July 25, 2015

The Shepherd's Corner

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

This week there are two church families who are grieving the loss of their loved ones. First is Ibu Rooz Taroreh who lost her oldest brother on Monday in Manado and secondly is Tante Els Sumarouw whose younger sister passed away Friday morning here in Glendale. We as a church grieve with them and pray for them. May Jesus Our Good Shepherd comfort them!THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

This week there are two church families who are grieving the loss of their loved ones. First is Ibu Rooz Taroreh who lost her oldest brother on Monday in Manado and secondly is Tante Els Sumarouw whose younger sister passed away Friday morning here in Glendale. We as a church grieve with them and pray for them. May Jesus Our Good Shepherd comfort them!

Santy and I also grieve the passing of someone whom we called Aunty Bev. She was the wife of one of our deacons at the previous church I was a part of. All her life she served as a Sunday school teacher and a score of her former students are now either teaching Sunday school or serving the Lord in some capacity. We consider ourselves fortunate because less than a month ago we had the privilege of visiting with her and her husband. Little did we know that it was to be our last meeting on earth!

In times like these I am once again reminded of the words of Pastor Chuck Smith before he passed away last year. In paraphrase this is what he said, “After I die, you will read in the paper, “Chuck Smith died.’ No, don’t write it like that. Instead, please write, ‘Chuck Smith moved.’ ” Yes, when we die as children of God, we move from our earthly home to our heavenly home.

Mr. Arie Moningka, Mrs. Elita Sumarouw Bald, and Mrs. Beverly Lee have all moved from their earthly dwelling to their new home in heaven. They have also left their small circle of brothers and sisters on earth to join in a much larger circle of brothers and sisters in heaven. It will be a reunion and a new union. May the words of Our Lord strengthen us all, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in Me.” (John 14:1) We do, Lord. We do!

Pastor Paul

Santy and I also grieve the passing of someone whom we called Aunty Bev. She was the wife of one of our deacons at the previous church I was a part of. All her life she served as a Sunday school teacher and a score of her former students are now either teaching Sunday school or serving the Lord in some capacity. We consider ourselves fortunate because less than a month ago we had the privilege of visiting with her and her husband. Little did we know that it was to be our last meeting on earth!

In times like these I am once again reminded of the words of Pastor Chuck Smith before he passed away last year. In paraphrase this is what he said, “After I die, you will read in the paper, “Chuck Smith died.’ No, don’t write it like that. Instead, please write, ‘Chuck Smith moved.’ ” Yes, when we die as children of God, we move from our earthly home to our heavenly home.

Mr. Arie Moningka, Mrs. Elita Sumarouw Bald, and Mrs. Beverly Lee have all moved from their earthly dwelling to their new home in heaven. They have also left their small circle of brothers and sisters on earth to join in a much larger circle of brothers and sisters in heaven. It will be a reunion and a new union. May the words of Our Lord strengthen us all, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in Me.” (John 14:1) We do, Lord. We do!

Pastor Paul

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - April 19, 2020
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER One of the most famous prayers is the one by Reinhold Niebuhr, the 20th century American theologian; it’s called The Serenity Prayer, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference....
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - June 25, 2017
[:en]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER In his book, How to Live Through a Bad Day, Pastor Jack Hayford shares a simple formula to live through a bad day, “begin by forgiving everyone who seems to be trying to ruin your life.”...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - May 03, 2015
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER May 2 and May 4 have always had a special meaning for me. May 2 was the day I left Indonesia and May 4 was the day I set foot on American soil for the first time. The year was 1978. It was the beginning of the second chapter of my life—the […]...
Read More