Blind date past seven

On a fluke,Matt an independent Baptist ministerial student and son of a pastor went on a blind date. The date was with Abby. Abby was attending a seminary for those in mainline denominations.
Despite there differences,they tried to make a go of it. Mat decided that It would probably not work  out.they went there separate ways.
They both got involrved in there studies,work and being involved in church .this included preaching in there churches.
Mat found it difficult to even come up with an idea for a message . he agonized over it. Finaly he came up with a message. He thought that it is prety good. He hopes that the Lord would bless It despite his unworthyness.
  Abby had the same difficulty coming up with a message. She has the lectionary to bank on. She had a theme. She developed a message. Based on the periscope found in the lesson plan. The outline turned out well.
Matt did not not have the same peace he had in other occasions. He had prayed about this message. He trusted in the lords strength and ability. In truth that is how it always is.
"We see in our text that preachers are commanded to be faithfull to God's word at all time. The word is what must energize the preacher. It gives him strength and power.  "
"The job of a preacher is to communicate the word to those he ministers to. He shares what the Lord has  laid on his heart. He Is to preach to the whole council of God. Every word of God is pure,it's true. He is to do it when the bible is popular and when it is not!"
"We know today the word of God is out of season. It is marginalized or mocked or dismissed. It is attacked or explained away. Those who are true to the word of God must keep this in mind. All of  US are ultimately acountible to Him. It is especially true of preachers. "
"Preachers do not just have to deal with the outside world being out of season. They do not only have to deal with Christendom being out of season or even the church they serve,they must also deal with themselves. "
"What do we do when we are out of season. Preachers can be off there game. There could be multiple reasons why. Tiredness . Paul tell us in Galatians not to be weary in well doing. When Jesus was tempted he was tired we are told "
"Saten attacks us when we are physically tired. YOU can get tired.we all do. He takes advantage of our weekness. "
"There is also unconfesed sin. It gas been said,the bible will keep you from sin or sin will be keep you from this book. Preachers must be on guard against sin. We may ask God as David did for Him to search our heart and see if there be wicked ways in us. As it has been said we must keep short accounts with God"
"There can be distraction. Augustine said that sometimes it is not choosing the wrong thing but the not as good. Sometimes good things can hinder the besT things. "
"You may wonder where am I going with this. This week I was a bit out of season. I had trouble even getting the first sentence written. I wanted to stop. I wanted to run away. I then realized that God wants us to meditate on his world. Sometimes that requires us to wrestle with his word. Just as Jacob refused to let God go until he blesed him,we must not yield"
"What is  your role? You the members of this church? You need to be in prayer for those in leaderShip. My dad,myself the deacons and trustees. We desire your prays. They are needed. We are in this together. "
V
"We know that preachers get tired. They are tempted to sin.sometimes they surcomb to that temptation. Sometimes the good enough tries to get them to not strive for the very besT. I say thus not to scare you but to inform you. To say that those in leadership need your prays. These are difficult days. They may get harder. They work together. Lets work together!"mat said.
" our reading today is a Daimler story. The story of the epheopien eunic. This official who was The treasurer for queen of epheopia was traveling. "Abby said

