Friday night was special for us...

It was senior night at the ECHS football game. The seniors in the fall sports and the marching band are recognized before the game individually along with their escorts (usually their parents). Carolyn is a senior this year and was recognized. In preparation for this each senior completed a survey about their family, past accomplishments and future plans. Included in the survey was a line for the names of their escorts. Barbara completed this line by writing “The Rev. and Mrs. George Pabst.” She assumed it would be read “The reverend and Mrs. George Pabst.” As Carolyn’s name was called and we walked towards the sideline the announcer says “escorted by The Rev and Mrs. George C. Pabst.” We laughed so hard that we failed to hear anything else said over the public address system.

I tell you this because I very rarely use the title Reverend. My name is George. It has been for as long as I can remember so, that’s who I am. When mail comes to the house and it is addressed Reverend George Pabst I immediately know they know not who I am. I guess titles bug me. I don’t know. The title thing has been a joke at our house for a long time. The Rev became a conversation spark for several people.

Several years ago while attending a choral festival at AASU I had the opportunity to speak numerous times with Kimberly Webster. As far as I knew she was Mom and wife of a career army officer. She told me of moving numerous times and how their family adjusts and adapts. It wasn’t until later that she told me of her husband’s rank Brigadier General. Her husband was Brigadier General William Webster commander of the 3^rd Infantry Division. I felt stupid. I asked how that worked with his authority at work and then at home. She told me when he comes home he takes out the trash. Kind of keeps you grounded. Titles don’t mean much in some places.

Title and labels are our conventions to define people and places in a unique way. They really should exist out of an experience or the nature of the individual or place so that the person is the title not the title making the person. Labels can do the same thing. Sacred and secular, Christian, believer, follower of Jesus are to indicate who the person is not to define them as a person. Often it gets turned around as an individual begins to believe their press releases more than the mirror.

In recent weeks I have studied Esther and Ruth. The most interesting idea that has surfaced from those two women and their God stories is how unreligious their stories are. No “and the Lord spoke” or “God caused” in those stories but rather two women living their lives in their very unique situations faithful to who they are and the God they worship and in the midst of living the providence of God was shaping not only their own story but the story of history as well. What seemed to be a secular setting became sacred by the providence of God’s hand. This has led me to conclude there is no secular for a child of God because God’s faithfulness is not dependent upon me but rather upon His character no title him. I AM that I AM.

That’s what this transformation called salvation is all about. Who I am in HIM!               

In HIS Service and Yours,

The Rev the preacher formerly known as BroG

Last week was eventful to say the least...

Sunday due to an apparent power surge a video projector and laptop were rendered useless except for the door stops. So the quest is on to see if they can be repaired and how much that will cost and is that the best value and as of yesterday throw in insurance coverage with its requirements. That makes me frustrated.

Insurance companies are in business to make money. You make more when you reduce costs (pay out as little as possible). I understand that but it still frustrates me. I typically have a preaching plan for several weeks if not months. My plan ran out so I have been looking for inspiration as to speaking this Sunday. That is frustrating.

Frustration is the key. It occurred to me that frustration is nothing more than a symptom of selfishness. I am frustrated because I didn’t get what I wanted the way I wanted it. That’s selfish. That’s what aggravates us about insurance companies. We just want it fixed but they have to protect their investment. That is not what I want, frustration. I contend that is our natural state, selfishness. We don’t teach toddlers to be selfish. We teach them to share. Don’t we? Selfishness is the sin. All the others boil down to that. That is why it is so hard to overcome.

Thursday and Friday I was at a conference called Catalyst. The conference is for leaders in and around the church world. It includes music, video, comedy and some of the rising speakers in the country. The theme was Be Present. Judah Smith lead us in worship by reminding us that Moses asked God to see his glory. No man can see God and live, so God instructs him to hide in the rock. God (see that) would cover him until he passed by and Moses would be allowed to see his back as God passed by. Moses followed instructions and God passed by. As a result the face of Moses glowed for days from a glimpse of God’s glory. He had to cover his face because the people could not stand it. Judah Smith went on to read from John 1:1,14 NIV 1984

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,^[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus is the complete incarnation of God (as much of the infinite God that can fit in the finite body). Whereas Moses got just a glimpse of God’s back we have the opportunity to see the full glory of God in Jesus full of grace and truth. God complete right here and as a believer now the one who lives through us. Paul tells us “for I am crucified with Christ and yet I live, not I but Christ who lives in me.” God the creator of all in his full glory lives in me and you. Then Judah Smith kicked me in the head when he asked “since when did Jesus cease to be enough?” Did you read that “since when did Jesus cease to be enough?” We just read he is the complete incarnation of the living God but when I’m frustrated he is not enough.

When I’m frustrated, angry, hurt, worried, depressed etc. Jesus is not enough! That means most days I don’t think Jesus is enough. Ugh what a wretch am I. If He is not enough then who is?

Reality check, He is enough!

                   
Last night one of my Life group members said, “If I would just slow down and let Jesus be enough.”  That’s where I live too fast, too much on my plate. That is not how Jesus lived. He never seems to be in a hurry in the Gospels does he?

Let’s “slow down and let Jesus be enough.”