Keep the faith

It has been over two weeks since Patricia Kramer's disappearance. No trace of her has been found. I still pray that we will find her alive and well, but some have given up hope, even asking when funeral services should be held. To his credit, John remains optimistic that his wife is still alive. He has come to me often these past two weeks to ask for my prayers. He seems to believe that God took his wife as punishment for his own sins, and he vows to become a better Christian. That is admirable, although I told him that I didn't believe what happened to Patricia is meant as punishment. I just wish I knew what happened, but so do all of us.

The end is not near

Several people in town asked me this past week what I thought of Edward Wilson and Patricia Kramer and whether I believed the end of the world is near. My conclusion, as I told them, is that I believed it was not -- at least not the end times as foretold in the book of Revelations. What's been happening doesn't fit with the Biblical scriptures. However, I have no answers as to what has been happening, only that it is not the end of the world.

More bad news

Word of Patricia Kramer's disappearance is quickly spreading through town. I spent another Sunday sermon addressing recent events, although today, there was as much fear as sadness in the congregation. People are afraid that whatever happened to Edward Wilson and Patricia Kramer will befall them next.

Our sheriff asked me whether I thought what happened to Edward and Patricia were signs of the Biblical end of times. I told him that I did not know. However, I also could not find prophecies in Revelations that resembled what has happened. I would not, however, dismiss Satan as a participant in recent events. Whether this signals the beginning of the final battle between good and evil is still a mystery to me.

A most difficult Sunday

For the first time in a long time, I found it hard to keep my composure during a sermon. I tried to comfort those in attendance, especially the widow of Edward Wilson, Cindy, speaking of the heavenly life that awaits us after our time here on earth. However, the sobbing I heard throughout the congregation broke me down on occasion.

After the service, Cindy Wilson approached me to talk. She asked if I thought that her husband had indeed gone to heaven, and I could honestly answer that I believed he had. She then asked if I thought the end of the world was near, as her husbanded tried to warn before his death. I had no answer to that. I am a mere servant of God and not privy to such plans. If the end was coming, I told her, it would be an honor to fight for the Lord.