I apologize for my absence this weekend. I have been reading and checking my blog and others but have not had a lot of time to write and respond. Yesterday (Saturday) my niece turned 3 years old, so of course there was a party. Connie and I went to Dawson on Friday morning to spend time with family and play with our niece. We had a great time. It is amazing at how fast Meara is growing up.
Below I have my Sunday morning prayer that I would like to offer once again. As I was working on my sermon this week we had something happen in Jackson to a very respected member of the community – the volunteer of all volunteers. A great man and one you could always count on found out that he has advanced renal cell cancer and his time is very short. I know he would not mind me writing about this because of the kind of person he is. This gentleman is affectionately known around town as "Fat". I could write a long post about Fat but now is not the time. Please pray for Fat and his family. They are going to need all the support they can get. But here is the cool thing — Fat is not slowing down. As we are reminded in the Gospel text, Fat has been freed from his ailment. Cancer may take his life, but that is not who he is. Fat is a child of God created and anointed to be a servant of Christ (as we all are). Most people would get down over a devastating diagnosis, but not Fat. He is living in freedom and praise God for that. I just wish I had Fat’s strength. He is indeed an inspiration.
Let us pray…
Gracious, loving and healing God, through Jesus Christ you have come to set us free. But we find ourselves in situation where we feel bound by physical and mental infirmities, societal and personal expectations and/or feelings of inadequacy. We feel we have nothing really significant to offer so we give in and embrace our bounded-ness. But through the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ we are set free. Sin, death and the power of Satan no longer rules but you do. Thank you for this awesome love and for freeing us (and Fat) to love others to the glory of your holy name. Please continue to show your love through Fat; guide him, comfort him and strengthen him and his family. And grant Fat (and us) healing in anyway you see that we need. Through Jesus Christ we pray, Amen!
The Heart of a Pastor 
thank you for your inspirational thoughts about your parish member. They do teach us, don’t they? And you were in Dawson! I used to drive through Dawson a LOT on the way back and forth from South Dakota. I hope you had a good celebration with your niece.
My wife and I grew up in Dawson, now we are only 2 1/2 hours away.
It is hard to believe how fast our little niece is growing up — 3 years old. And the cute thing is that she is excited about starting Sunday school next month.
Thank-you for your kind words about Meara. She is very lucky to have a wonderful aunt and uncle and I know she loves you very much. She is very excited to see you everytime. Thank-you also for being there and helping her enjoy her 3rd birthday. I tell her she is growing up too fast for me and she says, “I grow up a little bit”.
Your sis.