One of the very few drawbacks of being at camp for 2 months each summer is the disconnect from our church home. One can continue one's personal study of the Bible, and prayer life, etc.... but all Christians need to have a place to gather with those who share their doctrinal beliefs, a place of warmth, acceptance, accountability, and fellowship. Those who follow Christ are instructed to come together, to worship together, and to serve the world and each other. For the Welch clan, that home is Frisco Bible Church.
And today, for the first time in many weeks, I sat with my whole family and worshiped and fed on the Word with my extended (church) family.
Of course, there was the joy of seeing friends we have not seen in a while, and the personal gratification of the warmth of the greetings from them (one of Allison's friends... her face beamed so brightly on seeing my lovely wife I thought her skull might explode from the force of it...). And to be lead by the worship band in songs of praise is always uplifting. But the real worth is the teaching of the Right Reverend Dr. Wayne Braudrick.
Pastor Wayne amazes me. Somehow he manages to balance the line between teaching at an erudite level and yet remaining engaging enough for the masses. I've been going to church all my life, and I have studied a ton of things pertaining to all things Christian... let's just say that a shallow, surface skimming sermon or study is not going to offer me much in the way of teaching me something completely new.
And yet, somehow I come out of Frisco Bible every Sunday... and I mean every Sunday... having learned something new; some nuance I had never thought before, or some historical background or some minor detail that just enriches and deepens my understanding or knowledge of the Word of God, or the magnificence of God's end-to-end plan for this wretched human race.
And Dr. Braudrick does it all without making it feel like a seminary class lecture. He's engaging and funny without detracting from the lesson he wishes to impart. Sometimes he's stern... never afraid to strap us for our shortcomings while showing us what God has laid on his heart; but invariably, by hook or crook, he teaches. And he teaches in a way that everyone, no matter whether they gravitate to the scholarly or otherwise, will learn and learn well.
And teaching like that is ***hard*** to do. Trust me.
Of course, he will tell you that it's only by God's grace that he has the skill and insight to teach with such balance; he's right of course, but I also know how hard he works and prepares to lead his flock.
And thanks to his dedication, and that of the worship band, and all those who work hard to make our services happen.. my soul was fed this morning.
I already miss camp, and my camp family. But, as it turns out... I have all kinds of families lying around... my blood family, my camp family, and my church family. Today, I reunited with my church family.
And it was good. Very good.
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