There is a plan!

Last week was a busy one actually the second of two busy weeks. It seemed each day never let up until I fell into bed and then awake and right back to the break neck pace. The first week included the unexpected death of a husband and father of one of our families. It was a shock for all. He was a husband and father but also loved bikes and bikers. He was most comfortable in leathers and sunglasses with bikes and bikers on the road. He also felt comfortable at Crossroads Church.

With that in mind his family decided to have a memorial service for him in our temporary facility at the Assembly, our first. He had trusted Christ as his Savior and Lord. I thought that was cool but more so the opportunity to share the Gospel with bikers and others who would be there in his memory. That was why we exist to connect the unconnected. It sure seemed like a one of a kind opportunity and so I began to prepare thoughts and words for the moment. I had a plan. You know sometimes our plans are not God’s.

Saturday morning the day of the memorial service I awoke at 1am with the stomach bug. Every hour on the hour, I and the great white porcelain god met in an intimate and torturous exchange of a most unpleasant nature. It was not pretty. Sometimes, I can will myself to be better for the moments I need and then fall apart. Not this time, when I would begin to stir so did my stomach and to the bathroom I went. I held out until 11am trying and wishing I could do this thing later in the day. It was an important time for me and the family and possibly some in attendance. But I had to call the family and tell them I could not make it. They didn’t want me there with my bug either.

I was disappointed. I thought evil was hindering me from my purpose. But I felt terrible. The night before we had set up 124 chairs and set aside 20 more for overflow. After a few initial technical problems Barbara and Geoff were under way. I was in the bed glad to be laying down. Then came a text from Barbara, “the room is packed SRO” (standing room only). I replied, “That makes me feel worse.” It did. I was missing a great opportunity because of a stomach bug. The next, “Lots of long grey pony tails.” I still felt bad. Then came the sweetest text, “Right now the whole room is hearing the Gospel from one of their own.” At that moment I was overwhelmed with emotion (not from the bug). I remembered Paul being Glad the Gospel was preached regardless of the motive. I was glad the Gospel was being preached. “SWEET,” I replied followed by, “Then its best I am not there.” There was a plan.

Turns out it was not what I had thought. Sometimes we as people of faith think we’ve got God pegged. We don’t. I forgot that. Sunday I was much better. At worship his widow told me she asked a believer-bike shop owner-rider-friend who was on the program to speak. He replied he had not prepared anything. He was prepared. There was a plan. Barbara counted 175-180 people and more bikes rumbling away than could be counted. There is a plan.

Here I am a preacher and I didn’t know the plan. I thought I knew and then God showed up and all bets were off.

It was better than I planned.

The bug was worse than I thought.

God is more amazing than I knew.

He is more amazing than you know as well.

There IS a plan and it is GREATER than you can imagine.

 

In HIS Service and Yours,

Bro G