Friday, March 28, 2008

 

Living for God Series

 

Romans 13:10 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” 

 

The Godsend

 

When the church was small I had plenty of time for relationships.  Now life as Senior Pastor at Spanish Fort United Methodist Church negates most of my relationships.   You see, the truth is, as pastor, my life is directed by the crises within the congregation. People may plan to do something with me one or two times and when crisis in the church arise and I cancel on them, it still hurts their feelings.  My perpetual cancellations would naturally feel like rejection.   For a minister of a large church, the truth is, your time is not your own.   There is also the ever-presence of events I need to attend which constantly cut into relationship time.  When I find an opportunity to be off I need to give that time to my wife and children.   I am also left with the huge failure of maintaining our house, yard, and automobiles.   The combination of these factors meant I came to be minus friendships with other men.  

 

The effect in my life was that I became very lonely for relationships with other guys.   Two events exasperated this situation – my father’s death and my best friend moved away.     

 

Jim Roberts was diligent about asking me to come to the Wednesday morning men’s group.   I was incredibly nervous about committing myself to this Wednesday morning group.   I did not want to be expected to recite my sins in front of men I did not know.   People often hold back from me because they are afraid I might preach or write about them, something I never do without their permission.  As I came to the group there was a pretty clear and immediate delineation between my role as Senior Pastor and me as a person.  The other guys in the group were not interested in my being Senior Pastor.  They were interested in my being Chip.  I have been careful to not let my role of employment at this church take precedent over my personhood.     

 

After many, many months in this Wednesday men’s group, I realize it has been a godsend.  I love the guys in my group.   I never had a brother but they are like brothers to me.   I pray for them everyday and I know they pray for me.   I did not realize how lonely I was until the guys in my small group filled that void.   My friendship with each guy in my group is not just about me and them.  It is a triangle.  It is about God, them, and me.  

 

The truth is the whole experience is a godsend.  God sent that into my life and it has blessed me more than words can express.   We all need relationships.  Throughout the life of our church and other churches there are many groups like this.  Friendships where God is the foundation are a godsend.   Christianity focuses on your relationship with God as played out in a world with people.   Human beings need to love and be loved. 

 

Prayer:

Dear God, help me to know we need Christian relationships.   Amen.