i wanna shine on in the hearts of men....

(save this for later if you're not ready for bad news.)

my pastor died today. right in front of my eyes. right in front of his wife's eyes and those of the rest of congregation. we watched as he was pulled from the baptistry after being electrocuted in a freak accident. we watched as loved ones and then emergency medical technicians attended to him, trying to save his life. we watched, with tears in our eyes, as he was carted out of the church that he built. an hour later, we found out he had died.

i'm fine. i don't need consolation or to talk it out. i don't need to ask why, and i'm not angry at God. don't get me wrong; i've cried more today than just about any other day, and it's definitely in contention for the worst-day-of-my-life honor. he was a great man who deeply impacted my life. my theology, worldview, and life as a whole have changed considerably since i began attending his church, and those changes were in large part due to what he preached every week. and it is those changes that are getting me through this.

when i cry, it is for his wife who lost her thirty-three year old husband. it is for their three young children, who i pray will remember him. it is for the church that he built and that i call my home. they need God's grace and peace. please keep his family and church in your prayers.