MULTIPLE WARNINGS FROM AN ANCIENT BOOK?

I’m well aware that reading in the Old Testament can be boring, confusing and irrelevant. However, once-in-a-while while I’m reading, something seems to connect.  Those are rewarding moments.

In reading through Isaiah (740-680 B.C.) I felt that happening as I read chapter 23.  Major seaports are mentioned such as Tarshish [think Gibraltar], Sidon, the Nile Valley, Tyre and Cyprus. According to Isaiah: Tarshish, Sidon, Tyre, and even Cyprus suffered greatly and became far less significant very suddenly!

Isaiah compared the future of these ports to Assyria’s utter destruction of the empire established by Babylon:

“Assyria turned it into a desert, into a refuge for wild dogs and stray cats. They brought in their big siege engines, tore down the buildings, and left nothing behind but rubble.” [Isaiah 23:13 ™] [All quotes from The Message unless otherwise noted]

He then claimed that this would certainly be the future for Tyre [on the northeast coast of the Mediterranean Sea].

Isaiah explained these situations in verse 9:

“God-of-the-Angel-Armies ordered the crash to show the sordid backside of pride and puncture the inflated reputations.” 

SUMMARY:

The wealth of these VERY SIGNICANT shipping centers had become a source of pride, control and extreme luxury. Consequently, [v.11]

“GOD ordered the destruction of the seacoast cities, the centers of commerce.”

___________________________________

This is where my thought processes took off!

The United States has largely been the dominate world power since the fall of the USSR.

Our dominance is apparent in the global economy and situation,

o   the role of quelling conflicts and wars,

o   the aid continually given to diverse nations,

o   the intimidating factor of a dominant military, and

o   leadership in many areas such as innovation, development and technology.

But since the turn of the 21^st century, the dynamics have changed due to a number of reasons – only some of which I can enumerate:

• the growth of the deep-state and near permanent embedding of politicians
• the radical opposition between parties that rarely sees cooperation or mediation as a solution
• the revolutionary changes that have emerged in the immigration system and the view of borders.
• the presence of large portions of our population who have created nationalities within our nation that choose not to assimilate to American culture.

In the last decade we have discovered that EVERYONE WANTS TO COME TO AMERICA! 

I first became aware of this while teaching in northeast China from 2012-2015. Every Chinese university student DREAMS of coming to America – although only those from wealthy families may get that opportunity!

We also saw it recently during the hosting of the World Cup Games, when tens of thousands of Europeans came to our country and were amazed at our freedom, friendliness, abundance and novelties!

We are a nation of plenty! Even our poor are wealthy by global standards. We enjoy conveniences that MANY could barely imagine – let alone enjoy! However, we’re largely unaware of these realities since they are our norms! 

If we now add the very real effect of the diminishing of the Christian Church in America, we see pillars of our foundation showing major signs of wear.

However, we are not without hope! In spite of

• massive losses in church membership,
• voluminous increases in a diversity of religions due largely to ignoring immigration laws -  some of these religions being openly oppositional and threatening to Christianity,
• a sudden, intensive interest in embracing socialism – or even communism, and
• a politically charged dichotomy with nearly equal representation that is integrated within our population – rather than being divided by region as was the case during the Civil War, 

we are clearly on unfamiliar ground! No one knows where this is heading and the prognostications are about as reliable as pre-election polling!

So, Hal, where is the hope?

I mentioned some signs of Christian renewal that are occurring in America in a recent - barely read – blog:

• Signs of belief in Gen Z where 38% anticipate a revival soon
• Bible sales are up 42%
• Increasing numbers of sports figures who are outspoken about their faith in Christ
• An 80% increase in the use of religious app downloads
• Outbreaks of spiritual renewal on many college and university campuses in recent years
• Christian worship music is cracking mainstream charts
• Media innovations like ‘The Chosen’ and ‘House of David’ have gone mainstream
• Stadium and arena worship/prayer events are exploding

ISAIAH AND THE CURRENT SITUATION

Are we at risk of seeing the hand of God bring us to our knees for our ignorance, tolerance, lack of awareness and complacency?

Is God maneuvering circumstances to bring a harsh judgment on America? Is New York City the 21^st century Tarshish?

