We had a whole passle of guests and visitors today. Janna and her daughter Katie, finishing up at WWU. They’re both from our sending church just coming to hang out. A family from our area who’s friends with our worship leaders (it’d be great to have them connect!), and then Ted & Brittany. I know both of them from our sending church, but Ted left his role as worship pastor there to go plant a church, and they have since gotten engaged. Ted’s a Trinity seminary grad and Brittany is finishing up at Westmont.
We got to go out to lunch after the service with Janna and Katie, Ted & Brittany, Shannon and Kaileigh and I. I got lots of encouragement from them. Ted made one comment that I highly valued. paraphrasing, he said that one thing he liked about the church was that it felt risky – that the Holy Spirit was there, and he might actually have to receive prayer, then and there, instead of hiding or asking his fiancee’ to pray for him in the car on the way home. And that this would scare some people, and it would enliven others.
He had a vision for us also, well, more for me. It was a pretty strong suggestion to not look at the present and disbelieve that the Lord is at work behind the scenes. But instead, to trust that the Lord is steering the ship that we’re on, and powering the oars. Great encouragement.
And finally, all of the guests made a specific point to say that they got fed today in sermon-time. That feels great, because I know the bar of their expectations and background – these are all people who seriously love the Scripture and aren’t afraid to say what they really feel. And it’s starting to feel like I’m getting a handle on the balance between teaching and facilitating discussion.
All that, and the Seahawks are officially in the playoffs.
pat loughery 
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