Dad died this past Saturday.  Wade Huie was a great man of prodigious passion, faith, and love.  I lost my earthly "rock."  Yesterday we held his funeral in Decatur.  We mourned his loss, but beyond that we celebrated his life and the God my father adored.  Hundreds of family and friends came to worship and showed incredible support.  I will never forget yesterday.

Little did I know a month ago when I decided on my text for this Sunday's sermon that my father would die this week and request precisely the same gospel reading for his funeral.  What are the chances!  Jesus' words from his Farewell Discourse were spoken to his disciples to give them peace in troubling times.  They had cast their lot with this Jesus and given up most everything to follow him, and now here he was telling them that he would soon no longer be with them.   In such an environment, Jesus began his final talk with these words, Do not let your hearts be troubled, and then went on to reassure them that he was going to prepare a place for them.
 
I firmly believe that God has prepared a place for my father...and for each one of us.  That place could only be described very simply as home.  I see Dad now dancing with Mom, giving a bodacious bear hug to his grandson Ryan, and bowing before his Lord, as he hears the words, Well done, good and faithful servant.  -Matthew 25:21  
 
Sunday in worship we will explore what it means that God has prepared a place for us.  Bring a friend, especially one who has no church home.  Meanwhile, remember to pray for our youth ministry these next four weeks as we have Montreat, the Great Escape, and our mission trip to Jamaica back to back to back.  May God be glorified through it all.

Prayer for Today
 
O God, we thank you for the saints, those who have especially been touched by your grace to impact the world.  Help us all to hear your call and respond with obedient faith and give us your peace, especially when the chips are down.  Amen.