Pastor's Journal

1995, It started as a gift from a friend. George called and said, "We should meet for breakfast at Cracker Barrel." Once there, he gave me (a person who had never flown) a plane ticket and explained the Lord wanted me to go to Nashville. Technically, George said, "the ticket's for anywhere but I think you should go to Nashville." I asked George, "What am I supposed to do when I get there?" "I don't know", he said. "Just ask God when you get off the plane what you're supposed to do." So, a puddle jumper, a jet, and one, horrific pain later, (Never take your first flight with a head cold.) I touched down in Nashville. I got in my rental car, checked into my hotel, and went to bed.

But, an amazing thing happened. Every time I felt God prompting me to visit someone my sickness disappeared. I made the appointment then rushed back to my room and crashed. This cycle was repeated until I went finally to the Upper Room and shared this idea I had. What if there were songs that matched and reflected the spirit and content of the 15 talks given during an Emmaus weekend? Wouldn't they help people reconnect and renew their weekend experience? Aren't the songs you sing something that gives you a common connection with others who know the words and tune, too?

I was a young man, 1984, when I went on my Walk to Emmaus- Elizabethtown, KY Walk #1. My District Superintendent, Wally Thomas, sent me. I spent three days with strangers and just when I was making a connection with the people there, the weekend ended. We were supposed to get together as a small, reunion group but that following week I received my first, pastoral appointment: 180 miles away in a different time zone. Ten years would pass before I joined another 3-Day Walk to Emmaus as a member of the leadership team. I saw again how participants (pilgrims) needed ways to connect, beyond their weekend experience, that would overcome geography and every other factor. But, almost another ten years would pass before I would be moved to act.

True, during those years I served in a variety of ways: assistant table leader, assistant spiritual director, music director; even, community spiritual director. I wrote songs that were used to express the themes of the weekends, reinforce the talks, and highlight times of quiet and devotion. Yet, I had nothing I could give to anyone to carry with them beyond their memories. I knew what I was supposed to do but I had always found a way not to do it.

But, in November 2002, I received a joking e-mail from a parishioner directing my attention to an English vicar's attempt to aid his financially stricken parish: set the world's record for the longest sermon. She suggested, I should heed his example and consider some good use for my longwinded-ness. I told a few folks about it and they said, "Go for it. You've come so close so many times!" (The vicar's new record at the time- 48 hours.) Well, it remained a source of amusement until in a meeting preparing for the Franklin Graham Festival, a spokesperson for the festival answered a pastor's question. "Why are we having all these meetings?", the pastor asked. "Why don't you conduct the festival and we'll invite people to it?" The spokesperson replied, "If our calling was to have festivals we could book a location, have it, and go home. But, that's not our calling. Our calling, through all these means of preparation and through the festival, is, in a given time and in a given place, to make the good news of Jesus as unavoidable as possible." Those words struck like a hammer.

The joke e-mail became an encouragement then a command to, in a given time (April 11-13, 2003), and in a given place (White Memorial UMC, Shawsville, VA), make the good news of Jesus unavoidable. The whole congregation joined me in the attempt that weekend. I preached for 51 hours and 35 minutes. God revealed Himself in a marvelous way through the scriptures. God came down "heavily" Sunday morning. Church members and reporters wept and rejoiced in God's presence. It was a physically draining but spiritually uplifting experience.

Most significant to me, along with the lessons I learned from the scripture, was the fact that I had persevered. I had finished something I had started. God convinced me, "You can do it again." Write the songs- all of them. Get them produced and get them to the people who are waiting for them. I couldn't physically try for a world record again but I could still make the grace and joy of Jesus unavoidable. Utilize the music. Make that long-held dream come true. That brings us to right here, right now. Maybe there's something God has asked you to do; a message you received but upon which you failed or forgot to act. I believe God is speaking again. You will hear God say as I did, "You can do it, again."

The unavoidable grace and joy of Jesus is yours! Enjoy the music.