THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

When people told Jesus Our Lord that Lazarus had died, He said this, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” Last Monday two other God’s children went to sleep: Oom Samuel Hidayat, the father of Gladys, in Malang, and Oom Ping Tiauw, in Arcadia. As Jesus said, they have just fallen asleep. One day they will wake up and the first face they see is the face of Our Blessed Savior Jesus because He is the One who will wake them up. THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

When people told Jesus Our Lord that Lazarus had died, He said this, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” Last Monday two other God’s children went to sleep: Oom Samuel Hidayat, the father of Gladys, in Malang, and Oom Ping Tiauw, in Arcadia. As Jesus said, they have just fallen asleep. One day they will wake up and the first face they see is the face of Our Blessed Savior Jesus because He is the One who will wake them up.

There is one thing about “sleep” that I am sure we all know: We cannot fight it! We can only delay it but we cannot really fight it. When we are sleepy, what we need and what we should do is to fall asleep. And, so is it with death. Like sleep, we can only delay death but we cannot fight it. When it is time for us to die, we will—and we should—die. So, when the time come for us to sleep, just relax. When the time comes for us to wake up, we will.

I want to thank you, church family, for being there with those who grieve. When I met Gladys in Malang, she told me how much she appreciated the outpouring of love she received. And, I heard this same comment and appreciation from others, who grieved the temporary separation from their loved ones. As your pastor, I can only say, thank you. May the Good Lord bless you and keep you.

I also wish to thank you for releasing me to go to Malang and for praying for me. While there, I was honored to attend the funeral service of Tony’s father and to get to know his two brothers and mother, who have visited our church before. During the service, I also met Debrina’s parents, who attend the same church. So, for a moment it felt like another church service here in FIBC. Yes, we are after all a family of God, both on earth and in heaven.

Pastor Paul

There is one thing about “sleep” that I am sure we all know: We cannot fight it! We can only delay it but we cannot really fight it. When we are sleepy, what we need and what we should do is to fall asleep. And, so is it with death. Like sleep, we can only delay death but we cannot fight it. When it is time for us to die, we will—and we should—die. So, when the time come for us to sleep, just relax. When the time comes for us to wake up, we will.

I want to thank you, church family, for being there with those who grieve. When I met Gladys in Malang, she told me how much she appreciated the outpouring of love she received. And, I heard this same comment and appreciation from others, who grieved the temporary separation from their loved ones. As your pastor, I can only say, thank you. May the Good Lord bless you and keep you.

I also wish to thank you for releasing me to go to Malang and for praying for me. While there, I was honored to attend the funeral service of Tony’s father and to get to know his two brothers and mother, who have visited our church before. During the service, I also met Debrina’s parents, who attend the same church. So, for a moment it felt like another church service here in FIBC. Yes, we are after all a family of God, both on earth and in heaven.

Pastor Paul