Devotion 9.9.25

Psalm 46

10 “Be still, and know that I am God;

  I will be exalted among the nations,

  I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;

  the God of Jacob is our fortress."

Sunday, Sept 9, 2001 was a "chamber of commerce" day on the South Plains as I remember. Cool, crisp autumn kind of day in late summer.

Texas Tech was enjoying a renaissance in football under some guy named Mike Leach, whose offense was reminiscent of the days I followed UH and their "run and shoot" - wide-open, anything is possible, offense. Tech had played New Mexico and won easily.

Our church was without a pastor, so the leaders were taking on the services. Men, founders/elders of the congregation which was still young when we first started attending, were overseeing the services. I had been asked to lead bible study. I was 41 and the kids were still in grade school. We were one of several "young families" in our midst.

Occasionally a pastor would fill our ranks and remind us of how much we missed a pastor. Sundays can seem listless without a rudder of a called pastor leading your church. We were still "new to Lubbock" having gotten one year under our belts as a family, so that's why the weather, cool, crisp and sunny stuck out to me. In fact, I looked it up to see if that was correct.

A lot of enjoyment that weekend with Tech football, the weather and a good run under my belt with a young family to enjoy along with football. In retrospect, I could have lived in that moment for the rest of my life.

In less than 48 hours, the world would change. The role of the church in our nation would become significant in that period of time.

Pray with me: Gracious God, We have no answers at time. During those times, we turn to you as lost people in search of answers. We turn to our Moses, our Joshuas, our men of the cloth in search of answers as to why? We tremble in fear and rage in anger. We know you want us to turn to you daily. Keep us focused on you in good and bad times. Forgive us when we focus on ourselves in time of prosperity, and help us to guide our focus on you daily. Amen. 

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.