abundantly! Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
When fear takes over...
It was 5AM and we heard a little knock on our bedroom door. Usually that is not a good sign and involves kids sick or vomiting and such. Of course when I answered it was Austin and he had just thrown up. Now normally this wouldn't have been that big of a deal. However, we have just finished a 4 week stint where chicken pox, stomach, and kidney stones have made there way through our house. The last person got the stomach flu just last week and we thought we were done. Then Austin gets sick again.
After I cleaned up the mess, there I was laying in bed not able to fall back asleep for a few minutes before going off to church to preach the Sunday sermon. Fear of the unknown was running wild in my heart. "Who would get it next, would it run through our entire house again, will Erin get sick, will I miss work, this is the busy season at church, we can't go through this again?" On and on I laid there in fear of what was to come. The thing was I had no control whatsoever over these circumstances. I had no answer to these questions and no ability to stop this thing from spreading. All I could do was fret & worry! Then I thought to myself...give it to God. Give Jesus my fears and trust him with the results. So I prayed and talked to God. I shared with him my concern and my fear. He reminded me how trustworthy He is. I admit to you that as I write this I still have some fear and concern with the sickness stuff and also with some other things going on in life right now. this trusting God thing is hard especially when you have little or no control over the issue that concerns you.
This Christmas season I am reminded that each person that wound up at the manger the night Jesus was born started with or experienced along the way a sense of fear. The only person in that stable that night without fear was the bay, Jesus. Jesus came to answer our fears and to give us faith. It is our faith in Christ that sustains us and allows us to put our fear in a healthy place. When we fear man or this world we wind up making ourselves sick with worry and it controls us. When we give our fear over to God it turns to faith, belief, and often peace. Jesus came to be our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, Our Everlasting Father, and our Prince of Peace. In all of these names we have received specific gifts from Him. Gifts that sustain us through life and deal with our fears. This Christmas let's take our fears to God and discover an renewed faith in our creator. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
After I cleaned up the mess, there I was laying in bed not able to fall back asleep for a few minutes before going off to church to preach the Sunday sermon. Fear of the unknown was running wild in my heart. "Who would get it next, would it run through our entire house again, will Erin get sick, will I miss work, this is the busy season at church, we can't go through this again?" On and on I laid there in fear of what was to come. The thing was I had no control whatsoever over these circumstances. I had no answer to these questions and no ability to stop this thing from spreading. All I could do was fret & worry! Then I thought to myself...give it to God. Give Jesus my fears and trust him with the results. So I prayed and talked to God. I shared with him my concern and my fear. He reminded me how trustworthy He is. I admit to you that as I write this I still have some fear and concern with the sickness stuff and also with some other things going on in life right now. this trusting God thing is hard especially when you have little or no control over the issue that concerns you.
This Christmas season I am reminded that each person that wound up at the manger the night Jesus was born started with or experienced along the way a sense of fear. The only person in that stable that night without fear was the bay, Jesus. Jesus came to answer our fears and to give us faith. It is our faith in Christ that sustains us and allows us to put our fear in a healthy place. When we fear man or this world we wind up making ourselves sick with worry and it controls us. When we give our fear over to God it turns to faith, belief, and often peace. Jesus came to be our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, Our Everlasting Father, and our Prince of Peace. In all of these names we have received specific gifts from Him. Gifts that sustain us through life and deal with our fears. This Christmas let's take our fears to God and discover an renewed faith in our creator. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thanksgiving & remembering RMH
Well, my favorite Holiday of the year is coming in a little over a week. I love Thanksgiving and the 3 F's. Food, football, and family... & not necessarily in that order. I just really love the whole focus of being thankful and looking back over my life in the previous year to see all that God has done. No matter how difficult things have been or how bad the struggles are I always find myself with an outpouring of thanksgiving for God's providential nature. He is my great provider and sustainer.
Today I was working on a sermon and just thinking back through the years and how God has been so good to our family and it reminded me of Thanksgiving 4 years ago. Isabel was about 2 weeks old and was just out of her first skull surgery to release the pressure on her brain. She was at the Children's Medical Center in Cincinnati, OH. A we all gathered very briefly at my folks house in Dayton that day to celebrate Thanksgiving. It was especially hard...but I think my heart was more thankful then it had ever been before. God had provided a refuge for us during this difficult and trying time at the Ronald McDonald House across the street from the hospital. It was such a blessing and a surprise. We had no idea how we were going to live from day to day while Isabel stayed at the hospital and the RMH provided our every need with food, shelter, friendship. They gave our family free passes to the zoo and to the Aquarium.
