In Person

I had a professor in Seminary by the name of Dr. Paul Basset. Dr. B looked like your typical absent minded professor type.

He was short and a little chubby and would begin his lecture as soon as he entered the room…no hello or introduction just strait to it…Everything he said seemed important and very weighty...so trying to keep up was almost impossible…but every once in a while Dr. B would Stop and look to the side and giggle…

He did this so much that I asked another professor about it the prof explained that Dr. B was not even thinking about what he was saying to us in the moment…he was lecturing on auto pilot while using his brain to think on other projects he was working on…so more than likely those brief pauses where he giggled for no particular reason was him thinking about something else that tickled him while he was processing maybe 8 or 10 other things including his lecture.

Despite his absent minded professor look the fact that his brain worked in such a fascinating way and his very limited attempts to connect personally during his lectures or after for that matter made him seem aloof, uncaring and down right intimidating.

Then one day he called me to his office after class. I was scared to death. I knew it would not be good and it was in fact not…I remember walking in and watching him toss my paper down on his desk and saying. “I stopped reading this paper after the first paragraph…it was not worth my time to read”

Those words wafted in the air for a while and in the moment I was very unsure of my future as a seminary student.

Could I recover from a zero?, Would I ever be able to earn his respect after this? Will he see me a dumb forever? Will all the other professors know I am a fraud?

Then before I could say anything Dr. B said “ I am going to let you write me a detailed outline for how you would rewrite this paper to make it acceptable if you can do that I will give you a C on this paper and hopefully this along with my guidance on the next paper will help you to dig a bit deeper and write more scholarly work.”

This interaction went from a moment of sheer embarrassment and intimidation to a moment of challenge to do better and an experience of grace.

Dr. B then checked in as I re-wrote the original paper and as I was writing the next one. He did not sit in the library with me nor did he sit next to me in my apt basement as I wrote them out…but he made an effort to connect with me in person to provide help and encouragement as I learned how to think critically and write at a deeper level.

Dr. B could have given me a zero and written me a note on my paper but in hind sight I think he knew this was something that needed to happen in person. I needed to see the disappointment, concern and willingness to help me in his eyes.

What could have been the end of my seminary experience turned into a life giving moment in my life…

Dr. B decided not to keep his distance, and I chose to engage with Dr. B as well.

I am so glad that Dr. B decided not to keep me at a distance and I am also glad that I did not let my fear of him to keep me from hearing him.

I think that sometimes we see God much like I saw my professor. Aloof, intimidating, and uncaring. But the miracle of Christmas or the incarnation is proof that God is not like that at all.

God does not choose to Love us at a Distance…God Loves us In Person.

John 1:10–17 NLT

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. 15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ ” 16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

This act of Love proves just how important everyone in the World is to God. It was not enough to deliver this message through a prophet or preacher . God wanted an in person meeting with humanity.

Many still didn’t believe Jesus was messiah regardless of the amount of proof or fulfilled prophecy,

Those who did were set free while those who did not continued to be a slave to the law of Moses

Love and Faithfulness requires open and obedient communication through Prayer.

Even though many still do not accept this presence, even though some choose to continue to struggle to come to terms with this world on their own God is still present wanting to us to accept the blessing of this presence.

Not so we would be in bondage to God but so we can be free from the world. Free from the evil the can ruin our lives and the lives of those who are closest to us.

Free to follow God’s plan which leads to life over other plans that can easily lead to desperation.

God wants us to develop our relationship with Him not through more work, not through more activity…

He wants to communicate with us for our Protection, Direction, and for God‘s Revelation for our life.

I want to invite you on a journey of prayer and fasting for 21 days starting on January 9th.

Over these next 21 days starting January 9 I’d like for us to all pray for God‘s protection, God‘s direction for our lives, and God‘s revelation for us.

last year has been difficult for many of us it’s not all us. However I believe that 2022 is going to be the year that you and I and our church are able to realize gods wonderful plan for us in this community.

I believe the God is leading us into a wonderful future in over the next 21 days I would like us all to pray for God‘s discernment and God‘s direction for our lives individually and as a church.

We will have per guides available with scripture and weekly topics for prayer. The scripture will help us to get into an attitude of prayer. Will also provide opportunities during the week for you to come in pray the elders during your time of fasting and prayer.

Let’s pray for spiritual awakening., And for the people I BROKEN ARROW Nazarene to be courageous and wise, the future plans for renovation in ministry of Broken Arrow Nazarene, and increase in attendance in the salvation of souls.

The Lords Prayer

Receive Communion

Dissmiss