Some Thoughts

Being in a new area certainly presents its challenges–not the least of which being the vital task of finding a new body of believers with whom to live/worship during the short time while I’m here. This morning I went to my second “potential” on the list, and was more than pleasantly surprised. Here a few highlights:

1. I was invited to lunch by an older couple–before I even made it in the door.
2. That same couple introduced me to another younger guy in the church, who soon invited me to sit with him during the service. Usually the “greeting” begins–and ends–at the front door.
3. After I made it in the front door (and up until the time I actually left their company, about 3-4 hours later), the grand tally of lunch/dinner invitations was about 5…! How “church”-like!
4. I paused next to the book table near the door to the main room, and most of the books were either on my bookshelf, or my wishlist.
5. The pastor was meek, kind, and brilliant. He preached quietly and reverently about the personhood and divinity of the Holy Spirit: very encouraging, and very convicting. The service was bathed in prayer–meaningful, thoughtful, prayer.
6. I laughed more at the home I went to after service, with the saintly, joke-cracking but humble elders, than I have in weeks.
7. I caught a ride with someone to/from the house where we had lunch, and he’s in IT. He helped me figure out a problem I’ve been having since I’ve been at the hotel here (IP addresses and such) – which will save me and my clients a whole lot of time and energy. That’s good stuff.
   

Some thoughts from the sermon:

1. One of the things the pastor spoke about was the word parakletos, which Jesus used to teach us one of the roles/functions of the Holy Spirit. That word was generally used for the person who would come alongside another (which we’ve all heard before), but specifically when that another was being examined in a court of law. The parakletos was the one who knew the examinee very well–intimately–and could come and bear witness about his life, character, etc. Just as Jesus came to bear witness about the Father, so Jesus also left us with “another parakletos,” who will continue to do so about Jesus. That he takes this role not just temporarily, but for eternity, really struck me. This covenant we’ve been brought into isn’t subject to revocation: this friendship, this intimate relationship we have been granted with the Father, through Christ, is everlasting. In Him, we have an everlasting intimate friend with whom we will never have a final “falling out.” This one’s completely permanent. That hit me pretty deeply.
2. While praying before we took the cup, the pastor said “and we remember, Lord Jesus, that you did not say ‘do this in remebrance of our sins,’ but ‘do this in remembrance of you, and what you did about our sins.” And I have often done that in too much remembrance of my sins, and not enough in remembrance of what Christ paid to cleanse me of them.

I’m going back this evening for the evening prayer service. I have to admit; I’m excited and thankful that I may have found a body of believers with whom to live/worship for the next few months so soon after I began looking. And they fit the bill on both of my criteria: relational, and Reformed (in that order–feel free to ask why). So, thank you, Father.

[PS - I'm excited, true, but these guys are a tough act to follow... Man; good times were had by all.]