I will never forget the kindness of people as they came in to serve lunch and dinners to us. It was such a refreshing thing to get a hot meal and have it not cost us a thing. From time to time in the past few years we have returned to serve meals and what a blessing it is to help those families that are now struggling as we once were. I found myself today thinking about the possibility to taking my family down there on Wednesday before Thanksgiving to serve a meal. We will already be down there that morning because Isabel has a follow up appointment with her hand surgeon. I called and left a message there...chances are good that another group has already signed up to serve a meal that day but I am hoping that if needed we can be there as a family to serve those in need.
I will always remember one lunch in particular. Out of all the groups that served us there were usually a lot of people helping to serve. This particular time there was just a husband wife and some older children. I asked them what group they were with and thanked them for feeding us. They told us they were not from a group but in fact years ago were residents at the RMH receiving help themselves. They pointed to one of their sons who was helping to serve and told us his story and his struggles. He looked at me and told me something I will never forget. He said, "years ago we were served...today it is our turn to serve." In that moment I longed for the day I would be able to return with my family and realize "our time to serve."
Since then we have been down there with church when we lived in Dayton and served...I am still looking forward to the chance for just my family to go and return the favor and give those that are hurting some inspiration as we get a chance to tell Isabel's story. God thank you for all the times you have provided for us over the years. Thank you for the trials, struggles, and tears. You have made yourself entirely visible to me and those memories sustain me even today whenever doubt/fear/concern in life tries to creep in. You are truly an awesome God and worthy of my utter thanks and gratitude.
What are you thankful for? In what way shape or form is it, "your turn to serve?" Keep your eyes open. You never know what God is up to in your life and in those lives around you. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Today I was working on a sermon and just thinking back through the years and how God has been so good to our family and it reminded me of Thanksgiving 4 years ago. Isabel was about 2 weeks old and was just out of her first skull surgery to release the pressure on her brain. She was at the Children's Medical Center in Cincinnati, OH. A we all gathered very briefly at my folks house in Dayton that day to celebrate Thanksgiving. It was especially hard...but I think my heart was more thankful then it had ever been before. God had provided a refuge for us during this difficult and trying time at the Ronald McDonald House across the street from the hospital. It was such a blessing and a surprise. We had no idea how we were going to live from day to day while Isabel stayed at the hospital and the RMH provided our every need with food, shelter, friendship. They gave our family free passes to the zoo and to the Aquarium.
I will never forget the kindness of people as they came in to serve lunch and dinners to us. It was such a refreshing thing to get a hot meal and have it not cost us a thing. From time to time in the past few years we have returned to serve meals and what a blessing it is to help those families that are now struggling as we once were. I found myself today thinking about the possibility to taking my family down there on Wednesday before Thanksgiving to serve a meal. We will already be down there that morning because Isabel has a follow up appointment with her hand surgeon. I called and left a message there...chances are good that another group has already signed up to serve a meal that day but I am hoping that if needed we can be there as a family to serve those in need.
I will always remember one lunch in particular. Out of all the groups that served us there were usually a lot of people helping to serve. This particular time there was just a husband wife and some older children. I asked them what group they were with and thanked them for feeding us. They told us they were not from a group but in fact years ago were residents at the RMH receiving help themselves. They pointed to one of their sons who was helping to serve and told us his story and his struggles. He looked at me and told me something I will never forget. He said, "years ago we were served...today it is our turn to serve." In that moment I longed for the day I would be able to return with my family and realize "our time to serve."
Since then we have been down there with church when we lived in Dayton and served...I am still looking forward to the chance for just my family to go and return the favor and give those that are hurting some inspiration as we get a chance to tell Isabel's story. God thank you for all the times you have provided for us over the years. Thank you for the trials, struggles, and tears. You have made yourself entirely visible to me and those memories sustain me even today whenever doubt/fear/concern in life tries to creep in. You are truly an awesome God and worthy of my utter thanks and gratitude.
What are you thankful for? In what way shape or form is it, "your turn to serve?" Keep your eyes open. You never know what God is up to in your life and in those lives around you. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Friday, November 14, 2008
Just a wild season of life
Man I sure have neglected this Blog thing...but then again the past month has just been nutty. We have dealt with three different cases of Chicken Pox and still have two in our house left who have not had them yet. The presidential election threw many of us off for a few days. Last week I discovered that I had another kidney stone...(this is starting to get a little ridiculous). I had one several year ago and then another back in May. Can you believe that MAY! And here I have another one. So I would up in the hospital again and this time elected for surgery to have it removed. Thankfully it was successful and today all is well. I still can't shake this cold that I've had for over a week now. We still have not finished our 40 Days of Community small group yet because every other week we are sick or others can't make it. To top it all off some of the strangest things and conversations have been taking place at church. I can't explain it other than to say that God is always good and I feel blessed more than ever.
