We are moving to Lincoln, NE, in a few weeks to accept a pastorate there and I had to go get boxes. Banana boxes are the best as they are double walled when the top is on. You can stack a box of anvils on top of a box of feathers, they are so strong.
We are looking forward to our coming in to a pastorate of a Foursquare church. Our brief sojourn in the Assembly of God was a bad scene, as we used to say. There are some places I just do not fit. I suppose it is the mindset. I am not traditional nor old-fashioned. I also tend to read too much and make friends outside the church. AG tends to be introspective, even to the point at times of being exclusionary. I had enough of exclusionary when I left the Church of Christ, non-instrumental, and realized that I had gone right back into a church that felt deep down that they were the only true recipients of God’s grace. That is a little harsh, I suppose, and I do not mean for it to be. But I found out several years ago that I am a kingdom man. I believe in the church universal, not just in a denomination. The Foursquare church seems to agree with me in that. They see themselves as a unity movement, part of the whole, rather than most of the whole. I like that.
I suppose that with my mindset, I will never fit into any denomination fully. And at my age, I doubt that I will try real hard.
All I really want to do is serve God and love his church. Is that really so much?
Psalm 15
LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,
who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.
This is what I want. To live in his grace and be counted a worthy servant, to hear him say, Well done. I have no real desire to be great or have a large church. My desire is to do his will where I am; to love a church and to have them love me; to show that church the grace that I feel in my life. That’s it.
If I do that, I will dwell in his sanctuary.
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