A Last Letter Written

This letter from Ray Ortlund to his family before he died reminds me of my dear friend Jon Mark.

Letter from Ray Ortlund to his family, written in 2000.

Dear Family,

"The time has come for my departure" (2 Tim. 4:6). It's strange to write this when I'm feeling well and vigorous, but unless Christ returns first that departure time will come. When you read this it will have happened.

I have had a great journey with Jesus Christ. From childhood I have known about God and revered Him. The name of Jesus has always been precious to me. I thank my dear parents for this heritage. Now, life on earth is over and I go to meet the Lord face to face. I trust in Him as my sure Savior and rest in His grace at this momentous time of my death. I do not fear death. (I don’t like the pain, blood, and guts of it all!)

Actually I have been anticipating this new adventure and at the time you read this I will be with Christ in heaven. So it’s happened and I’m now in God’s presence, probably shocked at all I’m seeing for the first time.

I am sorry for my sin and failures which have been many, but I know Christ has forgiven them. “There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” Some of those sins have been against you, my dear family, and I am sorry. You probably know my sins better than I. Some you don’t know, I know all too well. But "where sin abounds grace does much more abound."

My dear Anne has been my most treasured friend. If she is still living as you read this I know you will treat her well. When she goes to heaven God will give her blue ribbons and gold medals. What a great woman and wife! She has loved and stood loyally by me all our life together. And our last years have been our best. May God reward her for hard work, a forgiving spirit, relentless faith and enthusiastic acceptance of life as it came. She is a woman of God... my Cadillac. We shall meet on the other side and sing a duet of praise to God. As you know, Psalm 34:3 has been our verse. We trust you’ve seen that we did magnify the Lord.

Each of you children and spouses have been the joy of my life, as have been the grandchildren. I include Melinda and John in this because they are family to us, too. I have never doubted your love for me and you have been too kind. I will see you in heaven and we'll bless God together.

I urge you to remain true to your Savior. I have no doubt that you will. Love each other deeply in your marriages. Keep your family ties strong. Lay up treasure in heaven because the stuff of earth is empty. Bank accounts, houses and furniture mean nothing to me now. Actually they never did. Beware of sin, and confess it as soon as you discover it in your life. And let the Spirit's gift of joy color all your life. As you mature remain a happy person in Christ. Get even sweeter as you get older. Sour old people are a pain.

In my death be sure God is glorified. Jesus glorified the Father most in His death. John 17:1-5 tells us He faced impending death with that prayer for the Father to be glorified. So at my memorial service glorify God. Have a holy party. I was saying to Anne recently that this world has become less attractive lately and I feel a bit out of place. So it's good to go "home" now. I 'd like to make my burial simple. Cremation is fine with me. Bury my remains in a simple container to wait for the resurrection of my new glorified body. If cremation upsets you then don't do it, of course. I want you to be comfortable with it all.

Heb. 13: 20,21: “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

I love you all and each one. I’ll see you sooner than you think!
Dad

HT: Josh Harris

The Two Sides of Thomas Kinkade

As those made in God's image we are naturally interested in multidimensional communication that speaks to the deeper things of life. Art, in it's various forms is a wonderful way to do this. This is an arena of life well worth thinking about and enjoying.

I like most of Thomas Kinkade's art. (Sorry if that offends you.) But I also know it has it's limits. I wouldn't compare it to a Rembrandt but I am more likely to have a Kinkade piece hanging in my house than a Rembrandt.

Joe Carter of First Thoughts has an intriguing discussion of Thomas Kinkade's artwork. Here is an excerpt:

Consider two works of on similar themes. Both are images of the Water Tower in Chicago. Both have similar elements—a carriage, trees, people with umbrellas. Indeed, paintings are almost identical in theme and content, if not in style.















And yet the first is unquestionably technically superior. The use of texture and shadow puts the viewer within the picture. You can almost feel the cold Chicago air and hear the sounds of the serene yet bustling city.

The second painting, however, distances the viewer from the scene. Light is overused (notice the light coming from every window and the background lights that resemble a brushfire), presenting a faux golden glow that is unrealistic and dull. And the carriage, though more sharply drawn than in the first painting, is two-dimensional and distracting. While the first work is worthy of gracing a museum wall, the second is only worthy of garnishing a cheap greeting card.

As you could probably guess, the second painting is by Thomas Kinkade, circa 2004.

