I started my new pastorate yesterday. Several had called and emailed wanting to wish me well and to know how things were going. Some misunderstood and thought that I was preaching last Sunday, but I preach first this Sunday. Villa Rica used to post words of prayer and blessings over my impending sermons – but I was not delivering any at the time. Now’s your chance, VR. It’s a coming.
Yesterday we closed on the house and now we own two. Pray that we get rid of the old one before we have to make two mortgage payments. I also began working on those two impending sermons.
Today I got mostly through the outline of the first one on John 5 – Jesus receiving direction from the Father is a great example of where to go and what to do from here. In the evenings, we will go through the book of 1 John. After the evening sermon, I moderate my first business meeting here.
They are graciously refurbishing the pastor’s office here. My books arrive tomorrow with the rest of our furniture. Our neighborhood is under construction and I have my concerns about the 18 wheeler carrying our possessions making it through the tight turns, now congested with construction equipment. We will see how that all goes in the morning.
There is more stuff – good and bad. We ate at the house of a search committee member and her family tonight. I played guitar and sang with her kids. Good. Closing on the house and getting our stuff has been frustrating. Bad.
In the end, though, I had a great day and am at peace. I sensed God at work in the visit to two church members, both fighting cancer. The first is in hospice. She has been given a couple of weeks to live as a brain tumor has taken its toll on her now fragile body. When we visited, she was so glad for the company. I asked her if she had any concerns, and she said that she worried about her very attentive husband, who was running an errand. She feared him being left alone. I promised her that we would surround him and love him, and I think it was the most comforting thing anyone ever could have said to her.
The second lady had cancer twenty years ago, but has a new bout with it. The disease has moved to her bones and she has great back pain, from time to time. The new Chemotherapy is working, though, and her tumor count is going down. She is thrilled with the progress, as is her husband. She is saving her strength in the hope that she will be able to attend church Sunday, for the first time in months. She said she wanted to be there to hear me. What a responsibility. I think she likes the church a little, too. She informed me that I had come to pastor the greatest church ever. Don’t you wish you had more members who thought that about your church?
I told her that I would celebrate her attendance with her if she made it, but if she hurt too bad, not to feel guilty. I think she will be there. I could just see it in her eyes. She is determined.
Almost midnight now. Better get to bed because God is at work, and I need to be doing what I see Him doing (John 5).
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Dorcas
on Jul 12th, 2006
@ 5:26 am:
Art -
You play guitar? A man of hidden talents.
I am praying for you in your new job, and for the church members too. Sounds like you have already made a good start into investing in their lives.
Jake Barker
on Jul 12th, 2006
@ 5:45 am:
Art,
Welcome to Oklahoma.
Jake Barker
Holdenville, Ok
Kevin Bussey
on Jul 12th, 2006
@ 8:06 am:
Praying for you Art. If you need someone to talk through as you transition-call me! I’m only 8 months ahead of you.
Paul Burleson
on Jul 12th, 2006
@ 9:04 am:
Art, After 40 years of pastoring I now travel in local church conferences and revival meetings. While I love what I’m doing as much as I loved pastoring [and that was tons] you brought back to me some of the elements of pastoral relationships and blessings that are missing in my present kingdom assignment.
You have exposed afresh a true pastors heart and for that heart I commend you and am excited about the people in your fellowship enjoying you, as I know they will, and you them.
Paul Burleson
Pastor Greg
on Jul 12th, 2006
@ 9:19 am:
Dear Brother,
God bless you in your new pastoral assignment. The notes about your day was a blessing to my heart about the joys of being a pastor.
Greg
Ben Brammer
on Jul 12th, 2006
@ 9:22 am:
Art:
Praying for you bro. Continue to invest in people’s lives.
Bowden McElroy
on Jul 12th, 2006
@ 7:59 pm:
Welcome to Tulsa!
tim rogers
on Jul 12th, 2006
@ 8:10 pm:
Brother Art,
Praying for you. When your furniture and books arrive you will be snowed under trying to get caught up. I will pray that your house in Kentucky sells.
I know what you are going through. We have the movers coming in the morning and packing us up. We are still in our present assignment city, but are going to close on a house in another city on Tuesday, therefore, I will be with you in the same boat–two morticians–or mortgages. I have never owned two homes before. I am praying hard.
I pray that your pastorate goes well for you as God continues to grow us all on our journey.
Tim
tim rogers
on Jul 12th, 2006
@ 8:10 pm:
Brother Art,
Praying for you. When your furniture and books arrive you will be snowed under trying to get caught up. I will pray that your house in Kentucky sells.
I know what you are going through. We have the movers coming in the morning and packing us up. We are still in our present assignment city, but are going to close on a house in another city on Tuesday, therefore, I will be with you in the same boat–two morticians–or mortgages. I have never owned two homes before. I am praying hard.
I pray that your pastorate goes well for you as God continues to grow us all on our journey.
Tim
Jamie Wootten
on Jul 12th, 2006
@ 8:46 pm:
Enjoy the honeymoon while it lasts… :)
Seriously, may God bless your ministry there!
tim rogers
on Jul 12th, 2006
@ 9:17 pm:
Brother Art,
Sorry for the double post, I do not know what happened.
Tim
Alan Cross
on Jul 13th, 2006
@ 9:04 am:
I’m praying for you and your church, Art – especially the ladies with cancer. That is so tough. Praise God for your new ministry! May God richly bless you and your family and all that you minister too!
Wade Burleson
on Jul 13th, 2006
@ 11:01 am:
Welcome to Oklahoma!
Note: Your church is split between Okie State fans and Sooner fans — but a true Baptist leader in Oklahoma will not bend at any congregational pressure to NOT be a fan of the Crimson and Cream.
Look forward to fellowshipping with you in our great state.
Go Sooners.
wade
Wes Kenney
on Jul 13th, 2006
@ 11:42 am:
Art -
The power of the dark side is strong, but you must resist. Remember your Texas heritage, and do not be wooed by the unholy forces of the land-grabbing thieves of zero-U.
I’ll pray for you…
;-)
Judy Harrison
on Jul 13th, 2006
@ 11:53 am:
No – No – No ! Crimson and cream is not your color. I think I am seeing you more in a “Burnt Orange”
How blessed we are to have you. I pray God’s greatest blessings on you, Bonnie, Jimmy and Hannah.
Love, Judy
Jeff Richard Young
on Jul 15th, 2006
@ 12:49 am:
Dear Brother Art,
I was demoted from Youth Minister to Pastor 4 years ago, and although I miss much about the youth ministry, God has blessed me enormously through the study of the Word for so much preaching and teaching. It has been a very enjoyable time of growth. I pray the same for you.
Love in Christ,
Jeff