It's all gone quiet again....

I know, I know - the title of the last post was just asking for trouble, wasn't it....

I guess that's the trouble with blogging; what do you say when there is nothing to say? Not that there is nothing that could be said; but when there is not much to report in terms of developments.

Sue duly went for her scan last week. She had to be there at 9am, to drink some liquid over the course of an hour; she was called about 9:50, and got back to me about half an hour later. We had to wait for five/ten minutes before the nurse came to take the blood-test thing (a cannular, I believe) out of her arm - but then we were free to make our way to a local church for the funeral of a dear friend who died of cancer just a few days ago.

I had known him for around 30 years; he was a dear brother, whom my friend Jonathan called "A "Mr Valiant-for-Truth" in modern day Cheltenham". A godly and gracious man, with a special sense of humour, he had a love for the various small local assemblies, and in former years was often out preaching the gospel and seeking to encourage the friends who meet together in these small fellowships around the Cotswolds. He was also a great encouragement to me over the years, and we enjoyed many sweet times of fellowship at church or in homes or (his great love) out walking in the hills.

The service itself was good - not much about Eric, more about what it means to be a Christian, and about Christian hope and comfort. Eric had of course wanted (and planned it) that way. The service sheet called it "A service of worship and thanksgiving"; and it was.

As regards the future, Sue and I have often thought that one of the signs of getting old is that you have an increasing number of friends who have "gone on before to glory". In the words of William Williams

"I have a yearning for that land,
Where the un-numbered throng
Extol the Lamb of Calvary
In Heaven's unending song"

Or as Stuart Townend puts it

"I long to be where the praise is never-ending,
Yearn to dwell where the glory never fades;
Where countless worshippers will share one song,
And cries of "Worthy!" will honour the Lamb"

Or the Apostle Paul who "had a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better..."

Certainly we have a good number now who await us rejoicing in the immediate presence of the Lord (Ps 16:11). Yet how sad it is that we do not live in the light of the prospect - better, the certainty! - that awaits us. We ought to be pressing on far more than we do, "looking for and hasting unto the day of God", and living each day in the light of THAT day. And yet that longing should be focused, not on the prospect of joining those we love, nor starting to enjoy what they now do - but to be with the One Who has loved us from before the foundation of the world. To quote Stuart Townend again

"Then one day I'll see Him as He sees me,
Face to face, the Lover and the loved;
No more words, the longing will be over,
There with my precious Jesus"