Just began reading this new book by the Board of General Superintendents. It has taken me a week to read through the first part - about 20 pages! Things just keep happening in my personal life that make me stop and reflect/reread and reflect some more.
Since my wife`s passing on January 13th I have thought a lot about that last week as the family and Hospice gathered around. Her death has had a very profound impact on my children and grandchildren, most of whom were there when she passed.
The Hospice nurse, who Co-Pastors with her husband a local Methodist church, pulled me aside and said "that was a Holy moment". Indeed, I feel now that God and Penny pulled the family tightly together in a way that hundreds of church services could not match.
There was about an hour that passed before they came to take the body away when I stood back and let sisters, daughters and grandchildren mourn the loss. The assurance to me of where Penny`s soul had just gone was very strong, as strong as my own salvation experience years ago.
Then on February 14th I learned that my youngest brother was in the Hospital with pneumonia and not expected to live much longer. On the 16th they removed the breathing tubes and on the 18th he passed away. Tim had lung COPD and other lung problems so he knew he was facing an uphill fight.
Tim and I had talked many times about his faith so we both knew where he was with Jesus. He will be waiting for me in Heaven.
I first knew I even had a brother Tim in 2000 when I looked up my father. Tim is the one who first told me on the phone that if I ever wanted to know my father not to wait because he was ill. Tim took care of my dad at their Kalamazoo, MI home till he passed away. Then Tim helped his other brother (and mine ), Larry, to get help for his addictions, sometimes having to use force, till Larry passed away from an overdose three years ago.
The very Pastor that preached Tim`s funeral was the one that Tim found to help with Larry. Larry became a christian but could not beat the addiction before it took him.
After Larry died Tim took care of their ailing Mother. We had a funeral for Tim Friday the 25th, and once more Tim ministered to family as the preacher recalled his faith in Jesus and challenged us to follow Tim to Glory.
Sorry this is so long but you are now a part of my healing therapy and I would like to challenge those who read this to discuss what it means to you to have "the power of ONE" at work in your life or someone you might know.
What is a "power of ONE" life?
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