Could God be preparing a season of suffering that will humble His people across Europe, Great Britain, Canada and the United States that will:

• remove our dominance and wealth
• destroy the fractured Church – as we know it with its many oppositional denominations
• coddle a new remnant that is doggedly committed to God and His principles, and
• press the ‘reset button’ on our global structures?

If so, will evil thrive? Will it fill the vacuum created by our fall?

Will Christianity wake up? Will we realize the fractured nature of our current denominationalism? Will we love as instructed in God’s Word?

These questions are left to our imaginations.

I – along with many others – are praying for a renewed vitality of faith among our people! We hope and long for a renewed passion for Christ and the things He values! We stir ourselves with desire and longing for a unity of faith and practice that might open doors for a brighter future and continuing mission! Our hope is in the Lord – the Maker of Heaven and earth! Amen.

ELECTION DEPRESSION

Like many others, I’ve felt very low since I woke Wednesday morning and watched the reports of the American election results.

You’ll be disappointed if you expect this to be a diatribe of blame or a wallowing of failure.

My concern is greater than that.

I feel that we are witnessing the end of a significant civilization.

I am not concerned about myself or my wife. We’re well into our seventies and will be transferring to a place that is free of the cares of this world! But I am concerned about our kids and especially our two grandchildren! I don’t like to think about the world that they are going to inherit.

I’ve been surprised by the disenchantment that I’ve experienced since the election. The situation feels hopeless. Listening to the pundits convinces us that any relief is tenuous and a long way off!  Meanwhile our slide toward socialism will gain massive momentum in the new congress. More important, the likelihood of our gates being breached again is probable – given time.

Does it concern many that we have thrown out the welcome mat to a group of people whose guiding book compels them to destroy us? Now, members of this group are holding some of the highest elected offices in our country! It is a dark day, indeed!

BUT ENOUGH OF NEGATIVE ENERGY.

I saw a meme on Facebook the other day that said it all for me!

 

As I read in Psalms this morning, I came across several verses that encouraged me:

62:1 ™  -  “God, the one and only – I’ll wait as long as he says, Everything I need comes from him.”

62:5 ™  -  “God the one and only -  I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not?”

62:7-8 ™  -  “My help and glory are in God – granite-strength and safe-harbor-God – So trust him absolutely, people.”

62:11 ™  -  “God said this once and for all; how many times have I heard it repeated? ‘Strength comes straight from God.”

These verses reminded me of a similar verse that we used to sing with great zeal in the churches that I’ve served:

Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

“Some may trust in horses,

some may trust in chariots,

but we will trust in the name of our God!”

All through the years I’ve been proud to be an American! I have a son and a son-in-law who dedicated their careers to military service!  I am proud of Travis and Jon!

My earliest memory is from the age of three. My father walked me to downtown Beaver Falls, PA, to watch a Veteran’s Day parade. It would have been around 1955.  As we watched this ‘post-war’ parade, my father taught me to reach up and take off my hat every time that the American flag went past!  It passed us many times that day! 

Forty years later I took our family to the East Liverpool Potters football game in the west end.  Our son, Troy, [then about twelve] loved playing football with his friends at the north end of the field.  I watched from our seat in the stands. When the Potter’s band gathered at the north end of the field to play the national anthem, it caught Troy’s attention. He stopped and ran to the fence. His friends followed him. Immediately, Troy reached up and pulled his stocking cap off and held it over his heart. His friends followed suit. My pride nearly burst that evening!

The meme says it all!

Yes, up to this point I’ve been proud to be an American, but you must understand that this pales in comparison to the depth of my faith in God!

God is my rock!

Jesus is my redeemer!

The Holy Spirit is my guide!

I say it along with Joshua: [24:15]

AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, 

WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!

THE BAD SHEPHERD

My wife and I spent several days last week in Holmes County, Ohio, which is a very conservative, Amish/Mennonite area famous for its inns, restaurants and souvenir shops!  She toured me through at least five ‘thrift stores’ in the area where she bought a hodge-podge of various items and Christmas gifts while I picked up about ten new-used books to read.  😊

So, I’m currently reading Scouting the Divine: my search for God in wine, wool, and wild honey, by Margaret Feinberg.  I had read several of her books years back and knew that I connected with her style of writing. 

