Another Sad Goodbye

This has been the year for goodbyes.  In March, we had to say goodbye to our youth pastor and his family and now we're saying goodbye to our music minister.  To say, I will miss Dave is an understatement.  Dave has led our choir for over four years and he's just a super guy.  He has many outstanding qualities, but I'm going to just hit the top three or four.

First, he loves the Lord and he lives his faith.  There isn't any doubt in my mind he is a true Christian and people can see this through his worship, works, and willingness to share his faith with others.

Second, Dave loves his family.  We've been able to see the love he has for his wife and for his two children.  And, we've seen how they love him. 

Third, Dave loves music...all kinds of worship music and he brought a vibrancy to our church we had been lacking for a long time. 

Finally, Dave believes in people.  He gave many of us the opportunity to sing, which we hadn't had before.  He made me feel I had something to offer and most of the solos I've done have been because I felt his support for me.

Okay, I must add one more thing.  Dave loved the movie The Lonesome Dove.  I believe he can quote the entire movie.  All you have to do is name a scene and he can do all the parts.  It's amazing.  Dave is like Woodrow Call in the movie...once he gives his word he follows through.  So, as a tribute to Dave, I'm including Scene 11 from Part Four of the Lonesome Dove.  It's about being true to your word, and saying goodbye to a beloved friend. 

God bless you and your family, Dave, as you start this new and exciting venture for the Lord.

Just Like Solomon

If you've read my earlier blog posts, you know I'm doing the Radical Experiment this year.  And, one of the challenges is to read the Bible daily.  Technically, I've only failed to meet that challenge twice since March 1.  Technically.

About a week ago, I was reading in 1 Kings, chapter 11 about the end of Solomon's life.  The wisest man who ever lived believed in God, but he let his multiple wives negatively influence him.  Before Solomon died, he was worshipping other gods.  As I read the passages, I thought how unwise he had been.  He was the wisest man alive - didn't he know better?

All the while I'm reading I'm trying to hurry through the passages so I can move on to something I wanted to do.  The reading that night was unusually long, and I thought about mid-way through, "I'm not getting anything out of this because I'm trying to hurry.  I don't want to be doing this."  Still, I finished it and went on to the thing I wanted to do.

The next morning as I showered it was like God thumped me on the head and said, "Is there anything in there?  You have Solomon to learn from, but have you?"

All I could say is, "You're right, Lord.  I have other gods too, and last night I chose to make time for the other gods instead of You.  I felt perturbed at the time I spent with You.  Forgive me.  I'm just like Solomon.  Not in wisdom, but in my rebellion."

And so, I've thought about the wonder of God for the last week, and I'm thankful He even bothered to set me straight.  But, that's what a loving Father does, right?