“Man” of God

Last week I was called on to handle an impromptu question and answer session before a very distinguished and important audience. Even though I had received no advance notice I considered the opportunity a great honor and I relished the challenge. The setting was perfect and although the venue was rather dark, the glimmering lights above gave the whole evening sort of a surreal feeling.
The questions were tough and they came in rapid succession. The topics were varied and wide-ranging. We discussed the creation of the universe, the fall of mankind, the infiniteness of eternity, God’s amazing plan to rescue a lost and dying world by sending his son Jesus to die in our place. We talked about God’s love for us, His plan for our lives and the imminence of his return. We talked about heaven and what we will do when we meet there one day.
At times I wondered if I was in over my head as my mind searched for the right words. I struggled to keep my composure as the weight of my task and the importance of the evening became clear. I knew that there might never be another night like this, a night so perfect, a night when I would have the undivided attention of such an important audience.
My heart raced as I felt the presence of Holy Spirit leading and directing my answers as only He can. I knew I was getting through. Lives were being changed! It was an amazing evening, a minister’s dream, a night I will never forget.
That night in my backyard, under the bright lights of heaven, looking into the big brown eyes of my youngest daughter, Hannah, for a few fleeting moments I experienced what it feels like to be a real “man” of God.

Resurrection Monday?

Like many pastors I spent the last couple of weeks focusing on plans and preparations for Easter Sunday morning. My goal was to proclaim the glorious truth that “Jesus is alive!” The focus of the entire day was to be “Resurrection!” My task was to lead people through the Garden of Gethsemane, to give them a seat at a mock trial, to walk them down the lonely Via de la Rosa, to help them feel the weight of the cross as they climbed Golgotha’s slope, to share the gloom of history’s darkest Saturday and the joy of eternity’s most glorious Sunday morning. I longed to help each man; woman, boy and girl discover the power of the empty tomb for themselves.
Did I succeed in getting the message across? Truthfully, only God really knows, but, judging from the smiles and comments that I heard after the service I think that everyone was in agreement that “Jesus is alive!” As a matter of fact, I have found that the majority of people in America don’t have a problem with Jesus rising from the tomb on Easter Sunday morning, it is allowing him rise in our hearts on Monday morning that is the real test of our faith.

"Important" Things?

I am sorry that I haven’t written anything in the last couple of weeks but I have been somewhat preoccupied with “life stuff.”
You know the things I am talking about: my awesome God, my wonderful wife, my precious daughters, my true friends. These things seem to take up so much of my time that I don’t have very much time left over for the really “important” things like blogging and watching sports on TV.
Oh well, a man “has got to do” what a man “has got to do”.