It’s Sunday morning and I’m stealing a little quiet time before the day’s activity begins. Yes, I’ll be with my brother-in-law and family watching the Super Bowl this afternoon, but right now I’m thinking of you. Sundays are interesting for Adventist pastors. All yesterday afternoon and evening I basked in the warm feelings of fellowship radiating from our worship together. The music was fantastic. The children were so much fun. Your responsiveness to the message is always delightful. The church was comfortably full. Then comes Sunday morning and I begin to think about how we need to begin all over again. I already have the general idea of where I want to go with the next message, but the real question is, “Where does God want me to go?” It’s not a feeling of panic at all, but Sunday mornings are often a feeling of emptiness as I wait for God to begin filling me for next Sabbath. Actually, that’s a pretty good place to start isn’t it? I have poured out all that I have on Sabbath and now I am empty and waiting. Please don’t mistake this for depression. I believe it is the natural, God given, plan for each of us. The first day of the week is the beginning of the preparation for the seventh day.
What is wonderfully amazing to me is how different the depth of feeling is here compared to any other place we have pastored. I feel a new spiritual depth here. As I wait for the sense of where God wants to direct my thoughts for next Sabbath I know for certain that His Spirit will guide me and give me what I need. Increasingly, each week I sense that God’s Spirit is moving in our midst. I want to move forward, guided by that Spirit, eagerly, and yet at the same time cautiously.
Many of you have shared encouragement and affirmation. Several have shared articles, thoughts, and even books related to our quest for God’s leading and the infilling of His Spirit. Some are wanting to set aside some time for fasting and praying. We are excited about that. I have also been made aware of a world wide grass roots call for a special time of prayer seeking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit around the date of July 7 (7/7/7). Last year there was a popular movie about the antichrist released on June 6 (6/6/6). This is a call for our churches around the world to pray together for ten days, as the disciples did, from June 27 to July 7, which happens to be a Sabbath.
I am intrigued by the concept, but I don’t want to get caught up in the “cuteness” of the timing. God is not waiting for a symbolic date to pour Himself upon us. He is waiting for us to be empty so that we can receive Him. I believe we need to be empty of worldly cares and concerns, empty of strife, empty of our own selfish desires, and yes, empty of our preconceived ideas about what the results should be. We need to not be looking at what God might do to or through the church across town, in another conference, or on the other side of the globe. I want to know what God wants to do to us, right here in Napa. I want to know what He wants to do through me and not compare that to what He wants to do through you. Remember, we are one body with different parts.
Wow, if I’m not careful I will have written my sermon and I’ll have to send you home early. Don’t get your hopes up!
We had a good meeting with the Music Committee last Sabbath after church. I appreciate, so much, those who work to coordinate special music for our worship. We committed to working together to so that the service will flow each week. It takes work and communication and we value the time spent to make that happen.
Tomorrow night (Feb. 5) Del Dunavant will be meeting with a large representation of the church to go over the latest results of our Natural Church Development survey. The results were extremely encouraging, but there are always the areas that score lowest, even though they may not be a negative score. Those are the areas we want to focus on as we strive to make the church the best it can be by God’s power.
Many of you are asking about our Pastoral search process. It has been a long one hasn’t it? Part of the reason for that is that we took a long time and worked hard at defining exactly what we were looking for. Once we did that we found that finding that right individual was not going to be easy. We have talked to several who match many of the gifts we need and who would probably prove to be a blessing to our church. It has seemed that God has been encouraging us to be patient in order to supply us with just the right individual. We are now processing a couple of names that I am excited about. I won’t give you details at this point, but I want you to know that we are actively proceeding and I hope to have some good news soon. I can tell you that I definitely will be relieved when we have the team complete. Sherilyn and I can surely use the help! In the meantime I am just so thankful that we have her, and Mark too. I am also thankful for our outstanding group of elders and for so many of you that carry heavy loads of responsibility in our church. Again, I just want to assure you that the very best days in the history of this church are just before us. This is going to be fun!
So, now it’s time to finish off VIP #372 and begin allowing God to fill my heart with the message of “The Problem – part two”. I don’t know yet how many parts there are to that aspect or to the whole series. God hasn’t shown me that. I know it will be a few weeks more.
I am also beginning to actively work on my sermons for Romania. I need to have sixteen Power Point sermons ready with all texts in Romanian. Thank God for the internet Bibles! Please pray that God will help me prepare just the right messages for the seekers and believers in that part of God’s vineyard.
