This Sunday, we're well into the series "The Time of Trouble."   Due to travel and surgery, I haven't been in the pulpit for the last four Sundays, so first, I want to thank Dave & Frank (and Nick Batzig) for stepping up and preaching faithfully.  I'm in the enviable position of not having to worry when I'm away or unable to preach, since I know that the church is in good hands and God's Word will go forth with or without me.

So it's back to my turn this Sunday and we'll be in Ruth 1 and looking at "The Time of Grief."  Grief is one of those parts of our life that are common to all people.  Sooner or later, everyone has to grieve, and everyone has to suffer alongside others in their grief.  Since it's part and parcel of ordinary life, why then is it so hard?  There are few things that knock you down or hit as hard as facing death.  The noted counselor, Paul David Tripp, says, "Death is so deeply emotional and stunningly final that there is nothing you can do ahead of time to sail through your moment of loss."

So why look at the Book of Ruth?  This will be the third time I've preached from Ruth 1 at Potomac Hills and all three sermons are dramatically different.  One thing this teaches us is that there's a depth to this passage that's hard to fully explore in one sitting.  John Piper writes that "The Book of Ruth was written to help us see the signposts of grace in our lives – the ones that are visible.  It also was written to help us trust God’s grace when the clouds are so thick that we can't see the road, let alone the signs on the side.  Again and again in this book, God is at work in the setbacks of Naomi and Ruth."

So we're going to wade into these deep waters of facing grief, see what the Scriptures have to teach us, and explore what we learn of God "when the clouds are so thick that we can't see."  And that will serve to encourage and strengthen us to keep going.  It's going to be interesting.  And since several of you are hoping I'll make you cry, I'll see what I can do.  See you Sunday, Dr. Dave

P.S. - Don't forget about our Memorial Day picnic this Sunday afternoon.  We'll keep an eye on the weather (there's rain in the forecast) and let you know if there's any change in plans along the way.