The weekend we go to Overland Park is here. We will be in Overland Park tonight, Thursday the 19th, and meet with Knox Presbyterian tomorrow. It has been a while since I have posted, but I feel the hand of providence at work. It may or may not be that Knox is the place we go next, but let mention a few of the seemingly random (or providential?) occurrences.
1. Over the course of the last month Kadra has been trying to set up interviews for the 20th. The first amazing blessing is that Knox offered to pay for the Thursday night at the hotel, even though they had not planned on us getting there until Friday. Second, the liason for Knox's Associate Pastor nominating commitee, Bruce, has a wife that is a nursing professor in the area. When we started trying to set up interviews, Bruce offered up Candy as someone to help and recruit Kadra. When it came down to finding interviews this past week, Kadra suddenly had two interviews at Candy's top pick, Kansas University Hospital. She has a third interview at another, but that was not one of Candy's top picks. Regardless, this has been a huge blessing as well as an encouraging sign for our time in Kansas City.
2. Knox has asked me to put together a class and worship service while visiting. The biggest reason we had to wait until this weekend to visit was to set up a neutral pulpit. Southridge Presbyterian's pastor, Donna, just happened to be out of town this given weekend. Further, she was ready and willing to have me lead the worship service. On top of this, she has been more than helpful to make the service flow smoothly even in her absence. Where this is pretty amazing by itself, I had the opportunity to take a preaching class on Romans and an exegesis class on Galatians this past semester. For the former, I put together my sermon series about halfway through the semester, not having any idea what I would do my final paper on in Galatians. It just so landed that my second sermon for Romans was on 8, where Paul tells us that we are no longer slaves to the law, but children of God. My final paper in Galatians ended being on the start of chapter 3, which re-defines our identity in Christ that is no longer of the law. Please tell me this is not just coincidence, but God's hand guiding us at every turn.
3. We left this morning to come to Davenport, where Kadra is taking a class to help in her ongoing credits. I dropped her off and was off to find a starbucks to sit and write. It took me a couple of tries to find one that actually existed in my maps on the gps, but that is not simply technological deficiencies, but God's hand of providence. I got here, ordered, and came around to set my stuff down and wait for my drink. I noticed a man writing down notes and saw a Bible opened up to Zechariah. I simply asked if that was the lectionary text. This small question lead to an amazing conversation with a brother in Christ. His name is Scott Schaefer, and he has a heart for prayer warrior. When I told him what our itinerary involved, he said I will praying for you. I looked him in the eye and he said "No really, I will be praying for you." When we finished talking, he gave me his card and said to email him to let me know how things go this weekend and that he can continue to pray for me. As I write, I cant help but think: Wow.
4. Finally, but certainly not least. Last year I took a class on Isaiah. One of the passages I studied has God asking if he puts plans into place only to not fulfill those very plans. For some reason, again providential, this idea has been stuck in my head. God keeps on saying "Do I build up only to not fulfill what I have promised?" I started talking to this church way back in January. Its now 4 months later and God keeps placing people, places, and situations in our path that point to Kansas City.
I do not want to get too far ahead of myself. But I was convicted by another friend. He said that he didnt like the call language that this process uses. I could relate, we agreed that at the end of the day we are looking for a job just like any other profession. He pointed out that if you truly felt called to a place, you would show up and proclaim it then live into your calling where God is already at work. Am I called to Knox Presbyterian? Well, this weekend is to find out for sure. But, I have a certain confidence in God's hand of providence in all of this. I realize that if Knox is where God wants Kadra and I, then there is nothing we can do to neglect such a call. Sure, we could run, but why? Sure, Knox may discern differently, but what God is that to give multiple contradicting answers? Regardless, succeed or fail, I will do so with God's help. To receive a call or not is out of my hands. So I walk boldly while walking humbly with the God of all creation. ...Lord, remind me of this when my faith fails....
