Day 41 -- Reflections on 40 Days at FBC

The number forty was very important in ancient Hebrew thought. It rained on Noah for forty days and forty nights. Moses went up the mountain of God to receive the Law and he stayed there for forty days and forty nights. The children of God wandered around in the wilderness for forty years before entering the "Promised Land." And, of course, Jesus was in the wilderness without water or food for forty days. The number forty seems to be Hebrew for "a really, really long time."

Well ... I've been the pastor at FBC Richardson for forty days and forty nights but it doesn't seem like a long time at all. Everyone has been wonderful to me and my family and we have thoroughly enjoyed ever day so far. I am learning a lot about our church. God is confirming what I already suspected: this is a great church made up of wonderful people who love Jesus. You can't ask for much more than that!

I spent a day with the kids at Camp Gap and discovered an incredible team of adult volunteers who have a passion for helping kids know God. The leadership team in our children's area is doing a phenomenal job!

I spent two days with our teenagers at Youth Camp in Brownwood. We have an over-abundance of talent in our youth group, and a real hunger to know God. It was exciting to be around another large group of adult volunteers who had given up a week of vacation to invest in the lives of our kids. As a parent, I know that I owe a lot to them. Our church is blessed with people who care about each other.

I have preached six sermons as your pastor and am feeling more and more comfortable in that role. It is quite an adjustment to preach in a larger sanctuary ... and to a larger congregation, but I believe I am starting to make the necessary adjustments and within a few more months will really begin to "hit my stride." Thank you for your patience and all your wonderful words of encouragement during this period of adustments.

I have listened "face to face" to 64 key leaders so far, and will continue to listen throughout the next 60 days (not that I'm going to stop listening after that!) in order to gain a deeper understanding of where we are, how we got here, and where we need to go next. I am learning what our strengths are as a church. I am learning what our weaknesses are as well. Paul reminds us that Jesus said, "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me" (2 Cor.12:9)." We should never be afraid to name our weaknesses. It's the only way to learn and grow.

I am also starting to identify the obstacles that could get in our way, and the issues we may need to deal with in order to move forward. None of it is insurmountable or even unique to our church. Obstacles are placed before us so that we can overcome them, and in so doing, can feel the strength of Christ in us. Remember what Paul said in Phil.4:13 -- "(We) can do everything through him who gives (us) strength (Jesus Christ)!"

My first 40 days are up. But that's a good thing ... because something good always happens after forty days. After forty days of rain God brought the rainbow. After forty days on the Mountain God gave Moses the Law. After forty days of wilderness wandering the Hebrew people entered the Promised Land. After forty days of temptation Jesus began the ministry that would bring salvation to the world. I'm not promising that kind of drama ... but you never know what God is going to do after forty days ...

Blessings,
Pastor Ellis