Some reflections on Ordination

It's been several months now, but I have to share some thoughts on our Ordination service that happened in Florida in May. They say in our schooling that Ordination is supposed to be the church's affirmation of God's call on someone's life. They say it's not supposed to be a stepping stone or a hoop to jump through. They say it's supposed to be an act of worship, through which the church examines, evaluates, and confirms someone in the ministry.

...and I've got to say, in our case, "they" were right.

I've never experienced anything like it... the choir was singing the 4th verse"It Is Well with My Soul" and presence of God hit that place like nothing I've ever seen. I'm not charismatic. I'm not a hankie-waver (though that might not be so bad sometimes). HOWEVER, there was no doubt at all that a God thing was happening in this place... it hit like a wave. And what was cool was that the people on our right were Hatian, praising God in French, while some people to our left were Hispanic, praising God in Spanish. We were praising God in English. Across the way were Vietnamese people. It was as close to Pentecost as I've ever been, and I'll never forget it. And that was BEFORE the ordination ceremony!

The presence continued as Dr. Gunter put her hands on our heads and ordained us. It was just amazing. It was as if God Himself was smiling on what was happening in the service, and I am totally humbled that it was our (mine and Stefanie's) ordination service.

Blessings,

Mark

My Love/Hate Relationship with Deer.

New blog. First post. I guess I'm "connected" now. Stefanie and I live and pastor in Drexel, MO, and Stefanie travels to Kansas City every day for her position at Naz. HQ. Yesterday, she had a literal run-in with a rather large deer, which probably totaled her car. She's OK, but the deer and the car were munched.

I like deer. I think they're graceful, pretty, and powerful... until they t-bone my wife's car at 7:00 in the morning. I like deer. Especially when they're in the sights of my .54 cal muzzleloader. I like deer, but I must admit that if I go hunting here in the next couple of weeks, I'm out for vengeance...

Blessings,

Mark