Venice, Florida
This past week I was in Venice, Florida with Bro. Larry Franck at Cornerstone Baptist Church. Larry is a young man doing a really good job in a retirement town. I would guess the median age of the residents in Venice is around 50-55.
Larry has been pastor for about four years now, his first pastorate, coming from a youth backround. In that four year time frame he has more than tripled the size of the church and now has a solid core to work with. The people of the church, although all are older than him, love him and respect him. It is obvious by the small conversations I had with several.
I had the honor of staying with a gentleman who recently lost his wife of some 53-years to cancer. I was a blessing to me to hear him talk of their love, to see tears trickle down his cheek as memories flooded back to his mind. I would see his eyes light up as he would talk about some of the fun times they had.
At one point, he apologized for being so emotional, as I was choking back my own tears I was thinking to myself, "I only hope that if I ever walk this valley, I will do it with the grace and passion that this man is displaying." I then told him that he had no need to apologize, that his feelings for her were precious and something to never, ever forget.
He shared a little of a lady friend that he recently met saying shyly, "I don't know where this is going to go." I laughed and encouraged him to let it go naturally, besides he needed someone who could do more than emphathize with him, he needed someone who had walked the same valley he was walking." He then told me how that she too had lost her husband, then remarried and within two years her new husband had also passed away. He said that they would talk and cry and laugh. I thought that it was great to see the Lord bring the right person into his life to minister to him, but to also open an avenue so that he could minister to her. They may never be more than friends, but they will no doubt help each other through some difficulte times.
Tomorrow, I will board a plane for Turkey (yes the country) and also have a stop over in Paris, France on the way home. I will post more about that trip when I return. In the meantime, God bless and have a great week.
Larry has been pastor for about four years now, his first pastorate, coming from a youth backround. In that four year time frame he has more than tripled the size of the church and now has a solid core to work with. The people of the church, although all are older than him, love him and respect him. It is obvious by the small conversations I had with several.
I had the honor of staying with a gentleman who recently lost his wife of some 53-years to cancer. I was a blessing to me to hear him talk of their love, to see tears trickle down his cheek as memories flooded back to his mind. I would see his eyes light up as he would talk about some of the fun times they had.
At one point, he apologized for being so emotional, as I was choking back my own tears I was thinking to myself, "I only hope that if I ever walk this valley, I will do it with the grace and passion that this man is displaying." I then told him that he had no need to apologize, that his feelings for her were precious and something to never, ever forget.
He shared a little of a lady friend that he recently met saying shyly, "I don't know where this is going to go." I laughed and encouraged him to let it go naturally, besides he needed someone who could do more than emphathize with him, he needed someone who had walked the same valley he was walking." He then told me how that she too had lost her husband, then remarried and within two years her new husband had also passed away. He said that they would talk and cry and laugh. I thought that it was great to see the Lord bring the right person into his life to minister to him, but to also open an avenue so that he could minister to her. They may never be more than friends, but they will no doubt help each other through some difficulte times.
Tomorrow, I will board a plane for Turkey (yes the country) and also have a stop over in Paris, France on the way home. I will post more about that trip when I return. In the meantime, God bless and have a great week.
posted by Brad at 3:18 PM
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