It Ain't 'Mojo'!

Early this morning, I opened the church building for prayer.

I've been doing this since shortly after coming into the pastorate here, and come rain or shine, I think we've only missed one Thursday.

In a day of debate over church buildings vs. abandoning church buildings, there is something innately right about using the building we have to offer a place of prayer and meditation at least once a week beyond Sunday mornings.  Today illustrated the why.

A little bit after everyone else had left from the normal 6 AM to 7 AM prayer hour, I heard the outside church door open from my office.  After a moment or two, I stepped out into the worship center to see who had come in, and discovered a man who had come quietly into that room.  We talked for a moment, and I found that he had simply come to seek God and pray in the place of worship for our church.

While I know that there is no 'magic mojo' in the beams and rafters, there is something to seeking God individually in the place where the body of Christ has just been gathered to worship God corporately.  We mark the encounters in our relationship with God in various ways, not the least of which is by location.  Even as the children of Israel used to build monuments and altars to God along the pathway of His provision, so should stand the building of the church, the altar of prayer, and the banners of faith along the pathway of His grace and provision in our modern lives.  The pulpit, the lectern, or the music stand, as each church 'seasons to taste,' calls to memory the proclamation of that grace and direction of Christ.  The table of Christian communion calls to memory the sacrifice of Christ just celebrated.  The cross illuminated calls to remembrance the mission of Christ for our lives today.

To me, these are occurrences which merit a little less sleep for the pastor... one hour less rest for leaders...  bearers of keys... keepers of communion and the like as we offer the opportunities of familiar points of connection with the Almighty God.

Today, a few of us found a center-point for communing with God.  One man, in particular, found a point of solace much needed.  It is worth considering that perhaps we should take every opportunity available to us to extend the grace and encouragement of Christ to one another, as well as to the world around us.

Lord willing, in the weeks and months to come, I'll be opening up the church early on Thursday mornings for prayer.  Now you know some of the why behind the what.

May the Lord bless you and keep you!

Pastor John