Don’t build shrines to experiences

As awesome and meaningful as last weeks ordination was, is and continues to be, as much as I have a renewed sense of call, and tangible feel of the lords presence with me. I must not stay here, but push forward learn from it, look back at it as I progress through my life, but not build a shrine in my heart! Encasing the experience to a single moment, because that building will also become a road block.

I would rather let last Sundays experience permeate throughout who I am, spilling or rippling into my future, what ever that may be and wherever that might be. My ordination, my acceptance into full connection is a part of who I am, defining, affirming and liberating but first I am Gods. Through ordination and reception, he uses others to bless, redefine, affirm and liberate my identity as a follower of Christ, church leader, husband and father.

An example of this kind of Godly blesing is the anonymised email I received when I got home from the stewards of a small Methodist church where I was due to preach.

Dear Andy, Greetings, We had a stewards meeting earlier this week. we are suggesting making your first week back easier for you. Anyway we are hoping to take over some aspects of the service on the above date. You will still do the sermon. We would chose the bible readings but we would need to know your topic. Also you may have already decided on the hymns to go with the sermon. Could you let us know when you get home? We are arranging the prayers and the singing Group are singing somesthing really necefor you, you may know it, it is 'The Provision' we are also singing one verse only unaccompanied of 'Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me' it is a different tune and we are singing it in a prayerful manner.

We are all thinking about you and look forward to your return home...

Our churches are full of saint like or saintly people, sometimes in amongst ministry we loose site of that. I hope that blessings I have received will spill out naturally and bless, build, equip, liberate those I work with and minister to.