The first division of this book is titled “The Good Shepherd”.

During an Alaska trip some years ago, Margaret met Lynne from Oregon and discovered that she was a shepherdess. Their discussions led to a visit to Lynne’s home and a weekend encounter with her sheep.  The result of this in-depth encounter was the first division of Margaret’s book (published in 2009). 

It was an engaging and informative narrative of their discussions and explorations of Lynne’s insights as they related to the many various passages in the Bible about sheep and shepherds!

Toward the end of their visit, Margaret and Lynne discussed the fact that in John 10:11, Jesus described Himself as

“…the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

Acknowledging this truth suggested that not all shepherds are good. Consequently, they began to discuss what could make bad shepherds bad. 

Lynne had known shepherds that ignorantly “allowed young ewes to get pregnant with big Romneys – sheep that were three times their size. Because of the size difference, the ewes couldn’t carry the fetuses and the offspring died in their womb or at birth. Sometimes the ewes died too, because of the impossible labor.”  [p.65]

Lynne also “recalled a couple who kept sheep for the tax benefits. They didn’t like the animals, and when the lambing season arrived, they went on vacation and left the flock with a caretaker who didn’t know anything about sheep.” A neighbor reported that there was something “hanging out of one of the sheep’s backsides. It was a dead lamb, only half-delivered. Several other lambs drowned in mud puddles after birth because no one was there to care for them.” [p.65]

In our Old Testament the kings of Israel are often referred to by the prophets as shepherds. “In Ezekiel 34, the prophet rebukes Israel’s shepherds as those who were feasting on their flocks rather than guarding them…the chapter describes the bad shepherds leaving sick, diseased, and injured sheep in distress and allowing the flock to fall to predators.” [p.63]

______________________________

I began my pastoral ministry in the fall of 1974, when I served a church in southern Indiana as a student/pastor. I can testify that there have been many transitions in the fifty-two years that I have personally observed:

o   I was expected to wear a suit every day and always appear ‘presentable’ in public.

o   My leaders instructed me to make scores of ‘home-visits’ every week [a goal that I was never able to sustain and that – thankfully – changed in a fairly short time].

o   I had to be prepared to speak three times a week: Sunday Morning, Sunday Evening and Wednesday night. I was in constant preparation mode!

o   I was expected to visit shut-ins at least four times a year and serve them Holy Communion each time.

o   I was expected to make hospital visits when parishoners were admitted.

o   In the system that I worked in, I was expected to chair all committees and lead all public meetings.

o   Then, of course, there was the necessary planning for worship!

I won’t remember them all, but a number of major shifts took place over the years:

o   A charismatic wave during the 1970’s.

o   The praise & worship innovation of the 1980’s.

o   The mega-church movement of the 1990’s.

o   A reinvention of pastors as CEO’s that continues to this day.

o   The transition for song-leaders to worship teams that ultimately led to worshippers being viewed as consumers rather than participants.

I had a conversation with someone close to me several months ago. His comment: “I can’t even imagine my pastor visiting me in the hospital!”

I’m not suggesting a return to visitation patterns of my early career. I came to realize that people view their home as a private place where they will NOT be intruded upon. I respect that. During COVID 19, I do fondly recall receiving occasional calls from our pastor expressing his concern for us. We appreciated his thoughtfulness and prayers!

But I do have a fear.

I fear that many pastors today have too aggressively embraced their role as a corporate executive [even though their congregation might be relatively small]. They have very little (if any) contact with their people throughout the week.  Their full attention is focused on the 90 minute service on Sunday morning. They love their office and spend the majority of their time behind a computer. In the current season one could wonder how they resist the temptation to allow AI to produce their sermons for them?

How does the current day pastor convey his/her love for their people? How do they express caring for them? Are they still available for counsel and prayer? Do they have personal relationships? Are they good shepherds? Or is this concept outdated and reprehensible?

Finally, are these transitions that have evolved and escalated over the last thirty years part of the reason for a SIGNIFICANT DECLINE in church attendance and the chronic closing of churches?

Someone needs to talk about this! 

