An Open Door...

For the last few days those words have been bouncing around in my mind. I've actually had them on my heart for a while now. As I look around at my community, county, and across the country, for some reason, I see an open door.

Open doors are cool. It speaks of access and availability. It speaks of trust. It is welcoming. It speaks of acceptance. Open doors feel like home. You are welcome here. You are wanted here. No pressure. That sounds absolutely fantastic.

I'm a Christian, and I'm not ashamed of that fact. I'm not ashamed of the Christ that I have identified with and the Christ who, most importantly has identified with me. His identifying with me and accepting me is what makes me a Christian. It's an open door! I'm accepted. I have found my value and purpose by walking through that open door. It is a door that only Jesus could open, and man, did He open it! He opened it as wide open as a door can open. He made a way when there seemed to be no way. That sounds absolutely fantastic to me too.

I'm not just a Christian, I'm also a pastor of local church in a rural community in North Carolina. I love the life God has graciously called me to. It's an open door, and I'm as free as bird living this life. It's an honor and a privilege to serve King Jesus in this capacity. I can't imagine doing anything else for all my life. I've been serving King Jesus in this vocation for 18 years as a senior pastor and am celebrating 20 years of serving the church in ministry. Talk about God's grace and mercy, I'm living proof. It's an open door.

I've been serving Highland Baptist Church for 6.5 years now, and although it hasn't all been easy, I wouldn't trade God's call to shepherd this congregation for anything in the world. There is no way to describe with human words a shepherd's heart. The only way you will ever understand it is to become a shepherd yourself. And King Jesus has placed before us an open door (Rev. 3:7-13). He is giving us an opportunity to serve Him, to be His hands and feet. We are the only Jesus some will ever see, and if they were watching us Sunday, they saw the real deal. I'm so thankful for my church family and I'm so proud of you all. God bless you. I love you.