I don’t do funerals…normally. I chose to do Celebration of Life Services. God uniquely designed each of us, put us on this earth for an appointed time, for an appointed purpose and we all have some sort of legacy we have left…whether 90 years or 90 months.

I have yet to be at a funeral where no one showed up. Life is important and should be celebrated…I mean, if God really “knot us together in our Mother’s womb” than we are pretty darn special.

In a small town…this is such a huge opportunity to connect and reconnect with the people of the community who would never come to your church…and the thing is you know most of the people or have a connection somehow with them. Many people have “heard about New Hope” and that opens up a great conversation about whether they will give it a shot sometime. This is the beauty of small town ministry.

I did that for hours tonight at calling hours for a young man who took his life.

People almost always end up at New Hope after a funeral. Where else are you going to get that kind of attention and that kind of openness to spiritual matters? People are open, searching and ready to hear the story of hope. What else do we have to offer? A church service with lights and fog with a kickin’ band, a church program, a great kid’s ministry…come on.

I would never be a Pastor if I didn’t believe in the hope we have. That’s what keeps me going. That’s what will keep them going. That is what I will share tomorrow. That hope is what people will cling to. That hope is the hope of the world.

“We grieve with hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4

blessings and peace.