Why so downcast?

I stayed up to watch my beloved Redskins on Monday night. I try to keep a realistic outlook on my team, but I think I got caught up in a little bit of fan delirium, believing that the Redskins would be good enough to thoroughly trounce the Vikings. I was wrong.

Flash to Tuesday morning...I'm depressed and down trodden because we lost. As I'm getting ready to go off to work, the Holy Spirit drops this little verse into my mind: "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God..." (Psalm 42:5)

Don't you love that. I have a God who is constantly trying to keep me from living a natural and ordinary life, and wants me to live a supernatural, Spirit-filled life.

By the way, the 1st Sunday at our new church we had 70 in attendance. Praise the Lord.

Football and Church

I find it interesting that the first Sunday for our church coincides with the opening of the NFL. Normally on the first Sunday of the season, church is kind of a second thought during that particular morning. I know that sounds pathetic, especially coming from a pastor, but it's true. Football seems to get bigger and bigger each year. In fact, with the addition of the fantasy football craze, more and more fans care more about other teams and players than they regularly would. I don't think that there is anything wrong with football, or getting excited about the first Sunday of the season. But this experience of planting a new church has put into perspective what is really exciting for me. To think that another church will be born almost 2,000 seasons since the first one began gives me chills. Church planting and pastoring is one of the most adventurous experiences one can experience.

Although I'm still pumped about football starting again. Nothing compares to the anticipation I feel about this Sunday.