Typical. When one has nothing to do, nothing happens, but yet when a week is really busy suddenly there is time to blog. Escapism, perhaps? This Sunday I’ll be preaching at Christ Our Hope Church in Wake Forest on 1 Peter 5:6-11, which is primarily concerned with hope through suffering. I don’t anticipate that this will be a “fun” topic to study and preach, but hope that time spent preparing will be sweet and rich food for the soul. If my sermon should bomb, then at least I will have had time drinking deeply of God’s wonderful promises in this passage. The Lord knows that I desperately need to hear this.
It seems that there is so much to say of late. Since my last post my son, Timothy Anselm Jones, was brought into this world. I’ve often heard new fathers talk about how powerful witnessing the birth of their children is, but never could really sympathize. When I saw my son for the first time, however, I had to choke back the tears. Rarely have I ever been struck so speechless. My son means the world to me now, and I find myself wanting to be there to meet his every need. It seems that he is taking me (and his mother!) up on this offer, as Janel and I haven’t been sleeping too well. Young Timothy seems to enjoy spending time with his mom and dad in the very wee hours of the morning, much to our chagrin.
I have been encouraged over the past few weeks in my search for a pastoral call. God has blessed me with a couple of initial phone interviews for assistant minister positions, which has meant so much to me. Though I may or may not proceed further in the search process with these congregations, simply having some “bites” has helped to lift my spirits and remind me of the unwavering faithfulness of our God to care for His children (Matt 6:33-34).
Enough escape for now. It’s time to get back to the sermon prep.
Are you still at the Y in the meantime?