I finally heard something from someone in my home church about their pastor passing away. It was actually a response to the prayer request for my wife's surgery. In any case, I was quite saddened/alarmed to hear that the church hasn't yet ordered any Lottie Moon Offering promotional material and was wondering whether or not the offering would be "worthy" this year.
Yikes.
Effective immediately, I have changed my email address to nomad4god@gmail.com.
I have a conflict going on in this pea-brain of mine. It is one that is embarrasing, but it is there nontheless.
The pastor of my home church, back in the Greatest State in the Union died today.
I did not really know him. He came to my church since we have been overseas. I confess that I wasn't fond of him, for he didn't have "any use for missions" and he sure didn't appear to like us. Our last stateside assignment, I tried to find a time with him where I could speak to our home church. He said that he wasn't really sure when that would happen, because he didn't foresee a time when he would need pulpit supply in the next several months of Sunday nights! Our first Sunday back in our home church during stateside assignment, he didn't even acknowledge our presence in the morning service, despite a personal introduction a few days before and greeting him before the service. (not that I needed acknowledgement, but it was my home church and it isn't all that big; it was an obvious breech of protocol, noticed by all) He polarized the church in that you either loved him or you hated him. He alienated most of the older members of the church, focusing on younger families. While focusing on families is fine, you simply cannot neglect the majority of the church.
My conflict is this: I am sorry he died. I am happy that the church will be getting a new pastor.
I feel bad over this conflict. I feel bad for his wife and extended family. I feel bad for the members of my church who are hurting.
I also feel bad that the church has been without any kind of a mission emphasis for quite a few years now. I feel bad that many church members have quit going to that church because they didn't like the pastor. I feel bad that many members feel like they haven't had a pastor, but only a preacher, for the past several years.
I am not happy he is dead. But, I know that he is in the presence of the King right now.
I don't really know what I should be feeling. I guess that is why I am deeply conflicted.
Thank you so much for praying! Our prayers were answered EXACTLY as we had hoped.
God is good! (all the time)
Without divulging too much personal information, I need to request prayer again for my family. My wife will have surgery this weekend to determine the cause of constant pain she has been having.
Our request is that the doctors would be able to completely take care of the problem DURING this first surgery. If a second surgery is indicated, recovery time would take up to six months.
Thank you for your prayers.
I was reminded tonight of how we must be very careful of the words we say. Even in jest. You might not know what someone is going through and your clever words, meant to delight, can have just the opposite effect and cause embarrassment and a heavy heart. This is especially so overseas, because EVERYTHING is exacerbated and exaggerated.
We know that "many a truth have been spoken in jest", so the receiver of the words ponders what he has done to justify the harangue. If the receiver is already feeling stressed or overwhelmed with circumstances, then they could very well spend the rest of the day trying to over-analyze the situation, when in fact, the speaker may have truly had something to say and just said it "wrong" or "too strong". I know, for I am usually guilty of trying to be cute and end up being hurtful. I got a taste of my own medicine tonight at a dinner meeting.
It is certainly no big deal, but I am sure pondering the implications that my own words have on others when I am trying to be the center of attention or when I think I am being clever or when I think about a split-second after I have spoken.
It is bitter medicine; but it is good medicine.
This is for me:
Eph 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. (NASB)
First of all, I want to thank all of you who have prayed for us. We really appreciate your prayers. When you pray for us, you join us in our ministry and share a portion of it.
Second, I can say that we can honestly see a difference since you have prayed. One thing that you need to realize is since we didn't recognize this as a spiritual attack for so long, there are some wounds that now need to heal. Attitudes have been affected; relationships have been altered. However, we feel the major portion of the attack has been stopped.
Our children have been at the center of this attack and they seem to be doing better, but we still have a long way to go. Another thing being attacked was my family while I was away each week on business. Since the prayers started, I can say that this last week was the first week without a major "incident" in three months!
Thank you for your prayers; please don't cease to pray!
