From: The Pastor’s Heart
To: You
Title: “The MINOR Setback”
I received a bit of unexpected news yesterday that caught me off guard. It wasn’t anything
cataclysmic, earth shattering, or traumatic to my spiritual stability or anything like that, but
it was something I wished would not have entered into my world at this particular
moment. I say that because at the time I received it my thoughts were focused on several
very positive opportunities before me, but when this revelation appeared, I was forced to
make mental room available to deal with the issue and it’s many complexities.
That, however, is just how things go sometimes in this continual adventure we’re apart of
called life. This little hick-up that materialized in my domain wasn’t an attack of the enemy
or a strength test administered by the Lord, it was just one of those obstacles that pulls or
pushes us to a place of better or bitter. Though we are believers who walk by faith and not
by site, I am convinced that there are times when the challenges before us are not based in
a war of good vs. evil, or holy vs. unholy, or even right vs. wrong. It’s not always about
being tried in the fire to see if we’ll come out as pure gold. Sometimes it’s just a
construction crew working on the highway to repair the normal wear and tear of the
asphalt. Their work schedule and safety guidelines requires that everyone detour off the
main highway to an area of unfamiliarity.
It’s during those times of being detoured, distracted, disquieted, or disillusioned that we
discover how disciplined we are in managing through The MINOR Setbacks. It’s in those
moments when ‘Life Happens’ that we find out what we’re made of and if the teachings of
Christ have really settled into our hearts. It’s when we are tempted to worry about
something that may or may not happen that we discover if we’ve learned to just know that
“all things will work together for our good”. It’s when we are pressured to act and react
in the manner of our former self, that we find out if “old things have actually passed away
and all things (about us) have become new.”
The true potency of your level of worship can not only be measured by what you say and
do inside the sanctuary on Sunday morning, but how you respond to the unexpected
mishaps and mayhems of life after the benediction. It’s important to know the bible and
quote the scriptures, but it’s equally important that you develop a way of living that makes
you confident of His overall plan for your life even during periods where you’re being
perplexed by the inconsistencies of life.
If something shows up today, like it did in mine, and you find yourself being tempted to
become rattled by it – remember what you’ve learned and who you’ve become through the
love and mercy of the Lord and just tell that temporary problem…”Hey, you’re only a
MINOR Setback.” And keep it moving.
EVERYTHING WE DO MOVING FORWARD WILL BE INTENTIONAL AND DRIVEN WITH
PURPOSE TO REPRESENT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE BEST POSSIBLE LIGHT!
NOTHING WILL BE DONE WITH ENERGY LESS THAN OUR BEST AND EFFORT BELOW
OUR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
OUR SERVICE IS LOCAL, BUT OUR REACH IS GLOBAL – SO WE CANNOT REDUCE OUR
PRESENTATION DOWN TO WHAT’S CONVENIENT, BUT RATHER WE MUST RAISE IT TO
THAT WHICH IS EXPLOSIVE!
Get ready for major change that’s coming systematically, intellectually, purposefully, and
professionally. Nothing we do moving forward will be done haphazardly, sloppily, poorly,
or carnally.
We Are the LIGHT!
Sincerely,
Pastor J.E. Chandler, Sr.
(CEO/Pastor of MLCM)
