My
oldest son Kel and his family have been walking through some really stressful
times of late. Some of the stress has
been exciting – good even. They found
out they are pregnant with their fifth child, due in December. And anyone who has been through the birth of
even one child understand the pressures involved there. They finally managed to find a house they
liked and moved into it not long ago.
Again, a good thing, except for the circumstances surrounding it.
Then
back right before the Fourth of July their house was broken into. Not that they have any secret hidden
treasures that thieves are lining up to take a shot at. It was just an annoying extra expense to buy
a new back door and get it replaced. Oh,
and then there were the sleepless nights that inevitably followed, wondering if
it would happen again, worrying about what effect it might have on the kids’
sense of security.
We
got a call from Kel Sunday afternoon asking of we knew a good wrecker
service. They stopped in at McDonalds on
the way home from VBS so their two youngest could go to the bathroom. When they left, they backed out of the
parking space, but when they shifted out of reverse, nothing happened. The lever moved just fine, but the gear didn’t
shift. They managed to shove it back
into a spot and get a ride home.
Yesterday they borrowed a friend’s trailer and hauled it into the shop. The fix wasn’t too bad. $150 this time. But now they are in the market for a vehicle
that can carry a seven person family with two forward-facing and one rear
facing car seats.
Back
to the circumstances regarding their move.
The church where he was pastor experienced some serious difficulties
which caused their denomination’s governing body to step in to offer help. That help resulted in a merger between Kel’s
church and another in League City. Part
of the agreement was that the new church would receive the proceeds from the
sale of the old church’s property and Kel would serve as associate pastor. After a predetermined amount of time the
agreement concerning Kel’s service would be reevaluated.
Well,
that predetermined time arrived rather suddenly when Kel was informed that
because the church was not receiving enough money from week to week, and as a
result they were having to dip into the savings account from the sale of the old
church, then his services as associate pastor were no longer needed. That, and his gifts were no longer a match
for where the church wanted to go. They
explained the severance package and announced it to the church the next
Sunday.
Now
with that background in, I would like to encourage you to read what Kel had to
say to the church on his last Sunday with them.
Here is the link to his blog:
I
have to say, that was well spoken. It
showed great spiritual maturity. It also
made me proud to be that man’s Dad. So
spread the word, those of you who can, if you know of a church that needs a
pastor with this kind of heart.
Romans
13:14 says, “Rather, clothe yourselves
with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires
of the sinful nature.”
Father,
thank you for my oldest boy. He’s turned
into quite the man. Amen.
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