Well, a lot has happened since I last posted here in the blogosphere.

Riverside Church of Christ Coppell, TX

As of July 12, we are back in Texas where I’ve joined the wonderful team at the Riverside Church as their Worship/Music Minister.  After three years with some very special people in Atlanta, God has called us back to the DFW Metroplex where I am serving once again in a full-time ministry role in Coppell…we live in Lewisville and could not be more excited about the road ahead…God’s preferred future for us!

While we miss my students and our friends from Atlanta (and have stayed in touch with our closest friends there on a regular basis), God has showered us with wonderful new friends and a wonderful church family and the ability to be so wonderfully close to long-time friends and our families (well, some of our family) here in Texas.  One of those unexpected blessings is in my friend, and new preacher of the Riverside Church, Corey Trevathan being here along with his wonderful family.  (You can read his blog here.)

A week ago last night, October 29, the world lost one of its best men…and I lost a role model, mentor, friend, and colleague from my years at North Davis in Arlington (and was blessed to remain close to until his untimely passing).  I will somehow find a way to memorialize him at a later date (here’s a great link to a beautifully penned tribute from my friend (and a former member of the junior high small group we led back in the day, Kevin Bain)).  Brent, you’ll be sorely missed…you already are.  You made me a better man, you made the world a better place…with every word and action you ever offered, you put in a good word for Jesus…

In our current sermon series at Riverside, Corey is challenging us to call God by name…so, I’ve added his name in the place of his title in this text as it adds a particular meaning for me in this place and time…I’m leaning into this passage from the book of Lamentations right now as we grieve…
Lamentations 3:19-26 (ESV)
19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings,
the wormwood and the gall!
20 My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.
21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of Yahweh never ceases;[b]
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 “Yahweh is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
25 The Yahweh is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
26 It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of Yahweh.

SDG