I’m working on the sermon for tomorrow’s SAFMC AM service.  Check your local listings, or, just tune in to the live stream at 9 or 11:15 via springarborfm.org.

I’ll tell you this: I have never worked so hard in discerning what it is that needs to be said tomorrow.  My job is to bring the Word, and so I shall.  Yet, it’s my last opportunity to share my heart, to minister in Spring Arbor, to be the Pastor I’ve been for the last 6 years.  Starting Monday, I’m a different pastor.  Oh, my chemical makeup and metaphysical status will remain, and I’ll still have the same personality (sadly), but my function in the Church will be remarkably different.  I’m about to discover first hand just how easy it is to be an Associate Pastor.  Associate is a greek word that, roughly translated, means “doesn’t have to worry about everything.”

I’m about to be a Lead Pastor.  They have to worry about everything.

Don’t worry — I feel ready (sort of) and equipped (in many ways) and called (absolutely).  Emily and the kids are excited.  Malachi regularly talks about Kalamazoo, which excites me even more.  His biggest concern is unplugging and therefore losing all of his progress in Lego Star Wars on the Wii.

Ah… I remember when I was 6.

I want to bring honor to the Lord by preaching Christ — the second Adam — and not focusing on any other Adam, be it the first (as in Adam & Eve) or the 58 millionth (as in Adam and Emily).  I want to focus on Jesus.  I want to be Christocentric.  I want us to be changed by the Gospel.

Then again, I need to make sure that I don’t end weird.  I want to make sure that I celebrate the body of Christ in Spring Arbor (read: properly say goodbye and thanks to a bunch of wonderful people that I’ll really, really miss).

So, there’s my process.  I’m sure it’ll all work out.  I’m just not sure that I’ll be able to leave the building after the service is over.