Text: Luke 24:13-35 The wind cut through me while snow flurries dusted my hair and beard. It was the last of a barrage of family burials; first, my father, then a few years later my brother, and now my mother. I stood at the grave with Jennell, Erin, Josh, cousins, and church members from Wilmington, Newport News, and Alexandria. I knew the final graveside prayer by heart, but the only words I heard the pastor say that day were, “the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and

John 21:2-19 (Read John 21:2-3) Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said, 'I'm going fishing.' They replied, 'We'll come with you.' They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night. Despite their great adventure, they are back where it all began, in Galilee. Somehow though, home looks different now. They have spent several incredible years with Jesus.

Colossians 3:12-17 I hate shopping. Maybe that lacks sufficient clarity. I would rather have a tooth canal than spend an afternoon shopping in a mall. I don’t even like to shop on-line, which purports to take all of the pain out of shopping. I have tried. It doesn’t. I also hate those unwinnable family battles that result in me having to go shopping. Over the years, many of those battles have focused on what to wear to church. I will never forget trips to the shoe store, not