Wow. Just….wow. I’m speechless, and that’s good. It means your words moved me. Touched me. Made me sad. Made me ashamed. Made me proud to call you my Pastor, however absent I may be (am) these days. True to my nature, truthfully, I am too often all or nothing. Black or white. I procrastinate. I let excitement and great intentions, motivation and righteous anger (as you once called it), wane. I was invited a couple of years ago by a friend and churchgoer of Jupiter First. I was broken and defeated at the time, and I needed the calling to go. I was changed inside that building that day. I was moved to tears during the service, feeling the Spirit minister to me, knowing I was in THE right place for healing. I vividly recall it was your recitation of the call to communion. It’s late, I haven’t had much sleep with a sick teenager, so I can’t recall all the words - and honestly it’s been a good while now since I attended a service online or in person. But it was you speaking those words…the truth and sincerity, the love and caring. The come, even if it’s been a long time or never before…COME. It made me cry with joy! So accepting of ME, just as I was. Pitiful and disloyal, turning only to God in times of pain and suffering. How convenient for me. Staring up at that enormous cross, the power and love I felt was overwhelming, and as many have said before me, I felt like I was HOME. FINALLY. I LOVED this church more than any other ever before, mostly because of YOU. You are special. You are not the any other. The real deal. Real, relatable, affable, funny, self deprecating. But mostly I could just feel that you were not a fraud, and I was safe here. I approached you once after your sermon on moving your chair, to sheepishly say you had inspired me to move mine. And you had. And once again over time I’ve let life, and difficulty, and pain dampen my enthusiasm and rededication. I never stepped foot in there again, this place I loved so much, when I learned for whatever reason you were gone. I was so angry. I’d finally found a true church home, and it was snatched away by whatever (insert highly uncomplimentary adjectives) forces were at work to drive you away. That was that. I realized it wasn’t about the place, the church, or even so much the comforting ritual that is going every Sunday so dutifully. It was a Pastor who was different. I could hear it in the spoken and unspoken. It was your beautiful family, who so clearly adore and support you to the fullest, no matter where the tide takes you. I guess I’m my usual overly wordy way I’m trying to say THANK YOU. You have made a difference in my life. In many, many lives. I’m sorry we take you for granted. We do. You have been through so much, especially here recently with the loss of so many you care about to the devil that is Covid. You are not invincible. You need love and encouragement, and a reminder that you are making such a difference for so many people. We are beyond lucky to call you our Pastor. So lucky. THANK YOU❤️
Wow, these words are amazing. Such an overwhelmingly kind gift to me! I wasn't aware of large portions of that story. Just wow. Also, I want you to stop feeling guilt for not doing/being enough... that is just in your own mind. :) You are enough... especially in God's eyes.
So the big hug I gave you last week that I felt made you uncomfortable was my way of saying Thank You for all you do for me and my family. We love you and your family to the moon and back every month.
Daily, my children and I (one of whom is not with us here on Earth anymore) remember the day...while preaching...you hand painted the picture of Jesus on the cross that changed to His face...WHILE PREACHING! BOTH SERVICES!!! The way you took the spiritual and moved into applicable physical, crossing all age, attention, time, belief boundaries...that stays with us through all of eternity. I know because I've had one cross over. What words or actions are enough to convey the level of appreciation, care, change? Thank you for posting this to give me the space and time to say THANK YOU! There was never a day, a word, a meaning that was anything short of LIVING WORD. Right on time, every time. I agree with so many things Jeannie posted. Finally felt HOME. Remember the day you had us all grab the markers and write out what we wanted to be free from, to be prayed out? My 4 year old and 9 year old got right up there. Thank you. Everywhere you go, there you are(: You make people think. Sometimes, that makes you a transient figure. But what you leave behind, the thought process, the spark, the rekindling of faith in Him, in ourselves, in family, in stewardship, in the Body of the Church, not the location....that all stays...and multiplies. Peace to you, for you, because of you!
