I Get It...

I finally figured it out. Why I enjoy my pastor (Randy) so much. How I can sit there Sunday after Sunday and just listen to him speak. No paper, no pen, no distraction, all ears. See- if you don't already know, I am a multi-tasker. I HAVE to be doing two things at once to pay any attention to words spoken or shown or whatever. If I'm having a conversation with you, you may notice (you will after reading this at least) that I am doing something with my hands. Maybe playing with a bracelet or ring, a coffee cup, or what ever happens to be in reach of my restless hands. So the fact that I can sit and listen to pastor Randy for any amount of time without writing my next novel, or contemplating the inner workings of Nietzsche (yes, in church that may be a dangerous thing). Nonetheless, I have figured it out.
While sitting in church today, we had another man speak to us today. His name escapes me, but I had heard him speak before. His message was valid and worthy, but I found myself restless while sitting in my marginally comfortable plastic chair. That's when I realized that I didn't see him smile once. Not only that, I felt like his passion was being pushed on me.
Now, it wasn't that he was yelling at us what-so-ever, it's just his passion translated into a high-energy vibe. In a way it seemed like his insides were crying "I'm so passionate about this subject and I want you to hear it and learn from it so much that I could just scream and hope you hear my words".
Now, writing this, I find that it's very difficult to explain this man. I can compare him to many pastors, youth pastors, adult pastors, Sunday school teachers even. It a Godly passion that is biblically correct, but pushes me away. I think it's just the "student" age that is semi-turned off to this method of teaching. Fact is, as a student, we have many teacher pounding education into our brains that when we get to church, it's just a elongated class for no credit. I'm not saying that everyone feels this way, but subconsciously I can't help but think that is why many college students stop going to church. It's school.
Now, that's fine. We are supposed to learn! How else will we get the nutrition we need form God. But what it doesn't make me want is what the teacher has. To make this more clear, let me share with you what I have observed with pastor Randy that seems very different than most pastors.
He wears genuine joy on his sleeve. The first thing I noticed is that he always smiles. And it’s not in a “life’s always perfect” kind of way, but the fact that no matter how hard he messages he has to share with us are, the fact that Jesus Christ is bigger and better than able to help us and love us through any smack in the face we need is so overpowering that he has absolute reason to smile! This is unique to a pastor, I have noticed. It makes me want the unsurprising joy that he has through the blood of Jesus Christ. This is the most powerful witness from a follower of God that I have ever seen. This is the key to everything! Through this simple action, he is able to effectively, passionately, and truthful share the message of God and His never ending love. That no matter the happenings of life, God gave Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice in order for His love to be able to cover us. Only through the love of Jesus Christ, the love that He gives us freely and abundantly, are we able to love others in such a way.
Now, see the difference between the two teachers. I need to stress that neither way is better. That both men are strong men of God! And honestly, each person learns differently. The Lord speaks to us all individually and in different ways. And I do learn from the guess pastor- absolutely. I had just never before experienced someone so captivating as pastor Randy.
This all said, it’s almost a challenge to me to start to live life the way that he teaches. Through my passion for Jesus Christ, I want the ultimate love to come through in my physical formalities. A simple smile. I am able to smile through anything because there is a simple fact that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. His love empowers me and gives me all abilities to project a Christ-love to others. That seems to be one of the most powerful ways to witness to people I have noticed as well. I have many people tell me how different I am, how joyful and peaceful I seem to be, and they are curious as to why I am like that.
Doesn’t mean that I am like that all the time. I am human. I struggle. I really really struggle with emotions of all sorts and worldly powers and so on. I am a broken, struggling human begin who needs God every single minute of the day, but He gives me the strength to share His love when around others. It’s not a false-hood in any such way because even if I’ve had a bad day, God gives me the strength to share His never changing love with others.