Quite a week, Quite a God!

I stand amazed the in presence of Jesus, the Nazarene -- and wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean. How Marvelous, How Wonderful! Easter is anything but a holiday for a lead pastor of healthy church. I have not blogged in a while because I was just hangin' on for the ride. I was just downright proud of our youth over the last few weeks as they went from hesitant and self-concerned as we challenged them with the human video to confident deliverers of the Gospel, the greatest story ever told. People who came to Easter services have a memory and a reference point to the Gospel that I don't think they will ever forget. The kids told the story as it appeared 'according to the Scriptures.'

To make sure that I kept things in perspective though, two deaths blasted their way into my world. At 12:05 Sunday morning, my cousin Roger went to be with God after battling cancer. Roger was a minister for cause of Christ so the Resurrection is a comfort. But he was just 55 years old and his daughter was to be married this Friday. Please pray for our family.

I don't even know what to do with the second death. BJ was a narcotics addict who had been brought into our lives through our work at the CSC and had attended our Conquering Addiction 12-step program. BJ had been sober while living in the CSC and was release just a couple of weeks ago, but the last time I saw him I was really put out with him because he was obviously high. Our friends who struggle with addictions many times do not do well on the outside of a highly supervised environment. So this last sit down with BJ was the combination of rebuking him for his sin, praying with him to repent, and listening to him talk about how much he loved The Bridge and its people who had accepted him, flaws, tattoos, and all. Well, I am struggling with whether BJ had been changed by the Gospel because BJ is dead. I am leaving this in the hands of a sovereign and just God, but I am shaken as I am sure other members of our GAP team are as well. I left BJ that last time knowing that he needed more help than I could give him; man, was I right. I am glad God knows what is best because I feel really small.