"He was reeding what we refer to as the book of Isaiah from the Hebrew scriptures. We don't know how he got the scrol and why he was reeding it. He got confused "
"Philip shows up . Philip comes up Nd says hey do you u understand what your reeding. I have been in Landry mats or break room or libraries and have been tempted to ask someone what they reeding. I have had. It cod be anything from romance novels to vampire fiction to I don't know me in kamph. You never know. "
"I have never asked and I never would.I don't recommend it. Hear Philip asked him if He understands what he is reeding. He said he does not. So Philip goes on to explain the passage"
"How can we as Christians In 2016 interpret this passage? What lessons are hear for us today? God told Philip to steak out this official. This Ethiopian minister of finance if you will. God wants his people to be multi cultural. We should not be ethnocentric but embrace all cultures. "
"Philip was Jewish. Jewsish people if his days did not Like non Jews. Non Jewish people were called gentiles. They were outcast. Paul told the Ephesians believers that they we're at one cut cut I'd from the common wealth of Israel. Philip was to reach out to this foreigner. This foreger who may have been a castrated slave. We are to embrace everyone."
"We cannot exclude anyone.the United church of Christ welcomes everyone. Diversity makes us stronger. We want all ritch poor,young old and in between. We need to welcome people from all nations cultures. "
"Philip reaches out to him. Many Jewish people beloved that the Hebrew scriptures was only for them. Christ welcomes all. He is einger for his children to come to him. " she said.
Mat emotionally and physically exhausted after the message. Heft that God has used it. Msyby inspite of him. That was ok. He just wanted to proclaim the word. He trusted that God would bless his word.
He schock people hand aS They left afterward. The message appeared to be warmly received. After a while he saw someone he did not know was present.
It was retired pastor Douglas Wilber. With him was his grand daughter Heidi ."hello sir. I did not know you were hear. "Mat said.
"I wanted to surprise you. I knew if  you knew I was coming,it might make you nervous !"the older gentleman said. "Your right,it probably would. "He said. "Many of my messages came out of struggles.some times God uses times of sprituel drought to make us seam him. At the time they are unpleasant . I look back now now on these Times fondly. Christ showed him strong in those days. I believe. He will for you. I suspect he already has. " the elderly pastor said.
"He has. I thanked you for those words."Mat said. "The Lord has a plan for your life. I know that. "The older man said.
"Thank you sir!" the younger man said. He realized that he had not said helo to pastor Wilber. Heidi was also a student at the same Baptist college. She was sweet. He suspected she might have a crush on him .she was very shy. He found it difficult to talk to her.
"Hello Heidi!"mat said.she smiled."hello Matthew!"She said. "My messages usually are not quite as melincolly. "He assured her. "It seemed very genuine. I did not view it as melincoliy!"she said. "I am glad of that. " he said.
"We all experience dry Times. " she said. "True!"he said. "It was a good message!"she said. He thanked her. "Do you want to get together at some point this week? "He asked. She smiled. "I would love to !"she said.
He could see that pastor Wilber wS quite agreed to them getting together.
Abby did not think that this was her best message. She was mostly happy with it. She shock people's hand as they left. She saw recent graduate of the auburn theological. Reverend Michael clandon.
"Michael I did not know you were hear."she said. "I wanted to keep a low profile ! You did really well. "He said. "I hope so!" she said ."you have a bright future I think. "He said. "That is kind of you to say!" she said.
"Would you be open to going out for coffee this week?"he asked."I would love to!"she said.
Mat and Abby separated and were heading in opposite directions. Would this last forever. Would they be back together?
End of part seven.

Blind date part four

Matt could not believe how fast life Had gone. Two weeks ago he knew nothing about Abby. Having met her,his life seemed to have changed. They were so different. Could they make it work? Another question was should he try.
He had been on two dates with her.he really enjoyed his time with her. He had been happy. When he got up he  found he was so confused. He had no idea what to do.
He knocked on Kathy's door. "You know you have been out for three houers?"Kathy asked him in jest."I had not planned it that way Kath. "He told her.
"I have not see you like this?"she said. "I really like it. I know the heart is deceitful among all things and despritly wicked. I am so torn right now. I am not sure what to do. I fear that we may be unequally yoked. Perhaps I should just walk away. I just don't know!" he told her.
"Strive to be close with the Lord. Stay in his word. Don't stay away from him. " she told him.
Abby was very happy when she got home. She was all smiles when she walked in. "It went well I take itmate asked. "It went very well! I can't believe it! "Abby told her. "Do you think that there is a future for you two?" she asked. "I hope so. I want there to be. I really do!"she said.
"You don't mind that he is a king James fundy ?"she asked. "He is very reasonable person. He is strict but he does not fit the stereotype. He is not angry.he is cheerfull about it. It I'd who he is not what he believes. I appreciate that."she told her.
He took his sisters advice. He spent a lot of Time in the bible and in prayer. During the week ,he did not talk to Abby. He was buisy with work and his duties in the church.
He felt he should be apart for a bit.he did not want to close the door with her. He was not ready to go though that door. He decided it was ok to wait. There was no need to hury. He decided to wait .
Abby had been very happy when she went to bed that night. She decided to wait for mat to call her. She felt that it was important to put the ball back into his court. It was hard. She decided to be patcient.  She decided not to call him but to wait.
Friday night .
"So you going to go out with Abby tomorrow?" Kathy asked."I am thinking about it. I have not talk to her yet. She might have plans. "He said.