Why is the Church thriving in Nigeria, China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Philippines, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, Uganda, Vietnam, Ghana, Argentina, Iran, Mozambique, Russia and Columbia while consistent and persistent decline is the plague of the American Church?

If John Maxwell has been right in his much-proclaimed assessment that “everything rises and falls on leadership” - could we have a leadership problem?

__________________________

Lord of the Church:

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

 

We yearn for a more vibrant and fruitful response to Your grace!

 

We are thankful for the signs of renewal that are occurring in America:

ü  Signs of belief in Gen Z where 38% anticipate a revival soon

ü  Bible sales are up 42%

ü  Increasing numbers of sports figures who are outspoken about their faith in Christ

ü  An 80% increase in the use of religious app downloads

ü  Outbreaks of spiritual renewal on many college and university campuses in recent years

ü  Christian worship music is cracking mainstream charts

ü  Media innovations like ‘The Chosen’ and ‘House of David’ have gone mainstream

ü  Stadium and arena worship/prayer events are exploding

 

We wonder: If You were to write a letter to the American Church –

as You wrote to the seven churches in Revelation –

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MESSAGE?

 

Draw near to Your shepherds, Lord!

Infill and transform them!

Help them to lead out of love!

Fuel their passion, courage and creativity!

Help them to be leaders like David!

 

HEAR OUR PRAYER, O LORD!  AMEN!

LOVING GOD LIKE DAVID

 

PSALM 26 ™

Clear my name, God;
    I’ve kept an honest shop.
I’ve thrown in my lot with you, God, and
    I’m not budging.

Examine me, God, from head to foot,
    order your battery of tests.
Make sure I’m fit
    inside and out

So I never lose
    sight of your love,
But keep in step with you,
    never missing a beat.

I don’t hang out with tricksters,
    I don’t pal around with thugs;
I hate that pack of gangsters,
    I don’t deal with double-dealers.

I scrub my hands with purest soap,
    then join hands with the others in the great circle,
    dancing around your altar, God,
Singing God-songs at the top of my lungs,
    telling God-stories.

God, I love living with you;
    your house glows with your glory.
When it’s time for spring cleaning,
    don’t sweep me out with the quacks and crooks,
Men with bags of dirty tricks,
    women with purses stuffed with bribe-money.

You know I’ve been aboveboard with you;
    now be aboveboard with me.
I’m on the level with you, God;
    I bless you every chance I get.

LOVING GOD LIKE DAVID!

I Samuel 13:14 

The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

Acts 13:22

He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’

DO YOU WANT TO BE A MAN OR WOMAN AFTER GOD’S HEART LIKE DAVID?

Here are some tips from David himself!

1.    HAVE AN OPEN HEART BEFORE GOD!

Examine me, God, from head to foot,
    order your battery of tests.
Make sure I’m fit
    inside and out

How many people actually go before God on a regular basis and invite Him to examine their heart?

J. Edwin Orr wrote a hymn in 1936:

Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
cleanse me from ev'ry sin and set me free. 

Without this kind of pursuit after God, is it really likely that we will see a mighty work of God?

Just two psalms earlier, David wrote: 

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?

And who may stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart…

NOTICE!

You can’t blame the Church for this deficit!

The responsibility for our own cleanliness is on us!

We must cry out to God!

We must invite His inspection!

We must humble ourselves and confess our sinfulness!

We must seek His fullness!

Only when this begins will we see the beginning of a renewal in the American Church!

2.    RECOGNIZING THAT I’M FORMED BY THOSE I ASSOCIATE MOST CLOSELY WITH.

I don’t hang out with tricksters,
    I don’t pal around with thugs;
I hate that pack of gangsters,
    I don’t deal with double-dealers.

There’s a verse in I Corinthians 15:33 that most people have never read:

Bad company corrupts good character. [NIV]

As parents, we try our best to teach our kids this lesson! But they often must learn it on their own – and that – quite often – involves painful experiences!

But even as we mature, we must stay focused on the truth of this teaching! 

WE BECOME LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT WE SPEND THE MOST TIME WITH!

You can try to deny this, but it will still happen!  It’s a natural consequence of human interaction!  We may think that we’ll be the influencer, but we underestimate the power of this nugget of truth from God’s Word!

