Huddle Up

If you are like our family, you spend quite a bit of time this time of year watching football games. As I watched yesterday, I was reminded of a few negative comments I heard recently concerning the church as a "holy huddle". I got to thinking about the huddles that I was seeing on these football games.

The quarterback calls all of his guys on the field together in a tight circle so that he can relay information. Information on the plan that will help them accomplish their goal as a team. In the huddle the players get their instructions on where to go and what to do. The huddle is a time to remind the team about their goal and to encourage them to press on no matter how impossible it might look. The fans are not invited into the huddle an neither is the opposing team. This is a private time meant just for the members of that team.

After observing several huddles, I am finding it hard to understand why a "holy huddle" is such a bad thing. Shouldn't a worship service be about the "team" getting their instructions from their coach? Aren't we reminded about our goal? And encouraged to press on, even when times are tough? Aren't we given information and told where we need to go and what we need to do? We don't make the church service about the outsiders. Although, unlike a football huddle, they are invited and welcome, but ultimately it is about the "team members" and reaching the goal.

Maybe that is where the confusion comes in. Maybe we are not clear on what our goal is. Or maybe we have forgotten what our goal is. Remember, the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, not saving the lost, having the most contemporary music, or best coffee. Maybe our churches need to have a few more of those "holy huddles" instead of shunning them.

A Job Well Done

A good man died yesterday. Most of you won't know his name. He was not famous. He was not powerful. He was not rich. At least not by the world's standards. Some of us think he was all of those things and more. I know that in years to come many will look back on their lives and be eternally grateful for the life that Wayne Walters led.

I knew Wayne for about 30 years. In all that time, I never saw him without a smile on his face and his arms open for a hug. He was a great example of showing the love of God to all. First, to his family. Then, to his friends. Finally, to anyone else that he met. He didn't make a big deal of his devotion. It wasn't flashy. It was just there. He loved you. He loved you because he was loved by a great God. I have seen the results of his love in his family.

All six of his children show that same love to others. They give honor and respect to everyone they meet. They learned this from their dad. I am sure that his lessons were not always the easiest to learn, but he was faithful to pass along his wisdom, and they were faithful to learn. I know that they will continue to follow the example that Wayne set, and we will all benefit. They will teach what they have learned to their children. They will touch the lives of their friends by living out what they know to be true.

It hurts to know that Wayne is not with us in body any longer. His presence will be sorely missed by many. But I know that when I look at Kyle, Matt, Nathan, Christina, Laura or Lindsey, I will see Wayne, and I will smile. Someday we will meet up again. Until then I know that the words, "well done, good and faithful servant" are ringing in his ears.