God is not so desperate for me that He would accept me on my own terms.
-Pastor Bill Clem
And another excerpt (loosely paraphrased) from the sermon today:
When my wife died, some well-meaning Christians told me that I should take some time off, take a break from serving the church, take a break from community and experience the grief. In short, they were telling me that in the hardest, most excruciating time of my life, i should let go of everything i have lived my life for. Though they meant well, they were wrong. It is in those hard times that we must drag ourselves into community because that is where we will see the person and work of Jesus - not when we escape into our dark places. Nobody ever goes into a dark place to get better.
-Pastor Bill Clem
I have realized the biggest blessing and conveyance of health in my life is the amazing community I have surrounding me, largely from our awesome church. I cannot imagine doing life in this city as a Christian without this support system of like-minded believers. To go into the world and be such a drastic minority, to be surrounded by consistent opposition and attacks on my every belief is exhausting. Support in marriage, biblical wisdom, new friendly challenges, accountability - how can anyone live, and truly live without this communion God has lovingly called us to join?
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