Updated (08/11) : Kyle Lake

I heard about the death of emergent leader and baptist pastor Kyle Lake and felt like I had to write something if not only to give you some links to help you join in mourning his loss, celebrating his life and supporting his family. Things like this shake me, even when there people we dont know, young people, full of gifts, with a whole family dying, it brings us back to "Who can know the mind of God" and in that place, when we know his presence there is a freedom that comes from our revelation of his love for us, and we stop asking why and have to say Thankyou....(UPDATE2: Relevant has just published an article around Kyles Death and this subject http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life_article.php?id=7058) Personally though he is only somebody I know of, from reading things of his life and passing I feel really saddened by this tragic accident but also led to celebrate his life: This was the release on the UBC Home Page "This morning, Sunday October 30th, our pastor Kyle Lake was involved in an accident during a baptism and was transported by EMS to a nearby hospital. Kyle Lake passed away around 11:30am. Not only did we lose a pastor but we've lost our friend. " Here is the Story of how Kyle died as told by Baptist Press http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=21976 Here is the MP3/Podcast from his funeral http://www.ubcwaco.org/2004/KyleLakeFuneral64.mp3 Here is an excerpt from Kyles last sermon a friend emailed me Live. And Live Well.BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now.On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun.If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE.Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time.If you bike, pedal HARD… and if you crash then crash well.Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done—a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed.If you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old’s nose, don’t be disgusted if the Kleenex didn’t catch it all… because soon he’ll be wiping his own.If you’ve recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And Grieve well.At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you’re eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke. And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life. Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift. http://www.ubcwaco.org/2004/sermonexcerpt.html This was taken from the DCB Websites article ''Death is swallowed up in victory...We Win!'' http://www.davidcrowderband.com/news/articles.php3?id=000178 Many of you have inquired about ways to help. Currently, there are two main ways that the family has advocated: a) Donations to a fund that is currently being established as a memorial for Kyle. The Memorial fund is a scholarship fund for the children and to provide for family needs. We are able to take contributions to this immediately. Please make your check payable to University Baptist Church, and on the “Memo” line note: “Kyle Lake Memorial.” b) Donations to University Baptist Church directly, which may be made through the PayPal link at the bottom of this page or as a check to 1701 Dutton Ave., Waco, TX 76706 (all mail will be forwarded to a business PO Box that is being obtained).More than anything, we truly covet your prayers during these trying times. We’ve lost an amazing leader and we’re relying on support from both within and outside of the UBC community as we try to move forward. UPDATE1: This really great interview I just found on the Leadership Blog I think really clearly displays Kyles Character: http://leadershipblog.blogspot.com/2005/10/leadership-blog-interview-kyle-lake.html Keep up to date with things on http://www.ubcwaco.org/kyle/