LIFE AND DEATH EXPERIENCES OF A LOCAL MISSION CHURCH PREACHER

There was a couple I knew very well who I used to often visit with when I was a manager at Cici's Pizza. They were not real religious, but appreciated the fact that me and the other managers were strong in our faith. A few years later after I had left CiCi's and was in full time ministry--the man died and they literally knew no preachers or church leaders who could perform the funeral. So when the widow called me, I was of course honored to help.

I remember meeting with the family as I always do before a funeral--to get details and memories and other information that I could use for the service. I think there was two grown children and them as well as the widow could only tell me a few details about this man. And while he said he believed in God, it did not appear that he had ever had much of a relationship with the Lord. Of course, when we preach funerals--we don't preach people into heaven or hell.

So come the day of the funeral--I had put together the best eulogy I could with the little information I had. I walk into the funeral home expecting to see at least maybe 30 or 40 people. Instead I think there were about 10 people there. It felt so depressing and just heartwrenching! This man had lived for almost 80 years, had been a businessman, knew many local people--and yet--just a handful of his family and friends were there to say goodbye. And his widow seemed just so helpless and soooo sad! So I just did the best I could to honor this man's life and remind everyone how much God loves us and cherishes His children. I think I read about when King David's son died and how eventually he moved on and still had to serve God. But I just kept thinking how sad it would be to live a life without a loving church family, without the daily hope of the Lord in one's life, and all the blessings that flow from such a life.

I was so proud and honored to be there and it was a blessing to get to try to comfort that family and plant seeds about what a wonderful life Jesus offers! And yet, it was a really hard experience.

And my final thoughts on this are simply--what do other families do when a loved one dies and they have no church or minister or anyone really to turn to? We will talk about that more in my next writing. But know this--our God so loves us and wants to bless us and keep us so close to His bosom! He is so full of love for us! Let us cling to Him closely and praise His name daily!

Grace and Peace,

Bruce

LIFE AND DEATH EXPERIENCES OF A LOCAL MISSION CHURCH PREACHER CONT

Dear Fellow Workers in Christ,

Another story that comes to mind is a couple I was introduced to not long after I had started to Dallas Christian College and was leading the Nehemiah Ministry. The man (I am sad to say I can't remember their names) was dying of liver cancer I believe and only had a few weeks to live. I started visiting him and his common-law-wife in the hospital and would spend time with them, read some scripture to them and just try to minister to them as best I could. After a couple of visits--they couple said they wanted to make their relationship right with God and asked me if I would marry them. So one evening, a brother and I went to Baylor Hospital and went to this couple's room-and married them as he lay on his hospital bed. It was very simple and certainly not a normal wedding--but yet--it was beautiful. I felt so honored to be there doing what I was doing. A week later, this new husband passed away. Of all the weddings I have performed--I can't think of a more special one! The joy on their faces, even though he had little time left--was such a blessing to get to witness! We serve such a loving and compassionate God!

Let us keep showing the love of Jesu to all who so desperately need that love and that hope!
Blessings,Bruce

LIFE AND DEATH EXPERIENCES OF A LOCAL MISSION PREACHER

Dear Fellow Workers in Christ,

The journey God has taken me on these past five years has been both overwhelming and exciting--but always an honor and privelige! In my work with families at Allenhurst Apartments, Peachtree Apartments, and just some various people here and there God put in my path--has given me many insights on life and death! Let me share a few stories.

DEATH

Let me share a few death experiences. I guess my first would have to be the little angel named Miranda Todd--in the early days of the Nehemiah Ministry--before we ever planted At The Cross. I remember like yesterday, sitting on the sidewalk in front of her apartment (before we ever had a church apartment) and sharing the Gospel with her and eventually baptizing her when I was still serving at New Hope Church of Christ. I remember a few months later one day--right after tutoring--we were trying to leave the church apartment before Wednesday night class--and she was in the kitchen trying to grab some extra snacks to take home because she was always hungy bless her heart. And I was yelling at her to hurry up because we had to go. Little did I know that the next evening she would be hit by a car in front of Allenhurst and would die a few days later. That was the most difficult funeral I would ever preach! And yet--I saw God take that situation and actually bring many of HIS people together from several local congregations and for a moment--we had real unity! I remember planning the funeral and we had ministers and shepherds from four different congregations participate in the funeral. We had youth ministers from New Hope, Valley Creek, Meadowview, and Mesquite Churches of Christ participate. We had two pulpit ministers, and some other various mulit-congregational members involved. Along with a bunch of our Allenhurst and other church kids coming on stage to sing some special kids' songs. And that difficult moment got so many Christians out of their church buildings and serving and loving on lost people in Mesquite! The only thing I can compare to it--would be how God used 9/11 to create a period of time where Americans were no longer afraid to talk about HIM. I remember having a memorial service before the funeral at our church apartment the day before the funeral. We must have had over 60 people in that little two bedroom apartment that day! No one seemed to care. We just all were packed in close together and prayed and sang hymns--in a nasty old apartment complex. BUT GOD WAS HONORED! I will never, ever forget Miranda and the faith that child had! She changed my life and the lives of many in the Lord's church. Her step-mother and five step-siblings are still involved in our church today and still live at Allenhurst.

