The Day

Well Sunday was "the day." The day I've been waiting for for three weeks (since I last preached), for nearly three months (since I first made the decision to work with Spring Meadows) , for six years (since I first heard of the exciting plans for SM), in a way for all my life. In a very real way it seems that all I've experienced; every blessing, every challenge, every influence, has been moving to this point, to this opportunity. It was a great day. The summer heat relented for a couple of days and yet the sun was shining brightly.

First of all, I was nervous. I was going to worship and to work with a people I had never met. What would the service be like, the singing, the "feel" of things? Going from a place of extreme organization to a place that has only been meeting for a few months - would it be to casual? Would I experience culture shock? How would MY style be taken by these people? This is the smallest church I've preached for full time as the regular guy - how would it feel? After the last two decades of preaching in BIG buildings with high-powered sound systems and large crowds - just what would it be like? And, and - would they like my preaching (I know, I know, if you preach the Word it will be received, but YOU KNOW there are some folks you'd rather hear than others)? Melanie was wonderful in helping keep me "sane" (or at least my definition of sane).

Now for the report: It was special in every way. The people, the place, the purpose. The people were gracious and kind and energetic. I can't remember when I've seen so many young children - what a canvas! I met some really great people (now I just hope I can remember their names :)). The place is lovely. Small, cramped (which is neat) and lovely! They've done such a great job converting this barber shop into a house of worship. It is bright and airy (and the temp was wonderful!). We overflowed into the satellite room. I was told the count for the day was 125 and that that was a new record for them. How exciting! When the auditorium is full and the overflow is full we can seat right at 140, so we have a little - very little - room. I kinda hate leaving that place and moving on, but I love growth and we have to move to have room to grow. So, a lease has been signed on the building in back of the building we are in. It actually fronts onto US31 - wonderful. It'll be fun to see what we do there. The 90 who returned Sunday PM also represented a new record.

I praise God and thank Him - to God be the glory for great things He has done and the great things we trust He will do. I am humbled and excited. But I should not be surprised that first day went do well, with so many praying for us, how could we have failed?

I feel blessed. A Family in Hamilton, at Granny White and, a new Family at Spring Meadows. I feel like the most blessed preacher alive.

Now, the next few weeks will be more wild than the last few as we marry off a son and gain a daughter (that's Saturday), Andrew completes a great summer internship and begins his second year of college, we send a special nephew off to college (mid-August), I make a trip to Africa (Monday the 31 of July) and get our house on the market (hopefully before the market crashes :)). We will continue to covet your prayers. You mean so much to us. Thank you.

This Sunday the plan is to preach:
AM - After the Honeymoon is Over
PM - My Dream for this Church

Come on and bring a car load!

I really am -
In His Care,
Dale

Bitterness..

BAD ROOTS...

The word "bitter" has been on my mind this afternoon. It's an interesting word full of a lot of pain but more on that in a minute.

It's used 84 times in the NKJV Bible. From the first use when Esau cries out with a "bitter cry" upon the realization that his brother had received "the blessing" to the bitter "aftertaste" of the little book that John ate in Revelation. From the bitter life in bondage of the Jews in Egypt to the bitter life of Naomi in Ruth. But most often in the Old Testament the word deals with "taste."

Only 12 of those 84 times is the word in the NT. Two of them adjectives to describe peters realization of his denial of Christ (Matthew 26:75; Luke 22:62). Once in Acts describing the poison that had entered Simons heart (8:23). In the epistles the word is a trait - a noun - don't let it abide in your life. The most picturesque is Hebrews 12:15, "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many..."

It can take root in our lives and cause trouble and affect others.

The source of bitterness has always interested me. When I meet a bitter person I want to know what hurt made them decide to allow themselves to become that way. I've never been in a church where there wasn't at least one emotionally unstable person who was so messed up with bitterness they constantly made life miserable for others. And with their hand in the mix of most every church fight you'll find a person full of bitterness.

Bitterness never stays put - it flows into other areas of life...It hurts the things you most value...And rarely does a person realize the pain they are causing innocent bystanders with their bitterness. They've hurt me and they've hurt you and on occasion I have to make sure I've done the weeding I need to do to make sure I'm not hurting others because of something that has happened that made me a little bitter.

Peterson styles the verse this powerful way: "Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time." Be careful, don't let bitterness choke the joy of life out of you.

NOWHERE...A MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY, ER, CONGREGATION...

As strange a place as I've ver been in! I've been preaching pretty much, regularly since I was 15. That engulfs 30 years of preaching. Since I started preaching fulltime I have never had two Sunday's, back to back where I did not preach. not been 2 consecutive Sunday's that I have gone without preaching. Every time I've changed jobs I've gone from preparing a challenging "goodbye" one week, moving during that week and preparing a challenging "hello" sermon the next Sunday. Worn and frazzled I'd limp into the new work. Folks expecting my best on my first Sunday, but getting, well, getting what they got.

When this move started to look real I decided I was going to, regardless of when I stopped and started, actually take a few breathes between works. Some time away.

When I started discussing it with Melanie she said I would be miserable. My response: "Oh, I hope she's right! Think how bad it would be if I actually discovered I liked not preaching. "

It's not that I don't have anything to do. I have more manuscripts due before September 15 than I've ever had at once before. I have several speaking appointments and of course there's editing to be done. So I have plenty to keep me busy. It's just I don't have the Thursday pressure of an outline to turn in or the Friday pressure of a manuscript to send off for Power Point purposes or the restless Saturday's that seem to be a part of this field. Never finished until I'm finished. I used to think I procrastinated, I may, but I've decided that actually I work on whatever project I'm concentrating on until it is complete. That said, I've got a lot to get done in these "days off". But so far, I've enjoyed it.

One of the things I've really looked forward to was getting to visit some places. When you preach you never get to just go and be. It's been so very rare for me to have a Sunday to pick where I "go to church" (I hear my pre-doubledigit boys squeaking - "Dad, you cant' GO to church...").

I got to hear my college roommate, the one and only Van Vansandt! First time I've gotten to here him preach in 20 plus years. I first heard Van back in 1979 when I was a Senior in High School and remember it to this day - I wanted to preach like that! Pure energy and love for God that came through with a smile as big as Texas but an intensity like none I could remember from anyone that young. I spend years trying to imitate him before I really knew I could never be him. It was great hearing him again. He has that same intensity but the maturity of years has given him the added dimension of depth. So my first experience sitting was great. We had people who met us at the door and welcomed us, people in the lobby who made us feel welcome, the people in front of us shook our hands and welcomed us. So nice. The building was comfortable, the singing strong, they had powerpoint and good lighting. We were welcomed warmly from the pulpit. If I'd been a visitor looking I would have come back. I won't tell you where we were Sunday night. It was a large church. We got there about 10 minutes before the service started. Passed a couple of families on our way into the building, walked down the hallway, into the foyer area, into the auditorium, down about two-thirds of the way to the front and took a seat behind some people. Had about five minutes or more after we sat down before the service began. NOT A PERSON SPOKE TO US! Not a one. I was embarrassed for them. People around us were visiting with each other - and we both had had a shower - I even had a suit on. They had powerpoint but did not use it. Now to their credit after the service several people who know us spoke to us. Most of those people I did not see coming in (perhaps friendly people need to think to come earlier?).

Folks, being friendly is important and ever member is responsible for the friendliness of the congregation. It is the bottom shelf, it is the least we can do, but it might be the most important thing we can do. Make people feel welcome. Don't be afraid of overdoing it. I've NEVER heard anyone say, "You know, those folks were just too friendly!" A friendly church opens the door to much MUCH greater impact.

Is the church really friendly, or are they just friendly to each other, just friendly at certain times, just friendly to friends of members (i.e. People who come with a "sponsor"). Set up a test: have a friend visit your congregation anonymously and give them a score card to rate you. And then challenge the church to figure our real and concrete ways to make sure you are friendly, but more than that, set yourself up as a "one man welcoming committee" to every person there.

JUST REMEMBER IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.