A Word from Pastor Phil

August 2008

Hello Lighthouse Family,

This month started out well, Pastor Mike Mau from Benicia Fellowship spoke here at Lighthouse and I spoke at Benicia Fellowship.  We wanted to demonstrate to our community that the power of God is not limited to just one congregation.  The following Sunday we were blessed with the music ministry of Dan and Carol Fryer. Dan and Carol travel around the United States ministering in song the wonderful works of Jesus.  Then on July 30^th I received a call from Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco, the voice on the other end gave me news that would change my life forever.  My father who had been suffering with discomfort in his stomach for the past two days had coded twice during the night while in the hospital, that word coded I came to find out later meant his heart had stopped beating.  The doctor informed me that I needed to come to the hospital at once because my dad’s condition was grim.  As my family gathered at the hospital, we entered the ICU waiting room where my niece and cousin sat there with a look on their faces that told me my father was not doing well.  I made my way into the room where my dad lay unresponsive, the doctor walked in and informed me that my father was dying and he only had a short time to live.  I do not have the words to describe to you what those words did to me.  I couldn’t understand why my dad who had been through WW II and lived through the racial oppression of the south during the 20’s and 30’s and had raised three sons was dying right before my eyes.  As we stood by his bedside watching the numbers on the monitor steadily spiral downward, we had to face the fact that dad was leaving us to be with Jesus and that we would not enjoy his company until Christ returns.   Even though I understand about the cycle of life, it was difficult to see my dad leave.

I know that I will see him again because the Bible gives me hope but the pain that I feel is so deep only the grace of God keeps me going.  Without God’s grace, this pain would be unbearable.  Nevertheless, thanks be to God who gives us His peace that passes all understanding.  Praise The Lord!!!!

  Please keep my family in your prayers and remember that no matter what you go through God has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.