Worship Facilities EXPO and Conference

Long before the sun came up this morning I was sitting in my hotel room putting the finishing touches on my WFX Keynote address.  I'd already invested hours in prayer and preparation. My assignment was to tell the story of Christ's work at GCC and I wanted to wring every possible benefit from the moments remaining to me.

I live in the tension between God's call and my weakness.

No matter how prepared I am, I keep working on my messages until I'm finished delivering them.  Sometimes I wish I was smarter.  I wish I could finish my preparation, put the talk to bed and let go of it until it's time to stand and deliver. 

That'd be nice, but I can't do it.  My mind won't shut down.  I'm still turning words and transitions over in my psyche long after the text is prepared.  I try to conjure better ways to articulate my position.  I wonder if there isn't some clarifying illustration that will help people apprehend essential truth.  I pursue elusive analogies. I yearn for inspiration - not only for me but also for those listening to me. 

I have to work hard to do what God calls me to do.

So I stay up late.  I get up early.

If I was smarter it might be easier, but I'm admitting the truth.  If God doesn't show up when I preach, we may as well go home.  In fact, if God doesn't show up when I preach, I'm going home.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

 

Comments

[Phil]

You did great and spoke with a lot of wisdom.

Thanks for all the effort you made when the easy thing could've been to rely on past messages.

[Oliver Wong]

Hey Mark,

I was wondering if you could blog some time about message preparation for you. Are there any methods you have found helpful?

[Don Reynolds]

You are an artist and I love it. Thank you for being taken by your call and developing it so passionately. I am one of thousands whose lives have been impacted by your late nights and early mornings!

[Stuart Lowery]

Thank you so much. A few of the Leaders and myself were at the WFX conference traveling from Chicago. Our entire thinking process on delivering the love of God to the world has been totally changed. I'm so glad God did show up because I know I would have left with you. Thank you for allowing God to use you. I know there is so much more our church would like to learn from you and Granger but thank God the answer comes from the same source because gas is expensive. Thanks Again

[Sarah Koutz]

You have no idea how many times I've run to that passage over the last several years. Excellent post!

[Sheryl (Stogsdill) Spurrier]

Oh, how I can appreciate your experience and spiritual nurture for your "sheep". My father was the pastor/northern Indiana moderator of our church denomination. I remember him working through early Sunday mornings polishing or changing his sermon that he felt God was leading him through. Early in his ministry he pastored a couple small churches, barbered part-time, and drove a school bus! He raised six children , with my mother as his spiritual twin. Forty-four Years. He needed routine surgery on the first day of his retirement--surgery gone wrong--he passed away. He is missed by so many people--as he was a great "shepherd" of his flocks. I guess God needed him in heaven.

[Curly Wentland]

I attended the WFX expo and enjoyed greatly. You truely are blessed by God and your dillegence is evident. I will say that the techies love the technology power. Even with my hearing loss I noticed these guys couldn't help themselves from having the sound way to loud during your address. The video of the young man singing I found particularly moving. What's his name and what was the name of the song played? Where can I find a copy to purchase and play at our parish?
God's Blessings,
Curly

[Mark Doebler]

Mark,
I didn't really know where to add the comment I want to make since it does not apply directly to this post. But as a church planter, I so identify with what you have written here that I figured this was as good a place as any.

I'm in Peoria, IL and have attended several workshops at GCC and have walked away challenged and encouraged each time. You have ministered to me although you do not know me.

As a newbie blogger myself, I was recently surprised to be "tagged" with a thinking blogger award regarding a post I had written about Oprah and New Age thinking. The purpose of the "tag" was to share with readers of your blog, other blogs that have made you think or that have challenged you. I would have tagged you if I could have found the appropriate entry, but ultimately I tagged Daryl Strickland who posted an entry from YOU. It was your declaration of expectations. I must tell you that I have been deeply challenged and inspired by that declaration. It is so easy as a church planter to subordinate values and standards to immediate needs. I can only conclude that one of the reasons God has blessed you and GCC so significantly is because you have held biblical standards high without compromise.

I want that to be me. I want it to be true. But If I'm honest, I've probably lowered standards at times to meet needs. But your declaration of expectations have encouraged me to stand firm and believe...and to remind myself that Jesus really is the head of the church. It's his church, his standards. Thanks for your leadership. I'm still learning.