Sometimes stopping is important. Even for guys! About 10 years ago a friend and I attempted to travel from Columbia, SC to Cleveland, TN to minister to friends who had been in a terrible canoe accident on the Ocoee River. No direct route exists between these two towns. Thinking a trip through the mountains would be quicker and prettier than a side journey through Atlanta, we mapped our way through Hendersonville, Brevard, Highlands and Franklin.
By the time we made our way through Franklin, we realized we were on the wrong road over the mountain. In the days before GPS, we pulled out our map and found the road we thought we were on. Soon, we should be making our way into Tennessee and on into Cleveland. By the time we got the top of the mountain, though, our certainty faded. As we rolled over the top, the asphalt turned into gravel. Not knowing where we were, we figured going forward was better than retracing our steps. When we came down to the bottom of the mountain we faced two options – right or left. We turned right. Soon, we doubted our decision. As we turned around, we finally admitted to ourselves – we’ve got to stop and ask for directions. We stopped at the first farm house and called out to the old mountain man in the front yard.
“Excuse me, sir,” I asked, “do you know what state we’re in?”
“Well, now, son, yer in North Carolina.”
“Oh, well, do you know how to get to Cleveland, TN from here.”
“I don’t reckon, you can get there from here,” he answered, “but you can go down this road and head on into town and maybe you can figure it out from there.” Stopping is important!
Over the next month, we are having several events at First Baptist Church to help us stop and thank God for the ways the Holy Spirit has moved among us this summer. This Sunday, August 22, will be our Pastor Installation Service. This service will celebrate the working of God’s Spirit in the call process we have just completed. At the same time, we will also be challenged to look to the future as we covenant together as pastor and congregation. Special guests from around the country and region will help lead this service and will be in attendance. I hope you will make this worship event a priority.
Next Sunday, August 29 at 6:00 will be a Summer Mission Celebration worship event. We will hear testimonies from youth and children, be inspired by words of hope from Camp Agape and Nicaragua, and see God’s handiwork through MOSAIC. God has been at work at First Baptist this summer as we have touched our community and world through the love, stewardship and passion of our people. I hope you will find the time to be inspired and attend.
Finally, please mark September 12 - October 24 on your calendars and make all efforts to make worship and Bible study a priority. During those days we will enter into a unique experience our church is creating called 40 Days of Prayer: Preparing our Hearts True Home. The goal of this church wide experience will be to have everyone praying. Each Sunday, we’ll introduce a unique type of prayer in Sunday school and worship. During the week, there will be a prayer journal to help you pray each day. For the 40 days, we will also establish prayer triads (think prayer partners with 3 people) who will pray together several times. On Wednesday nights I will lead our adults through corporate prayer experiences in our banquet room. During the 40 days there will also be special prayer events to help us experience different types of prayer. It will be a time of revival and spiritual preparation for God’s future.
Sometimes stopping is important. There are lots of exciting days ahead for First Baptist Church. Let’s stop together, celebrate and prepare. I hope you will take time to participate. Your life just may be changed because you did. See you Sunday.
Eric
No comments:
Post a Comment