But what about the first painting, the more aesthetically superior rendition of the Water Tower? It too is by Thomas Kinkade; he painted it in 1998.

This is what is so distressing about Thomas Kinkade: He is both a creator of some of the most inspiring paintings of the past two decades and a producer of some of the worst schlock ever manufactured by a talented artist.

What do you think?

HT: Justin Taylor

Jonathan Mark's Memorial Service

Here are the arrangements for Jonathan’s memorial service:

Memorial Service – Thursday, June 25th, 2 pm at King of Grace Church, 28 Chadwick St., Haverhill, MA 01835. All family, friends & acquaintances are warmly invited to join us for a time to remember and honor this dear man, brother and friend in song, scripture reading, worship and sharing. Please come ready to perhaps share a memory, story or aspect of Jon’s life that will help us celebrate and remember him. A reception with refreshments will follow in the King of Grace church fellowship hall. Please bring any heavy hors d’oeuvres or desserts you are able to prepare.

Graveside Service – Friday, June 26th, 10:30 AM, New Hampshire State Veteran’s Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, NH 03303. Family members and close friends are invited for a graveside service to say goodbye to our friend, commit him to God and anticipate his resurrection upon the Lord’s return.

Please feel free to contact the church if you have any questions.

God Bless,
Pastor Paul

Jonathan Mark's Passing

Friends & Family,

Jonathan passed peacefully on to be with the Lord this morning around 12:45 AM. His last day was full of love and peace with many family and friends. Worship music was playing per his request and we were able to read scripture and pray with him. Thank God for these precious days we had with Jonathan over the past week.

We will dearly miss this precious man. We are so thankful for the blessing of his life as a gift from God.

We will let you know as soon as possible what arrangements will be made for his funeral/memorial service.

In His love,
Paul

Jonathan Mark's Life Insurance

Jonathan’s employer, GES, called this afternoon to assure Jon & Julianne that Jonathan’s life insurance policy is still active. Thank God for their kindness! And thank you all who responded to Jonathan & Julianne’s apparent need. We will still take any donations if you would like to give a gift for Julianne as she seeks to get on her feet. But, the need is not as severe as we perceived it. Thanks so much for your care.

We will update you some more as we can.

Jonathan Mark Update June 18th

Jonathan is laboring to breath this morning. We are not sure how long it will be before God takes him. Thanks for praying and caring for Jonathan and Julianne. We know Jonathan is ready to meet his Savior and King. The loss will be ours, the gain will be Jonathan's.

Yesterday Chris & Kendra Knowles came to visit and Julianne asked if Jonathan wanted to sing some worship songs. Jon said yes. Julianne asked which song. Jonathan replied, "Isn't He Good". It was a holy moment as we all sang with this amazing man. His faith in God's goodness is shining like gold at this moment as he trusts Christ with his whole life and his future. I trust we will shine like Jonathan when our day comes.

With love, Paul

Jonathan Mark Update

Jonathan was moved to Merrimack Valley Hospice House today. It was the first hospice house available and very much a blessing. We see God’s kindness and care in this transition.

The house is located at 360 North Ave. in Haverhill around the corner from a number of King of Grace Church members. You can read more about it here. The facilities resemble a resort/retreat house and should really serve Jonathan & Julianne and those who wish to visit and spend time with Jonathan. There is ample space in the café and family reception area to relax and spend time together with one another without overwhelming Jonathan or Julianne. The room itself is spacious and comfortable with a queen size open-up for Julianne.

Thanks so much for all your care and prayers for our dear friend. He is doing relatively well as the effects of cancer seem to increase. He is still very weak and thin and only speaking a few words or so at a time. His mind is still pretty sharp – he seems to be able to keep track of what’s going on and has often asked about phone conversations and comments he has overheard as he lies in bed.

Please pray for Jonathan’s likely transition to his true eternal home. He has communicated that he feels the peace of God. Please pray he can continue to trust and rest in his Savior and King. Please also pray for Julianne as she faces this difficult loss. Julianne is doing very well considering all that is happening. Jonathan and Julianne’s extended family has been a wonderful support. Please pray for them as they seek to cope with all this.

Thanks for all your help. Please feel free to reply via email or phone if you have any questions or thoughts. I know they would love to see many of their beloved family members and dear friends so we will have to try manage the flow of folks and keep it somewhat quiet in the room.

