Praise the Lord! We started and ended the service with baptism, but in between Pastor Dustin Clegg walked us through John 11:1-16 as we continued with the series, Who is Jesus?.  He began with a question.... Are you okay with a Savior who will allow your body, mind, finances, etc. to suffer so that He can heal your soul? .... and then shared four observations from the text.
(1) When making a request of Jesus start with who He is. (John 11:3);
(2) The love of Jesus & the suffering in our world are not always at odds. (John 11:5-6);
(3) When following Jesus, nothing can happen TO us. It can only happen FOR us. (John 11:8-10); and
(4) Death is completely powerless in the presence Jesus.
How do we apply this?
(1) Trust like Thomas even if you don't understand. (John 11:16); and
(2) Remind those of us in our grief & suffering that it is for our good.