I will continue this series on life and death again soon and leave you with this for now. We serve an awesome God! If you and or your congregation are not reaching lost, hurting people nearby your building and your homes--lets go now! Lets not wait! There are MANY MORE MIRANDAS OUT THERE WHO NEED JESUS SOOOO BAD!!!!!!!

Love in Christ,

Bruce

Pastors, Preachers, Ministers--SERVANTS

I was driving by a nearby church this week and noticed a parking spot by the front door designated for the pastor. I thought about it for a few moments and it started to bother me. Now don't get me wrong, I believe every congregation should be autonomous in terms of only Jesus being the head of the church. But it nonetheless kept bothering me.

I was thinking and wondering if Paul would have wanted the church to treat him or other church leaders as such--as men to be put on a pedestal? I kept thinking about Jesus saying the first shall be last and the last shall be first. I am just troubled at how many churches around the nation and world treat their pastors, preachers, ministers or whatever they choose to call such men. So often I will see congregations lift these men up to a very high spiritual and otherwise leadership positions and put a lot of hope and trust in these men. I can tell you first hand having been a preacher and congregational leader these past few years--that not one of us can ever live up to such standards. We should do all we can to set a good example--but we are still human and flesh.

However, beyond that, I think it dangerous to ever to treat men as royalty who are not called to be "important" but instead--meek and mild and humble and a lowly servant! I am called to teach and lead God's people in my congregation--but I am a SERVANT LEADER. Jesus clearly teaches us that the Son of Man did not come to be served--but to serve and we are to follow in His footsteps.

Myself, I'd rather park in the farthest parking spot and let a visitor or another member park up front. I don't need honor and glory from people--I receive all the affirmation and love and value from my Father in Heaven!

Now should church leaders be given respect and be listened to and even obeyed at times--absoulutely! But such leadership has to be proven not just by words in the pulpit--but through daily actions at home, in the congregation, and in the community. Such respect and obeying of authority has to be earned. Simply having the "title" means absolutely nothing!

So when you see your preacher, pastor, or minister or just church leaders--give them respect and honor and listen to them. But not because of who they are--but because of WHO they represent!

May the Lord bless you today!

Bruce

D-Day

Hard to believe it has been 65 years since the D-Day invasion. As I always am at such moments, I was moved to hear President Obama and the other allied leaders speak on the cliff overlooking the historic invasion. Special thanks to all those soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have given the ultimate sacrifice to keep us free!

Bruce

I HATE CHRISTMAS!

Perhaps it sounds strange that a preacher of the Gospel hates Christmas? Well, not in the way you might think.

Actually, I love the holiday spirit (although I think we are called to have goodwill toward all men and be cheerful givers year round), I love the songs--both secular and hymns, I love the lighter attitudes--and I love the fact that it gives Christians some opportunities to reach out to people who might not take that reaching to as well during the non-Christian time. And of course, I love to see the excitement on my children's faces.

What I hate--is that we have created such a materialistic and greedy sense of "I want and I need to receive stuff." Last time I checked, the savior in whose birth we are supposed to be celebrating said that He did not come to be served but instead to serve! Last time I checked the scriptures, Jesus said "It is better to give than to receive." And yet, our children are so often brainwashed into thinking its all about getting stuff. It is heartbreaking.

Whats worse, is we have created a system where children literally get hurt. So many children are taught and told that if they are good--they will receive gifts. And yet, I know dozens of children right here in my community who often get hurt each year because they hear that stuff and then receive nothing because their parents either cannot afford such luxuries or they just don't care.

Lets get back to focusing on celebrating the birth of our savior and Lord--not a time to boost department store sales for the holiday season. Lets get back to focusing on giving rather than receiving.

Blessings,

Bruce

Praying For Our Leaders

In less than 60 days, we will have a new President. Some are thrilled about that and some are not. Personally, as a Christian--my mission is the same regardless of who works in the Oval Office. Because my true president, my true king, my true leader is always and always--Jesus Christ.

However, we need to pray for our leaders. We need to pray that they will be guided by God and that they will receive HIS awesome and powerful wisdom and not that of the evil one. These are tough times for our nation--but if we put our trust in the Lord and not people--HE will carry us through--HE ALWAYS DOES!

Bruce