Hi Everyone, Some of you noticed that I failed to get an email out last week.

I'm sorry, but I was traveling last week on business and was not able to send out an email. The unbelievable tragedy at Virginia Tech is on all of our hearts. It is almost unimaginable the horror, fear, and sorrow that was unleashed in just a few moments of time. Events like this always cause us to pause and think about life and loved ones. For me, I have made it a habit to try to get to know the victims in news events like this. I fear that there is so much death and bad news in our multi-media world that soon people just become numbers or statistics. 33 people were killed. That's one level of knowledge. A 79 year-old professor that was a survivor of the Holocaust, a 4.0 GPA band member, a biker and hiker, a future doctor, a researcher in motor skills for cerebral palsy, a husband, a son, a daughter, a friend, ... ... ... This level of knowledge is much deeper, and keeps alive that what died that morning were not simply numbers, or anonymous bodies, but real, live people that God loved, others loved, and so should I. 

But this time, about half ways through the list, I had to stop. There were too many young adults with bright futures and hearts full of hope and promise. It seemed like, in each one, there was something special, something unique, a spark of the divine, and the pain became too great. I had to stop. A thought then occurred to me. I wonder if they were alive today, and if I were to meet them, if I would realize (or recognize) how special each one was? Or would I take that moment of meeting for granted? You see, there are people all around us who have something special, something unique, a spark of the divine, but we are too busy, too preoccupied, too whatever to notice. They are people who are close to us, or work with us, or live in our neighborhoods, or attend church with us, or shop where we do. When was the last time you really saw them, and noted how each was special in their own way?

Paul wrote, in 1 Corinthians 12, that we are all part of each other and that each part was uniquely made and placed by God in order to be a help and support for the rest. He said that when one of us suffers, we all suffer, and when one of us is honored, then we are all glad. Jesus said that the greatest thing we could do to prove our devotion to him was to love one another. That's more than just meeting once a week to sing songs together and talk about a few scriptures. It is taking time to notice and value each other. Don't wait for a tragedy to remember how special a person is. Peter wrote, in 1 Peter 1:22, "So see to it that you really do love each other intensely with all your hearts."

One more quick comment, you personally may not feel that unique or special, or maybe you feel that you are unique but not in a good way. It's not true. God said it's not true. You must see yourself as God sees you. Yet, it is also partially our fault that you feel that way. I'm sorry that we have not shown you how special you really are, and how much you mean to us. It is hard to sense how special you are, and how much God loves you, when those profess to love God overlook who you are and how wonderfully He has made you. Please forgive us. We also have been flawed by sin, but we pray that God will give us the hearts to truly see the unique and precious gift that He has given us in you. Not only will that allow you to see yourself as God intended, but it will also enrich our lives with the blessings God has placed within you for us.

Speaking of unique and precious gifts, this Saturday night is Christian Artist Night. The doors open at 6:00 with exhibition artwork, and the performing arts start at 6:30. This is a great way to experience the variety and uniqueness of talent that God has gifted us with. Come. Bring a friend. I know you both will enjoy it.

So together, truly together, with the help of Christ's Spirit, let us ... ... ...

Live The Life,

Bruce

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