Farewell

 

My sincere thanks to everyone who has been a part of this congregation and shared the ministry of the gospel with me in the first quarter of this century. I appreciate the send-off for Sharman and me. It was great and you were generous.

More than those few moments, I cherish those where you stepped out in faith, not knowing all the facts—not satisfying your own understanding--you stepped out.

On the very first Walk a Block for Jesus (yes, I know you walked more than a block) I wasn’t sure if I would be walking the town myself or with the body of Christ. We had about 40 walkers.

I remember that in 2012 we reached out to every school-aged child in our community with a God loves you, and more of that story for those who were old enough to understand more.

That same year, we held our annual Walk a Block for Jesus, then another Walk a Block of sorts in Mangum, Oklahoma. It was something of a rescue effort for a congregation that had atrophied to next to nothing. Their shepherd had been retired on active duty for a few years and the congregation drifted into a shrinking comfort zone. It happened unnoticed to them.

I remember a time from before I was ordained, that after the session and other elders attending the Elder Retreat said unanimously, we need to put VBS back on the roadmap of the lives of children in this community, we also said that we didn’t have a clue what to do next.

VBS had atrophied to little, then nothing. How do you restart that?

A couple of weeks later, some young ladies asked me if I would mind if they put together a Vacation Bible School. Would I mind? In those words, I saw the movement of the Spirit in this small body.

We have also been through some stuff together. Yes, Tom used the word stuff, but some of it was serious stuff.

We have had the difficult but necessary talks, and you didn’t run out of my office.

We have had the preparation for marriage talks, and in the fact that you were willing, ready, and receptive to this, much was profitable.

We have had the patience and wait upon the Lord talks, and of course not worrying or being anxious on the journey.

For some of you, we talked of possibilities and opportunities, and you gave me my actualization fix for the month.

Some of you joined me as we picked up, sorted, boxed, or otherwise prepared for distribution, food that would be the first half of an equation that led to introducing people to the Lord.

Sometimes it was just food to get a family who already believed and was trying through a tough time.

Sometimes this was a training ground for missions and evangelism. Sometimes it was work—NOT! Work in the service of the Lord is never really work. You might be tired when you are done, but you are also filled with the Spirit of God.

 My heart explodes with joy at the genuineness that I see in our youth seeking God. Let’s keep fanning the flames of that fire and make sure we don’t put a stumbling block in their way.

It's that Marine thing: Lead, follow, or get out of the way. These young believers have good leadership, so we might just have to get out of the way.

We still have plenty to work on. Some of those are tough conversations and decisions. Take on these things with courage, not fear. We fear only the Lord.

God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

Whatever you do, do it in love.

We are charged, directed, and perhaps even commanded to pick up our cross daily and follow Jesus. This isn’t just a Sunday thing. This is an in everything you do sort of thing.

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

Put on love.

Seek the truth.

Know that the Lord is God. Proclaim and claim him as your Lord. Live as if he is your Lord, for he is.

Study his word so you can know his message well enough to put his words into practice. OK, rightly divide the word of truth for you old timers like me.

I have enjoyed my time as your pastor. I hope that in my absence and the absence of my weekly challenges, you will challenge yourself to:

Put his words into practice.

Never stop praying.

Never stop gathering with other believers.

Don’t look for peace only in the passive moments. God’s peace prevails when you are doing his work, even when you are hated or persecuted for it. He does prepare a table before you in the presence of the enemy.

Bench your own understanding until he quits the team.

Go all in on trusting God. Remember the heart can be deceptive. Trust God.

Understand that faith without works is dead.

Understand that God desires mercy more than sacrifice, expertly following the rules, or any man-made rationale that fits into our comfort zones.

Obey God’s commands and those of the Spirit that lives within you.

Be known as a disciple of our Lord by your love.

Be salt and light in this world that is confused.

Be the church!

When in doubt, trust and love.

I will be around in the days and years to come, though I will travel a lot. My next mission is what I call Matthew’s House. I’m going into homes and talking to people about anything they want, and I will do it on their home court.

I will talk about what God has to say on a subject, and we will explore without pressure as we seek the truth.

It’s what Jesus did. Some of those folks may end up in a pew near you. Others won’t but for those who do come, seize the opportunity.  Welcome them. Receive them. Disciple them. Love them. Treat them as your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let them see God’s love in action at work in you so much that they want to be his love as well.

Some of the ones I visit may start a home church or Bible Study. Others won’t.

Some may absolutely be liberated from the chains of this world.

Some may come to know God and his Son, Christ Jesus.

Know what’s ahead. In the last days, the love of many will grow cold.

In these last days, the deception will be so great that even the elect may be deceived.

Know that to endure to the end, we must know God’s word, love God’s word, obey God’s word, and put those words into practice.

It’s not about getting the sequence right in Revelation. It’s about living out what God has given us in the other 65 books.

So much is happening right now that it feels like we might be really close to the end of he age. Is that a couple of years or a couple of centuries?

I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter. Just be doing what God told us to do when Jesus comes back for us. Keep plenty of oil handy and your lamps burning.

OK, you made it this far and deserve a bonus. I am going to reveal to you when Jesus will return.  That’s right, you are getting that information right now. Jesus is coming…

SOON!

Be ready. I know that you want to hear that Well done, good and faithful servant. Be ready.

Blessings.