GLORIOUS

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;

the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace"

Numbers 6:24-26

 

As a young 20 year-old brand new baby believer, I was told of a great church filled with young people on fire that were Jesus Freaks. This church was called Calvary Chapel. A couple of friends and I figured we should go check it out. We arrived to a packed-out building and sat up front on the floor. When Pastor Chuck stood at the pulpit to teach, I confess I was a little surprised, I wondered how this guy who didn't really look all that hip, could reach all these hippies.

 

When he began to teach the Word of God, my surprise disappeared, it was very clear...this man was anointed by God.

 

So many of us have our Pastor Chuck stories, memories that stir up snapshots in our minds. I can still see him sitting on his office floor with my then three-year old daughter. He had pulled out a box of rocks he collected from Israel and was telling Melissa about David and Goliath....amazing!

 

My most lasting memories and thoughts of gratitude, go clear back to that first Bible study. At that study and countless studies to follow, he taught the Word, as the Word of God, with assurance and confidence, and it stirred in me a lifelong love for God's Word. I feel so blessed to have sat under such Spirit anointed teaching.

 

I am not alone in saying that as a pastor, I have looked to Chuck as my pastor. He was always rock steady, never tossed to and fro. I have taken his solid lead through the winds of Charizmania, and Y2K, through 9-11 and economic woes. His confidence in Jesus' love for the church was contagious.

Anyone who ever saw Pastor Chuck teach, had to know that he was crazy about Jesus. His love for the Lord was reflected in that great smile and those eyes. We are sad, yet we rejoice, for Pastor Chuck is now smiling bigger than ever, for he is beholding his First Love. We love you Pastor Chuck, well done.