Blessed are those who Die in the Lord

(Rev 7:15-17 NRSV)  For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. {16} They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; {17} for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

We received news this morning that a dear friend and fellow servant of the Lord passed from this life into the arms of his heavenly Father.  Raymond Bond a trusted friend, and a mighty warrior of the Lord.  I knew Raymond almost as long as I can remember.  As a young boy Raymond was a college Student who attended the camps that my family attended and often my Dad was a teacher.  I remember hearing about him moving to Puerto Rico, a place that I had no idea where it was, just that it was somewhere far away.  Through the years his name surfaced every so often.  After my wife and I got married we attended a Revival meeting that Raymond was preaching at a little town here in MO called Olean.  I found out that even though we had grown up many miles apart we both new Raymond, he had preached at a little country church where her Grandma attended.  About 5 years ago, I was just beginning a new ministry with Capital West Church and Raymond and Therma showed up one Sunday morning.  Raymond had retired from preaching and they were looking for a church to worship with.  The next 4 years we had the privilege of getting to know Raymond and Therma on a more personal level. What a blessing it was.  Then when Raymond got sick the first time and with the price of gas it was easier more cost effective for them to worship with the Church in Fulton where they lived.  We missed them but know that God worked through them in the Callaway Church just as he had at CWCC.  Raymond was the organizer, I probably drove him crazy with my more, how should I say it, Less than organized ways.  One thing that can be said about Raymond was his tremendous faith in a powerful God and his determination for the truth of the Gospel.  He will long be remembered in my heart as a tremendous Soldier of the Lord.  Blessed are those who die in the Lord.  Thanks Raymond, see you on the other side.