Catching Up

I'm not sure if you know this but one of the ways that God confirmed His leading in this appointment change was through a study that you're presently moving through.

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to take some much needed renewal leave time. I was able to pull away for two whole months to retreat with God (February and March), connect with family, and pray. Interestingly, there were only three books that I took with me as I went: "The God I Don't Understand" by Christopher Wright (excellent book), "The Cure: What if God isn't who you think He is, and neither are you" by John Lynch, Bruce McNicol, and Bill Thrall, and "The Grand Sweep" by J. Ellsworth Kalas (an old preaching professor of mine from Asbury Theological Seminary).

My hope during my time away was to draw close enough to God to hear where He might be leading me and our church. I had sensed that it was time to lead my people through the bible, and encourage them to become students of God's Word...people who knew and were familiar with the Grand Narrative.

My time with God was rich and rewarding, and seemed to be focused on me as a leader rather than where we should go at Aldersgate. And then it came - the call. With only a few days left to "renew," and in a frustrated place of holy panic (given that I had yet to hear from God on where He was leading Aldersgate UMC), I received a call from Rev. Melanie Rosa. "We believe God is opening up some doors in Colorado Springs, and I want you to pray about an appointment to Wilson UMC," she said.

After speaking with her, I did what everyone does these days, I Googled Wilson UMC. What I found was  exciting. Wilson, it seems, is actively engaged in the community by planting preschools (hmmm, I thought, my wife is a preschool teacher), and the were in the midst of a particular study and sermon series - The Grand Sweep (Shut...up!!! Properly exegeted: "No way!!!")!

What I was unable to see at the time was that God was leading me to move my people through a study of the Bible, I just couldn't see that "my people" would be you people!

So, at the moment, I am furiously catching up in my reading and studying. I am almost done with 2 Samuel and hope to be current with the congregation by this weekend. From there, we will journey together through the greatest story every told - God's Story.