With gratitude, for Jonathan and Julianne,

Paul

Free Worship Music - Rain City Hymnal

An Appeal for Our Friends, Jonathan & Julianne Mark

Hi everybody,

Thank you all for caring for Jon and Julianne during these difficult months. They both are doing amazingly well even as Jon dramatically declines physically and faces perhaps his last days. We are hoping to transfer Jon to hospice today. Please pray!

Jon & Julianne have a particular need which you might be able to help. Jon’s life insurance was mistakenly canceled when he was transferred to long-term disability. As a result, they don’t have money for Jon’s funeral costs. It appears he will be able to be buried for free in a veteran’s cemetery in NH because of his veteran status. However, the other costs still add up. Some estimates run as high as $10,000. We are hoping to need less than this - perhaps $3,000.

Would you be able to help by contributing toward Jon’s funeral costs?

You can contribute by writing a check to King of Grace Church Attn: Jonathan Mark and sending it to 28 Chadwick St., Haverhill, MA 01835 or going on line to the King of Grace PayPal site here.

Thanks so much for considering this and for your love & prayers for these guys!

With gratitude,
Paul


Paul F. Buckley - Pastor
King of Grace Church
Sundays 10:00 AM
28 Chadwick St., Haverhill, MA 01835-7305
(978) 374-6562
www.KingofGrace.org

Got Angry Teens?

Got angry teens? Lost hope for a peaceful family? Concerned for the well-being of your son or daughter?

There are two resources that top my list for dealing with angry teens.

1. Bob Kauflin's message on parenting older teens from the Sovereign Grace Leaders Conference, "The Pastor and His Older Children" (for non-pastors too!) with PDF too, and

2. Rick Horne's very helpful book, "Get Outta My Face," (click here for a review and link to buy.)

BTW: If you haven't read "Age of Opportunity" and "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Shepherd Press, I would recommend you get a copy - you will be greatly blessed and helped - in your parenting and in your own life! And if you are still looking for more input, I gave a teaching last year that seemed to help folks: download "Parenting Teens: An Epic Adventure in Gospel-Centered Parenting".

Hope this blesses you!

Understanding God's Word

I have been using a tool my friend Alex Kirk told me about a ways back. It is called "bible arcing". It is a method for studying God's word by diagramming the flow of thought in a passage. I believe it is something John Piper uses having learned it from Dr. Fuller. It has been a huge help for me. Check out one of my arcs below. (I'm still learning.)



Go to http://www.biblearc.com/ for more info. Enjoy!

Piper on Twitter

John Piper comments on why and how he is tweeting. A couple of excerpts:

"... instead of boycotting, try to fill these media with as much provocative, reasonable, Bible-saturated, prayerful, relational, Christ-exalting, truth-driven, serious, creative pointers to true greatness as you can...."

".... Now what about Twitter? I find Twitter to be a kind of taunt: “Okay, truth-lover, see what you can do with 140 characters! You say your mission is to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things! Well, this is one of those ‘all things.’ Can you magnify Christ with this thimble-full of letters?”

To which I respond:

The sovereign Lord of the earth and sky
Puts camels through a needle’s eye.
And if his wisdom see it mete,
He will put worlds inside a tweet."

Read the full article here.

HT: Josh Harris

We Love the Beach

Among the many things to enjoy in God's creation, my family and I love the beach. We are so thankful to be within 20 minutes to some really good beaches. Seabrook, Salisbury, Hampton and Plum Island are all nearby.

My most favorite is Sandy Point State Beach on the very southern end of Plum Island. It takes about 20 minutes to get to Plum Island and then probably another 15-20 to get to the end of the Island. But, it is worth it.

I am looking forward to some more time at Sandy Point!

The Foundation of Philosophy

There are so many ideas and philosophies around us - some very deep and impressive. Whatever philosophical approach may interest us one biblical truth must control our pursuit of understanding - without God we can ultimately know nothing. John Calvin summed up the biblical understanding of the pursuit of knowledge:

"Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. .... man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself."

Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 1, Chapter 1.

That is the starting point for all knowledge and understanding - God himself. Without an infinite all-knowing all-powerful all-Sovereign being there is no true knowing for nothing is fixed and therefore nothing can be truly known. By definition God must possess these expansive qualities or there is something greater than he in the universe and that greater thing would be greater than God and thus truly God. But God must be God and therefore is the source of all truth and only from Him can we know truth definitively.

As one great philosopher said (much more simply):

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."

Solomon,Proverbs 9:10, ~950 B.C
(~600 years before Plato and all those guys that followed !)

Want Wisdom? Fear God.

