Southwest Church of Christ

Wandering Reverend, back in action!

I have been very sporadic in the last few weeks and for that, I am sorry. It's been a wild ride but I'm praying that all the craziness is going to be over soon and we can get back to our regularly scheduled program.

As some of you may know, my step-dad, Bob Rummer, passed away on Friday. It came rather suddenly and took us by surprise. Yes, he was in the hospital for about 3 weeks because of a brain aneurysm but the whole time he was in there, they kept telling us that he was going to get better but that it would just take lots of time. Sadly, that all came crashing down early Friday morning when they found out that he had another aneurysm.

With that, it was only the machines at that point that were keeping him alive. So we made the very easy but very horrible decision to pull them all off of him. Easy because he would have never wanted to be kept alive that way and horrible because, well, there's your dad there and your telling them that it's over. . .

I was in the room when he passed and I have to tell you, you never ever want to be there for that. But my mom, of course, wouldn't have been anywhere else and I had to be there for her. I'm not an overly emotional person, or one to have nightmares, but I'd be lying if I said that moment hadn't run through my head a few times. It was so bizarre, so unreal.

So this Sunday, instead of going somewhere different, I went to church with my mom and family to Southwest Church of Christ, in Barberton. This is the church that I initially left to go a'wanderin'.

This isn't going to be regular review because I know Southwest very well. I could tell you all the things that are great there and then run right down to all the things that I think aren't so great. I mean, I did leave for a reason!

But instead of waxing poetically about all the things I think are wrong or that I don't like, I'd like to focus on the good. Bob loved that church and I think I'd be doing a disservice to his memory by doing anything else.

In fact, I'd like to focus on one good thing. The thing that Southwest has always succeeded at and done a stellar of job at. That one thing is people.

The moment that we found out Bob was in the hospital, the outpouring began. People came to the hospital, called and offered food, sent cards. You name it, we got it. And it's not that cheesey, "I'm just saying it because it's nice but I wouldn't really do it" attitude. I have seen it in action, these people are giving.

There are church plant programs and kits that you can buy to "jump start" your church and to get it moving. But without people, people that care about the Lord and about spreading his message of love and salvation, you've got nothing. Churches die because people stop caring. Southwest, despite its issues, has continued on because of this rock solid foundation that is loving, Christian, people.

Well, it's going to be rough for the next couple of days. Calling hours tonight and a memorial service tomorrow. If you could keep my mom in your prayers, I'd appreciate it.

Much love,

Rev.