A Special Worship Moment

What a week! Our collective breath was knocked from us. We continue to recover from the tragedy of last Tuesday. I don’t know how you responded to the devastation, but found myself holding or touching Kathi all the time. Did you do something similar with your loved ones? Giving and receiving assurance. In an instant death came. People who said, "Good-bye," "See you tonight," or "Don’t forget to pick up my dry cleaning," a whole set of final words...became final words. What started as a normal life in the day of America suddenly separated loved ones - forever.

Fresh awareness comes to all of us. Life really IS fragile - handle with prayer and love! It surely makes good sense to say, "I love you!" before we go to work or school or on a trip. Coming home seems not so certain now. So, let’s come close to our Lord today. I want us to consider a theme that was birthed in my heart over two months ago.

Homecoming. Special music and insights developed into this moment. I never thought two months ago any of us would be reeling from this tragedy. But God knew what we needed for this day. God reassures us. We sense the touch of the hand of the Great Shepherd. We need His Word of life and hope and love! And He lifts our vision to make sure all our "homecomings" are heaven-focused!

First, A new baby - make room at home. Here comes one, and then two...(Lk18.15-17). Second, young adults build friendships and commitments. (Mark 10.42-45) And Third, confident joy of knowing heaven is our final home. (2 Tim. 4.6.7) These will get us on the right track to make sure that our homecomings keep heaven-focused!

1

A child born to Rich and Cara Payne. Walker burst into their lives with a determination of love. Now that he has come, things change. Parents now, no longer just husband and wife moving in and out of dreams. Reality! If they are like the rest of us who raised babies, they are probably saying things like, "Rich, it’s your turn to get up." But Rich has his son. Then he replies to Cara, "Sorry, but you are the one equipped to feed our son."

Let the children come to me...for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all. (Luke 18)

Rich, Cara, the joy of boundless energy and discovery and scrapes and stitches could be in your future. Keep Christ center in your home with Walker! Together. Heaven-focused!

2

Brittany Peters moves into her later teen years bursting with energy. School fun and home fun. She takes world by the collar. She will conquer! she will conquer for Christ! Her vision is higher than the world. She knows the abundant life in Christ. She learned most of that in her home. By the words and lives of her parents, she caught the vision of Christ: do the will of God. Serve, rather than be served. As an elder on Session, and leader in school, she captures others for Christ. That’s what she wants! Others watch. Many will follow her into Christ’s family. She’s a winner! Heaven-focused!

3

Death comes to us all. Some are taken in an instant. Others live long, full lives. Kittie Baker knew her Rankin for 55 years married. They had a marriage like so many of us in this church, captured by the poet: Two such as you with such a master speed/

That life is only life forevermore/ Together... (R. Frost)

When I met him in his home, he sat in his familiar chair. Once active, now that chair held his body captive. But not his energy for life. Soon I would hear of Senior Olympics. Feats of amazing deeds done after age 75. What a challenge to us all. There are times when I am jealous of so those who knew him longer than my two years.

Rankin shared his faith in Christ with me. Living for Jesus! All the way! And that meant, all the way to heaven. That was our first conversation. He and Kittie knew that was the better place. The place of peace and complete joy. Going home! "That’s what I want," he said. He struggled at the end. He seemed to be pulled from both directions. But finally he fell into the arms of our Shepherd who took him home. Re-united with family and friends in Christ. He must have heard from Christ, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master." Heaven-focused!

What do your various homecomings look like? I hope that they are filled with the love of our Lord Jesus. I hope that your connections with each person in your life leaves them glad that they know you. But most of all, these past days have given us the chance to be sure we know when we die, we will come home to our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you are confident, rejoice! If you are uncertain about whether or not your final home will be with Christ, simply repeat a prayer something like this: Lord Jesus, I believe you died for me on the cross. I invite You into my life. I entrust my life in Your hands. Each day I will live for you and serve others as a "Thank-you," for Your great gift. Amen.

Make every homecoming you have... heaven-focused: