A Bit Overwhelmed, But Optimistic

Good morning, my friend.  It's always great to have you here on ChurchRequel.com.  I hope you come back everyday.  This morning I made my way back to Panera Bread, my old stomping grounds.  I used to come here almost every morning for my quiet time.  I would reflect on some Scriptures, write in my journal, plan my day, read my Google Reader, and then head in to work.  I don't think I've been here for about three weeks.  My last journal entry until today in my personal journal was December 16th.  And my Google Reader is backed up to 701 unread articles!  I guess my life has been a bit hectic of late in my efforts to get the new Church Requel up and running.

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed, but not particularly anxious.  There just are so many projects that I want to get off the ground.  I feel like the construction worker, who wants people to immediately start driving across his bridge.  But the bridge isn't built yet; he's working on the pillars.  Yet at the same time he wants to tell everyone how great the bridge is going to be someday.  That may be true, but for the time being people need to find a way to drive around.  They're certainly not going to wait until the construction worker finishes his bridge to begin driving. 

In the same way I'm working on the foundation of a great church.  I know it's going to be great someday, because I believe with all my heart that God is in this.  I'm optimistic about the things He will accomplish through Church Requel.  In the meantime, I need to be faithful every day to keep working on the pillars. 

I have had the privilege of working on the daily Bible studies.  And I'm enjoying the process of preparing the weekly sermons.  These are a GREAT JOY to me!  I'd love to do nothing other than spend time in God's Word and communicate His great truths to others. However, for now, I have another full time job in addition to my teaching role - this church construction project.  And while I don't enjoy the foundation work quite as much as the teaching work, I find myself encouraged every time I work on another project.  I have the unique opportunity to shape the future by the decisions I make today.  Few people... few pastors... have the chance to design a church.  At every fork in the road, I stop and pray and think and consider.  It's slow and deliberate work, not developing nearly as fast as I would want it to.  However, every day is another step forward.  I'm excited to see what Church Requel could ultimately become.

Some of you who are reading this are simply watching from afar, keeping tabs on the progress.  That's cool.  I know most will be observers, nothing more.  But some of you regularly ask me what you could be doing to help.  There are three things that you could do that would be of IMMENSE assistance to me.  First, please pray regularly for me.  This past Sunday those few people at our home for worship surrounded Mary Kay and me after our service and laid their hands upon us and prayed intensely for us.  I CANNOT BEGIN TO DESCRIBE just how affirming that was.  If I ever become discouraged, I will think back to that moment and know that God has some of His people praying for us. 

Secondly, you could encourage us.  Your comments here, your emails, your phone calls all matter.  It's one thing to pray for us.  It's another thing to let us know you are praying for us.  That first week we found out that I lost my job at Crossroads, we were flooded with calls and messages.  Naturally that has fallen off since then.  That's to be expected.  I know from the statistics that several hundred of you read this blog every day.  If a few of you could take the time to let us know who you are, that would be an incredible encouragement.

Finally, you can tell others about what is going on.  Point them to this website.  Let them know that God has called us to start a new church.  Let them know the bridge isn't built yet, but it's going to be great when it's finished.  Fifteen years ago when the B&O bike trail was just being constructed, my young son and I would regularly ride down and watch the bridgework.  Sometimes we would walk our bikes around the creeks to keep riding on the other side.  It was a bit of work, but the ride and fellowship together were always worth it.  We don't have the church built yet, but we're meeting at our home every Sunday morning at 10AM for worship, teaching and fellowship.  It's a bit like riding the bike down to watch the construction.  We have room for a few more, if you'd like to come.  In fact, bring someone with you, if you'd like.  Some day you'll be able to say you were part of Church Requel when it met in the house of the pastor.  Thanks for reading.  I appreciate you.  Mark