Jan Heide has been sniffling and sneezing all day. She claims to feel better today than yesterday, but I'm not sure I believe her. Mostly she's still here because she has to finish the Annual Report. She got the last input for it late this afternoon, we added some pictures to fill up blank spaces and add more fun. And then she passed it to me for review.And that's when today's surprise slammed me.
It is a big part of my job to notice the gaps and problems in our fellowship. As one who must one day stand before God and give an account for how I have shepherded this family of believers, I am constantly looking for where we need to stretch ourselves and grow. And every church always has room to grow and improve.
But sometimes I'm so focused on gap areas, I don't notice and enjoy the good stuff as much as I should. And let me tell you, folks, there is good stuff at Elim Church! When I sat and reviewed everything that has gone on and is going on around here in just the last twelve months, I was very surprised. No; that's too weak - I was stunned. I knew all these things, but seeing them all collected in one place on the pages of our annual report overwhelmed me. While we do have all sorts of gaps and growth areas to address as a church, many of those gaps and growth areas exist simply because of the gloriously ambitious vision of our church.
Elim Church - you have surprised and blessed me today! I hope you'll take this the right way, but I think I'm finally falling in love.
May God help us continue to think on good things!
Amen.
