Comments on: The Death of a Friend http://milestoneworship.com/?p=255 Engaging the mind, body, and soul in authentic worship to God. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:03:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Ed http://milestoneworship.com/?p=255#comment-1264 Ed Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:34:38 +0000 http://milestoneworship.com/?p=255#comment-1264 I am that young man's pastor. This event has truly rocked our church. He was an extremely bright kid that I have personally known since his birth. His family is obviously devastated, but their resolve is to be firm in their commitment to help others discover the joy of following Christ even in the midst of their own pain. The young man wrote worship songs and was involved in several drama productions in our church as well as his active participation in our youth ministry. After graduation he went off to college, and came home...different...confused...just different. It has only been in the last 6 months that things began to change, and he began to espouse atheism. Please pray for his family, friends, and church. His family are some of the strongest Christians and the kindest people I know. They are struggling to make sense of all this. I want to thank you for your concern and your efforts to reach out to someone who is away from God. Thanks I am that young man’s pastor. This event has truly rocked our church. He was an extremely bright kid that I have personally known since his birth. His family is obviously devastated, but their resolve is to be firm in their commitment to help others discover the joy of following Christ even in the midst of their own pain. The young man wrote worship songs and was involved in several drama productions in our church as well as his active participation in our youth ministry. After graduation he went off to college, and came home…different…confused…just different. It has only been in the last 6 months that things began to change, and he began to espouse atheism. Please pray for his family, friends, and church. His family are some of the strongest Christians and the kindest people I know. They are struggling to make sense of all this. I want to thank you for your concern and your efforts to reach out to someone who is away from God. Thanks

]]> By: Samuel http://milestoneworship.com/?p=255#comment-1261 Samuel Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:56:08 +0000 http://milestoneworship.com/?p=255#comment-1261 My condolences to his family and friends... I have never had suicidal thoughts, but I have gotten discouraged and disheartened. When those times come, and I seek help from God, His peace lifts me up. I truly believe that God loves His children – every person who has ever been or will be born on this earth. And He doesn't want us to be unhappy. He wants us to be happy. Joseph B. Wirthlin, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ (LDS Church), said, "Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us – even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will. We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won't, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming." God, our Father, will lift us and comfort us, no matter what the circumstances may be, if we turn to Him in prayer and faith. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all our pains and sorrows can be taken from us, whether it be feelings of inadequacy, emotional stress, or other trials; even the loss of a loved one. Again, I leave my heartfelt condolences with family and friends. My condolences to his family and friends…

I have never had suicidal thoughts, but I have gotten discouraged and disheartened. When those times come, and I seek help from God, His peace lifts me up. I truly believe that God loves His children – every person who has ever been or will be born on this earth. And He doesn’t want us to be unhappy. He wants us to be happy.

Joseph B. Wirthlin, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ (LDS Church), said, “Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us – even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will. We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.”

God, our Father, will lift us and comfort us, no matter what the circumstances may be, if we turn to Him in prayer and faith. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all our pains and sorrows can be taken from us, whether it be feelings of inadequacy, emotional stress, or other trials; even the loss of a loved one.

Again, I leave my heartfelt condolences with family and friends.

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