Fish Out of Water

That is what I felt like today: a fish out of water. Today was my first Sunday as a non-pastor (including any kind of pastoral staff member...but especially, most recently, as senior pastor) in 19 years. My wife and I both said we found ourselves thinking quite a bit about those great folks at ABC. (We love and miss you guys!) She said she pulled out an old offering envelope from her bible that had our mission statement on it and her eyes filled with tears. (As I proof read this post, I realized a mistake in that last line. It should read "their" mission statement ; (

We worshipped with a great church today. They run in the mid 200's in Sunday school, and they really welcomed us. As we walked up to the building, they greeted us warmly and helped us find all the appropriate class rooms. The greeters explained to us that we had a choice of three adult classes; all of them were fairly equal in terms of the ages of the class members. As we sat down for class to begin, the teacher told us to open our bibles to Acts 20:28-38. I preached from Acts 20:36-38 my last Sunday last week at ABC. During one of the comments made during class, one lady remarked about her feelings when her daughter told her that she was leaving to be a missionary and taking the three grandkids with her. The similarities were overwhelming. We could have visited any one of several churches in this town today. In the church we visited, we could have attended any one of three adult classes, but God's hand led us to this one where these seemingly coincidental circumstances touched our hearts, ministered to us, and served to remind us that God knows exactly where we are.

Thank you dear, Lord God.

I found it hard not to be feeding the flock back at ABC. The focus of that Sunday school lesson was the characteristics of a good shepherd of the flock. It helped me ponder the fact of how much I loved pastoring that wonderful group of people we just left. It also helped me reaffirm the conviction of the missionary calling God has placed on me and my family's lives for me to go now and shepherd His people who are serving in the Army.

All in all, it has been a roller coaster of a day. Praise God, though, that when I am weak then He is strong!

As we are leaving Sunday school making our way to the auditorium, I hear something that strikes a chord of fear in my heart. On our first Sunday in this church, as I walk down the crowded halls...I hear a Sunday school teacher walking down the hall calling out....

my daughter's name....not once.....not twice....but three times.

My colon tightened as I stepped around the corner not knowing what to expect to see:...maybe my daughter in a combative, argumentative posture....maybe she crumpled to the floor in a fit of tears and rage....maybe others are in the back administering CPR because she has talked someone into a coma....

Oh....thank goodness....the teacher is carrying her Bible! She only left her Bible in class!!....Whew! No major catastrophe after all...

Well....there is always next week ; )