a pastor’s last message…


For those who don’t already know, just about a week ago Kyle Lakes, the pastor of where musician David Crowder leads worship in
Waco, TX, was electrocuted during a service when he reached out to
adjust a microphone while standing in a baptism pool in front of his
congregation of 800.  Doctor’s in the congregation who witnessed
the fatality tried to revive him, but unfortunately the intense trauma
to his heart was too severe and he passed away shortly afterwards. 
“At first, there was definitely confusion just because everyone was
trying to figure out what was going on,” said the church’s community
pastor, “..everyone just immediately started praying.” 


His funeral was this past Tuesday and those in attendance filled the
sanctuary of FBC, Waco to a standing room only, even filling even an
overflow room with a TV.  While it’s been a very pressing time for
everyone who witnessed the tragedy, it’s his unpreached sermon,
unformatted and unedited taken from the notes of his service, that left a lasting impression on everyone:

Live. And Live Well.
BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now.
On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun.
If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE.
Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time.
If you bike, pedal HARD… and if you crash then crash well.
Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done—a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed.
If
you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old’s nose, don’t be disgusted
if the Kleenex didn’t catch it all… because soon he’ll be wiping his
own.
If you’ve recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And Grieve well.
At
the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you’re eating and laughing
at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke. And if you
eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on
the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. And TASTE.
Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste
every ounce of Life. Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift.

Please keep his wife and three children, who also witnessed the tragedy, in prayer.  Thanks.

16 thoughts on “”

  1. Anonymous says:

    Hey there Erik, Yea I had a friend call me about that service. sad thing that it happened. But what a witness for Christ that man was. What will be doing when we get the call. and what will people say later? After I go , when i go, I want everyone to have a great big BBQ  partyand say, Poor God , now he has to listen to all of rex’s jokes. and have fun time…

     Thanks for being there ay HA for the reunion. you mean so much , to so many. I would love to read or help you if you need any with the book.  have a great week bro.   rex

    remember to pray ALL ways..

  3. Thank you for posting this, that unpreached sermon is amazing.  I heard a lot about this pastor and several people here in Houston that I know have gone to his church and knew him well, it’s so sad. His family is in my prayers. How are things going with your family?

  15. erik i cant believe some of the things that happen.
    so i was just talking to a “good old friend” 🙂
    about why some things happen and how its so easy to say that its Gods perfect willl
    (when the tragedies dont include you as an immediate member).
    my sister married a wonderful man of God who – premarriage-
    got hit by a car on his bike and now is still left in a wheelchair.
    i say this only because i wonder what it does to people
    when they dont see how God is working.
    like this mans family and church.
    can you see God from a far… i wonder what the family sees upclose?
    BUT i am reminded of when i was leaving h.a.
    i couldnt see God but i could sure feel his peace!
    thank you for always being such a wonderful encouragine brother in the Lord.
    like many of those comments say – you mean a lot to many people!
    p.s you have a wise momma! 🙂
    take care…………………………..

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