Blog

Who knew that a blog would be the venue that I would use to unload my thoughts.  I always thought that "blogging" was cliche'.  Something about communicating to the unknown masses had always seemed to carry a certain disconnect that in all honesty I thought was artificial or fake.  Yet once a again I submit myself to God and see where this goes....

So several month ago my wife and I decided to try a new church.  The church we'd been attending was going through a rough patch.  A long strory itself, but not my place to say.  No corruption or scandal, just tough times.  Consequently my wife and I weren't feeling fed spiritually.  Stagnant is never a good feeling to have when connected to going to church, or in life for that matter.  Instead of having my pencil in hand ready to take notes during the pastor's sermons, I instead was looking at the clock on my phone waiting for the end.  "Now lets bow our head in final prayer", the pastor would say.  My internal reply would end up being, "Amen."  Not a good thing at all.  So it was time to move on.

My wife and I got up the courage to try a friend's church.  So ofcoarse the struggle to submit to God's will and digging in my heals began all over again.  Critical thoughts came pouring in my head as I walked through the door.  The usher at the door seemed too fake and would never be interested in me or my family.  The church itself was way too big.  How I was I supposed to make a connection here, impossible. The worship music was way too commercial.  I might as well be listening to the radio.  Where's the sincerity?  Oh how the enemy can mess with our heads.  Then the senior pastor got up and started his sermon.  I was ready for the worst.

Then all of the sudden my negative thoughts stopped.  The pastor's words were starting to penetrate through all my layers of assumptions and negative thoughts.  I found myself reaching for my pencil for the first time in a long time.  "Write that down!", I thought.  "Oh, that's the stuff, Amen! Amen!"  I looked at my wife and I could tell that she was feeling the same way.  Tears ran down her face as the sermon sank into her heart. 

At the end of the sermon I looked at my notes. The page was blank.  I didn't write a single note.  But oh how the words the pastor spoke still filled my head.  The rest of the day was amazing as my mind would often wonder back to the highlights of the days sermon.  So at the end of the night, before I went to bed.  I finally got my pencil and paper and wrote down what the pastor  had said.  Thats powerful stuff right there, when you can clearly remember the what the pastor said and right your notes at the end of the day.  My pencil flew on the page as I took stock in the pastor's words.  A spiritual butt kicking  is what it was, and I liked it. 

So my walk with a pencil took a turn that I didn't expect.  Once again God's wisdom put me on the path I so desperately needed.  Thank you God for all things!

Thanks for taking the time to"listen".