The Call No Pastor Wants to Take

Marvin Borth called me yesterday. Marvin and Mary had become an integral part of the little church I first pastored in Edgerton, KS. Marvin is a distinguished looking former Master Sergeant and Mary is the perpetual bundle of energy disguised as a caring, lovely 'mature' woman. For some reason they loved our church and jumped in with both feet. Mary played the organ, organized and directed the children's hand bells, and was active and committed to growing in the Lord. Marvin was a newer Christian but was eager to grow and become active as well. He eventually became our Treasurer and was in charge of keeping our facility looking sharp.

The amazing thing about Mary and Marvin was that they were in their early 70's and Mary was a Stage IV Breast Cancer Survivor. When they first came to our church Mary was in the second year since her surgery and radiation/chemo. She was praising the Lord for every day. They even got involved in Awana's. But where Mary excelled was in her love for the Lord as she played the organ. She could set the mood for worship in such a Holy and Spirit-filled way-just by playing the organ.

I grew to love Mary and Marvin, just as I had loved my own Mom and Dad who had passed away in 95 and 96. In many ways seeing them each Sunday filled the void of not seeing my Parents realize their dream of their son becoming a Pastor.

I learned many things from Mary and Marvin. We even had to work through some 'church' problems together. They responded to my 'pastoring' with discernment and love. We sharpened each other as we moved toward that prize of the high calling in Jesus.

Even though I had moved to another church, they asked me to come back just this past June and help officiate at their 50th Anniversary and Renewing of Vows. Such a wonderful day! And now this call.

A couple months ago they found cancer in Mary's lungs. The radiation and chemo seemed to get rid of it all, but after a visit to the emergency room January 4th, they discovered it had gone to her brain in a very aggressive manner. Lydia and I visited with Mary and Marvin in the hospital. Mary is such an energetic person, so it was disheartening to see how the cancer was beginning to take the life from her. I get mad at cancer. I think it is the cruelest way to see a loved one go. When I saw it take the life from my Mom, I got mad at God, and I thought, no way you can do this. But I had to come to grips with man's sin and God's Sovereignty. His way is perfect. He was perfect in His dealing with my Mom and now He is perfect in His dealings with Mary Borth.

Marvin called me and said that the radiation and steroids do not appear to be working. Each day Mary seems to worsen. Even the Doctor is not hopeful. With tears he asked if I would do the funeral. I agreed to, but I don't know how I will be able to. I was not a preacher when my Mom died, but I don't think I could have done the funeral. If God calls Mary home, the only way I'll get through will be to focus on the JOY that she is experiencing in the presence of the Lord.

In May of 07 Mary and Marvin visited the church where I now Pastor. I had Mary give her testimony of how God had miraculously healed her from Stage IV Breast Cancer. It was going on seven years since the diagnosis. She was very encouraging to the ladies in our church. Since her testimony, two women have been found to have cancer, and are dealing with the surgery and post-op treatments. Her testimony has been beneficial to both.

Lord, I know you can do miracles like they are no big deal. I don't pretend to know your will, but I do know you care for Mary. She is one of your special saints. We want your will to be done, but we would really love to have Mary around a while longer. Shrink the tumor, Lord. Be merciful to Mary.

Jesus Hinted, but I'm Telling!

I woke up with 4 short alliterated sermon points on my mind. I don't normally try to overly organize or alliterate sermons, and I'd already printed out my sermon with the main points in my usual style. But the Holy Spirit gave me something new as I slept.

Tomorrow I'm preaching on Phil 3:1-11, which is mainly Paul talking about what he has learned to give up, or lose, in order to gain Christ. So I have titled the sermon "Losin' It". Short, sweet, simple. But I was missing something in Paul's opening statement where he says "finally, rejoice in the Lord".

To most people that is crazy if you take it too literally. Certainly you only rejoice when things are going good. God certainly understands that we have to have our down moments. But Paul wrote that from imprisonment, facing death at the hands of the Roman executioner's. They weren't humane like we have become(?). They used fire, lions, crucifixion. Even with that Paul says to rejoice IN THE LORD!

Maxim #27-True Christians Lose Control.

That is the first point of the sermon God wants me to make. The two years of imprisonment must have been a real shock to Paul. He was used to being in control. He had it all, he did it all, he was it all. Yet God took him back to those three days he was in Damascus, blind, unable to do anything, waiting for Ananias to show him the way of the Lord Jesus. Here he was again, totally dependent, unable to do anything except depend on the Lord. He gave up control and learned to REJOICE!

When we rejoice, we bring God into our situation, because we rejoice IN THE LORD! We lose control!

Just this week I heard someone say they had given up. But they were giving up to their situation. They were afraid they had cancer and would soon be dying. That's what the doctor had told them he suspected. They had already faced one bout, and were tired of all the testing, the worry and the stress. They weren't up to another fight. Their energy was gone, they were sick with worry. But then the dreaded results came back, and there was no cancer. All of a sudden their outlook and spirits were changed.
We like to be in control. When faced with an uncontrollable situation we often give up, or we try to fight. But Jesus wants us to LOSE CONTROL. Let Him handle it, let Him give us strength, let Him renew our spirit, LET CHRIST BE IN CHARGE! No matter whay happens, we rejoice, because we are letting Him control the outcome.

Isn't that what he meant when he said "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest?