What an amazing weekend!! What a good series of messages we have just finished up!! 'ESH....on fire for God. Jon did such a good job with helping us all see the effects of 'ESH in our lives, and if your were at the baptism service by the lake Sunday afternoon, you got to see those effects. The results of a series ending with a message on baptism, followed up by a message describing what can be accomplished if we do our "section of the wall" that we have been entrusted with, hit so close to home this weekend. I sat in the services this weekend, and was constantly reminded that there is a section of the wall of HRCC that I am responsible for. I have been stationed by God at this part of the wall for His purpose. Sometimes I forget where I am suppose to stand; what I am suppose to do; what the wall looks like. This weekend......I saw the wall. I know what it looks like......it looks like you; the people of HRCC. I know now what I am suppose to do....I am suppose to build you up with encouragement, thanksgiving, and love. I need to stand on both sides of the wall. On one side to support you, and on the other side to defend and protect you.
All this became so clear Sunday afternoon as I was out in the water waiting for the baptisms to start. From my vantage point, I got to see each person that was preparing to come into the lake to be baptised; each family member, and close friend trying to get in position for that special photo taking opportunity; each church member moving around to see the newest additions to God's family; people scrambling for a closer look;......and then.....I realized the size of this wall, and it is big.....and getting bigger; and I start to feel smaller in comparison......"Who am I?" "God, are You sure?" "Is this really happening?" "I don't think I am capable.." "This wall is big!" Then, God sends out a young boy.....Hunter. He has decided that he wants to be baptised.... today. So, I talk to him; ask him why he wants to be baptised, which he answered with much assurance; we say the sinner's prayer, and he is baptised.
Hunter was God's reminder to me that I am not working on my section of the wall alone. There are other laborers doing God's work. Some are parents; some are grandparents; co-workers; close friends; neighbors; laborers that give their whole heart to building this wall we call High Rock Community Church. And because of the hard work, prayers, and sacrifices of everyone at HRCC, we had an afternoon where we experienced God's victory. It was great.
So, now on to the next section of the wall. See ya' there.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Pastors luncheon
Almost every Monday, I receive a reminder, by e-mail, of a weekly pastors luncheon. I am informed of the time and the location for the luncheon, and am encouraged to come and be a part of this time with fellow pastors. As you can probably guess, sometimes I look forward to this luncheon, sometimes I don't (sorry, but I'm just being honest). I have been in church for a long time, and I have made friends with a lot of pastors through the years, and when I hear them talk about going to a pastors luncheon, it's all the same......all they do is complain. "The people aren't responding"; "I feel so drained from working so hard"; "I don't believe they care about me at all"; and the list goes on. I guess you can see my reason for not always looking forward to a luncheon with pastors. Don't get me wrong; these guys are friends, and partners in the ministry of sharing the love of Christ, but can't we have some fun at luncheons; like this past Tuesday.
I thought that there was a good turn out this week for the luncheon, and everyone seemed to be in a very good mood. Not the usual, "Man, I had a tough weekend". There was so much conversation going on, and laughing, that I just took a moment to listen and try to decipher what all was being said. Here's a sample......"I couldn't believe what I saw on a billboard about your church. I had to turn around and read it again." "..and at the end of the service, five people gave their lives to the Lord." "I saw 700 people come to the Lord while on my trip to Africa." "He was a 94 year old preacher that remembered when he would place a pistol on the pulpit beside his Bible before he preached." "If someone came into our church and tried to steal the offering, 15 people would be injured in the cross-fire." "When I shared the story of Ray and Que to the inmates on Thursday night, they stood and applauded." And it continued for the whole meal. I enjoyed every minute of it. These pastors.....these men were having a wonderful time sharing stories all across the length of the table, and laughing so loud that I am sure everyone else in the restaurant knew we were there. And when we left.....each one of us left.......encouraged, and ready to face whatever may lay ahead for us, because we know that we are not alone. There are others.....just like us.
