We are getting Cowboy "Churches" every where in Texas. They advertise that you can even wear your cowboy hat in the service. Really? I have a Stetson, as a matter of fact, I have two of them, but I do not wear one in the house or in the church building. My mama taught me not to. She said it is "ill-mannered." If we are going to have a cowboy church, we might as well have a cowgirl church, or a farmers' church, or a doctor's church, or a  nurse's church, or a swimmer's church or a football church - oops, they already have one over in Arlington, and they wear helmets with a blue star. I think you get my point. It is hard to imagine a church with only plumbers or car salesmen. Henry Ford Memorial? The idea of having a church for a specific group of people is not a biblical concept. God did not allow the first church at Jerusalem to remain Jewish for very long. He sent Peter to preach Christ to the household of Cornelius and Paul to Antioch to bring Gentiles into the membership. In numerous passages in the epistles, there are references to great diversity in the church. Paul said every one of us cannot be ears or any other particular body part. God has given us many different talents and personalities for the building up of the Body of Christ. I was amazed at the multiformity of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London (Spurgeon's Church) and it is one of the most successful congregations in the world. Christ told us to preach the Gospel to every creature, not just a certain segment of society.     

I just saw two young girls on Larry's Country Diner singing a song written by Rhonda Vincent, called: "Homecoming." Here are the words.
There'll be a homecoming some morning
When Jesus calls us away
I'll see mother and daddy
Lord I am ready
For Heaven's homecoming day
Precious ones have gone on before
Our Lord waits for no man
Salvation will gain us a ticket
To see them and a place in God's final plan
There'll be a homecoming some morning
When Jesus calls us away
I'll see mother and daddy
Lord I am ready
For Heaven's homecoming day 
He will come like a theif in the night
To take us to Heaven on high
There we'll gather once more
With those we adore
In a place where we never shall die
There'll be a homecoming some morning
When Jesus calls us away
I'll see mother and daddy
Lord I am ready
For Heaven's homecoming day
There'll be a homecoming some morning
When Jesus calls us away
I'll see mother and daddy
Lord I am ready
For Heaven's homecoming day

The song was especially harmonious to me, because I have been praying every day for thirty-eight months, since my only daughter was called to heaven, for Jesus to come and reunite us.  On the 20th day of every month, the day she left us, for thirty-eight months, I have experienced a renewed sense of sorrow that she is no longer with us. Sometimes I do not know what is wrong until I realize what day it is. There is nothing on earth equal to the pain of losing a child, and there is no comfort adequate for the loss. Yes, I have read all of the Bible passages having to do with our hope of heaven. I know the power of His promises. But it does not remove the big void in my heart. I can say that I desperately want to see Jesus and to be with my beloved once again. I can also say that God has taught me the meaning of the words of His Apostle in Colossians 3:2: "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." I have learned, albeit in a limited way, the power of the resurrection of Chirst, because therein lies the hope of every believer. The very gospel is "how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." That is our faith. That is our hope. That is our joy. One day He will fulfill all things by coming for us and reuniting us with those who have gone on before. God hasten the day of that great homecoming when we all meet on the other side.

This has been a week of soul-searching with the passing of my Dad. Living to be 95, as he did and being in pain for several months, it was not difficult to see him go to be with the Lord. I have pastored churches for many years now, trying to win the lost, comfort the sick and have conducted dozens, maybe hundreds of funerals. But it is an entirely different experience when I am part of the family being comforted. I feel an enormous amount of gratitude for the outpouring of support from family members and Christian brothers. God has called the church to do exactly what happened to my family this week. It is difficult to express the appreciation I feel for the prayers and generosity of many, many people. It is tremendously encouraging and helps me look to the Holy Spirit for strength to do what I can to help others.