Spiritual Formation

I am preparing for a Retreat in June with my buddy Bauer Evans. We will spend time praying and planning as pastors and find some time for fellowship and fun as well (I believe I beat Bauer last year in our annual 9-hole golf outing.)

One of the things I am doing on this retreat and before is reading through Kenneth Boa's book on Spiritual Formation entitled, "Conformed to His Image". He builds the book on the idea that there are many facets of Christian Spiritual Formation and each one has a place in our walk with God. Here are the 12 facets:

Facet 1–Relational Spirituality: Loving God Completely, Ourselves Correctly, and Others Compassionately
Facet 2–Paradigm Spirituality: Cultivating an Eternal versus a Temporal Perspective
Facet 3–Disciplined Spirituality: Engaging in Historical Disciplines
Facet 4–Exchanged Life Spirituality: Grasping Our True Identity in Christ
Facet 5–Motivated Spirituality: A Set of Biblical Incentives
Facet 6–Devotional Spirituality: Falling in Love with God
Facet 7–Holistic Spirituality: Every Component of Life Under the Lordship of Christ
Facet 8–Process Spirituality: Process versus Product, Being versus Doing
Facet 9–Spirit-Filled Spirituality: Walking in the Power of the Spirit
Facet 10–Warfare Spirituality: The World, the Flesh, the Devil
Facet 11–Nurturing Spirituality: A Lifestyle of Evangelism and Discipleship
Facet 12–Corporate Spirituality: Encouragement, Accountability, and Worship

I look forward to learning from this book so I can grow as a Christian and a pastor in wisely and fruitfully walking with God for a lifetime and beyond.

Gossip

Ray Ortlund has an excellent post on the sin of gossip. This is a serious sin we all dabble in. I think we need to take it more seriously for the sake of Christ's reputation and the good of our churches and friends. Check out these excerpts and read the whole article here.

The Bible itself is so clear against gossip, probably because we are so inclined toward gossip:

O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
He who does not take up a reproach against his friend. Psalm 15:1, 3

There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him: . . .
one who sows discord among brothers. Proverbs 6:16, 19

Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people. Leviticus 19:16, AV

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. James 4:11

Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
and do not reveal another’s secret. Proverbs 25:9

God gave them up to a debased mind . . . . They are gossips. Romans 1:28-29

There are many biblical passages confronting gossip. The witness of God against this sin is overwhelming.

Gossip is our dark moral fervor eagerly seeking gratification. Gossip makes us feel important and needed as we declare our judgments. It makes us feel included to know the inside scoop. It makes us feel powerful to cut someone else down to size, especially someone we are jealous of. It makes us feel righteous, even responsible, to pronounce someone else guilty. Gossip can feel good in multiple ways. But it is of the flesh, not of the Spirit.

Adultery too is a serious sin, and one likely to be disciplined in a church. But I have never seen a church split over the sin of adultery. Gossip is a sin rarely disciplined but often more socially destructive than the sensational sins.

Gossip leaves a wide trail of devastation wherever and however it goes – word of mouth, email, blogging, YouTube. It erodes trust and destroys morale. It creates a social environment of suspicion where everyone must wonder what is being said behind their backs and whether appearances of friendship are sincere. It ruins hard-won reputations with cowardly but effective weapons of misrepresentation. It manipulates people into taking sides when no such action is necessary or beneficial. It unleashes the dark powers of psychological transference, doing violence to the gossiper, to the one receiving the gossip and to the person being spoken against. It makes the Body of Christ look like the Body of Antichrist – destroyers rather than healers. It exhausts the energies we would otherwise devote to positive witness. It robs our Lord of the Church he deserves. It exposes the hostility in our hearts and discredits the gospel in the eyes of the world. Then we wonder why we don’t see more conversions, why “the ground is so hard.”

King of Grace Church has developed an understanding on how to navigate this issue biblically in the church. You can check it out here (p. 95). May God grant us repentance from the sin of gossip! May the power of the gospel transform how we speak in every way!

God Bless, Paul


HT: Justin Taylor

Collision

Justin Taylor at "Between Two Worlds" recently posted this preview of "Collision" (based on the book). This looks excellent! I would recommend you check it out and perhaps invite your friends.

COLLISION - 13 min VIMEO Exclusive Sneak Peak from Collision Movie on Vimeo.

Out of the Depths

Here is a "Drabble" from my friend, Nicole McLernon. I think you will find this touching and encouraging.

