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Cry Baby

I think I cried more yesterday at church than I have in my entire life.

Yesterday we held one very scaled-down service.  We met at 10am except we had no children's church, signs, banners, coffee, hospitality area, or connection table.  There was a small worship team, minimal media, and metal chairs.  We minimized our set-up to give our volunteers a break.  It was one of my favorite services we did all year.

OK, back to the crying.  It started during the last song of worship.  Sometimes the presence of God brings me to tears; this was one of those times.  Then I got up to preach.  The message was mainly about how in 2009 GBCK lived out our core mission which is to develop our faith, deepen our connections, and devote our lives to God's mission.

I got choked up at different times during the sermon as I retraced GBCK's 2009 faith journey.  As I reflect back on yesterday, I think certain things trigger emotion in me:

• Change lives:  I believe every person sitting in those chairs represents a miracle.  Each person is a testimony to God's power to change lives.  Each life tells the story of God's crazy love for his people.
• Pride:  I'm proud of GBCK, and it has nothing to do with me.  I'm proud of how the GBCK community is trying to live out their relationship with God.  I know their struggles, I know their pain, yet they are faithful.  It's a privilege to serve as their pastor.
• The Gospel: Jesus made it possible again to have a relationship with the Heavenly Father, and I want to help others to do the same.  The amazing grace of God is overwhelming at times.

The crying isn't melodrama, it's genuine.  I get embarrassed by it and wish it wouldn't happen at times.

But, at the same time I'm believing for many more opportunities to cry in 2010 if it means more changed lives and the Gospel of Christ spreads.