What The Peace of God Looks Like

Today, a few hours actually, there will be a funeral at my church for a member that passed away on Sunday. His name is Bobby and he died at age 55. He had a long fight with cancer. This week my "job" as pastor has to been to minister to and comfort his family, specifically his wife. However, this has been a hard task for his wife has been like a rock. Now I don't mean that she is cold and emotionally detached, that is certainly not the case. But she has been strong!! She has been at peace, with a calmness that can only be explained by the power and grace of an all-sufficient God that gives us what we need when we need it.

Her attitude and conduct has ministered to me more over these past few days than mine has to her. She is truly a woman of God and I am better for even knowing her much less being here pastor. She is truly a picture of the peace of God.

"Its My Church"

I have a gripe today. Imagine that Andy is upset about something and needs to get it off his chest. Seriously, I am a pretty laid-back guy that has a lot of fun living this life that God has given me and if I blogged everyday you would see that. However, there are some things that just get on my nerves and I post them here for my benefit but if it can challenge you then great.

I was sitting in my office this morning reading the February Christian Index and there was a little article that caught my eye. In short the Executive Committee of the SBC is looking to terminate the membership of a church in Texas for the stance they have taken on homosexuality. Article 3 of our SBC constitution give them the right to do this. As controversial and heated as this matter is the one thing that caught my eye in the whole article was the brief section on the pastor who left shortly after the church called for a vote to kick him out. The vote failed but he left anyway (can't say I blame him). The interesting thing and reason for this blog was that some church members said that the reason the pastor was asked to leave was over use of the church facilities. Apparently the pastor supported a project that would allow homeless people to stay at the church at night.

This led me into my memories of countless people in churches that I have served at who have this attitude of ownership when it comes to the church. These people are usually easy to spot at business meetings. Heaven forbid we use our buildings to help out homeless people!! I just wonder where this attitude comes from, certainly not the Bible for the scripture teaches us that it is Christ's church, the people and the building. But lets me honest; this "my church" mentality doesn't just stop with "outsiders." Some members think they have more of a say-so or a right to the building that other member; because of money given or time spent in membership.

I wonder what a church would look like that used its facilities for the glory of God. I have seen a glimpse. There have been multiple blood drives at our church. There have been senior events for the community in our building. I wonder what else we could do? Kind of makes you think.