Reset Button

I had a rough week, how about you? Billy Graham’s daughter, Ruth Graham, wrote a book titled, “In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart.” Believe me, if you were in church this week, I can assure you, someone else was there that was going through some really tough stuff. Sometimes we need to hit the reset button.

Chemo week usually knocks me down physically for about four days or more. I have learned to expect it. Last week though was not as bad as others. What surprised me was how it affected my mind. I had a hard time focusing. I couldn’t concentrate enough even to blog. Thoughts were just not there. Maybe it was a spiritual thing, I don’t know.  But I do know I needed a reset. That’s what church does for me. 

I have always believed that the church needed to extend itself beyond the safety of the brick and mortar “church” that we “go to.” Ministry outside of the church has always been a part of my life, holding a high priority. In every church I pastored, I got involved with the community and got to know them. When I started as a police chaplain, one officer asked me, “Why are you doing this?” I told him I was doing this because I believed that pastors should not be limited to inside the church but to get out to where the people were. I sensed that he agreed and I had a good relationship with the police for 28 years. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples.”    

I believe the purpose of the church is to worship God, fellowship with those of like faith, teach and train believers, and to GO and make disciples.  These are all important, none are to be considered unnecessary. 

Church is the place where we can press the reset button. It’s the place where we praise and worship our God through singing (and hearing others) extol the adoration of the One who saved us. It’s the place where we interact with others, some whom might be the broken hearted, quiet introverts who might be “reset” by your greeting, or any indication that you acknowledge that they are worthy of your attention. It’s the place where we hear a word from God through the preacher equipping us for another week of getting on board with what Jesus is doing in the community, not OUR agenda but His.  It’s the place from where we are sent to be His missionaries.  

I needed a reset today and God showed up. I was literally overcome with the worship experience today. Every part, the songs and hymns, the special music, the reminders of being forgiven and reaffirming the theological truths that we believe, and the pastor’s message that hit right on. Our pastor said that God meets us “in” the church but we also can find Jesus outside the church where we can join Him in what He is doing. Just what I needed to reset this week.

Do you need a reset? It’s nothing to be ashamed of. In fact I think God designed us to be His church and to gather weekly to hit the reset button.

“…not forsaking you the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but (encouraging) one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching.”  Hebrews 10:25