Here's my thought for today. Every good story has a good beginning. It progresses to a logical climax. Then the story proceeds to an ending that leaves us pondering the meaning of it all.
When there is no ending to a story, it kind of goes in circles around and around a person or an idea or a theme with no resolution of it all. Like Israel circling around in the wilderness waiting for rebels to die. Endings give us a chance to move on and free us from a worn out story.
Since pastor Mitchell died our Fellowship has had to move on from his direct influence. And we have, to an extent. But fundamentally nothing has changed. We still evangelize, make disciples and plant churches. But our rules and bylaws and structures are the same as they have been for years.
Have you ever thought about what will happen when our Fellowship comes to an end? No revival lasts forever. The history of revival seems to be that they form a denomination or they fade away. Denominations seem to be a shadow of a once thriving Holy Ghost movement.
When my wife died I was forced to make changes to my life. I had to learn how to cook and clean and do laundry. I had to develop relationships outside of marriage so that I had someone to talk to. I no longer spend even one minute thinking about how to be a better husband. The end of life for her made me think about the end of life for me.
Every good preacher knows this and practices this every time he preaches. There is a beginning, middle, and end to every sermon. No good preacher preaches the same sermon to the same group of people lest they stop listening to him. A good preacher knows how to open, and he knows how to close. A good preacher is like a clam; he has a good opening, and he knows when to close. The mind can only understand what the seat can endure.
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