If you want to be a godly person – get close to other godly individuals! Spend time with them! Ask them questions! Examine their lives! Observe their patterns! Soak up their experiences. Model their behavior! Copy their practices!

Why else did Jesus take THREE YEARS to allow His followers to have almost daily contact with Him?  He wanted them to observe more than His teachings! He wanted them to be exposed to Him as He faced opposition and challenge. He wanted them to see the consistency of His habits and patterns!

Over and over they would wake up and have to go and find Jesus! Why? Because He always started His day in a private place of communion with His Father!

So, examine yourself today.

Who do you spend the biggest portions of your time with?

Are they having a godly impact on you?

Is there some way that you can begin to balance that negative influence?

Can you think of some good influencers that you could begin to hand out with?

3.    ANTICIPATING PURE AND VIBRANT WORSHIP!

I scrub my hands with purest soap,
    then join hands with the others in the great circle,
    dancing around your altar, God,
Singing God-songs at the top of my lungs,
    telling God-stories.

Our God is such an awesome God!

Look at the variety of flowers and trees that He has made! Or consider the unusual animals that He has populated our earth with! Look at the night sky and behold the size of His universe – which scientists tell us is constantly expanding!

How dare we allow the worship of this great God to be boring!

WORHIP PLANNING

All of my adult life, I lived for Sundays!

I know – sounds kind of strange, unless you’re a pastor!

Not all, but much of my energy was directed toward Sunday when the crowd got together to worship the Lord!

When Sunday was over, I enjoyed Mondays off! I usually would hit the woods for several hours where I spent all my time enjoying nature and talking with the Lord! It was good physical exertion, too! Then, I’d go home and hang out with Debbie and enjoy my family!

Tuesday morning: start planning for the next Sunday! 

·         How can I make this passage relevant and understandable to our people?

·         What songs will lead us to a right place to be able to communicate our love for God?

·         Can I write a drama that would help illustrate this message?

·         Is there some way to respectfully use humor to get this point across?

·         Who can help with worship this week?

·         Who would be just right to read this passage?

·         Don’t forget to visit worship team practice and encourage those who help to lead our people in their worship!

·         What’s the best way to order things up this week to prevent boredom and keep anticipation high?

·         Is there anybody who can illustrate this message because of some circumstances in their life recently?

And do you know what?

God honored all this over and over and over again! I have such amazing memories of rich and meaningful worship throughout the forty-plus years God gave me to lead the church!

Many came to faith in Christ! Congregations doubled – even tripled in size! We repeatedly experienced the presence of God! Leaders multiplied and grew in phenomenal ways! Marriages were healed! Prayers were answered! Relationships grew! People came with a spirit of expectation!

If I’m really honest, I have to confess that I HAVE MISSED  IT! TERRIBLY! It was my life! Oh, there were tensions and occasional problems, but they were FAR OUTWEIGHED by the rewards and benefits!

Planning and leading worship throughout these years has been a GREAT PLEASURE!  To God be the glory!  I'm already anticipating the worship in Heaven! 

In my humble opinion, worship should be the highlight of our week! We should deeply regret it when we are forced to miss it for one reason or another! And I’ve had people tell me that over the years!

“Oh, Pastor Hal, I hate missing worship this Sunday! I’m afraid that I’ll miss something really special!”

Do you really think that worship in Heaven will be boring?

Why should worship here on earth be boring?

4.    BLESSING GOD DAILY TO ALL I INTERSECT WITH!

    I bless you every chance I get.

I’ve been in the ministry for over forty-five years. I’ve observed a trend that began in the 1980’s and continues today. It’s a trend that is ruining worship in the American Church.

We have become convinced that when we attend worship, we are spectators!

NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!

A year ago I visited a multi-site church that is deemed to be highly successful! After worship I watched as they all got up and left their theater seats – heading for their cars with absolutely no interaction between them!  They had been spectators for 90 minutes at an excellent worship service led by competent, semi-professional worship leaders!

I have news for you today! You are NOT spectators! You are participants! Your worship adds value to the worship of the whole congregation – whether it be 22 or 322. 

We need to stop coming to receive and be actively thinking about what we can contribute!

ü  How has God blessed me this week?

ü  When did I see Him at work in my life this week?

ü  How did He provide for my needs this week?

