Midweek Encouragement - “Worship Services Can’t Be Served Smorgasbord”

             ^{Forgive me if it seems like I’m always talking about myself or what I do, but I am what I am. And if it seems like I’m always talking about worship, it’s because that’s what we disciples of Jesus will be doing 24/7/365/forever in heaven.}

         ^{One thing I’ve learned about God’s dealing with people is that He does it in togetherness. The children of Israel moved together across the wilderness. The young, vigorous ones probably wanted to move at twice the pace. The young mothers with babies and toddlers needed to take it easy. The oldest probably never wanted to move at all. It took a lot of give and take, a lot of consideration for the condition of the other guy, a lot of accommodating. But when it was all over, except for those who died along the way, they all got from here to there together. They all obeyed the sight of the cloud and fire, the sound of the trumpets. They all grumbled and were punished together, but together they also saw the waters part, rods bud, and fire come out of heaven. They knew each other well. They did it together.}

         ^{My calling, in however long God gives me with my church family, is to get them from here to there together. God has called me to lead them together and help them feel all one.}

         ^{Maybe you’re familiar with the pagan deity Janus. He had two faces. One faced looked forward and the other looked back. Any church family will become two-faced when the conservatives attend the one consistently “straight” service while the “progressives” experiment with the latest in contemporary. Maybe that’s why I’m glad we worship in one worship service here at the Mt. Laurel Church of God. We try to put elements of both old and new in whatever we experience, but we try to pace ourselves to go forward experiencing everything together.}

         ^{Some older ones grumble. Some younger ones want to experiment more. I expect both reactions and encourage them to be considerate of each other’s feelings.}

         ^{Hopefully, when our worship service is over, we’ve grumbled and endured together, but hopefully we will have seen God’s glory together, too. And hopefully we’ll all loose some of the old and together we will have all gained some of the new. And through it all, I hope we’ll continue to be a Body together . . . conservatives and progressives trying to put it all together together! After all, every vehicle must have both gas and brakes. That’s the best way it gets from here to there.}

^{For those of you who will be in worship at the Mt. Laurel Church of God this coming Sunday, May 5, my message will be based on this Scripture:}

^{1 John 5:1-6}

^{Pastor Dale}

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this message with anyone you choose. And if you'd like to receive PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send an email to (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.