Reflections on the homegoing of Patricia Marie Petras...October 26, 2007
I can still remember like it was yesterday getting the news that my mother-in-law's battle with acute myleod leukemia and MDS (a cancer in the blood) was almost over. The doctor called from Cleveland Clinic and in no uncertain terms said "if you want to be with her before she passes away, the time to come is now." We had heard similar words about six weeks prior, or so we thought, when Pat was getting fresh platelets every five hours through her IV port. That was a false alarm, perhaps this would be too? Cancer is that kind of emotional roller coaster.
For the next four days, I was doing laundry because Pat wanted to be assured that Bill had "some clean underwear", helping Pat with the most basic of needs, and greeting the steady stream of family and friends coming to say goodbye, while attempting to keep my kids from feeling utterly neglected in the process. The most beautiful and powerful of life's experiences are its beginning and its end. We watched Pat go from a lively and feisty body of energy to a helpless and pale woman taking her last breaths. This is still strange to me, but as gruesome as death can be, it is one of the unbelievable miracles of beauty. I sensed the peace of God as we sang and read scriptures over her as she lay unconscious. Then, when she woke up one last time at 4:45am, Mark and I were at once overjoyed and deeply grieved to tell her to "take the hand of Jesus and go home." It still brings me to tears and laughter at the same time.
Only five months prior God gave us his gift of Micah Nathan through a drug-free VBAC. I had a cesarean with Anna due to her breach position. I wanted so badly to have her naturally, and God did not allow it, but when he did with Micah, the joy was more than we could have imagined. Mark stood in awe as I worked with all my might to get Micah into this world. He coached me to trust in Jesus and to make it through the next contraction. While we waited for Mark's mom to die, with anticipation and angst, we had also waited for Micah to live here with us with anxiety and hope. And we still hope, for the resurrection, the new life, when we will be reunited with Mom Petras. She is dancing and singing and probably playing bingo in Heaven, getting to know her Savior, having forgotten this place, thank the Lord.
We miss you, Pat, but we are so grateful for what you taught us in living and in dying.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
The Gospel-Centered Church Colossians 3:15-17
Summary of the message:
Jesus is still captivated by his Bride, the church. Are you? Jesus' relationship with the church will never change. Jesus will always love his Bride.
2 points
As a Gospel-Centered church we must let Jesus make the decisions (Col. 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts...)
As a Gospel-Centered church we must let Jesus lead the worship (Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...)
Bottom line is that sanctification is a group project. We only have fellowship with one another because of Jesus. We are not meant to live out are Christian life alone, we have each other because we were called into one body!
Application questions: What is the local church? Is it simply to come on Sunday mornings and that's it? Remember everytime we point the finger at the church we are pointing the finger at us because we are the CHURCH!
I referred to a great book, that if I had the money I would buy each of you a copy. Maybe some day. Stop Dating the Church: Fall in the Love with the Family of God. The book listed some good questions to think through concerning choosing a church:
1. Is this a church where God's word is faithfully taught?
2. Is this a church where sound doctrine matters?
3. Is this a church in which the Gospel is cherished and clearly proclaimed?
4. Is this a church committed to reaching non-Christians with the Gospel?
5. Is this a church whose leaders are characterized by humility and integrity?
6. Is this a church where people strive to live by God's Word?
If you want to know the other four I would encourage you to buy it. We really need to be thinking about what it means to be the church.
SDG,
Pastor Mark
Jesus is still captivated by his Bride, the church. Are you? Jesus' relationship with the church will never change. Jesus will always love his Bride.
2 points
As a Gospel-Centered church we must let Jesus make the decisions (Col. 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts...)
As a Gospel-Centered church we must let Jesus lead the worship (Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...)
Bottom line is that sanctification is a group project. We only have fellowship with one another because of Jesus. We are not meant to live out are Christian life alone, we have each other because we were called into one body!
Application questions: What is the local church? Is it simply to come on Sunday mornings and that's it? Remember everytime we point the finger at the church we are pointing the finger at us because we are the CHURCH!
I referred to a great book, that if I had the money I would buy each of you a copy. Maybe some day. Stop Dating the Church: Fall in the Love with the Family of God. The book listed some good questions to think through concerning choosing a church:
1. Is this a church where God's word is faithfully taught?
2. Is this a church where sound doctrine matters?
3. Is this a church in which the Gospel is cherished and clearly proclaimed?
4. Is this a church committed to reaching non-Christians with the Gospel?
5. Is this a church whose leaders are characterized by humility and integrity?
6. Is this a church where people strive to live by God's Word?
If you want to know the other four I would encourage you to buy it. We really need to be thinking about what it means to be the church.
SDG,
Pastor Mark
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
