I wish I’d been in Portland, Oregon, yesterday. A few hundred people gathered there to remember a man who has impacted thousands. Since I couldn’t go, I’m holding a service on my blog. If you knew Bob Stricker, pull up a chair and swap your own stories. If you didn’t know him, well, I’m sorry for you. He was a pastor, leader, father, and friend all wrapped in a package of common sense and clear thinking.

Here is one of the stories that sums Bob up in my mind:

Back in the nineties, our pastor took Bob to visit a struggling young preacher two hours away from our church. After introductions, the preacher poured out his heart and soul to Bob. I don’t remember the details, but basically it was the stuff of a bad country song with church wars in the chorus.

When the preacher finished, he leaned forward waiting for Bob’s sage advice. Bob nodded. In his deep drawl he said, “Well, I’m going to take a nap now.” He promptly folded his hands, closed his eyes, and began to snore.

The other two men were speechless. They just sat in the living room and watched Bob sleep for about twenty minutes. Then, suddenly, he opened his eyes, cleared his throat and said. “Okay, here is what I think about all that…”

I don’t know what Bob said that day, but I am sure it included his famous advice to “Just believe God and it will be all right.”

Bob helped plant churches, build Bible colleges, strengthen leaders, and advance the Kingdom. So, why do I still remember him for this nap? Because it proves Bob’s point. If you believe God, you really can have peace.

Another thing Bob liked to tell us was, “If you want to see how much you’ll be missed when you are gone, stick your finger in a bucket of water and then pull it back out again.”

It was a good lesson in humility. But, in this case, I don’t think it’s true. Yesterday we said farewell to Bob Stricker on this side of the veil. And today there’s a hole in our bucket.