Faith, family and friends. That’s all that really matters.

One of the messages I shared a lot this last week, after the shock of Junior Seau’s death, is this. Reach out. Simple, but essential. Extend a hand of love to the people around you. Touch someone, and you’ll probably touch someone who’s hurting.

Life is too fast, and we’re always going and doing. But before we know it, it’s over.

Fans attending the Celebration of Life for Junior Seau Friday night, May 11 will hear an all-star lineup share stories and memories of the San Diego sports and community icon.

I received an invitation and I’d like you all to attend.

The lineup includes San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders; former Chargers players Dan Fouts, Rodney Harrison and LaDainian Tomlinson; former Chargers Head Coach Bobby Ross and former Buccaneers and Broncos safety John Lynch (Torrey Pines High).  Another former Chargers player and the Senior Pastor of The Rock Church in San Diego, Miles McPherson, will speak and serve as master of ceremonies.  Shawn Mitchell, Senior Pastor at New Venture Christian Fellowship, will also be part of the program.

The Celebration of Life begins at 6:30 pm Friday on the field at Qualcomm Stadium.  The ceremony is open to the public and parking and admission are free.  The parking lot at Qualcomm Stadium will open at 2 pm and the stadium gates will open at 4:30 pm.  There is no reserve seating and a large crowd is expected, so fans are urged to arrive early and carpool or take the Trolley.  The parking lot could close as early as 5:00 pm.

The Celebration of Life will allow San Diegans to join in a community-wide tribute to their native son who passed away on Wednesday, May 2.  Fans will have the opportunity to leave personal messages for the Seau family on the Plaza Concourse between Gates C and D.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Junior’s honor to the Junior Seau Foundation Friday night at tables located around the Plaza Concourse.  Donations also can be mailed to the Junior Seau Foundation, 5275 Market Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92114. Donations also can be made online at www.juniorseau.org.

God is not fair.

But He is merciful.

Think about it. Have you ever told a lie? Acted selfishly? Given into lust? Been prideful? Cheated? All of us have, of course. We’re all fallen. We’re all imperfect, even just a “little” bit.

The effect for even one of these “little” sins is still eternal separation from God. Compare the sun and a speck of dust. There’s no way the dust mite can maintain its existence in the presence of such an inferno. Psist! That’s a little like what will happen with sin in the presence of the perfect and holy. Creator. Darkness cannot exist in the light.

So you don’t want God to be fair. Not for a second. You want Him to be merciful.

Luckily for us, He is. He proved it when He came to earth in the form of a human being — dying in place of you and me.

If you’ve gotten this far with me and believe what I’m saying, then either you are rejoicing, or you need to get down on your knees and ask God for His mercy. This second.

San Diego County and all of pro sports suffered a terrible blow last week when we heard that Junior Seau had killed himself.

Even though his fame and fortune made my friend Junior appear larger than life, death is a reminder that there IS something larger than life. I invite you to consider what that is, and read my essay on how we can use this tragedy for good, in the San Diego U-T.

Please join me in praying for the Seau family, and for everyone who might be considering suicide as a way to end their pain.

Ever been having a conversation with a friend, laughing, and then another guy walks up? Zip! You shut off all the joking. “Oh hi. How you doing?” Then Friend #1 says “Later” and walks off, leaving you to standing there with Friend #2…

Uhh….

For every two people you know, you have three relationships. You have one relationship with the first person, and another relationship with the second person. And then you have a third relationship when you’re all together.

I want you to imagine cold, hot, and warm. With one person you have a cold relationship. With another you have a “hot” relationship. Then with both of them you have a warm relationship. The way you take any relationship from cold to warm to hot is through good communication.

Obviously, communication is key to hot relationships. Good communication involves not only what you say — it’s also what you do, how you sound, and what you write too. The goal should always be to build and strengthen that bond.

God is the ultimate master of good communication. He’s got every way covered! Think about it. God communicates with His children through the Holy Spirit, through prayer, through the Holy Spirit, through the Bible, through prayer, through our consciences, through flesh-and-blood messengers, through dreams, through visions, and through His creation.

Theologists say God created us in His image — and that includes the ability and desire to communicate. Think how uncool it would be if He created us with that desire, and then refused to communicate with us! That would be cold!

No, His goal is to have a “hot” relationship with you. Go talk with Him about that.