Funny though even as I write this Erin has been up all night getting sick and more than likely we will not be able to have Isabel's B-day party on Saturday as we had planned...what a bummer! Things haven't gotten any better with Hailey either as her issues continue to show them self more frequently and escalate more quickly. There are some important decisions coming in the near future for her and for our family. I know though, that God is good and that we are blessed. I am standing here this morning in the middle of all this funk swirling around me and all of a sudden I just felt blessed. It was as if God was reaching through the fog of life just to place his hand on my shoulder as a reminder that he is there and still in control. During all of these things I know he has never once taken his hand off of us or turned his back to us. On the contrary I have sensed his presence even more as I have today. I am thankful for the circumstances that God uses to make us more away of his love but I gotta tell you I look forward to more of a "normal" life here very quickly. Sounds funny to even use that word. After all what is "normal" for us. Oh well I thought I would finally check in and give a shout to everyone out there. Keep up your prayers for our family. We certainly covet them. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Funny though even as I write this Erin has been up all night getting sick and more than likely we will not be able to have Isabel's B-day party on Saturday as we had planned...what a bummer! Things haven't gotten any better with Hailey either as her issues continue to show them self more frequently and escalate more quickly. There are some important decisions coming in the near future for her and for our family. I know though, that God is good and that we are blessed. I am standing here this morning in the middle of all this funk swirling around me and all of a sudden I just felt blessed. It was as if God was reaching through the fog of life just to place his hand on my shoulder as a reminder that he is there and still in control. During all of these things I know he has never once taken his hand off of us or turned his back to us. On the contrary I have sensed his presence even more as I have today. I am thankful for the circumstances that God uses to make us more away of his love but I gotta tell you I look forward to more of a "normal" life here very quickly. Sounds funny to even use that word. After all what is "normal" for us. Oh well I thought I would finally check in and give a shout to everyone out there. Keep up your prayers for our family. We certainly covet them. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Politics as usual?
As you know I try to avoid politics from the pulpit and try not to delve into it on my blog. However, when you elect a new president that tends to be a pretty big deal. It would seem that a large majority of the nation is celebrating today with the land slide that was for Obama. And then there are those who woke up on Wednesday morning with shock. I admit that I would be in the latter group rather than in the former. I will say this however, I really didn't feel that excited about either candidate. I just voted for the one I personally thought would do less harm. It's kind of like watching your two little children play with scissors. While its not a good thing for either one you hope that the one capable of doing less harm winds up with them. Not sure if that made sense? Anyways there are many out there that do not share my views and that is OK. That's why I don't feel there is much room for politics in the local church, because all it does is tend to polarize people that otherwise could come together in perfect unity to serve Jesus Christ.
What will be interesting to watch over the next four years is what will happen with our government now that there is a majority in the House, the Senate, and the president... all democratic. I know all of us are looking at the financial crisis and the pending meltdown and wonder how a new government will respond. I am as well. Though I regularly support the Republican ticket I readily admit that I am not pleased at all with the way Bush handled things. Sure there are others to blame but he turned his back too many times when he should have faced the music. There are a laundry list of things I don't like about Obama, but if he can get the nation back on its feet than I will have to concede my appreciation to him in the coming years. Keep in mind it has taken me several days to be ready to even talk about this topic but I am hoping my thoughts are starting to settle.
One other thing I am reminded of...it really didn't matter if it was McCain or Obama in charge of our nation. The truth is God is still the head cheese around these parts...at least that is how I have experienced him. God hasn't fallen off his throne and ultimately no matter who is president they still have to answer to him. No matter who governs us ultimately God is still our one true King. So I am not going to do a Barbara Streisand on you like she did when Bush was elected. (You remember she vowed to leave the US and find a deserted Island somewhere to live on)... many are still willing to take her up on the offer. lol lol... What I will do is offer Obama and our government my prayers as I always have before and wish their leadership well into the next four years and trust as I always have that God is still ultimately in control. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
What will be interesting to watch over the next four years is what will happen with our government now that there is a majority in the House, the Senate, and the president... all democratic. I know all of us are looking at the financial crisis and the pending meltdown and wonder how a new government will respond. I am as well. Though I regularly support the Republican ticket I readily admit that I am not pleased at all with the way Bush handled things. Sure there are others to blame but he turned his back too many times when he should have faced the music. There are a laundry list of things I don't like about Obama, but if he can get the nation back on its feet than I will have to concede my appreciation to him in the coming years. Keep in mind it has taken me several days to be ready to even talk about this topic but I am hoping my thoughts are starting to settle.
