a call for prayer

Our church has been moving through a time of transition and some degree of pain.  A change at the top of the local church is probably never easy and our church is negotiating that narrow passage as it also climbs up and out to a new future.  There is a great need for closeness...starting with closeness to God on the personal level and then moving to closeness with each other at the "body life" level.  It has occurred to me that if ever prayer was an important pursuit, now is that time for our local church.  Disappointment and distress don't have to become disaster.  We are confident that God is still here and God is still in control of the events that have transpired and God has plans that are positive...even exciting.   But, perhaps in a more focused way, we are aware that the plans and the ways of man don't always move seamlessly.  There was a commuter train that ran for a long time from Connecticut to New York City without problem.  Recently that eastbound train was returning home on a Friday night when it apparently hit some construction debris on the track, causing it to derail and hit a westbound train.  Some 60 people were injured and the commuter system was upset for a while, with people having to find alternative ways to and from work.  Sometimes we have debris on the tracks because we are people and we are far from perfect and sometimes our trains derail.  Unfortunately this usually leads to collisions and injuries.

So we need to get the debris off the track, make the needed repairs and put the train back in place.  We also need to study to see what can be learned from the whole situation.  This calls for a commitment to prayer.   In times of crisis we are reminded to "look up" because we can't find the answers or the healing or the hope just from each other.  We need to go vertical if we are going to function well here on the horizontal.

Psalm 138:3 

As soon as I pray, you answer me;
    you encourage me by giving me strength.

blessings,

Rob Smith