Preaching In The Public Square...Continued from page 2

Our paths crossed less frequently the older he got ?

But one thing remained whenever I saw him or heard about him ? Gentle strength.
            Matt simply was a good person . . .

And we gather here ? saying good bye
and we are full of questions ? deep, pondering questions ?
            Where is God in this tragedy?
            What is God up to?
            Why did this happen?

In the OT ? the  Psalmist David once cried out his questions:
            How long O Lord?  Will you forget me forever?
            How long will you hide your face from me? (Ps. 13)

We too cry out ?
            God where are you?
            Have you forgotten me?
            How could this happen?

On days like this we stare into the face of evil
            The storm cloud churns in our lives
            Evil, darkness is given a face, a name
            And we are enraged and sad
            And we wonder ?

We gather here ? in sadness and in turmoil . . . but also in hope.
            Matt had a faith in God expressed through Jesus Christ
            And that gave Matt's life a perspective ?
            ·        broader than the routines of life
            ·        stronger than bumps of life
            ·        and victorious even in the darkest of storms of life ? for this is a hope that extends beyond the grave.

Matt clung to, and lived out this faith ?
            A faith that says death does not have the last word and evil does not win
            A faith that says God has the ultimate victory
            God is the one who creates a news future, a new bright day where there is no death or sorrow or crying or pain,
            for the old world and its evils are gone forever
            God makes all things new