Break in series (Continued): “Thankful Reflections on 2007 So Far”

Often, reflections on notable things that have taken place during that calendar year are the kind of thing that is done around New Year’s.  And, I may well choose to do something of that sort that extends beyond thanksgiving at that time.  However, in honor of the day that is set aside as Thanksgiving, I would like to take this natural opportunity to lay out a number of things for which I am particularly thankful and grateful in 2007.

For this purpose, I am thinking/writing in three categories: what has happened this year so far in: 1) my personal life; 2) my ministry; and 3) the Southern Baptist Convention.

In my personal life, things have changed a great deal so far in 2007.  Physically, on January 1, I still weighed about 275 and have lost about 20 pounds since through a lot of walking, running and bike riding and trying to watch what I eat (though volume is still an issue!).  As a result, the first complete physical I had had in probably 20 years gave me a complete clean bill of health.  This is a stark change for the good from the fat, out-of-shape slob I was last January, when I had a physical episode that really scared me.  Praise be to God for helping me get my “temple” (1 Corinthians 6:19) back into more Temple-like condition!

Spiritually and emotionally, I don’t think I have ever walked more consistently, or closer, with the Lord.  Coming to grips with a number of unresolved emotional issues and some related anger has helped a great deal.  But, consciously coming to the place where I realized that I had no excuse not to be walking in the power of the Holy Spirit moment-by-moment, by faith (Galatians 5:5-6, 16), has been transforming.  I still don’t always do it, but there has been vast improvement on that front and I am deeply grateful for the Lord’s patience with me.  I have been a Christian for over 37 years, but this current year has been revolutionary on the spiritual and emotional fronts!

Relationally, the Lord has been incredibly gracious to draw me closer to everyone I love.  Though my communication with my kids, who live and work from 250 to 1,450 miles away from me, is still not what I ideally want it to be, it has come a long way in 2007, especially from where it was as recently as just over a year and a half ago, when I was still pretty deeply depressed and withdrawn.  And, at the moment, I am looking forward with great joy to some unhurried time with loved ones around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

By the way, I’m grateful for how my kids are doing in early adulthood.  My oldest, Joanna, 26, won a competation among representatives of every advertising firm in the Los Angeles area last Spring.  And, my son, Tim, 21, survived almost a year of managing a clothing store in the Magazine District in New Orleans–growing up a lot in the process–before relocating to Dallas.

But, the big recent news in my family is that my middle child, Natalie, 24, just got engaged.  I’m not sure what the date is going to be yet.  In fact, I have not even met her husband-to-be, Ian Lopez (whom she met through her church in Irvine, CA), even though they have dated for a couple of years, because they are half a continent away.  But, I’m hoping that will be rectified before New Year’s.  In the meantime, I am adding Ian to the list of what I am grateful for this Thanksgiving!

In the ministry area, there has been radical change in regard to Comal Country Church in the 16 months during which I have been pastor.  And, by the Lord’s grace, most of the good stuff has happened since January. 

Last Summer and Fall, I had come in and gotten the church’s Constitution and Bylaws done and the first lay leaders and annual budget (for 2007) had been put in place.  However, with the clarified vision and strong emphasis on expositional preaching, a number of people left and giving/finances strongly resembled a sinking ship.

Praise God that the ship has righted!  Three weeks into the eleventh month of the year, our giving is stable and has been adequate for everything we have needed.  Also, attendance is up nicely and we have seen a good number of people come to Christ this year, with about 15 baptisms (in the beautiful, but cold, Guadalupe River).  We also have gotten cranked up a women’s group, children’s church, youth group and gospel music jam, to add to the continuing strength of our men’s group.  Also, the Holy Spirit has given me a voice in my preaching moreso than I can ever remember, which is a great joy, but equally humbling.  Overall, I am deeply grateful for a group of believers that can handle a pastor with my quirks and who, hopefully, are learning to appreciate that I have a teacher’s head and a pastor’s heart!

In wider ministry, it was exciting to see my contributions (the notes on “Genesis 12-50″ and “Revelation”) published in the recently-released Apologetics Study Bible (B & H, 2007).  Thanks be to God for the opportunity and to General Editor Ted Cabal for his gracious friendship! 

Hopefully, the Popular Dictionary of Apologetics (Harvest House) and the Holman Study Bible (B & H), to which I have also contributed, will both make their appearances fairly soon.  It was a joy to work with both editors: Ergun Caner for the PDoA and Ray Clendenen for the HSB!

In regard to the SBC, this year has been a very stretching time for me.  Coming into this year, I had only the experience of reading Wade’s blog and attending the SBC meeting in Greensboro (at which I had presented the motion that eventually, after the Executive Committee action in February, became the basis for what is now widely known as the Garner Motion in San Antonio).  But, what a whirlwind ever since!

First was the invitation to do a presentation at the Baptist Conference on the Holy Spirit in Arlington, TX last Spring.  What a blessing it was to meet some who have become true friends since and especially to watch the Spirit-led humility of Dwight McKissic.  I praise God for a man who has become a spiritual hero to me!

Then, of course, there were the events in San Antonio.  When I went, I had no idea what to expect.  I was not part of some strategy at all.  All I knew was that some resolutions had been offered and one or more motions might be made.  But, I had no idea that my long-time friend, Rick Garner, would make his motion and that he would ask me to be involved in helping craft his wording in speaking for the motion.  The rest is now history, as they say, and I am truly thankful to have providentially run into Rick and been involved.

Next in time was the starting of this blog in mid-Summer.  I was convicted to do it and it took more faith and courage than anything I had ever done.  Relatedly, I am very thankful to the Lord for seeing me through to this point in this endeavor.  Now, I have taken more heat in doing this than in my entire life of carefully avoiding conflict combined.  But, even through the immense flak generated by my posting the open letter of the anonymous professor, the Lord has been so gracious in encouraging me (and my friend) in regard to laying out the truth about things that previously has been the subject of much behind closed doors whispering, but had not been addressed openly, at least not by someone in the SBC academic community.

Now, finally, I have the opportunity to be one voice in attempting to crystalize an agenda for needed SBC reform.  It is not something that I would have preferred to do, if it was obvious that somebody else was going to undertake the process in a timely manner.  However, it is very much needed and, if my meager efforts can provide any kind of a catalyst toward hammering out such an agenda (and ideas for how to implement it), I will be filled with joy.  But, whatever happens in this area in the weeks that remain in 2007 and the earlier part of 2008, I am very thankful to the Lord for a way to try to make a difference.

On that issue, the SBC currently has its fair share of problems due to one group which did crystalize its self-serving agenda and strategy and, to a large degree, play it out to perfection… until the Fall of 2005.  By God’s grace, it is time that another vision–one which will return the power to the rank-and-file of the SBC and return the glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in the place of a handful of human leaders–be heard.  As I close this post, I must thank the Lord in advance for whatever that vision will turn out to be and however He chooses to make it happen.

Coming Friday: “Fridays are for Newspaper Articles”