Friday, January 25, 2008

New perspective

This past Friday night a fellow church member and local radio personality, Rick Burgess, lost his son in a tragic drowning accident. William Bronner Burgess, affectionately known as Cornbread, was 2 1/2 years old.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heHQkmCOYaU

Rick spoke at the memorial celebration. More accurately, God spoke through Rick. I am so thankful for his words, because I've been given a new perspective. An eternal perspective. I would encourage anybody reading this to take a few minutes and go hear this. His message is available in 3 parts on Youtube -if the links here don't work, search for Rick Burgess, a Father's Heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PUHUZWyFeg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7aNDixS2J0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUT8Bk6Ou90

I am heartbroken for this family in the loss of this beautiful baby boy, but I praise God for the lives changed through this. I know I am changed. Our son's issues will continue to be a challenge, but now I have the eternal perspective that these issues are only for this life. I am reminded of the things that matter in eternity, and most of the things I fret about in my daily life mean nothing beyond this life, just a blip on the timeline, and I am grateful for that reminder.

John 14
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going."

5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."