Hey Ronnie, shouldn't your blogs be more, how should say this....biblically based? I thought it was.....Ephesians 4:29, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
I thought that there was a good turn out this week for the luncheon, and everyone seemed to be in a very good mood. Not the usual, "Man, I had a tough weekend". There was so much conversation going on, and laughing, that I just took a moment to listen and try to decipher what all was being said. Here's a sample......"I couldn't believe what I saw on a billboard about your church. I had to turn around and read it again." "..and at the end of the service, five people gave their lives to the Lord." "I saw 700 people come to the Lord while on my trip to Africa." "He was a 94 year old preacher that remembered when he would place a pistol on the pulpit beside his Bible before he preached." "If someone came into our church and tried to steal the offering, 15 people would be injured in the cross-fire." "When I shared the story of Ray and Que to the inmates on Thursday night, they stood and applauded." And it continued for the whole meal. I enjoyed every minute of it. These pastors.....these men were having a wonderful time sharing stories all across the length of the table, and laughing so loud that I am sure everyone else in the restaurant knew we were there. And when we left.....each one of us left.......encouraged, and ready to face whatever may lay ahead for us, because we know that we are not alone. There are others.....just like us.
Hey Ronnie, shouldn't your blogs be more, how should say this....biblically based? I thought it was.....Ephesians 4:29, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
Friday, July 4, 2008
Noise is life
This has been a very busy week at HRCC. Not only are we preparing the services for the coming weekend at 3 campuses, but here at the Salisbury Campus, we are preparing for the 4 year anniversary of High Rock Community Church. There have been phone calls to companies to line up the inflatable games for children (and some adults), tents and staging for the music, tables and chairs; phone calls to individuals in the church family to set up volunteer times for serving during the event; e-mails and faxes to confirm even the smallest details. And with everything that was going on, and everything that was discussed in staff meetings; something was missing. I couldn't get it out of my mind. Something was missing. I thought about it for a few days, and still couldn't figure it out.
This is the fourth year since this church was launched, and we have had a celebration each year. The church family comes together and we just have fun. We invite friends to come and have fun with us. We eat, play, laugh, sing, sweat, and serve at about 100 mph, and we don't even think about how worn out we get until a few days later......when we can just sit and relax in the quiet.
Quiet?........THAT'S IT! You can't appreciate quiet until you have experienced the noise. The whole time that we celebrate, there is a noise. It gradually gets louder as more and more of us show up for the celebration. And this is not an irritating noise. This noise is life. This noise is love. The love that we as believers share with an Almighty God; the love that we share with each other; the love that explodes when we come together to celebrate what God has been doing so far at High Rock Community Church.
Noise was the "something" that was missing this week. That's what I was missing....the noise.....life. And it showed up Thursday. There was noise happening Thursday at the church. Phones were ringing; volunteers were working and laughing; children were playing and having a great time; people were dropping by the church with supplies and questions about where they could help out this weekend; errands were being run at the last minute; excitement was building; "What have we forgotten?" questions were being asked. Noise......Life.....Love. Now it was beginning to feel like an HRCC anniversary event. Now we have noise. Now we have life. Now we have love.
There will be people that will be very tired after this weekend, and they will long for that recliner under the ceiling fan, and some quiet. Me?.........I'll take the noise......any day.
This is the fourth year since this church was launched, and we have had a celebration each year. The church family comes together and we just have fun. We invite friends to come and have fun with us. We eat, play, laugh, sing, sweat, and serve at about 100 mph, and we don't even think about how worn out we get until a few days later......when we can just sit and relax in the quiet.
Quiet?........THAT'S IT! You can't appreciate quiet until you have experienced the noise. The whole time that we celebrate, there is a noise. It gradually gets louder as more and more of us show up for the celebration. And this is not an irritating noise. This noise is life. This noise is love. The love that we as believers share with an Almighty God; the love that we share with each other; the love that explodes when we come together to celebrate what God has been doing so far at High Rock Community Church.
Noise was the "something" that was missing this week. That's what I was missing....the noise.....life. And it showed up Thursday. There was noise happening Thursday at the church. Phones were ringing; volunteers were working and laughing; children were playing and having a great time; people were dropping by the church with supplies and questions about where they could help out this weekend; errands were being run at the last minute; excitement was building; "What have we forgotten?" questions were being asked. Noise......Life.....Love. Now it was beginning to feel like an HRCC anniversary event. Now we have noise. Now we have life. Now we have love.
There will be people that will be very tired after this weekend, and they will long for that recliner under the ceiling fan, and some quiet. Me?.........I'll take the noise......any day.
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