Out of the depths

“I’m sorry.” The doctor looks into my eyes then back down to the floor. “It’s cancer. Your daughter has lymphoma.”

My world reels.

“But you can treat it, can’t you?” My daughter, my 14-year-old princess? Cancer?

“I’m sorry,” he says again.

This is not happening. I am an oncology nurse. I administer chemotherapy; I hold the patient’s hand when they are too weak to even speak; I call the doctor when the patient does not respond; I am silent with the family after they’ve said their last goodbyes.

“It’s progressed too far.”

“How long?”

“2 months.”

I cannot even cry.

Oh Lord, I cry to You

I stumble out of the room. There is my daughter, sitting there. Her eyes lock with mine. I try desperately to fill my eyes with hope, try to give some strength even in my gaze.

I fail.

Her eyes question me. Oh, God. How am I supposed to answer that question? How am I supposed to deliver my daughter’s death sentence? Nothing in my life had prepared me for the rush of love I felt when she was born, when I first heard her cry, when she was placed in my arms for the first time, when her life began.

When I am tempted to despair

Now, nothing in my life has prepared me for this. For the rush of love I feel for her as I search for words that speak of the end, of the grave, of the long goodbye.

I must sit down.

I walk slowly, haltingly. I lower myself into the seat next to my precious little girl. Her eyes have not left my face.

I take her hand.

Silence.

Was it a minute? Ten seconds? An eternity?

She speaks.

“Mom?”

A deep sigh wells up from within me. I strangle the urge to let it out.

“Piper?” I must do this.

Though I might fail to trust Your promises

“Piper. The doctor said it’s too late. We didn’t catch the cancer in time.”

I am calm. Or perhaps I am dreaming and I shall wake up momentarily.

“What does that mean?”

“It means we…” Oh, God. “We only have a little time left.”

“How long?”

“He said two months.”

Am I really having this conversation?

Only now does she look away. But just because she has flung herself into my arms. I wait for tears to start. For her heart-wrenching sobs that will surely shatter mine.

Here they come.

I stroke her hair, silently. There is nothing to say.

You never fail to hear my prayer

We start radiation, hoping not for a cure but just some comfort. Piper is the bravest of us all. She endures. Still, I do not cry.

I hold her hand, like I’ve held so many patients’ hands before. But this time, I am the weary family member. This time, it is my heart breaking.

I bring in chocolate fudge swirl ice cream one day. Piper smiles at me, her eyes alight with joy. She takes a bite. Her face twists in displeasure and shock. The radiation has changed her taste buds so that she cannot even enjoy her favorite treat.

In every trial and loss

“Mom?” She tries to cover up her disappointment in a brave effort to encourage me. “Thanks for bringing it in.”

She looks so small, sitting there in that hospital bed, wearing that ridiculous gown. We’ve laughed about the gown. We call it her “simply telling us people interesting dragons” or “stupid” for short. Piper has always loved words. She’s always learning new ones, sprinkling her conversation with vocabulary that she’s picked up over the years. She gets that from her dad.

Her dad. My husband. The man is exhausted. I finally sent him home last night to get some sleep.

My hope is in the Cross

We bring Piper home when it is clear that there is nothing more to be done. She said she didn’t want to remember her last days being in the sterile hospital environment. Her words, not mine.

The clouds are rolling in as we pull up the driveway. They are dark. Angry. Threatening.

Piper walks up to her bedroom, possibly for the last time. Weariness shrouds her body. Her shoulders stoop forward and she stumbles on the stairs. She makes no protest when Jack picks her up and carries her.

I cannot follow. I turn and run out of the house.

Where Your compassions never fail

“Are you listening?” I scream to the heavens.

As if in reply, thunder booms in the distance.

“How dare you do this? Are you truly all-powerful? All-knowing? Good or kind? What kind of sadistic monster does this to a child?”

Lightening illuminates the sky, causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand up. The wind swirls around me, whipping my hair around my face, into my eyes and open mouth. Thunder crashes, as if it is trying to frighten me. I am not afraid. I am furious.

“Can you hear me?” I shout again, expecting no answer.

So more than watchmen for the morning

The rain is pouring now. The trees and clouds perform a wild dance in front of me, driven by a relentless wind. I consider going back inside but I am too angry.

“Do you have any idea what it’s like to watch your child suffer and die?” I can still be heard, despite the thunder.

There is a brilliant flash of lightening. The thunder rumbles, far in the distance and suddenly, the tempest is over.

