Tom Pound

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam, 
Though the mountains tremble with its tumult. 
Be still, and know that I am God! 
Psalms 46:1-3, 10a [NRSV]


I want to thank each of you for your texts, calls, and messages of support for my family during this difficult time.  My Dad has been my hero, my biggest fan, strongest support and the one that believed in me beyond what most would even imagine.  I am the man, the father, the husband, the brother, the son, the pastor, the church planter and the follower of Jesus that I am because of my Dad.  I got to share that with him on Friday night before they intubated him and while I spoke with him- I asked him to squeeze my hand if he understood.  He began to squeeze with every ounce of strength in his body.  I’ll never forget it.  I am thankful for that moment.  


Here is a few things I would ask of you as you think of us this week and something I shared in another post a few years ago when thinking about how fragile our life is:


 1.  Pray. Pray for my dad, my mom and my family.  Pray that we can all experience the peace that “transcends all understanding” as Paul writes about in his letter to the Philippian Church.  Pray that we can find joy in the memories but that we can also have hope in the future.  


2. Love your loved ones.  Cherish the opportunities that God gives you.  Don’t take them for granted.  Put away the distractions and tell them you love them and show it with the most precious commodity you have- your time.  


My Dad was always writing 500 word texts of encouragement to me.  It could be 4am but he would write me something to remind me of the power of God and the work that he was doing in my life.  I sometimes took those messages for granted - Not anymore.  


3.  Be thankful.  I thank God so much for the moments I have with my girls.  I am thankful for God putting them in my life and for every experience we have had together.  I am thankful for my Dad!  If it wasn’t for his impact on my life, my relationship with my daughters would not be what it is.  My Dad reminds me that my ministry to my family is the most important thing. 


4.  Live like life matters.  Don’t waste your time.  My dad had this really weird ungrammatical (probably Belizean) saying, “What is life all about…work & dead?” 

Translation: Seriously, you are going to work 50 years, retire for 15 years, and then die?  What’s the point???  Live like life matters and don’t take life for granted.  


5.  Trust God.  I opened this post with the words of Psalm 46 which are the words that I began a memorial service with a few years ago.  A reminder that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains tremble with its tumult…  Be still and know that I am God. 

My Dad’s life verse is Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”


Thank you for praying for my family during this difficult time.  

Pastor Treavor, Misty, Emily and Macey
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My Dad at our very first Vision Meeting for Renew church in June 2016

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