One other thing I am reminded of...it really didn't matter if it was McCain or Obama in charge of our nation. The truth is God is still the head cheese around these parts...at least that is how I have experienced him. God hasn't fallen off his throne and ultimately no matter who is president they still have to answer to him. No matter who governs us ultimately God is still our one true King. So I am not going to do a Barbara Streisand on you like she did when Bush was elected. (You remember she vowed to leave the US and find a deserted Island somewhere to live on)... many are still willing to take her up on the offer. lol lol... What I will do is offer Obama and our government my prayers as I always have before and wish their leadership well into the next four years and trust as I always have that God is still ultimately in control. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Monday, October 27, 2008
What a great party!
Sunday we had our 3rd annual harvest party after the Old Fort Halloween parade. Basically we set up a bunch of cool games, free food, bonfires, and hayrides for the community and everyone comes out and has a blast! So many lives were touched and so many people walked away feeling blessed. I had a chance to meet so many new families and faces. Several folks were new in our church that morning and came out that afternoon. One lady in particular told me that she was not sure when the last time was that she had been in church...her family was gathered around her at the fire and they all joked that they were shocked that she came. God is so good.
I praise him for Kerry W. and all the hard work she put into this party. I thank him for all of the faithful volunteers that show up anytime we need some help with anything at the church. I was so excited to see several new faces serving people. There were folk who have started attending on a regular basis stepping right up and serving. In fact one of my friends who hasn't attended in some time at OFC even came out and he spent the entire day helping people out. At the end of the day he thanked me for asking him to help serve. Imagine that someone thanking me for putting him to work all day long...for free!!! Only Jesus Christ can have that kind of impact. Only Jesus can cause people to display the kindness they did with their servant hood and with their sacrifices of time and money. So many people came up to me and others and asked if they could help. You could feel the love of Christ in the air...it was palpable!
I pray that at OFC our love for each other grows...I pray that our love grows so much that we can do nothing else but let it spill out into the community and all those around us like it did on Sunday. After all that is what church is all about....sharing the love of Christ and having a blast doing it. I am praying tonight for the people of Old Fort Church. I am praying for their commitment and passion to continue to grow for Jesus Christ, for reaching people for him, and for putting forth vital ministry projects that change lives.
I am so encouraged at people's generosity and a renewed passion to step up and serve others. Our teens are stepping up and creating their own outreach projects in the community. Small groups are starting ministries to college students. College students are getting deeper involved in the life of our church. Small groups are praying over ministries to nursing homes and revitalizing our pastoral care ministry. A group of people are partnering with Old Fort Elementary school to put together an after school program. We are going to Baldwin, LA to the Sager Brown center in February on a week long stateside mission project and we are praying that 10 people will go with Bret Fry and I. God is so good. How is he touching your heart? How is he changing your life? How is he causing you to grow more in love with Him, with others, and with those who do not know Jesus. God is moving at OFC and I am so thankful for being a part of it! Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
I praise him for Kerry W. and all the hard work she put into this party. I thank him for all of the faithful volunteers that show up anytime we need some help with anything at the church. I was so excited to see several new faces serving people. There were folk who have started attending on a regular basis stepping right up and serving. In fact one of my friends who hasn't attended in some time at OFC even came out and he spent the entire day helping people out. At the end of the day he thanked me for asking him to help serve. Imagine that someone thanking me for putting him to work all day long...for free!!! Only Jesus Christ can have that kind of impact. Only Jesus can cause people to display the kindness they did with their servant hood and with their sacrifices of time and money. So many people came up to me and others and asked if they could help. You could feel the love of Christ in the air...it was palpable!
I pray that at OFC our love for each other grows...I pray that our love grows so much that we can do nothing else but let it spill out into the community and all those around us like it did on Sunday. After all that is what church is all about....sharing the love of Christ and having a blast doing it. I am praying tonight for the people of Old Fort Church. I am praying for their commitment and passion to continue to grow for Jesus Christ, for reaching people for him, and for putting forth vital ministry projects that change lives.
