The Work Wasn’t Stopped

The main church in Mt. Pleasant is remodeling its foyer. The “Word Shoppe” moved and we are removing the walls of its former home. You read that correctly “we.”

Pastor Monte asked for volunteers on Wednesday night. Over the next few days, they knocked down walls and ripped up carpets.

Next Saturday is a “Prayer Breakfast.” They are well-attended. I wonder – will we have the same number of volunteers at each event? According to Haggai – we should.

“…it is not uncommon for us to be dismissive of the buildings themselves by saying, ‘A place of worship is not a building; it’s people,’ or ‘I prefer worshipping God in the great Cathedral of the outdoors.’ …Haggai keeps us in touch with those times in our lives when repairing the building where we worship is an act of obedience every bit as important as praying in that place of worship.” The Message Introduction to Haggai

I did not volunteer for demolition because of my health. I will also miss the “Prayer Breakfast.” I stepped down as a “Prayer Partner” when I started playing the keyboard. They both meet at the same time. God blesses us when we donate our time, (see Haggai 2:18-19). Haggai told the Jews that the drought came because they were not rebuilding The Temple.

Haggai 1:9-11, “…Because you’ve run around, caught up with taking care of your own houses, my Home in ruins. (10) That’s why. Because of your stinginess. And so I’ve given you a dry summer and a skimpy crop. (11) I’ve matched your tight-fisted stinginess by decreeing a season of drought, drying up fields and hills, withering gardens and orchards, stunting vegetables and fruit. Nothing – not man or woman, not animal or crop – is going to thrive.” The Message

Will the work get done without our help? Sure – but we miss out on a blessing.