A friend of mine died yesterday, September 12, 2021. But he wasn’t just a friend. He was a guy who taught me (and lots and lots of other people) more of the deep dive information in the Bible. It’s so weird to talk about him in the past tense. Because he had such a powerful presence. And thinking about him moving to his Heavenly home made me remember a Pastor Appreciation Day back in 2010.
On that Pastor Appreciation Day I sang him a song.
But not just any song. Because he wasn’t just any pastor. So, he deserved a song that wouldn’t describe just any pastor. A song that showed appreciation for who he was AND Who he represented.
Because my friend, the pastor, was controversial. To say the least. And if I shared his name, and if you did a search online, you’d find a long list of despicable so-called “news sources” mocking him. Even in death. But, as another friend of mine said, “If the world still hates you when you die, you must’ve done well.”
I have no doubt that, sometime on September 12th, my friend heard words like: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Here are updated lyrics of appreciation for the faithful pastor…
We Appreciate You Doing That
When you chose to serve the Lord,
You didn’t know everything you were in for.
You couldn’t know how long it would last,
Or what your journey through life had in store.
But you didn’t let it stop you.
You found The Way to keep going.
Truth and Life and Persistence…
They’re the seeds you kept sowing.
And we appreciate you doing that.
You didn’t choose the dark, wide path.
You never ran with the “popular people”
Or raise a fortune to build up a church
Made of lies with a high, golden steeple.
But you work to spread the Gospel
And tell the world about Jesus,
And how He’s all that really matters,
And how the world cannot please us.
And we appreciate you doing that.
We know you didn’t prefer the battle.
There must have been times when it got old.
But your life, here, sure made a difference.
You shared His Story as it should be told.
And we appreciate you doing that.
© 2021 Tony Funderburk
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