I am so encouraged at people's generosity and a renewed passion to step up and serve others. Our teens are stepping up and creating their own outreach projects in the community. Small groups are starting ministries to college students. College students are getting deeper involved in the life of our church. Small groups are praying over ministries to nursing homes and revitalizing our pastoral care ministry. A group of people are partnering with Old Fort Elementary school to put together an after school program. We are going to Baldwin, LA to the Sager Brown center in February on a week long stateside mission project and we are praying that 10 people will go with Bret Fry and I. God is so good. How is he touching your heart? How is he changing your life? How is he causing you to grow more in love with Him, with others, and with those who do not know Jesus. God is moving at OFC and I am so thankful for being a part of it! Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
In Christ, death always leads to life
Yesterday we all said goodbye to a dear friend and a father to the faith. Jim Ritter for many of us was a spiritual father. His life challenged all of us to consider the gift and the responsibilities of following Jesus Christ as our savior and lord. What an incredible time this celebration service was. That's right, we did not have a funeral service...we had a celebration of life. The interesting thing is that it turned out to be more about Jesus' life than it did Ritter's. But then again, if we live our life right then everything we do ought to point others to focus on Jesus and not ourselves. It was quite simple yesterday we simply couldn't talk about Jim without talking about his best friend Jesus. God glorified Himself yesterday for all to see and Jim made that possible.
Don't get me wrong we have rightfully shed some tears...I readily admit that I have, as have many of you. But our tears are quickly replaced with the joy we had of knowing Jim and that challenge that his life has given to our own. I know Jim and if he was here he would want his death to help us once again find life in Christ. After all when you know Jesus, death is always followed by resurrection...death is always followed by new life. It's no wonder that I find myself a day later, after the celebration, experiencing something new in my heart. I feel closer to God. I sense a greater desire and commitment in my heart. My passion for reaching people for Jesus has grown. My life today is a witness to the fact that Jim did not die in vain, without impact, without making a difference. Ritter's life and death has shaped me and molded me even a day after we said goodbye and I know I am not the only one.
Just last night our washing machine repair man showed up to fix our washer (it was a miracle in and of itself and a story for another time). Before he left he had made a comment that led me to believe he was struggling in his life. I was fresh from the celebration that day and found my heart spurred on to ask this guy about his life. Something was telling me to pass the love of Christ onto this man...(I think Jim was nudging me even from heaven). Anyway I asked if he was married and all of a sudden the flood gates opened and "Tom" and I spent the next 40 some minutes talking in my kitchen about his life and his struggles. By the end of the night I had prayed for him and for his wife and let him know that he mattered to me and mattered to God. I am not sure what will come of it, if anything atall, but I do know he experienced the love of Christ from me.
I believe people spur us on, in their life and in their death. Ritter did that for me. I am thankful that his life didn't end in death but that he is living forever in eternity. I am thankful that in his death I continue to find new life. I pray and hope that you too can find the same. Thanks Ritter for who you were, who you are, and who you will continue to be in all of our hearts!
Blessings,
Your Dreaming Pastor
Don't get me wrong we have rightfully shed some tears...I readily admit that I have, as have many of you. But our tears are quickly replaced with the joy we had of knowing Jim and that challenge that his life has given to our own. I know Jim and if he was here he would want his death to help us once again find life in Christ. After all when you know Jesus, death is always followed by resurrection...death is always followed by new life. It's no wonder that I find myself a day later, after the celebration, experiencing something new in my heart. I feel closer to God. I sense a greater desire and commitment in my heart. My passion for reaching people for Jesus has grown. My life today is a witness to the fact that Jim did not die in vain, without impact, without making a difference. Ritter's life and death has shaped me and molded me even a day after we said goodbye and I know I am not the only one.
Just last night our washing machine repair man showed up to fix our washer (it was a miracle in and of itself and a story for another time). Before he left he had made a comment that led me to believe he was struggling in his life. I was fresh from the celebration that day and found my heart spurred on to ask this guy about his life. Something was telling me to pass the love of Christ onto this man...(I think Jim was nudging me even from heaven). Anyway I asked if he was married and all of a sudden the flood gates opened and "Tom" and I spent the next 40 some minutes talking in my kitchen about his life and his struggles. By the end of the night I had prayed for him and for his wife and let him know that he mattered to me and mattered to God. I am not sure what will come of it, if anything atall, but I do know he experienced the love of Christ from me.
I believe people spur us on, in their life and in their death. Ritter did that for me. I am thankful that his life didn't end in death but that he is living forever in eternity. I am thankful that in his death I continue to find new life. I pray and hope that you too can find the same. Thanks Ritter for who you were, who you are, and who you will continue to be in all of our hearts!
Blessings,
Your Dreaming Pastor
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
