A few days ago, I returned home from an amazing trip to my favorite place in the world – the Oregon coast. Why does that area hold such a special place in my heart? Is it the beauty and vastness of the ocean? Maybe, at least in part. Is it the peace and relaxation that comes with staring into the waters and hearing the waves crash onto the shore? Perhaps. But really, what makes the coast so special is the people who travel there to enjoy it with me – my wife and three children. These are the things dreams are made of for this husband and father: our kids’ excitement for the upcoming trip, the quality time we spend together (that seems so hard to do in “real life”), and the lasting memories we make just by hanging out and walking on the beach. I’m so thankful to the Sunrise elders for allowing us to get away and for their understanding of the high priority we should all place on our families.

As I read Ecclesiastes chapter 7 this morning, verses 13 through 15 leaped off the page:

Look at what God has done:

No one can straighten what he has bent.

When life is good, enjoy it.

But when life is hard, remember:

God gives good times and hard times,

and no one knows what tomorrow will bring.

In my useless life I have seen both of these:

I have seen good people die in spite of their goodness

and evil people live a long time in spite of their evil.

Just over a week ago, a great man of God died in spite of his goodness. I won’t pretend to understand why he spent only 57 years on this earth. I can’t comprehend the fact that he left behind a loving family and church that he also loved and served with a genuine passion. However, I do find immense joy in knowing that Dave Adams has entered into glory and heard the words all Christ-followers long to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”