Three Sunday's ago, our pastor invited Dr. Stacy Conner, his longtime friend and mentor to speak at our church. Dr. Conner had a commitment to be in the Austin area, and our pastor invited him to stay over and preach at our church. He wanted to gift the church with the benefit of hearing from a pastor who had been instrumental in helping shape his faith and who has gifted him with decades of encouragement and spiritual support. Always, there is a sense of reciprocity in those kinds of relationships.
We are fortunate if we have that kind of long-term friendship with someone. It doesn't have to be a pastor, but a friend who has negotiated the ups and downs of life under the auspices of God's leadership and one who continues to represent a stronghold of faith. I can validate the importance of that kind of friendship and the strength and support that has come my way through that kind of relationship.
For most of my life, I have been surrounded by incredibly gifted and talented people who trust God with their lives and their countenance reflects joy and contentment. They are the kind of people who are a perpetual source of encouragement to others.
Across the years, I have occasionally met people who say that they don't have friends. Something tragic comes their way have they are at loss to know where to turn. There isn't anyone who shows up to stand with them or support them at the point of need.
Loneliness and isolation are at an epidemic level in across our nation. People need people and the best way to have friends is to choose to be a friend. You don't have to have a PhD in psychology to know the importance of relationships. Prior to sin entering the world, God saw that it was not good for man to be alone.
I remember that as I drove to church that Sunday morning almost three weeks ago, I was a little disappointed that Pastor Lonnie wouldn't be in the pulpit. As Dr. Conner shared with us a post-resurrection message, it became abundantly clear that we were blessed to have the privilege of hearing from Dr. Conner. His message was just what I needed to hear.
He shared a couple of illustrations in his message that he credited to an Episcopal priest. I grabbed my pen because I wanted to write down the name of the priest. As I was exiting the church, I was figuratively on cloud nine. I thanked Dr. Sloan for sharing the message and asked if I had correctly written down the name of the Episcopal priest he mentioned. What I heard was T Sloan. I had it wrong. The Episcopal priest's name is Kee Sloan. Dr. Sloan said, Kee Sloan had written a couple of books.
As a first order of business when we got home, I asked the General to order the books. As it turned out, Bishop Kee Sloan has written three books. They follow a sequence. I ordered all of them and I've benefitted greatly from what I've read.
Of the first book entitled "Jabbok", the author writes in acknowledgements: "So much of my own story is woven in and out of this story that I've begun to think of it as sort of a spiritual biography."
I found Jabbok to be one of the most interesting books that I've read. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I have yet to discover the illustration I wanted to have, but am certain that I will find it in the next book.
All My Best!
Don
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