Weird Sunday

Posted on September 8, 2009

Have you ever had a Sunday where everything that went wrong did not aggravate you, but instead it puzzled you.  I had that kind of Sunday last weekend.  I arrived at church fairly early and as soon as I walked into the sanctuary I knew something was wrong.  The atmosphere inside the building was not nearly as comfortable as the atmosphere outside the building.  Those of you who are not in south Georgia cannot quite understand the uncomfortableness of a sanctuary in early September without AC.  That’s right the AC gave up the ghost and the sweltering heat did not relent.

I then traveled to the nursery area because we have had some trouble with the timer on the AC unit that cools the area.  As I hit the hallway headed to the thermostat I realize that I am walking in water.  I realized at that point I was about to have an Apostle Peter moment.  I am standing on the water while the Enemy is trying to get me to take my eyes off Christ and become enamored with the surrounding circumstances.

The several days leading up to Sunday had been a trying time.  I cannot stand to know that people are not going to be in service before service.  I knew that two thirds of our deacons and their families were not going to be at church and the other third calls me late Saturday night to let me know they were not going to be in church either due to sickness.  I am not a gestapo about church attendance, o.k. maybe I am a little bit.  I completely understand the two thirds of our deacons reason for being absent and I certainly understand the other third not being there due to illness.  We have the “hardest working deacons in Baptist business”.  They are true Biblical deacons.  They do not “run” the show, but they make sure the show goes on.  All the same, it still drives me nuts when I know certain folks are not coming to church.  Their absence, along with the absence of others added to the weirdness.

We ended up moving our services into the fellowship hall.  I have been praying about moving over there for the last 18 months and it took God forcing us to it through circumstances.  We have had services in the fellowship hall in the past, but I have always been uncomfortable while preaching in there.  Sunday’s weirdness continued by being in the fellowship hall not being weird.  Weird, huh? 

Instead of getting aggravated I became submissive to the Holy Spirit.  He obviously had His own plan on how and where we were to worship.  The morning service was good, but the evening service was sweet.  We kicked off Celebrate Recovery during the evening service and the Holy Spirit was present and active. 

I missed our deacons, Aaron our Associate Pastor, and everyone else that was not at SWBC, but I realized the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit is supreme.  Amidst all the “weirdness” we HAD church.  Thank you Jesus for sending your Spirit to me.  Thank you Jesus for allowing me to pastor such an awesome church.    

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