robert

This morning I met a 75-year-old man named Robert. Of course this wasn't the first time our paths have crossed; he volunteers in the parking lot ministry I coordinate every Sunday morning. Other than a "hi" and "bye" and an occasional "how many parking spaces do we have left?" I've never really said much to Robert before. Today he ended up serving next to me in the West end of the parking lot. We began having small talk about the weather the holidays and how we came to be at Northplace church, but that quickly evolved into deep heart-searching conversation.

It was undeniably refreshing. We talked about what the Lord was speaking to each of us. Robert began to speak into my life. He encouraged me through scriptures I've heard all my life. The difference with Robert, though, is that these scriptures meant something to him. He had an authoritative gumption in how he carried himself when he talked about God, referencing Him through scripture. You see, to Robert, scripture was not just cute little saying embroidered on pillows. It was much more intoxicating than that. It was evident that these very scriptures were his life support. That's exactly the way I want to be. I want the Word of God to stay that important to me when I am 75.

There are 50 years separating Robert and I and yet I feel like I connected with a close friend. That really got me thinking. This is the way it is supposed to be. Christians come together every Sunday morning not to fill up chairs, and pay for a building or a program. It's so much more than that. We come to church, because we are the church. We need to slow down on Sundays and encourage each other as I was encouraged this morning. I learned that I spend far too much time on Sunday's bogged down in the details and far too less time dedicated to the body.

I hope this encourages you to do an inventory on your Sunday schedule.