October 28, 2022 - Good Morning! It's Friday, October 28.
This past Wednesday, my church met in our Family Life Center for a "Fall Family Fellowship". There was a chili cook-off, a costume contest, a pumpkin carving competition, and a fine time was had by one and all. Our church is going through a time of transition right now - we're without a pastor. And in times of transition, times of change, family becomes especially important. When we face challenges, we reach out to family, to those we love - and they reach back to us.
In the spring of 1970, the gospel songwriters Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote a song about family. They were members of a church in Alexandria, Indiana. And on the day before Easter that year, a young father from their congregation was badly burned in an explosion. Doctors gave him little chance to live. Members of the church family began coming to the church to pray. This went on all night. The next morning, at the Easter Sunday service, the pastor stood before his bleary-eyed congregation and announced that the young father had survived through the night and that doctors thought he might just make it. During the service, plans were made for how the church members could support the family during their time of challenge.
Bill and Gloria Gaither were sitting in that service that Easter morning. They went home afterwards, and began to write this song. The lyrics of "Family of God" remind us that in times of challenge and chaos and change - our brothers and sisters in Christ can help us make it through.
You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here
It's because we're a family, and these folks are so dear
When one has a heartache, we all shed a tear
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood
Joint heirs with Jesus, as we travel this sod
For I'm part of the family, the Family of God!
Meet you back here on Monday,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