ü  At what point this week did I feel the closest to Him?

ü  Who was I able to have a serious talk with about their faith?

ü  Did I see God’s protective hand at work in my life this week?

ü  How can I be a blessing to our church this week?

ü  Who might I call that I could pray with or encourage?

ü  Should I send out some note-cards this week? If so, who should I write to?

Can you imagine worship in such an atmosphere?

Can you imagine an environment where we actually encouraged one another with our personal stories and testimonies?

Can you imagine an experience where we literally CARED about one another’s lives?

Listen to David again!

I bless you every chance I get.

NOT I want to bless You every chance I get!

NOT Help me to bless You every chance I get!

NOT I plan to bless You every chance I get!

NO NO NO NO…

David writes:  I bless You every chance I get!

I’m doing it!

I’m gonna keep on doing it!

I’m not going to stop!

Anybody who intersects with me this week is going to hear about Your goodness!

The blog I never wanted to write

Did you know that Travis was a preemy?  Yep!  Five pounds at birth and seven weeks early.  He immediately lost weight and we had to leave him in the hospital for two weeks.  That was tough!

It was love at first sight.  He changed our lives forever. That was thirty-nine and a half years ago.

In between, he has provided us with some of the proudest moments of our lives!

Raising him was actually pretty easy.  He was always respectful!  He never broke the trust.

People like Travis!  He was fortunate to get his mother's personality!  He makes friends easily everywhere he goes.

And, he is generous - especially with those he loves.  In 2005, Tracie had saved $600 to buy her wedding dress.  But she fell in love with one that cost more than twice that.  She borrowed the excess from Travis;  he never let her pay him back.

He was Troy's best man in 2012.  He came home for a whole week and went to extremes to see that everything was perfect. He prepared their honeymoon suite with extravagant treats and adornments.

We were also recipients of his generosity. He often bought us expensive things that he knew we would never purchase on our own.

A couple of years ago, Travis and Josh decided to stop showering Rylie and Coltin (Tracie's children) with gifts. Instead, they opened a college fund for them (as well as a niece of Josh's) and began making monthly contributions toward their future education.

When Debbie and I were young, we saw siblings that seemed to hate one another. Before we were even married, we determined that we would strive to raise our children to genuinely love each other. And they have!  They've shared vacations and still have animated and humorous text-conversations on a regular basis.

In recent years, Travis made major life decisions that we did not agree with. However, our love for him remained constant and grew to include Josh. He also made career decisions that changed his future work focus. We supported him in these.

Then, of course, we went to China for three years. The last time we saw him was at Family Camp during July, 2014.   It was wonderful to have our whole family together for an entire week!  A rare treat for the Haire family.

On Monday, Josh called to tell us that Travis had experienced a cardiac arrest.  We immediately flew to his side - where we have stayed. Initially, we had a hope that he would be restored to us;  however, in time it was clear that we would not be hearing his voice again.

In the meantime, we have taken turns standing at his side.  We have talked to him, held his hands, rubbed his shoulders and loving stroked his face.  It's ironic that I recently wrote a blog about weeping.  This week we have each sobbed with sorrow!  Wednesday night, Debbie wailed throughout the night!  The next morning, I watched her caress his face with her fingers and her lips as she sang to him and expressed her love to him!

I look at this man who is so intelligent. I remember how he used to love to lay on top of me when he was young.  I think about his knowledge of nuclear reactors.  I think about the places he's been and the experiences he's had.  When he came home from one of his deployments on the USS Parche, I smilingly asked him where all he'd been?  He said, "Well, Dad, I could tell you - but then I'd have to kill you".  And then he laughed that goofy laugh of his!

An hour ago, Travis passed away.  He is now giving life to others through the donation of his kidneys.  In time, he will be buried according to his wishes at the United States Military Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Our grief is without description!  We are seized with pain. We are, however, a family of faith. Our trust is always in the Lord. If need be, we will stand with Job and say:  "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;  blessed be the name of the Lord."

We believe with all of our hearts in the pursuing love of God. We know that God pursues all people up until the last milli-second of life!  We have continually called on God's mercy and grace for ourselves and for Travis.

We stand with broken hearts that need mended and we look to the Lord for that healing.