Blessed Beyond Belief

I sit here tonight, Sunday, February 12th, 2012, feeling blessed beyond belief. Today marks one of the most important events of my entire life. As of this morning, I am officially the Pastor of Highland Baptist Church. I have been the interim pastor there for the past 6-months. I am humbled, excited, and overwhelmed. Like I told the Church this morning when I accepted the call, this is the 3rd most important event in my life. First being accepting Christ as my Savior. Second being marrying the love of my life, Mary. Third, being loved and trusted by the church to be their Shepherd. I never in all my life imagined this day would ever come.

I am of course nervous knowing the awesome responsibility that has been placed upon me and my family. I feel that the Lord has worked everything out just the way that He saw fit. I am trusting Him to be there and I intend to hold His hand in everything that I do. It is after all His Church and not mine. I am just being trusted to Shepherd it for Him right now.

I felt a great burden lifted from me today after they announced that I had received a unanimous 100% of the vote. Everyone has a desire to be liked but for a Pastor it means a lot to have every one's backing. I will do my dead-level best to be the best Pastor the Church has ever had. I realize that's some mighty tall order to fill. I think of my Grandfather, Pastor Ed Spencer, who was the founder of Highland Baptist and pastored for 9-years. I think of Charlie Lynch who pastored for 10-years and lead the Church out of despair. I think of Jerry Copeland, the man that pastored the Church the longest, 20-years, and how much he was loved and how much he did for the Church. There have been some great men in the history of the Church and I pray that I can be counted among them one day.

Well, I am going to sign off for tonight. It has been a very long and busy day. I need to spend some time with my wife before I have to go to work tomorrow.