Well, we made it back safely from Mongolia and China. Unfortunately jet lag is with me. I have been waking up at 4:00AM for the last three days. Today is the first Sunday since I have been back, so as part of my Sabbatical, I went to visit other churches. Today I hit the 8:45AM service at Lighthouse Tabernacle in Central Islip, the worship service alone at Living Faith Christian Church (Formally Wantagh Baptist) and I caught the whole service at Crossroads Church in Farmingdale. Each church had a unique flavor. In the first and the last I had the chance to talk with the pastors and in the first church the pastor used me for the greeting time by saying “Don’t sit down till you have greeted Pastor Tomlinson” (I will get him back if he ever visits Shelter Rock) and the last church asked me to close the service in prayer.
As I visited the various churches I found my own emotions going all over the place. There was the joy in meeting other Christians, jealousy of buildings better than ours, pride in thinking we have a better service, followed by repentance for my pride. Each of these churches has a place in the Kingdom of God and they are all meeting a need in the community. I also find myself craving to preach. At one point I was hoping one of the pastors would ask me to preach (I always have a message ready to go). I am hoping that over my sabbatical, as I see the many varieties of churches, I will be challenged yet refreshed. Reaching Long Island for Christ cannot just be about Shelter Rock Church but must be about all churches doing their part.
Sounds like you’re keeping busy…we miss you!