April 19 – “… shake his hand”

The funeral for the young nineteen-year-old went pretty well.  There were eighty or so people in attendance, and quite a few of them had something to share about the young man.  Sounds like he was an especially good friend to his peers and a respectful gentleman to those older than himself.  It was interesting that one comment kept coming up about him.  “He always shook your hand” in one form or another was a favorite theme.  I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet young Robert.  I would have loved to … shake his hand.

After lunch we dodged the remaining few raindrops (the morning was a collection of intermittent massive downpours) and headed out to the church to get things set up for Easter.  Tables set up for the breakfast, floor swept, booklets and gifts packed in bags for people to carry as they hand them out, plates and utensils set out and ready to go.  While we were setting up a gentleman came in and gave a donation to the church to “help defray the costs of Easter.  It sounds like a really big event, so there must be costs involved.”  Not what we expected, by any means.  Jim and Charlotte also stopped by.  They needed an emergency bathroom.  Hey, sometimes you just can’t make it all the way to Sea Isle.  Sounds like everything is set for Easter from the music perspective as well.  They are making some tweaks in the sound system to accommodate some more voices in the praise team.  Always good to hear more folks are getting involved. 

We had a guest at Home Group last night.  Anne was back in town for the weekend, and she was staying with Corey and Janell across the street, so she made the long, arduous journey over to Bible Study.  Sounded like she and her family are doing well living in the Austin area.  Now we are looking forward to seeing the Humphries family who will be here for the Easter services.  Them and five or six hundred of their closest friends …

John 19:30 says, “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Father, thank you for the expressions of encouragement the family heard yesterday at the funeral.  And once again, will you join us at the Easter services this weekend?  Amen.