During one of our services this morning, someone came down the aisle in an unusual way. Not weird. Unusual.
We often have a response time where people can nail a paper with their names, problems, or sins to a wooden cross; take communion, talk with a church leader, bring an offering, or just sit and pray. One of the men who came down the aisles seemed …well… different. Actually, it startled a few people and some others told me later they were watching him closely as he came. We don't generally tell the Lord how He should move in someone's spirit or how that person should respond; but sometimes it seems…well, curious. It did this morning.
I later talked with the man and gained some understanding of why he came as he did, as well as how we could pray for him. And we will.
Then when I came home, I checked the news online. I read about the Illinois pastor slain this morning while preaching. A man walked down the aisle in an unusual way during their 8:00 service and began shooting. Five others were wounded, but the pastor died.
Man comes down the aisle in an unusual way. Pastor died.
My prayers are with this brother's family and church family. I also am praying for our world and the culture that has empowered such actions. I'm praying for the Church that we will genuinely be His light in a dark world. That we will overcome evil with good!
But I'm praying for myself as well. I want to be ready to go and ready to stay. And I want to be serving Him faithfully whenever it's time to see Jesus.
