Friday, August 29, 2008

It's Friday But Sunday is Coming



It's early Friday morning and I find myself with the incredible pressure of writing my message for the weekend. Yes I have done the research, spent hours thinking creatively, pleaded to God for wisdom, and soaked in His presence; yet I still feel this unbelievable weight that has kept me up all week. This message has the potential to change people's lives.
For those of you who preach every Sunday you will know what I am about to say better then most. You are only as good as your last message! Every week we have to hand in a term paper that is graded, in my case by almost 2000 people. While you might not get the red marks all over your manuscript and the final grade on the last page, you are graded by the way it plays out in people's lives.
Besides you get to compete with every Internet, CD, DVD, conference speaker that your people have plugged into their ipod that week. You also have to juggle and few broken marriages, the budget, three athletic contests of your kids, your anniversary, a new-born baby, six counseling appointments, the vision for the next ten years, two Bible studies, 24 phone calls, stained carpet in the foyer, a call from Africa and Asia, the list goes on...
All this to say here I am again, the same place I was last Friday. I want to deliver the most life-changing message that I possibly can for people that I lost two hours of sleep over last night. Please Jesus give me a passing grade because it's Friday but Sunday is coming and our 3 venues will be packed with people hungry and ready to be fed! Help me Jesus!








4 comments:

Unknown said...

Your grades will always be good.. know why? because you DO stay up at night affected by the outcome! Because your love is so deep, your message comes across. love you.

Stephanie said...

Hey Jim,
Just want you to know that speaking on behalf of both Neil and I, we love you to and enjoy serving with you. You and Anne are a couple we look up to and admire for the way your marriage is and hope that it will continue to be blessed by our God. One year and counting for us...
~Stephanie Slabaugh

Dana said...

Jim, you can't be serious. Don't you know that every message that you have ever delivered has had a profound affect on many people? I wish that you could have known Emmon and I a few years ago so that you could truly appreciate how your messages have lead us and shown us both how to allow the Holy Spirit to completely fill our hearts. We will never be the same.

Dana said...

Jim, you can't be serious. Every message that you have ever given has affected someone in a very profound way. I wish that you would have known Emmon and I better a few years ago so that you could truly appreciate what your leadership has done in our lives. We only miss church if we have to be out of town, and then we come home and listen to it on the internet. We praise God for you!