Sunday, June 22, 2003
Accepting the Highest Call
"The coming of God's kingdom, as certain as the dawn,
Ascends upon this dark and dying land.
Lord God I hear Your calling, by faith I yield my all.
And in Your strength, I vow to make my stand
The highest call is on my life...
Living for Jesus, no matter the price.
There's a crown of life for those who give their all.
Living for Jesus, accepting the highest call."
The singing group, "Truth", sang this song years ago. Today, this song came rushing back into my head as we recognized our pastor's tenth year at Covenant (in the role of pastor). Just before our little recognition service, he gave my daughter, Lisa, an affirmation. He recognized God's blessing on her life... he encouraged her by telling her that he wasn't sure when he started college what his "calling" was, but he knew there was SOMETHING, however vague it was at the time. Lisa is considering youth or recreational ministry in the future. No matter what she does with her life, I will be 100% supportive. But seeing her up there with the thought that she may one day be in "the ministry" made my heart go pitter-pat. And seeing her being affirmed by our friend and pastor, Gordon, made it all the better.
Gordon heard the call. He heeded the call. He answered the call. For that, I am grateful. Ten years ago, he answered the call to become the pastor of this little church family. I've been blessed to be a part of that family for seven of those years. I've been even more blessed to be a small part of the "staff" and have worked along side him each Sunday as music minister for four of those years.
I can't say enough about this man and his dear wife. I can't imagine Covenant without them. I can't imagine our lives without them. I'm sure one day we'll be on opposite sides of the country... but for now, we are together at Covenant. Thank you, God, for Gordon & Jeanene. Thank you, Gordon & Jeanene, for accepting the highest call.
"The coming of God's kingdom, as certain as the dawn,
Ascends upon this dark and dying land.
Lord God I hear Your calling, by faith I yield my all.
And in Your strength, I vow to make my stand
The highest call is on my life...
Living for Jesus, no matter the price.
There's a crown of life for those who give their all.
Living for Jesus, accepting the highest call."
The singing group, "Truth", sang this song years ago. Today, this song came rushing back into my head as we recognized our pastor's tenth year at Covenant (in the role of pastor). Just before our little recognition service, he gave my daughter, Lisa, an affirmation. He recognized God's blessing on her life... he encouraged her by telling her that he wasn't sure when he started college what his "calling" was, but he knew there was SOMETHING, however vague it was at the time. Lisa is considering youth or recreational ministry in the future. No matter what she does with her life, I will be 100% supportive. But seeing her up there with the thought that she may one day be in "the ministry" made my heart go pitter-pat. And seeing her being affirmed by our friend and pastor, Gordon, made it all the better.
Gordon heard the call. He heeded the call. He answered the call. For that, I am grateful. Ten years ago, he answered the call to become the pastor of this little church family. I've been blessed to be a part of that family for seven of those years. I've been even more blessed to be a small part of the "staff" and have worked along side him each Sunday as music minister for four of those years.
I can't say enough about this man and his dear wife. I can't imagine Covenant without them. I can't imagine our lives without them. I'm sure one day we'll be on opposite sides of the country... but for now, we are together at Covenant. Thank you, God, for Gordon & Jeanene. Thank you, Gordon & Jeanene, for accepting the highest call.
Saturday, June 14, 2003
Quiet Evangelism
The quietest 29 points and 17 boards in history. That's how they described Tim Duncan's performance in game 5 of the NBA finals between the Spurs and the Nets. We watched the game with our dear friends (who are also our pastor and his wife). We yelled at the TV... we yelled at Tim Duncan... we yelled at Popovich... we yelled, period. After the game, which we won, we realized that Tim (MVP) had scored 29 points and had 17 rebounds. I didn't know he had done so well. It didn't seem like it during the game. I didn't see him driving, shooting, pushing, moving, rebounding... I didn't notice him at all.
Evangelism can work in much the same way. Or, it should. When folks are called upon in heaven to tell how they got there, I think many will say, "it was Michael Main." Nobody knows he's doing it. Nobody notices that he's reaching out to bless them. They don't see him praying for them. He's an MVP... but you wouldn't know it by looking at him. Michael's quiet evangelism. It's amazing to watch... but you won't know it when you see it. It just happens. And before you know it, someone's been blessed.
The Spurs season will be over in a few days. David Robinson's career will be over in a few days. Tim Duncan's MVP year will be over in a few days. But Michael's quiet evangelism will go on forever. I'm blessed to be a witness to it every single day.
The quietest 29 points and 17 boards in history. That's how they described Tim Duncan's performance in game 5 of the NBA finals between the Spurs and the Nets. We watched the game with our dear friends (who are also our pastor and his wife). We yelled at the TV... we yelled at Tim Duncan... we yelled at Popovich... we yelled, period. After the game, which we won, we realized that Tim (MVP) had scored 29 points and had 17 rebounds. I didn't know he had done so well. It didn't seem like it during the game. I didn't see him driving, shooting, pushing, moving, rebounding... I didn't notice him at all.
Evangelism can work in much the same way. Or, it should. When folks are called upon in heaven to tell how they got there, I think many will say, "it was Michael Main." Nobody knows he's doing it. Nobody notices that he's reaching out to bless them. They don't see him praying for them. He's an MVP... but you wouldn't know it by looking at him. Michael's quiet evangelism. It's amazing to watch... but you won't know it when you see it. It just happens. And before you know it, someone's been blessed.
The Spurs season will be over in a few days. David Robinson's career will be over in a few days. Tim Duncan's MVP year will be over in a few days. But Michael's quiet evangelism will go on forever. I'm blessed to be a witness to it every single day.
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Nothing to say for ten days now. How unusual for me. I have sat down at the computer day after day wondering, "what should I write?" But nothing comes. There's nothing to be said right now... nothing that hasn't been said on here already (or in my old blog)... or in Michael's blog.
Tiffany graduated. Lisa graduated. Joey moved. I went with Lisa to orientation at Baylor. I was a third wheel... but I forced my way in like any good mama bird. I'm trying to get used to this new season in life.
My good friend, Denise, is still recovering from the loss of her baby. I made the observation that she and John were relating better than I had ever seen them relate before. Apparently he told her that he felt that this time around, she needed him... and he never felt like she needed him before. They really do need each other, and they're finally coming to that realization after nearly 10 years together. That's such a good thing.
Tonight, before Michael closed his eyes, he said, "I love you. And I need you." I told him I need him, too. Desperately. I've never felt like I needed anyone before. I could get through anything on my own. But in reality, I've needed Michael all my life. I needed him 10 years ago. I need him now. That's what marriage is all about. We need each other. That's such a good thing.
Tiffany graduated. Lisa graduated. Joey moved. I went with Lisa to orientation at Baylor. I was a third wheel... but I forced my way in like any good mama bird. I'm trying to get used to this new season in life.
My good friend, Denise, is still recovering from the loss of her baby. I made the observation that she and John were relating better than I had ever seen them relate before. Apparently he told her that he felt that this time around, she needed him... and he never felt like she needed him before. They really do need each other, and they're finally coming to that realization after nearly 10 years together. That's such a good thing.
Tonight, before Michael closed his eyes, he said, "I love you. And I need you." I told him I need him, too. Desperately. I've never felt like I needed anyone before. I could get through anything on my own. But in reality, I've needed Michael all my life. I needed him 10 years ago. I need him now. That's what marriage is all about. We need each other. That's such a good thing.
