CAPITAL DISTRICT DIVISIONAL CHRISTMAS PARTIES 2008DAYS 05-06

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 AND MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008

Sunday
I am living proof that someone can party-hearty for several days…and live to tell about it. I had been scheduled to preach at Brentwood Foursquare for Plummer, but when I awoke on Friday morning (the day I had a meeting with him), I had one of those “suddenlies”—a small prompting like a pebble plunked in a still pond—urging me to cancel my planned engagement. Not knowing why such an urge was plopped into my awareness, I offered the possibility to Plummer to change our plans. I have learned through the years the truth of the verse telling us God directs our steps even after we have planned our way.

Both of us felt confirmed to change the plan. That meant I spent my Sunday morning without anything to do except catch up on some sleep, some reading and some emails. Strange to be unoccupied on a Sunday morning. The morning flew by, and before I knew it, I had to leave for the first party of the day with “Team Dodge” (Amos and Sue). They started their congregation, Capital Church, nearly 30 years ago, and they have been faithfully serving all that time, juggling the demands of Sue’s many scheduled singing engagements, and the challenges of Amos’ ministry trips. Theirs is one of the largest churches in our district, and because of their longevity in ministry, they have acted as unofficial “mom and dad” to many of our younger, newer Pastors.

Amos grilled a fabulous steak-and-blue-cheese entrée, and Sue had already done her cooking magic on the rest of the meal and appetizers. It was delightful being in their home with part of my extended family (and Lorrel was there, too). The comfortable-with-one-another level among our pastors is one of the surest signs that our district is healthy. That was evident in our conversation and laughter. I managed to resist “Cranberries Jubilee” after our 2:00pm lunch, so I could stay awake and be ready to go when I traveled north for the last party of the season with “Team May” (Tim and Susan).

Though all our pastors have chosen their divisional leaders on the basis of affinity, rather than mere geography, Tim and Susan lead the western-most of our divisions, encompassing western Maryland and the jutting panhandle of West Virginia. In addition to the pastors, Tim had invited a pastor-couple from a Foursquare church that is not technically in our district. I was so proud of him for extending service and affection beyond official borders—a good reminder to all the pastors that official lines are for administrative purposes, to assure that everyone gets the care and attention they need. We do not rim such groupings of churches with barbed-wire, as though one needs a passport to cross legally.

I know of few leaders who get hurt by too much care and attention. Nothing is lost by extending ourselves beyond arbitrary, official lines—as long as we simply seek others’ good, and not our own. Think of it this way: a man who “goes about” attempting to get others to “come under” him is “building” his own kingdom, and wants to be king of many subjects; a man who travels equally far, crossing borders but with a simple agenda to “come under” others is called a “servant of all.” Limits can and should be placed on how many “subjects” an officially sanctioned authority can have, but no one, thinking well, puts limits on the number of people served by someone. Complaints never arise from people who feel as though someone is getting under them. Feathers ruffle only when they sense someone is trying to bring them under someone. As several divisional leaders did, Tim shared his “thoughts” (prophetic promptings) with his pastors, and I spoke some words to/about Tim and Susan. Merry Christmas.

I drove back to Baltimore (near BWI) in 24° weather. NO big deal for my friends in the East, but HUGE for this California boy. I got to my hotel just before 10:00pm, and stayed up until just after midnight. Knowing my day would be free on Monday, I afforded myself the luxury of not making any plans.

Monday
I awoke at 4:00am for a short while, but realized there was no reason to get up. So I slept in until 7:30am before going downstairs for breakfast—a very unsatisfying meal because the hotel didn’t offer much choice. Fortunately, I bought a computer strategy game a couple days ago (an early Christmas present to myself), and I played it all day long except for short breaks for lunch and dinner. The concentration really helps me relax and think about nothing.

No kidding. That’s all I did the entire day. I am told that men, among other needs, need to have “shut-down” times when they do nothing. Though it might be incomprehensible to able-to-multi-task women (and seeming unfair that guys “get to” do nothing), I understand completely. Right guys? The day was over before I knew it. Even though the hotel was considerably less than a 5-Star place, I contented myself with no dilemmas to solve. Who knows if/when I’ll have another such free day?