Family and Church

Saturday evening, I typed up a post about Hamilton, and what it takes to die a good death, and how death does not preclude hope. When I was finished, I typed up another, quick post about Fearlessness. The intention was to post the one about Hamilton on my way to visit my grandparents, and to use the other as a back up, in case I hadn't enough time to write something about family for today's post.

I finished and was just about to get up for icecream when the phone rang. Sadly, the visit had to be called off; my grandparents weren't going to be able to make it as far as Virginia. Papa's foot was swollen and they had to head back to Cleveland after the family reunion.

As disappointing as the thought is, I count myself lucky to be disappointed. Not everyone has families they want to see. And, I'll still be able to see them in October - which reminds me, I need to buy my plane tickets.

Anyway, I decided to delay the Hamilton post. Thinking about death makes me happy, but it tends to make others nervous to realize how happy it makes me. Even pre-written, I didn't think publishing right then was a good idea. So, up went "Fearless," even though it could have used another draft or two to make it more universally applicable. We'll come back to Hamilton tomorrow.

In the meantime, at least I was able to attend church. It was a great service, all about being fearless, believe it or not. "Fear the LORD and nothing else," was the theme.

In introducing the prayer, Pastor Supp said something interesting. I tried to write it down, but only caught pieces. This is what I got: "Do you believe that the church is a safe place to be weak? It should be. A safe place, where we can be just who we are, so God can show up in our weaknesses and no one is shamed for their failures."

Pastor Sutherland taught the message, from Acts about Annanis and Saphirra, with the sermon on how God can judge, because He knows everything, but we don't have that ability. Still, mercy doesn't mean anything unless there is justice also. Maybe the judgment on those two first-century hypocrites wasn't about them. Maybe it was meant for us, to realize how serious God is and thereby appreciate His grace all the greater.

But even though they died, that doesn't mean they weren't shown grace and mercy. As Jesus said, there's more than life and death. Don't fear those who only kill the body, they can't touch the soul. But if you fear only the damage to the soul, there's nothing else that matters.

As Paul said in Galatians, "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of God."

Anyway, good sermon.