June 26, 2026, 5:00 PM
Greetings in Christ! I pray you are enjoying a good week so far.
It's been a crazy one for me.
Kelly and the rest of my family left earlier this week for our family vacation in Florida. I stayed behind to be with my Dad, who was having some major health issues over the past two weeks.
Dad passed peacefully on Wednesday, June 24th, around noon at Pine Meadows Post Acute (his nursing home here in Lexington).
Early this morning (Friday, June 26th), I flew down to Florida to join the rest of my family on vacation.
I missed a few days of vacation, but I am so thankful I stayed home to be with my Dad. It was special to have that time together with my Dad. I was able to be right beside him, holding his hand and talking to him about growing up with him as my dad and other good times as he passed from this life into eternity! I will NEVER forget those moments and the WORDS I (the son) was able to share with my father!
Words are important. Words have POWER!
After all, God SPOKE creation into existence. Genesis 1:3 tells us that God said, "Let there be light," and there was light!
The Bible also tells us there is the power of LIFE and DEATH in our words.
Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
The New Testament is clear: there is one name with incredible POWER. That name is Jesus. We can do amazing things "in the name of Jesus."
Religious authorities were questioning Peter and John for healing someone in Acts 4.
I love what Peter (filled with the Holy Spirit) says in Acts 4:8-12: "Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead -- by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved."
Lord, I pray that You would allow the Holy Spirit to give us all the same courage that Peter and John had so that we can proclaim Jesus, no matter the cost and whatever the opposition. Let us also understand the brevity of life and how important it is for us to "say what needs saying" to people we love before it's too late!
As I mentioned earlier, I will not be at First Christian Church this coming Sunday, June 28th.
In my place, Brother Wally Rendel will be preaching for us. Wally has been faithfully preaching the gospel for over 60 years now! A majority of his time has been spent working with churches in Florence, Lexington, and Nicholasville, KY.
Over the years, Wally has spoken many words of wisdom into my life (and the lives of many others). One of the things I fondly remember Brother Wally saying has to do with finding contentment and stopping the constant search for "greener pastures." Wally quotes an old line that goes like this: "There is no place -- Like this place -- Anywhere near this place -- So this must be the place."
I pray FCC will be "your place" this coming Sunday to hear a wonderful servant of Christ share a message entitled "The Power of Pain."
Lord willing, I'll see you again soon. May God bless!
In Him,
Greg Herriford
