A group of us attended a memorial service this morning for Paul Gilliland, a friend and former colleague, who died suddenly on Sunday. Today, the sanctuary of Paul's church home, 1st Presbyterian, was full with people and overflowing with support for Paul's family.
It was a powerful and moving worship service that focused on salvation and the selfless work Paul did in response to his own salvation, which I believe he is enjoying at this moment.
His pastor told us that one of Paul's favorite Psalms was 139:
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.17 How precious to [b] me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Amen. Beth and Allison, we will keep you in our prayers.
