Blogging. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be! I spent close to an hour last night honing a new post to describe our last service at Colbert Chapel, read it to Suzanne for her approval and – poof! It was gone. Yes, gone gone! So, I’ll try again.
The day finally came. In spite of Suzanne’s and my clear leading about our transition to Central Asia, we’ve not looked forward to the final service at Colbert. It’s our home church. It’s where our friends are (most of them). It’s where the people are that we’ve walked hard roads with and won victories with. I calculated that I’ve preached about 1200 times on Sunday mornings. Our feelings for this group run deep and saying goodbye isn’t something that would come easy.
My concern for the last several months about the service was that it be about Jesus – not his servant. I told Suzanne that if I was preparing a farewell service I would go about it one way. What were prepared was a worship service and I wanted the whole thing to point to the One who is worthy. Suzanne and I worked to select scripture and music that fit that model. I planned the sermon to focus on the essence of the Gospel and a time to clearly state the core message of reconciliation with God. The congregational leadership had another or, should I say, additional plan.
The man who assists in leading the service hijacked it part way through and had Suzanne and I meet at the center of the platform and sit in a couple chairs. They had some gifts for us. The first was a gift for our ministry in Asia. The goal was $5000 and they surpassed it. PTL! The second was a digital picture frame which will be helpful in our presentations and in Asia. The third gift was an opportunity for the congregation to share thoughts and memories. I don’t know just how many people spoke, but it was very meaningful for Suzanne and me. It was also very humbling. They closed that time by having us gather in the center of the church for a time of prayer. As the people gathered round and prayed there were many tears and much sniffling among the group. There was also a sense of God’s blessing.
When we believe that there is a God who is sovereign over all, lovingly involved in the affairs of people and directing the paths of those willing to be led, why is it a surprise to us when he demonstrates his pleasure in our presence? Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that God will “rejoice over us with singing.” (NIV) What a thought! Wow!
Well, we leave for Portland in five days to spend a week with Suzanne’s parents. Sorting and disposing, storing and packing all need to be completed. There are still some tasks that need to be done, some people we need to see, some projects completed in the next few days. There used to be lots of time to get things done. We’re now at “crunch time.”
I wrote on another blog that when we came to Colbert we landed on our feet. That didn’t have anything to do with us. It was the result of God’s choice and the good people of Colbert. We wouldn’t be at this point without either one of the two. We’re amazed at the goodness of God. He is good – all the time.
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