Let Us Now Praise Worthy Men

Burt Lange was a fellow pastor in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and yesterday, Burt passed away leaving this world much poorer in his wake. His humor, his incredible giftedness at the piano, his obvious love for his God and his family, and his ability to richly and wisely handle the Word of God as a preacher were a small sample of the depths of soul this man had.

His expertise on the piano for which he was always self-effacing was jaw dropping. He would sit at any piano and make it his and would draw a melody from it that only a true maestro could render. His art was so powerful he could make you laugh or cry or reminisce or lose you in just plain awe. And these are not superlatives. When the man put his hands on a keyboard, magic happened. Not magick with a 'k', but the real stuff that eschews power and reaches past the skeptical mind to the heart where we as children always remembered what true wonder was.

He always had a good word for everybody and I will very much miss him.

I know the Music of Heaven is sweet. It is now slightly sweeter.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the passing of His faithful servants."