To say, “my brother”, I automatically enter the family realm. I can’t say my brother if you aren’t in fact my brother! It wouldn’t make a lot of sense to claim family that isn’t family.
I have a pretty large family. A lot of brothers and sisters with all kinds of different personalities, views on life, backgrounds, and advice. I never knew I would enjoy being around family so much. I guess its true, you don’t know what you have until you lose it. My family likes to get together and do things, has a past that would make the preacher blush (not to mention my past!), doesn’t always agree on things and they are all in love with the same person. That kind of sounds weird, almost sounds like I’m creating some riddle at this point. If you haven’t picked up on it, my pretty large family is you. The church. No, I’m not talking about the list of names called members, I’m talking about those who are in love with Jesus. The ones with the different personalities, views on life, backgrounds and yes a past. We may not always agree but what family does? I miss seeing my brothers and sisters. I just didn’t know what they meant to me until I couldn’t be around them.
When we return we will all be happy to get together again. When I look around for each of you, I won’t find everyone. No, this week I lost a brother and many of you reading this lost one too. David Honaker made the journey from this fractured part of life to the perfect life we believe awaits us. He will not be able to gather with our family on this side of eternity but we have hope that we will gather with him on that side of eternity. David made that journey because he had the one thing that brought us together as family, Jesus. Jesus is the only one who could take a group like us, bring us together and create what we now call church. I like to refer to it as my family.
2 Corinthians 5:8 states…In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. David was supportive of my ministry and his sense of humor kept me on my toes! David, it was a real treat to call you my brother. This is not a good bye. This is the moment I say, “I am confident that you are with the Lord.” David kept an appointment we all have scheduled and made a journey only a few will make. I just hope you are part of the family and as confident as I am.
Until we see each other again
Pastor Chad