Sunday, I will preach my last sermon in Nederland.  It has been a good five and a half years and I have thoroughly enjoyed preaching the Word of God from this pulpit.  I have counted nearly 800 messages that I have shared at Nederland First Assembly.  I love to communicate God’s Word. 

Last night was my final Wednesday night teaching.  I enjoy Wednesday nights more than any other service.  I like the laid back atmosphere and the hunger for God’s Word that I sense on a Wednesday night.  The Wednesday night crowd is the one who want more of God’s Word, so the atmosphere is different.  It is easy to teach the Bible to this crowd.

This Sunday Morning my final message will be “Living In Uncertain Times.”  We hope to see you there!

“There are three stages in the work of God: impossible; difficult; done.” -Hudson Taylor-

Today is my dad’s 59th birthday.  I am blessed with a great dad.  When I was younger I tried his parental patience and yet he still associates with me:) 

I am thankful for lessons of life that my dad has taught me.  Things that have shaped me and that I have valued in ministry.  My dad, is not a minister but he has been a model to me in work ethic and loyalty that has helped me in ministry. 

Here are some things I have learned from my dad:

1.  Marriage is for life.  He has been married to my mother for 39 years.  This helps me know that marriage is a commitment.  When life was challenging growing up, I watched my parents work through it.  My dad was faithful to my mother and was glad to come home every night from work.

2.  Be loyal.  My dad was the dedicated employee of the same company for 36 years.  He worked his way up from the bottom of the totem pole.  He has now retired but gone back to work for the same company as a contractor.  Growing up, I never heard my dad talk bad about his boss or come home and gripe about the company he worked for.  If he didn’t like something, he didn’t say it in front of us.  Loyalty to the people you serve is necessary.  Whether you stay in the same place for 39 years or move to another job or ministry.  Be loyal to those you serve.

3.  Work hard.  I have tried to count the times my dad stayed at home sick from work and I can honestly say I cannot think of any.  My dad went to work every day without fail.  He went to work sick.  He often would work long hours.  My dad taught me early on in life that if you want to always have a job, work hard, there are too many slackers.  When it comes to lay-offs they let the slackers go first.  Make yourself irreplaceable.  I have tried this principle from the time I started working.  I believe in working hard just like Mike and thankfully, I have never been without a job in my 21 years in the workforce.

Thanks Dad for the lessons you taught me.  You probably didn’t think I was paying attention:) Happy Birthday!

Maybe I am a bit odd but I like storms.  It is the perfect weather to either sleep in or to sit back and read a good book.  I guess it is the dark clouds that make it feel serene even when the storms look bad.  There are, however, some storms that scare me, like today’s.  As I was down at the gas station, I looked to the east and noticed the incoming clouds. They were pretty scary looking.  Storms are good but when they look ominous I don’t like them. 

“We should be indeed purely, simply, and wholly at one with the Eternal Will of God, or altogether without will, so that created will should flow out into the eternal Will and be swallowed up and lost in it, so that the eternal Will alone should do and leave undone in us.  Religious exercises cannot do this, nor words, nor works, nor any creature or things, suffering them to be what they are, and enter into union with God.  Yet the outward things must be; and sleeping and walking, walking and standing still, speaking and being silent, must go on as long as we live…when God Himself swells in man; as we plainly see in the case of Christ.  Moreover, where there is this union, which is the outflow of the Divine light and dwells in its beams, there is no spiritual pride nor boldness of spirit, but unbounded humility and lowly broken heart; there is also an honest and blameless walk, justice, peace, contentment, and every virtue…Be well assured of this.”
-Johannes Eckhart (1260-1327)

This week we have been talking about the effects of a pastor’s resignation.  I mentioned earlier that there is often a feeling of betrayal when a pastor leaves.  It is something that cannot be helped.  Often it is the youngest church members that have the hardest time understanding it.  Especially when a pastor loves the kids of the church.

One of our 9 year old members has the feeling that I am leaving him.  He is a sharp and perceptive young man that presented to his mother a very profound thought way beyond his years.  He asked her, “I thought he was the shepherd of the flock and was here to stay with us and watch over us.  Why is he leaving us if he is our shepherd?” I have thought several days now about this question and how to reply. 

A pastor is a shepherd to the flock of God.  The flock in which God calls Him to.  The truth be told, he is only a shepherd working under the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ.  Though we are supposed to shepherd the flock of God, we are in submission to the Great Shepherd.  Even though God calls pastors to individual flocks, He sees things from a wider perspective, meaning the whole body of Christ.  The flock as a whole.  The shepherd (pastor) serves in the field that God desires.  Now the fact is, the sheep of the flock a pastor serves in love him and as Jesus said, “know His voice.”  No matter how difficult, there are times when the Chief Shepherd asks the under-shepherds to change fields.  Because God has specific callings and plans for each under-shepherd and because the Chief Shepherd knows what is best for the flock, He shapes the will of the shepherd.

The Apostle Paul, who challenged every pastor to shepherd the flock of God, moved around to different fields.  He was not betraying them but was doing what was best for the flock.  We may not understand these things but we must keep our eyes on the Chief Shepherd.  He will never disappoint.

There is nothing like packing to move that causes you to realize how fast time goes.  I had the “privilege” of packing Josh’s room.  Josh is a packrat.  He saves everything! 

As I was cleaning his room I was getting on to him for being a junk collector but the further I went, the more I reminisced.  Going through his school awards.  Looking at the crafts he has made.  Picture he has drawn.  Then I went to the closet.  When we moved to Nederland Josh was about 5’2″ and 110 pounds.  Now he is 5’10” and about 210 pounds.  I looked through the closet and saw all the clothes when Josh was little and wondered where has the time gone.

I sometimes wish we could go back in time and relive some of the moments.  I am now thinking about how I can slow down time to keep Josh young a little longer.  We cannot stop time but we can cherish the moments when our kids our growing up.  I am determined to make more memories with our family.  Something that we can always remember, no matter how old we get.

From the latest dollar bill we see that even George Washington is worried about the economy.  I wonder if he would vote for the bailout.