Beloved,

 

I mentioned one of the most apocalyptic moments in my life and ministry during the message on 1/24: “I realize I don’t love Jesus because I don’t love you because I’ve got to love you to prove I love Jesus.”

 

I knew it was an inspiration not an indigestion because inspirations confirm and never contradict what God has already revealed in Jesus and the Bible.

 

The great commandment and commission come to mind.

 

Anyway, it happened when I was a famous preacher in the South over two decades ago.

 

A man approached me after worship and said, “I was going to join the church but all you ever talk about is Jesus and love, love, love.”

 

I replied, “I didn’t know I was supposed to talk about anyone or anything else.”

 

Then he began to talk about how I needed to talk more about denominations, dogmatics, rules, blah, blah, blah...

 

While I pretended to listen to him, hoping someone would come along and bring up something important like there being too many or not enough bulletins that day, the moment came; and it seemed as if God were forming the words in my mouth for both of us: “I realize I don’t love Jesus because I don’t love you because I’ve got to love you to prove I love Jesus.”

 

Though I can still be an awful pastor, preacher, presbyter, partner, parent, and person with the worst of ‘em, that moment changed my life and ministry in how I engage others.

 

That came to mind during a recent prompting.

 

In addition to some spiritual disciplines that are for Him to know and not for you to find out, He is prompting me to a weekly scheduled prayer partnering with you in the chapel on Wednesdays. 

 

Except for hospital care, crisis counseling, unavoidable calendar conflicts, or being outta town, I will be in the chapel every Wednesday from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. to pray for His best in your life, His best in the life of our family of faith at First, and a few personal miracles.  Part of the time may include the singing nun thing, vocal prayer, or whatever He prompts; however, it will not be a time for anyone to interrupt apart from the aforementioned at the beginning of this paragraph.  Anyone can come in, sit, and pray; however, again, it is not a social time or anything like that.  It is a call of our Lord for the undershepherd to spend concentrated calendared time interceding as requested and led.

 

If you have a special request, please e-mail me with it or call and ask Karen to write it on a piece of paper pour moi or leave it on our prayer line (815-544-3535).