Michael?, Michael?, Michael Mercer? He's not here today (someone in the room).
Even though I had very few of these days at school, I would imagine that is how it went. I've had very few of those days in ministry as well.
But today I'm absent. No the church won't be calling roll. But since I'm the preacher, everyone knows.
Today I will not get up and address the church. I won't tell any stories. I won't take a crowd through any biblical teaching. And I won't give a challenge to make our Monday different.
But today I'm still preaching. Today I preach with actions over words. Today I'm preaching a sermon to my children that dad thinks his responsibility as a spiritual leader is of vital importance in his own home. Today I'm preaching through the act of taking time off to spend time with my family and extend care to my wife and my beautiful (now 3) children. For two weeks I will stay home. No office time, no pulpit time, no visitations. This will allow me to bond with my new daughter, give some much needed attention to my twin boys, and give love and care to my amazing wife.
This will be my preaching for the next two weeks. My time with my family will be my sermons. It is a balance that far too often leans one way more than the other. If I'm honest I cheat on my family with work way too often.
These two weeks will also be a sermon to myself. Family is important. If you can't be present for your family, you can't be present for your church. So I will focus on being present for my family and allow THAT to be my sermon and a gift to my family and the church.
Am I absent from preaching? Physically? Yes! Spiritually? I'm right where I need to be.
Even though I had very few of these days at school, I would imagine that is how it went. I've had very few of those days in ministry as well.
But today I'm absent. No the church won't be calling roll. But since I'm the preacher, everyone knows.
Today I will not get up and address the church. I won't tell any stories. I won't take a crowd through any biblical teaching. And I won't give a challenge to make our Monday different.
But today I'm still preaching. Today I preach with actions over words. Today I'm preaching a sermon to my children that dad thinks his responsibility as a spiritual leader is of vital importance in his own home. Today I'm preaching through the act of taking time off to spend time with my family and extend care to my wife and my beautiful (now 3) children. For two weeks I will stay home. No office time, no pulpit time, no visitations. This will allow me to bond with my new daughter, give some much needed attention to my twin boys, and give love and care to my amazing wife.
This will be my preaching for the next two weeks. My time with my family will be my sermons. It is a balance that far too often leans one way more than the other. If I'm honest I cheat on my family with work way too often.
These two weeks will also be a sermon to myself. Family is important. If you can't be present for your family, you can't be present for your church. So I will focus on being present for my family and allow THAT to be my sermon and a gift to my family and the church.
Am I absent from preaching? Physically? Yes! Spiritually? I'm right where I need to be.
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