Wow. Just….wow. I’m speechless, and that’s good. It means your words moved me. Touched me. Made me sad. Made me ashamed. Made me proud to call you my Pastor, however absent I may be (am) these days. True to my nature, truthfully, I am too often all or nothing. Black or white. I procrastinate. I let excitement and great intentions, motivation and righteous anger (as you once called it), wane. I was invited a couple of years ago by a friend and churchgoer of Jupiter First. I was broken and defeated at the time, and I needed the calling to go. I was changed inside that building that day. I was moved to tears during the service, feeling the Spirit minister to me, knowing I was in THE right place for healing. I vividly recall it was your recitation of the call to communion. It’s late, I haven’t had much sleep with a sick teenager, so I can’t recall all the words - and honestly it’s been a good while now since I attended a service online or in person. But it was you speaking those words…the truth and sincerity, the love and caring. The come, even if it’s been a long time or never before…COME. It made me cry with joy! So accepting of ME, just as I was. Pitiful and disloyal, turning only to God in times of pain and suffering. How convenient for me. Staring up at that enormous cross, the power and love I felt was overwhelming, and as many have said before me, I felt like I was HOME. FINALLY. I LOVED this church more than any other ever before, mostly because of YOU. You are special. You are not the any other. The real deal. Real, relatable, affable, funny, self deprecating. But mostly I could just feel that you were not a fraud, and I was safe here. I approached you once after your sermon on moving your chair, to sheepishly say you had inspired me to move mine. And you had. And once again over time I’ve let life, and difficulty, and pain dampen my enthusiasm and rededication. I never stepped foot in there again, this place I loved so much, when I learned for whatever reason you were gone. I was so angry. I’d finally found a true church home, and it was snatched away by whatever (insert highly uncomplimentary adjectives) forces were at work to drive you away. That was that. I realized it wasn’t about the place, the church, or even so much the comforting ritual that is going every Sunday so dutifully. It was a Pastor who was different. I could hear it in the spoken and unspoken. It was your beautiful family, who so clearly adore and support you to the fullest, no matter where the tide takes you. I guess I’m my usual overly wordy way I’m trying to say THANK YOU. You have made a difference in my life. In many, many lives. I’m sorry we take you for granted. We do. You have been through so much, especially here recently with the loss of so many you care about to the devil that is Covid. You are not invincible. You need love and encouragement, and a reminder that you are making such a difference for so many people. We are beyond lucky to call you our Pastor. So lucky. THANK YOU❤️
Jeannie Smith
Wow, these words are amazing. Such an overwhelmingly kind gift to me! I wasn't aware of large portions of that story. Just wow. Also, I want you to stop feeling guilt for not doing/being enough... that is just in your own mind. :) You are enough... especially in God's eyes.
So the big hug I gave you last week that I felt made you uncomfortable was my way of saying Thank You for all you do for me and my family. We love you and your family to the moon and back every month.
I actually really appreciated that hug and really felt that was what you were saying. Thank you!
Thank you for this
Daily, my children and I (one of whom is not with us here on Earth anymore) remember the day...while preaching...you hand painted the picture of Jesus on the cross that changed to His face...WHILE PREACHING! BOTH SERVICES!!! The way you took the spiritual and moved into applicable physical, crossing all age, attention, time, belief boundaries...that stays with us through all of eternity. I know because I've had one cross over. What words or actions are enough to convey the level of appreciation, care, change? Thank you for posting this to give me the space and time to say THANK YOU! There was never a day, a word, a meaning that was anything short of LIVING WORD. Right on time, every time. I agree with so many things Jeannie posted. Finally felt HOME. Remember the day you had us all grab the markers and write out what we wanted to be free from, to be prayed out? My 4 year old and 9 year old got right up there. Thank you. Everywhere you go, there you are(: You make people think. Sometimes, that makes you a transient figure. But what you leave behind, the thought process, the spark, the rekindling of faith in Him, in ourselves, in family, in stewardship, in the Body of the Church, not the location....that all stays...and multiplies. Peace to you, for you, because of you!