Friday, January 18, 2019
Richard Melton made it home ... forever
Richard Melton was going to live to 100 and then meet the Lord in the air when the Lord returned.
It didn't work out that way.
Richard got sick, got worse, and is now seeing the Lord about nineteen years before he planned.
And he is OK with that. In fact, he is thrilled. He is where he spent most of his life wanting to go.
I served as an elder for a long time with Richard and here are few things that made him a great shepherd.
Richard loved/loves Jesus. He was full of joy and excitement to worship and to live every day with anticipation for what God would do.
Great marriage. He and Jane were a great team for the Lord. It was always a shock to Richard to find out every couple was not like he and Jane. He thought that their extraordinary marriage was normal. And I watched his son Paul the past few weeks. Helping manage his Dad's care, taking care of his Mom. Great elders have great families.
Richard knew Scripture. He studied his Bible. Apt to teach. Richard not only knew the Bible but he taught it. One of the few elders I have known who consistently taught a Bible class.
He was a prayer. Kept prayer lists stuck all around his house and vehicle. Only thing weird about his room in ICU was that I didn't see his prayer list.
Richard loved the people on the margins. People who were going thru a hard time. People who life had slapped in the face. He loved people when they weren't always lovable. Lots of elders talk about how we ought to treat people. Richard did it.
Richard had the heart of a shepherd because he knew the real Shepherd.
Richard was a faithful disciple and a true servant.
Well done.
You are home.
And because of you, lots of us will be along shortly and we will celebrate forever.
It didn't work out that way.
Richard got sick, got worse, and is now seeing the Lord about nineteen years before he planned.
And he is OK with that. In fact, he is thrilled. He is where he spent most of his life wanting to go.
I served as an elder for a long time with Richard and here are few things that made him a great shepherd.
Richard loved/loves Jesus. He was full of joy and excitement to worship and to live every day with anticipation for what God would do.
Great marriage. He and Jane were a great team for the Lord. It was always a shock to Richard to find out every couple was not like he and Jane. He thought that their extraordinary marriage was normal. And I watched his son Paul the past few weeks. Helping manage his Dad's care, taking care of his Mom. Great elders have great families.
Richard knew Scripture. He studied his Bible. Apt to teach. Richard not only knew the Bible but he taught it. One of the few elders I have known who consistently taught a Bible class.
He was a prayer. Kept prayer lists stuck all around his house and vehicle. Only thing weird about his room in ICU was that I didn't see his prayer list.
Richard loved the people on the margins. People who were going thru a hard time. People who life had slapped in the face. He loved people when they weren't always lovable. Lots of elders talk about how we ought to treat people. Richard did it.
Richard had the heart of a shepherd because he knew the real Shepherd.
Richard was a faithful disciple and a true servant.
Well done.
You are home.
And because of you, lots of us will be along shortly and we will celebrate forever.
