4 Things to Remember When Tragedy Strikes

God is good – God is not the author of evil. He is good (Matt. 19:17). He blesses both saints and sinners (Matt. 5:45). All good things come from God (James 1:17). He desires nothing but good for His creation. When bad things happen in this world, they are not God’s doing. Evil does not […]

Come, Lord Jesus

Here is the sermon I preached yesterday morning at La Grange Church of Christ. We have been studying the gospel of Luke and I decided to use the text for the week, but changed my message in light of the tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut.   He began to tell the people this parable: “A […]

Good Grief

Grief is a part of life. Every person will deal with it sooner or later. Grief can arise from losing a loved one or being diagnosed with cancer, but it can also be the result of losing a job or a dream not being fulfilled. Every church should have a plan for dealing with grief. […]

A Homily for My Grandfather

In Loving Memory of Bob Parker. July 5, 1929 – June 18 2011 For 31 years I have looked up to the man we are here to remember today.  I believe it was sometime around the 4th grade when I was asked to write a paper about the person I admired the most.  For me […]

Grief Quotes

The following quotes are from some open ended questions I asked in a survey on grief.  I received numerous responses and recently combed through them all and chose some quotes I found helpful.  All the quotes are anonymous.  They are from individuals who have experienced a crisis situation and are active members of a Church […]

Grief Survey

How long has it been since you experience a life changing crisis? 42% – 1 Year 28% – 5 Years 22% – 10 Years 8% – 20 Years What best describes the crisis you experienced? 56% – Loss of a loved one 11% – Disease 7% – Accident 6% – Loss of Job 6% – […]

Rabbit Hole

Rabbit Hole is a movie based on a play by David Lindsay-Abaire.  It is the story of a married couple played by Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart who are struggling to cope after the loss of their young son.  It certainly isn’t a feel good movie, but it is a wonderfully acted portrayal of two […]

Grief Ministry 101

To be a church that is effective at ministering to people who are grieving you do not have to be a large congregation with numerous people on staff.  A small church can implement several principles that will allow them to be aware of the needs of others and be prepared for crises that arise in […]

Quotes on Grief and Grieving

“When we feel the hammers of life beating on our heads or on our hearts, we can know – we must know – that Jesus is here with us, taking our blows.  Every tear we shed becomes his tear.  He may not yet wipe them away, but he makes them his.  Would we rather have […]

There is Hope in Grief

Our American culture is uncomfortable with grief.  We often rush people through the grieving process.  Most employers only allow two or three days off work after the death of a spouse or a child.  We feel uncomfortable around those who openly share their emotions, and so we ignore their cries for help or change the […]