Dear Friends,

This morning I visited with Ronnie Thaler and his children.  They are grieving the loss of Margaret and remembering her with great joy.  They don’t seem to have very many physical needs right now.  The kitchen is filled with food and there are family members there to support them and run errands.  Right now the best service seems to be prayer for the family.

The memorial service is set for 3:00pm on Saturday February 11.  There will be a reception afterwards.  Arlene Neder, Christ Community member and longtime friend of Margaret’s, will be coordinating the reception.  You can contact Arlene if you’d like to be of assistance.

Death is always hard.  Our loss is real.  But it is not permanent.  The gospel is true and we trust that Christ has conquered the tomb.  We rejoice that Margaret is now with Christ, which is far better.  May God give us all grace to number our days, to live in love, and to trust His promises.

–Rob

Margaret Thaler passed into the glorious presence of her Savior last night.

More info here later this morning.

Dear Church Family,
Margaret Thaler is receiving hospice care in her home in the company of her dear husband Ronnie, their four children, and grandchildren. Please keep Margaret and Ronnie and their family in your prayers. They are secure in God’s love and care for them.

If you are interested in bringing a meal, contact Margaret’s and Ronnie’s daughter, Leslie –Ltgano AT aol dot com

Further updates will be posted here.

Beggars

All you great men of power, you who boast in your feats
Politicians and entrepreneurs
Can you safeguard your breath in the night while you sleep?
Keep your heart beating steady and sure?
As you lie in your bed, does the thought haunt your head
That you’re really, rather small?
If there’s one thing I know in this life: we are beggars, all

All you champions of science and rulers of men?
Can you summon the sun from its sleep?
Does the earth seek your counsel on how fast to spin?
Can you shut up the gates of the deep?
Don’t you know that all things hang, as if by a string?
O’er the darkness, poised to fall?
If there’s one thing I know in this life: we are beggars, all

All you big shots who swagger and stride with conceit
Did you devise how your frame would be formed?
If you’d be raised in a palace, or live out in the streets
Did you choose the hour or the place you’d be born?
Tell me what can you claim? Not a thing, not your name!
Tell me if you recall just one thing
Is that not a gift in this life?

Can you hear what’s been said? Can you see now that everything is grace after all?
If there’s one thing I know in this life
If there’s one thing I know in this life
If there’s one thing I know in this life
We are beggars, all

© Words and Music: Dustin Kensrue, Teppei Taranishi, Eddie Breckenridge, Riley Breckenridge

Guys, if you haven’t registered for GraceCon2012 yet–WHY NOT?–please do here.

Favorite Christmas memories

As a child, I lived in Mayberry. Ozzie and Harriet were my next door neighbors. Father knew best, and my best friends were Mike, Robbie, and Chip.

Well, not really. None of those things were true. But growing up in the small rural town of Union, SC, in the 1950s and ’60s was like living in those insulated, idealized TV towns – at least until you peeled off the veneer of racism, class envy, poverty, illiteracy, sexism, crime, discrimination, etc.

One upside to my upbringing in a small southern town is that I have some very warm memories of Christmas. And I’m genuinely thankful for them.

Such as…

• Going with my Dad to the “country” to cut down a Christmas tree
• Popcorn balls and pecan pie
• Waffles cooked with pecans on Christmas morning – Dad’s specialty
• Totally believing in Santa Claus, for an embarrassingly long time of my life
• Leaving cookies in the den for Santa Claus
• Thinking I really heard Santa Claus on the rooftop
• Staring with wonder at the Santa and reindeer set that my parents put out on the living room coffee table
• (OK, you get the idea; Santa was a big deal)
• Keeping a fire going in the fireplace
• Impatiently waiting for the grandmothers to arrive so we could begin opening presents
• A new bike almost every year (complete with banana seat, raised handlebars, etc.)
• Wishing for a white Christmas that never came (it seemed to rain every year)
• Watching tons of corny Christmas TV specials with my parents (Andy Williams, Mitch Miller, Sonny and Cher… sheesh!)
• The annual Christmas service at our First Presbyterian Church (here’s a shout-out to Mr. Nabors, our faithful organist)
• Walking the neighborhood and looking at everyone’s Christmas decorations (our neighborhood gave prizes for the best exhibits, and Dad entered something creative every year)
• Seeing Main Street decked out in lights
• The annual Christmas parade, which featured my Cub Scout troop, Miss Union High, the Shriners, the marching band from the “black” high school – oh, and Santa always brought up the rear

My parents are both gone now, but I’ll say a belated thank-you anyway for all they did to create special Christmas memories.

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Guys, if you haven’t registered for GraceCon2012 yet–please do.  The leadership has worked and prayed to give you a creative experience that is deeply enriching for you.  Good bible teachers, fun & good refreshments, as well as hit the street discussion with other guys and some great music from Chris and a group of guys.