So Very Busy

It has been a while since I posted. I have been studying hard and getting ready for the final stretch of the ordination road. I have been meeting with some local pastors in the area from our presbytery who have been instrumental in caring for me and bringing me along. In many ways it is like that example that Dr. Betters always talks about. These men have me by the hand and are pulling me towards ordination while I am pulling other men along. It is the whole idea of Hebrews 10:22-24. Spurring one another on toward love and good deeds. It has been very encouraging and sharpending for me as I continue to prepare for my future ministry opportunities. Thank you for all of your prayers.

I am finishing up my Master Thesis on a theology of the Lord's Day. I am looking forward to posting the final draft here soon and would love to converse with anyone about my conclusions. It is interesting, I set off to accomplish one thing based on my own understanding of Sabbath Theology and after all of the research, Bible Study, and reading, I have been challenged in a real way to reconsider much of what I thought at the outset. I will talk more about that in the coming weeks.

This journey has been long. It has been hard at times. But it has given me the ability to study God's Word. I wish that everyone could go through it in many ways or at some level. In our men's leadership training class, several of the men have asked to get a hold of the ordination study guides so that they can begin to have a better grasp of God's Word. How awesome is that!

Even though the journey has been hard the Lord has helped me to keep things in perspective. Most of our lives are incredibly blessed with temporal blessings. Most of us have it easy even when we think we have it hard. What is the first response that you get from someone when you ask how their week was? "So busy, I am busy, busy busy! So very busy. Yeah, pray for me. I am busy." Busy doing what? Are we just busy for business sake? Even in all of our busyness, we have it good.

I think of some of the situations that many of our brothers and sisters are going through right now in our church. Young people are facing eternity at any moment. Little children are sick and parents have to make tough decisions. There is heartbreak, loneliness, financial troubles, children burying their parents. My position gives me an advantage in life. I am forced to keep things in perspective. When I think I am busy or am sick of studying notecards or have to deal with an upset member or walk-in and I want to wallow in any amount of self pity, I am forced to confront the relativity of the situation as I think about others in the church.

Instead of continuing in my own selfish world I need to get on my knees and pray (literally!). We all need to pray more. We don't need a prayer life, we need a life of prayer. A life that is saturated with conversation unto our God. If your answer is always, "Busy", then you need to slow down--A LOT--and get before the Lord and be still. Don't make time for prayer, make time for all the other stuff in your life and let prayer saturate you. Our Church needs to pray.

I am getting ready to go on a much needed vacation. Not so much for myself but for my famliy. I miss them in many ways and they miss me. We can't wait to serve in a much bigger capacity at GRPC in the coming months and years. We love this body of believers that the Lord has blessed us with. I am looking forward to getting back into the pulpit in the coming weeks. I am planning on a series entitled, "Journey WITH Jesus" as we take a look at his "I am" teachings. I hope it will encourage and sharpen all of us as God speaks to us through His Word.

A Sabbath Sabbatical

My dad, Dr. Betters, recently offered me the opportunity to take a break from preaching every week. He offered it because I am trying to tie up the loose ends I have with the ordination process and my master thesis. It was a struggle for me, but after some prayer and godly advice I took the offer. Besides, when all of this is over (ordination etc), I will have my entire life to preach! Praise the Lord! In the mean time I will miss it!

This morning, I had a rare opportunity to just be still and know. It came as a surprise. My wife, Laura, was singing on worship team this morning. We decided that I would take the kids to church since she had to be in early. Well, after I prepared the kids, I began to walk out the door and realized that my wife had taken our family car with the child seats and that I would be unable to get to GRPC. I immediatly made a few phone calls and before I knew it, my son and I were sitting together in my home office worshipping live with GRPC! I think I sang louder than I normally do! I was by myself...but with everyone in spirit. Be still and know...

I listened intently to Dr. Betters' message and was just blown away in the Word. I needed this. I needed to Be still and Know. I needed to be fed and re-energized...I need to hear God's Word preached and proclaimed without distraction. I am finding that Pastors need to look hard for these kinds of experiences. We need a Sabbath too! Sunday's are usually work for most men and women in the ministry. We end up going a long time before we realize that we need to have the tank filled again. This morning, my tank was filled up to overflowing.

Am I advocating staying home and watching the broadcast on the internet rather than being among the "assembly of ourselves"? Absolutely not. The only thing that would have been better is if I could have been in the pews, in the building, resting in God's Word. God had other plans and worked just as mightily through them. Brothers and sisters, we have a great Church. God has blessed us. Let's take what we heard this morning, those seven principles and apply them to our lives immediately. Let's not just listen to God's Word, let's DO God's Word. "In the same way, faith by itself if not accompanied by action is dead." Let your faith move you into action this week.

I can't wait to get back to preaching. In the mean time I will enjoy this mini-sabbatical from preaching as I find rest on the Lord's Day each week. Keep your eyes fixed on Him!

Grace and Peace.