Today is a travel day. After a too-short visit with the Lansing church–two leadership workshops, two “missions emphasis” Sundays, sermons, classes, and typical ministry with hospital visits, Bible studies, visits, fellowship and encouragement, we will be home by mid-afternoon.
These crisp, fall days are reminders of special times past, reminders of a dozen years of lives intertwined and supporting one another. It is intriguing to be able to re-enter a church system and pick up the rhythms of ministry almost automatically.
We have not lacked things to do during these few days–churches and communities are filled with ministry opportunities, but they are not always easy to see. One reason I love the Lansing church is that it helps make the opportunities easy to see. “Visit with my spouse….call my friend.” Always there are shut-ins, cancer patients, hospital visits, phone calls, counseling….
Ministry is a privilege. I love to be reminded of that truth. I love to preach; I love preaching even more when people respond and recommit. “We will see our world; we will change our world; we will live faithfully; we will depend on God.” The Christian life is not complex, my Christian life can be defined in a few basic commitments. “This we will do, God permitting.”