James 24:7

I have been going out to the Gospel and Our Culture Network site of late and reading all of the back issues of their newsletter. The G&OCN is made up of theologians and pastors who are interested in the question of how the church can reach our culture with the gospel.  They are a serious and thoughtful bunch.

I find many helpful articles.  I learn something new or am reminded of something important with every visit.

One article in particular stands out.  I think about printing it out and sharing it with some folks in my church.  The article, published in 2002, was written by a woman who, at the time, was co-minister of the West Islip Church of Christ in New York.

Later that night, the name of the author of the article comes back to me.  "Why does that name sound so familiar?"  I ask.  Then it hits me, that is name of the woman I met last Fall during the Katrina emergency.  She was the pastor of the church next door to the Salvation Army church.

I wondered if they were the same person.

They are.

The church she currrently serves is just a few miles down the street from the church I currently serve.

The church she serves is the first church I ever served as pastor...32 years ago.

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Last Friday I read more articles on the G&OCN.  I found one by a Canadian pastor named Edwin Searcy.  The article had to do with preaching in a missional church.  I found the article so helpful that I looked around and discovered that Edwin Searcy has a web site.  Since I enjoyed reading on his web site, I sent him an email on Saturday and thanked him for sharing his insight. I had never heard of him before.

Later on Saturday, one of the members of our worship team at North River sent an email asking if she could read from Ezekiel.  The text was one that had taken on special significance for her.  The text she selected fit perfectly with my sermon on Sunday and I gave her the go-ahead.

Just before I left on Sunday to go to worship, I picked up a Bible that was given to me by a friend.  I thought that I would read the introductory essay for the book of Ezekiel.  I wanted to remind myself of some details about the prophet and hoped the essay would provide me what I needed.

I stood downstairs at the foot of the stairs and read the introduction while I waited on Linda, my wife, to descend.

It was a good little essay.  Very helpful.  When I finished I noticed the author's name....Edwin Searcy.

More later.