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Page Last Updated 9/1/2007
 


                                     
                                             



From the Desk of Pastor Richard

September 2007

Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise! For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth. (Psalm 47.1-2)
Have you ever been presented with a situation that seemed so amazing and astounding that it was clear that God was at work? Has there ever been a time when the fact that God is living and active seemed so obvious that you could not help but notice? It is easy to live with little thought to the fact that God is constantly active in the world. It is equally easy to forget that God is also active in the life of every individual in this world. But there are those times when God acts in such a powerful way that it becomes hard to ignore the fact that God is constantly working. I had just such an opportunity to see the hand of the Most High God clearly at work when the phone rang in the church offi ce a few weeks ago. I fi rst have to preface the story of my phone call by telling you that I am an ardent supporter of what is called the Parish Nurse program. What is a Parish Nurse? A Parish Nurse is a church staff member who serves as a health educator, personal health counselor, referral agent, health advocate, and a volunteer facilitator. In short, a Parish Nurse is an individual who focuses on the whole health of a person, which includes body, mind, and spirit.

Senior Pastor Richard Browning,
Lukas (left), Tina and Gabe (right)

For the past three years I have had the idea of a Parish Nurse in the back of my mind for Hope. I believe that such an individual would prove invaluable to the members of Hope, and particularly those who are facing a medical crisis. A month ago I began talking about the Parish Nurse program with a small group of individuals. I explained the benefi ts of a Parish Nurse, and indicated the role such an individual might serve at Hope. There was much enthusiasm for the idea, but some concern about how we might fund such a program.
Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. (Psalm 47.6-8)
A couple weeks after discussing the position of Parish Nurse, the phone call came. The call was from the director of the Parish Nurse program in Fort Myers. She indicated that she had a grant available to fully fund a part time Parish Nurse at a church, and wondered if Hope would be interested. This call, which was completely unsolicited on my part, struck me immediately. It seemed clear that the hand of God was guiding Hope. It was obvious that the Lord was leading Hope to be the people of God in the way and manner He would have us be the people of God. I was suddenly confronted with the reality that God is seated on a high and holy throne, in charge of all things, and worthy of praise. When has God made this truth obvious to you? When have you witnessed fi rst hand the fact that God reigns over all things?
For all the kings of the earth belong to God. He is highly honored everywhere. (Psalm 47.9)
God is the Ruler of all things. The kings and the rulers of the earth are all small when compared to the One true Ruler of all the world. Everything belongs to God, and there is no small detail of the world that is beyond God’s noticing. Sometimes we are reminded of this reality in small ways; other times God reminds us of this truth in unexpected and shocking ways. Rejoice that the King of all the earth is active, and is worthy of honor and praise.

Many Blessings,


Pastor Richard