February 24, 2003

IN MEMORY:
Praise music comforts grieving souls
as loved ones kneel before their Lord
___By Theresa Young
___Being a member of the Baptist church since infancy, I've heard countless sermons on God's love and peace and how he will sustain you in times of trouble. At just 30 years of age, my "times of trouble" have typically consisted of teenage crushes gone wrong, financial hardships while working through college or decisions about the future that kept me up at night.
___But in the last few weeks, I got a firsthand look at the "peace that passes understanding" and the love that will not let me go.
___Our congregation, First Baptist Church in Halfway, lost two great folks in an automobile accident. Our pastor, Gordon Benson, and our church pianist and treasurer, Karen Mason, did not survive a rollover near Amarillo on Saturday, Feb. 8, and went home to be with their Lord.
___ Naturally, a sea of questions and emotions have flooded our minds since we heard the news late that night. We all wonder why and attempt as humans to put an answer to our restless questions. Words of comfort from others remind us God loves us and he is still in control. We know this, as surely as we know that at this moment, Gordon and Karen are kneeling before God's throne in worship, feeling no pain and in perfect peace.
___ Music was a very big part of our church, and Gordon, who could sing quite well, loved to weave music through his sermons. He, wife Brenda, and Karen all were especially big fans of the praise music of Dennis Jernigan, whom they had seen in concert in November. On several occasions, and more often recently, Gordon would ask Brenda, Karen and me to join him in leading praise choruses, and many of Jernigan's best were among our selections. Perhaps that familiarity is why just hours into the grieving process, the words of one of those songs began to play through my head, providing an unspeakable comfort and affirmation of God's presence:
___ "Who can satisfy my soul like you? Who on earth could comfort me and love me like you do? Who could ever be more faithful, true? Lord, I will trust in you. ... There is a fountain, who is the King. Victorious Warrior, and Lord of everything. My Rock, my Shelter, my very Own. Blessed Redeemer, who reigns upon the throne."
___God used that song and its lyrics that day and even now to remind me of his peace, his faithfulness and his control over every situation in life. We have lost a brother and sister in Christ, two who knew how to truly worship and wanted only to be closer and closer to their Lord with each passing day.
___Praise the Lord! They are closer now than ever.
___Theresa Young is director of public relations at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview

Get printer-friendly version of this story


Send this story to a friend



News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

---

Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook