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Dear Saint Mark Family,
I pray you are well and are staying cool and safe in this soaring heat.
Ever so often someone will ask me why I do what I do. They want to know if there is something else I would want to do instead of being a pastor and a minister of the gospel. My answer has always been the same: I love what I do, and if I had to choose again I would still choose what I am doing.
This past Sunday as I stood talking with a second time guest after worship, the same joy and excitement that was in me when I started serving in ministry was the same joy and excitement bubbling inside of me as I listened to him. To hear him talk about his seeking a place where he can experience God and know the presence of God ; to hear of his desire to know the love of God in a place that he can belong and call home; to hear him talk about how he felt welcomed both times he has come to Saint Mark; and to hear him say he will certainly come again is one of the million reasons I do what I do and love doing what I do.
Admittedly, the church can be messy at times. It can be hard towards each other; it can be challenging; it can be many of the things we are criticized for; and it can lose its way at times. But I love the church. I love God’s people. I love doing what I have been commissioned to do by Jesus Christ. I love teaching and preaching the love of God and walking the journey of discipleship with others. Some days are hard. Sometimes I become frustrated when we don’t practice Christ-likeness in our relationship with each other. Sometimes I want to take a break for a whole week or two because I have fully spent myself doing the none-fun-part of church work that must be done. Nevertheless, I still find joy and excitement in what I do and would never trade it for something else. Thank you for being the church, even as we grow in all the fruitful ways as the church.
This Sunday we will continue our sermon series, “God in the Movies,” and we will look at the ways God shows up in our lives, calling and challenging us to a greater work. We will draw on the movie, “Evan Almighty.” If you have not seen it, I encourage to take the time this weekend to do so. You will love it. Here is a clip:
https://youtu.be/GsnxxE0kHo0
See you Sunday.
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