- a lighting board that was locked up and unable to be reset
- an HD camera that we rely upon for our Waterloo feed that had to be switched out due to some setting changes, only to be replaced by one that was eating tape
- a prompter projector that overheated and powered off 2 minutes before the service started
- programmatic miscues at the end of the servcie
It felt like we were right in the middle of an all out war. And it felt like we were losing.
Ugh.
That's probably the best word to describe how many of us were feeling: ugh.
And it didn't simply end on Saturday night. Really, I'd say that most of the weekend experience felt more like a battle than it did anything else. I even heard from two of our core leadership staff at PLC about how some of the negative talk has increased in both volume and frequency these past few weeks. Negative talk about... well... about everything.
And yet, people still came forward to pray, still stayed in their seats to pray, still talked with our chaplains to pray... after every service.
Why? Because when you plan a service around the biblical truth that you can never outrun God's grip, as it turns out, God really likes that. He can use that. He'll bless that, because it's right in line with who He is and what He's up to. He'll use it. He'll bring fruit from it.
And in the end, that's all that matters. Period.
So gear up for the battle, my friends. People on the inside will want to make it about our style. Equipment will fail. The naysayers will get louder, though they remain small in number. We'll be tempted to be discouraged.
But don't be. Lean into this truth from Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.Let's keep pushing, keep following, keep going. Though this part of the road may be rough, it's lined on either side with the unbelievable fruit. Make sure you see it. And God is right beside you. Make sure you see Him.
Yep, it did feel like that. But I also have to say that in the midst of that battle that there was the definite calming, peaceful presence of God that definitely was saying, "I've got this." And He did. Hearts were still touched, the Spirit still moved, and lives were still changed. Praise God that He isn't limited by equipment that fails, or people that misstep. Praise God that He is always faithful and working no matter what the circumstance or seeming limitations!
ReplyDeleteAMEN! God still showed up and was in our midst through it all. Praise Him! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd amazingly enough, both Jesse and I were able to be there to help do the battle. It had looked like Erin and Annie would be having a baby last week and instead, it's looking more like this week. So, even though times were tough, it would have been harder for Jesse or I to take a phone call and have to make a call on what to do over the phone. I am very grateful for the challenges that came this weekend and look forward to this next. We need to be prepared, all of us, for anything and everything. And I know our teams can count on each other and lean into each other in these times.
ReplyDeleteEven though it was a tough weekend for all of you, from my perspective, it was really great. Thanks for hanging in there and keeping poker faces about it. We really had no idea that anything was "out of the ordinary." I'm proud to serve with a group of people that can keep their cool even when it feels like we're in battle. I love it that you don't put a wall up and you allow God to work through you. I love it that God doesn't depend on us and moves mightily in spite of us! Thanks for you hard work this weekend!
ReplyDeleteAt Waterloo, we've been battling tech, as well. We still fight the video system, just to make it usable, Sonic still wrestles with the light board to get all of the cues programmed. Tim and I still wrestle with the sound board to meet the ever changing needs of the worship team. It seems like weekly I'm patching something into this or that, or adding this instrument, or solving that irritant. And part of that will remain until we have a permanent home where we aren't tearing down shop every week, where we can come in Tuesday, set stuff, and it's ready for the weekend. But at both campuses there is definitely some major battling going on.
ReplyDeleteGalatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
ReplyDelete