Do not lie to one another.

Colossians 3:9-11, Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him —a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

We had a difficult week, in burying a long-time friend, truly a modern day Job, who had been stripped of wealth by incurable back pain that led to drug addiction, disorientation, bankruptcy of a multi-million dollar tithing business dedicated from the start to the Lord, multiple arrests including two sons. Think about what you might say as a pastor over that casket; what my pastor friend said pulled no punches, left nothing to the imagination. And the cap was that he told us that our friend kept telling everyone, “Don’t blame God for this.” I know that there were those who came to the funeral only to spit on his grave; my prayer is that they found the grace of a loving God who takes the broken hearted under His wing and rescues them!

We thank You for complete healing for my friend, his family and our community, Lord Jesus; thank You for transparency in the love of Christ!