Here we go . . . Welcome to the inaugural edition of “What I meant to say!”  And a special “thank you” to Sandy Brotzman who put up a link to here on our website. So why did I start a blog after years of avoiding (and months of stalling) it?  I’m glad you asked. It wasn’t just that every other pastor except me was blogging, although that might be true; actually it was the opportunity, one more chance, to think about what God is saying and to attempt to understand it and clarify it–both for me and hopefully for you too!

In the process of preparing and preaching every week, believe it or not, much gets left out.  After all, there’s only so much that you can say in a 30 (okay, 30+) minute sermon. Then if you subtract the mistakes, there’s a lot that i should have said and a lot that i meant to say.  Speaking of mistakes–those of you in the 9:00 service this morning (09/09/07) might remember this anguish-filled moment of transition.  I shared this joke (well, i thought it was funny) that a guy told us at Disney World a few years ago. “He said, ‘Did you hear about the kidnapping in Los Angeles?’ A girl said, ‘No, what happened?’ He replied, ‘It turned out okay, somebody woke him up.’” Those of you in the 10:30 service were spared that moment (no need to thank me) because I deleted that story in the second service.  Sometimes the blog should be entitled, “What I wish I wouldn’t have said.”

Anyway, I hope that you felt a sense of awakening as we worshiped God this morning.  I was struck today, as i am often, by the fact that only God can shake and stir us to a fully-awakened life.  It’s a supernatural thing and no planning, programs or stategies can bring it about. Only God.   That might be well worth remembering in all we do here at First Baptist. That being said, God calls every one of us to respond.  And although I didn’t expand on it much in the message, 2 Chronicles 7:14 really highlights how we should respond to God’s stirring of awakening. If My people, who are called by My  name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways . . .   But that’s surely another message, and no doubt, one that we all need to hear.

Next week, we’ll continue in Ezra 3 and we’ll discover what the Awakened did when they got back to the land of Israel. If you haven’t read it, you might be surprised–so I won’t spoil it for you here.   Let’s just put it this way, it will hit way to close to home for many of us. 

I look forward to reading your comments on this blog.  I’ll try to update it at least weekly, and I hope you’ll check it out regularly.   It’s a joy to be your pastor and to follow Jesus with you.  I’m still a little sleepy, but I’m waking up. How about you?

 blessings,

greg