Archive
Subscribe
Weather
 |
|
 |
|
Inspiration Point: God can still connect with those snoring in the
pews |
His snoring was loud,
guttural and distinctive. Lee, who I had brought to church, was
embarrassing me. Sitting two rows from the front, I thought: “I
wonder if the pastor heard him.”
The elder’s wife glanced back at me. She smiled rather graciously.
A teen-ager across the aisle gave me a roll-your-eyes smirk. I could
only guess what the people behind me thought. Then my wife gave me a
look that said “poke him.”
I did, once. Not liking his sleepy-eyed glare, I stopped. Lee
nodded, snored and intermittently jerked his head. Then he would
listen briefly and continue the irritating snoring.
I take my church experience seriously. I want to experience God. I
want to worship God. I want to have my life changed ... I want, I
want.
Yeah, I started hearing from God right through the snoring. The
Bible verse “Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up
in due time,” whispered into my mind.
While concerned if other people were distracted by the snoring, I
humbled myself. I decided not to care about what people thought of
me. A formidable obstacle in life: What do people think of me?
Driving home, Lee said, “I’m sorry I kept falling asleep.” That’s
O.K. I was glad he went with me knowing he attends church less than
once a month.
I’m concerned about Lee’s spiritual life.
A couple of weeks later, my wife saw Lee. Again he mentioned his
falling asleep, adding, “Every time I woke up, it was like the
preacher was talking right to me.” And then he told her he was
attending church closer to home more regularly.
God showed me the Sunday service was about God and Lee — not me. I
was lifted up.
Syndicated columnist Rick
Leland is pastor of The Free Church in Three Rivers, Mich. |
|
From
July 14, 2007,
Newberg Graphic
Click Here to Subscribe |
|
|
|
 |
|
