Sunday Scripture

Greetings my friends ! On this 3RD Sunday of January of 2021 I observe 14 years as part of a church family. I walked-in to my first church almost exactly 5 months after salvation began. I realized that I could not go much further on this journey without being part of a church family. It was only a matter of a few weeks when I determined that I would be with that church family for the rest of my life.

That didn’t work out. I left after 8 years and 2 months, and I really left about a year to a year-and-a-half too late. I don’t need to get in to the details as to why I left. It’s not because of a single person or a single reason. It’s also not important. Let me just add this: When you’re stalling on this journey, and you’re no longer moving forward towards God as fast as you were previously – then it’s time to move on to a place where you can resume forward momentum. Sometimes that place is in a different role where you already are. Sometimes that place is a different place.

I’ve been with my current church family for almost 6 years now. Thanks to my Lead Pastor and my Praise & Worship Pastor I’ve been blessed with endless opportunities to expand my ministry on Sunday mornings and beyond, and I’ve claimed those opportunities to glorify God and expand His Kingdom here on earth.

As it looks right now I’ll be with my current church family for about 3 more years – until I retire from my full-time job and move about 3 hours away. I’ll be part of a new church family in my future retirement town.

As I look back at these past 14 years one thing has been missing since the very beginning. It’s not for a lack of trying. I’ve been trying since the very beginning – perhaps trying just a bit too hard at the start, and then easing off in the later years. I’m not giving up.

I’m looking for a brother in Christ who I can learn from – and who can learn from me. A brother who I can brainstorm with and bounce ideas off of over meals. A brother who I can do ministries with to change the world. A brother who I can pray with. A brother who I can write sermons with. A brother who’s been where I’ve been – unsaved and of the world – for more years than rescued, saved, and of God’s Kingdom. A brother who I can depend on at any moment of any day to be there for me, and I would want to be that same brother for him as well. A brother who I can trust more than any other. I haven’t found that close brother yet. A few have come close. I’ll keep praying about it. Pray for me too.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls – the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise – two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone ? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)