The rain is falling gently now. It looks like heaven itself is crying.

Then I hear it, not with my ears, but in my heart.

I will wait for You, my God

“I killed my Son for you.”

That is all. I hear nothing else.

That is all I need to hear.

Tears begin to well up in my eyes. Tears that have not been shed since Piper was diagnosed. Healing tears for my parched soul.

He killed His Son. For me.

I turn, slowly, and walk back into the house. Up to the second floor. Into my daughter’s room.

She sleeps the exhausted sleep of the very ill. I sit down next to my beautiful, dying daughter and take her hand in mine, gently, softly.

“I love you, Piper.”

I wait.

© Nicole McLernon 2009


HT: Bob Kauflin

How Long, O Lord?!

"All we have to do is live long enough, and we will be bereaved.

All we have to do is live long enough, and we will die"

So writes D.A. Carson in his book, "How Long, O Lord." This is an outstanding book addressing the reality of suffering. I have been thinking a lot about this topic. Although incomplete, here are some "pensees".

• Suffering is unavoidable - whether loss of health, wealth, friends, favor, comfort. It will happen to us all.
  
• Suffering tests our foundations. When all else is removed from our lives what remains?
• Faulty thinking, faulty being, faulty doing will not long endure suffering.
• It is best to prepare your foundations before you suffer, you may be too troubled in suffering to repair them.
• The fundamental problem is that our foundations are based on or corrupted by self-reference and relativism. If our foundation is not built on something absolute and enduring then it will fail us.
• Only God is absolute and enduring and therefore offers a foundation that will endure suffering.
• The biblical view of God answers us at the most fundamental levels in regards to suffering and offers us an unshakable and verifiable foundation.

Among these biblical answers:

1. The nature and character of God: all-powerful, sovereign, absolutely good, fully compassionate, all-wise, infinite, eternal, all-glorious.
   
2. He himself has suffered the most of any and all in Christ's death on the cross for sin.
   
3. He has risen victorious over sin, suffering and death.
   
4. He invites us to entrust our lives, our hopes, our sufferings to Him in Christ.
5. He promises to use our sufferings for good in Christ.
6. He uses our sufferings to refine our faith, hope, love and joy in Him, purging us of faulty foundations.
7. One day soon, suffering and sorrow will be resolved and ended in Christ's return.

Hope this helps.

Thoughts?

One of My Heroes

My good friend Jonathan Mark has been struggling with cancer. Last summer they found a tumor in his intestinal track and removed it. They then started chemotherapy for two different types of cancer - stomach and small cell cancer. This past Monday night they performed an intestinal bypass operation at Mass General to allow Jon to eat. They found a large tumor in his abdomen. The doctors don't seem to think Jon has too long to live.

I have known Jon since early 2002. He was a faithful member of Covenant Fellowship Church but decided to leave his wonderful church home and family to serve us as we planted King of Grace Church in fall, 2002. Jon has worked hard to serve the church faithfully as our sound tech guy and just as a good brother. It was my joy to see him meet and later marry his lovely wife Julianne in April 2007.

I have many great memories of Jon but what comes to mind more than anything is how faithful he has been. Jon has been faithful to serve our church amidst a life-disrupting relocation to Massachusetts. He has been faithful to support and pray for our church through the many trials of church planting. He has been faithful to care for his wife as she dealt with some serious health challenges. Faithfulness characterizes my friend.

And now - he has been faithful to keep his eyes on Christ and His glory through a life-threatening disease. Monday night as they wheeled Jon into his room after surgery and as he experienced some serious post-operative pain his words were not about his pain nor did they contain any hint of complaint. He was focused on others. He was trusting in Christ. It was actually pretty funny as he lay half asleep and interjected technical advice for us as we discussed how to get an internet connection in order to find a hotel. We had some sweet time together in prayer.

Jon and Julianne are my heroes. They have continued to pray and look to the Lord, asking for healing and receiving whatever God deems right for them. They have made the most of many opportunities to tell family, friends and chance acquaintances of God's goodness and their hope in Christ.

We are asking God to heal Jon. We have seen Him do this sort of miraculous healing before, we know He will do it again. Please pray with us for healing and for strength to continue to trust Christ and shine for Him. But whether God chooses to heal Jon or take him home we will trust God in his wisdom and bless His name together.

And I know, by God's grace, my friend will continue to shine for Christ and will remain one of my heroes.