The Balanced Quest

Sometimes, in our quest to be efficient, we end up being anything but what we desire. Likewise, in our quest to be effective...sometimes no where near close.

Words I wrote for yesterday's post on distractions, thinking I was writing Sundays post, not Saturdays regarding church and community.

While writing a post on distractions, I almost wrote the wrong subject matter for the wrong day. The prophetic irony I would take credit for, if it weren't an honest mistake.

Thus, like any time, you realize you've erred, you re-evaluate to help ensure you fail to err next time.

Church is hard work. As you step in to services around the nation and the globe, consider the prep work and prayer that went into that service.The sermon, the worship, the lessons, the classes and more. All having their "to-do" lists to complete, all figuring out what is most productive in a timely format and schedule. Yes, the power of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit need to do their work in the service, but there's something to be said for having something to work. It's not about our works, but even Isaiah talks about preparing the way of the Lord.

Pray that preparations have indeed made a way for God to come and move in the lives of churches across this land, on this and every Sunday. May we work to make church efficient. May we cover the work in prayer, that it would be effective. Pray that the labor of the church would not be in vain. Pray that distractions would fail in their attempts prompt inattention, frustration, carelessness and apathy. These are the times the church needs to put its best foot forward in presenting Christ to a world seeking in all the wrong places, while ignoring the obvious. May the efficient work of the church be found effective, having "redeemed the time, for the days are evil".

-PNC

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