He dialed her number. He was nervous as he dialed." hay matie! I wondered if you were going to call!"she said. "Are you available tomorrow? Wreather is  supposed to be good?" I was thinking about a picnick?" he asked .
"That would be great! I would love to!"she said. "1:30? Ok?"She asked."sounds good! I Will see you then!"he said ."sounds great!"She said .
Like he did the last time,he picked her up. She wanted to ware pants but decided to ware a skirt.she wore a Gray sweater and Gray skirt.her hair was In a pony tail.she wore flip flops.
His car was plane. He only had one bumper sticker.it said I love beagles.he had sports radio on. He turned on a CD of hyims but turned it down.
" so I figured you would have a bunch of bumper stickers?"she asked. "Your car has quite a few. U.cc ,United day and a few orthers. Bumper stickers is not really my thing. "He said.
"I missed you!"she said."I missed you. I was kept prety buisy. "He said "I understand. I am trying to juggle work and school and church. I am glad we can get together today."she said. "So am I!"he said.
The car parked near a park. The Two of them set up the blanket. They got everything set up. They Sat down. "So how many brothers and sisters do you have? I realised I had not asked!"she said."I have three sisters and two brothers! "He said.
"Oh wow! You sure your not quiverfull!"she said in a jokingly manner. "I knew you we're going to say something like that!"he said. "Are you the oldest?" she asked. "I am The oldest. How Manny siblings do you have?"he asked. "Two sisters and a brother. I am the second oldest."she said.
"Your not too far off from being quiverfull !"he said. "I think four is the cut off!"she said. "oh ok!"he said.they both laughed.
"Are you close to your family,"she asked."yes . my parents and I are very close. My sister Kathy who is two years younger then I is the one is I am closest with. I am 20 and my youngest brother is two. "He said.
"That Is quite an age range!"she said "it is. What is the age range of your siblings?"he asked "I am 21.my brother is 25. My sister is 16 and my youngest sister is 14." she said.
"So ! Has your dad always been a pastor?"she asked."yes! He started a church a year before I was born. We stayed there until I was six. He started another church. Then he started the one we are at now. This one is my favorite."he said.
"Your dad likes to start churches?"she asked."yes. All of his churches were plants. He tries to start a church in an area with little independent Baptist churches and start one. He tries to get the church established and in a good financial situation and turns it over to strong dec On bored then moves on and does it again."she said.
"Is that you want to do"?she asked."I do. I love the idea. The churches we have been at are made of first and generation Christians."he said.
"My denomination works differently.we are assigned to the churches we pastor. " she said.
"So! How did you come to be interested in becoming a minister?"he asked. "I attended church before I was born. My mother is a fith generation congrugationalest. That what she says. My dad was from a Baptist background but my mom won the debate of where to go to church.  Being one of the few teens there I was very involved in the church. When I was 14 I decided I wanted to be a minister. "She said.
"Have you preached?"he asked."yes many times. I assume you have preached?"She asked."yes I have. "He said.
"So you don't believe women should be pastors?"she asked."well it not that I don't believe in women pastor,the bible teaches that leadership is to be male. Any time qualifications are given such as in first Timothy ,both bishops and deacons are to be male. "He said.
"Is that a command or an example? Is is that man must only be bishop and deacons or did they just happen to be male? It was a different time!"she said."God does not change.his plan with feeling with mankind has always included male leadership. Women have always played a vital role in God's plan. Not leadership. "He said.
"You believe this is an important issue?"she asked. "As a fundimentilest,we believe In the fundimentles of the faith. We believe in taking the bible literally. God said it,that settles it."he said.
"I see! "She said . "so Will you come hear me preach some time?"he asked."so is that your tactic?flirt and convert?"she asked."oh no! My flirting is genuine."he said. "I know! I will come sometime.Will you come when I preach?" she asked."yes I will be in the back. "He said. "Ok!"she said.
"Your different then I preceve fundimentest.your not critical. You are happy. Your not condescending or mean. " she said.
"Christianity does not exist to oppress. It exist to free. The bible makes me happy. Fundimentism is freeing at least it Is supposed to be."
He said.
They realized that they had a lot of differences. They Had a lot to work though. They ended up spending most of the day together as was there custome. They then packed up. They headed for the car.
She took his hand.he seemed a bit reluctant. He was unsure about physical contact. He decided to go for it. He took her hand. They walked to the car.
They drove to her house.they said there good byes. Mat was left more and more confused. Abby really liked him. She found him to be kind. She hoped that they could make it work but could they.
End of part four