It was early November of 1985 and I was moving what few books I had from my associate pastor’s office to the senior pastor’s office. This small church with a big heart had chosen to take a risk on a young associate pastor who had never been a senior pastor, and didn’t have one sentence on a resume that remotely indicated being qualified for the job.

I was 26 years old.

Recently, Gloria Gaither shared a blog post which dealt with things her mother and grandmother collected. I encourage you to read the post here. She told us those ladies in her life really didn’t collect or cling to much. But when she mentioned her own interest in collecting something special to her--specifically, art glass--it reminded me of something I have on display in our living room.

I’ve never been a serious collector of much--certainly not art--but that all changed when I met Chris McGahan.  

So, now that I have your undivided attention, let’s talk a moment about who we are. The reason I know I have your undivided attention? You’re probably one of the millions who are watching the hit series called This Is Us.

I am, too.

To be honest, I wasn’t that interested when it first started. I would be in the study working on something--paying bills, filing, working on a weekend message, or trying to put on paper some thoughts for this blog-- and Kim would be in the family room sitting by the fire, TV on, preparing her speech therapy sessions with children for the coming week. 

As you know from previous blog posts, I’ve spent a lot of time in the book of Nehemiah this first month of 2018.  There’s no way I can claim to be anything like Nehemiah, but I see some similarities in our stories.  

Let me explain.

I grew up in a home with a father who could lead anybody anywhere. For Dad, his leadership was a degree of skill and a significant amount of sheer inspiration. Dad was not afraid of anything. He had a passion for the local church and he inspired people to follow him to places they had never been.

I’ve never been a fighter.

I’m not the kind of person with clenched fists or the kind of person to throw a punch. It just isn’t in me to hit another person. I wasn’t the kind of parent who used my hand to discipline.

But make no mistake, I have fought for many good things. I have fought against some nasty enemies, too, and sometimes I have felt like a boxer who just encountered Muhammad Ali in the ring.  

We live on just over two acres of land--not in the country. Right in the city. That’s what makes the property so unique and special. It is filled with trees, a man-made waterfall courtesy of the previous owner, and a creek that comes alive when it rains.

I trim the trees, plant a few flowers, prune the shrubs, keep the weeds out of the flower beds, and I’ll confess: I don’t mow the grass. There’s no room for the equipment it would take or a place to put all the grass clippings. But I know the grass very well.