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My dear friends,

Im writing this at 10:40 pm after getting home from work in a local hospital. My Dad had left a message on the machine. Alf passed away at about midday today. His family and wife, my sister Jill, were with him.



I dare say, the group here will continue praying. The family's grief is also a worthy reason to come before God in prayer... and that reason will continue for some time.

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I am deeply moved by the many expressions of support here. You have collectively shown the kind of loving concern for Alf (and me) that I would equate with a healthy local fellowship. It seems almost irrelevant that I haven't personally met any of you and probably never will. From the bottom of my heart I thank you on behalf of myself and my family. We can only hope and trust our heavenly Father that, in some way we cannot understand, Alf has had every opportunity and then some, because of our seeking the Lord for him in the last 24 hrs, to receive His grace while he could.




I think there is a reason why the church is referred to as the "body of Christ"... because the spirit of Christ and the mind of Christ lives in believers. So, in a way it is not entirely true that you have never met any of us. If you have met Christ, then you have met His body. If God is love (and He is) , and you experience love when believers act in obedience to the leading they receive from the Mind of Christ, then that love does in fact have its origin with God, not with these mortal bodies of flesh that you haven't met.


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Jill is holding up bravely (I called her after speaking briefly to Dad) but for sure some very difficult, challenging times are ahead for her. My wife left our marraige about 20 months ago after nearly 10 years together and I find I still grieve every day for what has been lost. Jill and Alf have had 18 very happy years together.

Again thanks so much to all. I plan to take Pat Marr's advice above and print this thread off when its done, for my own edification and I hope as a morsel of comfort for my sister. God bless you all. And may I say, God bless the forum.

John Shackleton



I am pretty sure it was Wyndham who made that excellent suggestion, not me.

John,
thanks for what has just happened. Encouragement is a two-way street. I would guess that you have managed to set in motion a series of events that has left every participant in a state of heightened appreciation for the power of God, and for the need to love one another during our days on the planet. This is an amazing and wonderful thing that has happened here. I am simply awed by it all.

Romans 11:33
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ey71h8ep047758h/AAC12jNM0Hz9Q8zsh5iDeqNHa?dl=0