Hello from Minneapolis again!

We are done with the conference and I’m sitting on a bench in Minneapolis Airport writing this devotional. Thank you for praying for us. We have survived the -27 degree arctic weather and on our way home.

There were over 2,000 pastors at this conference. Many excellent speakers and seminar leaders were also present. The sound, the lighting, the schedule, the food, and all other logistic elements were well coordinated and done in excellence. However, I came away feeling somewhat unfulfilled and empty. Here’s why: I didn’t get to connect personally with any other pastors there! I went expecting to hear personal stories of struggles, triumphs, miracles, and even failures from my fellow pastors. But no such time was allotted for it. We went from seminar to seminar, from speaker to speaker, from room to room.

It was like going to a mega-church service. You sit in the service for an hour staring at one guy perform. Then you head right back to your car and go home. What have you missed? Knowing Jesus through the love that is displayed by the church in knowing and loving the people! That is what a local church is to be!

Otherwise, why would you even go to church when all their messages are online and you can listen to them at the comfort of your home?

You cannot love when all you are doing is receiving. You must give also.

I promise that we will do a better job of striving to connect you to others at our church. Please, you make that effort, too.

Prayer: Lord, help us get out of our comfort zone and put ourselves out there to love and to be loved. Amen.

PH