I got on the road early on a Sunday morning, because I was guest-preaching at Mount Olive, Iron Mountain, MI, for a 9 AM worship service, and I was concerned that I would get stuck in heavy traffic.
NOT!
I could have driven down the center of Highway 70 heading out of Eagle River, or I could have dared to practice driving like the English do on the left side of the road--it would have made no difference. The road was empty. I half-expected to see tumble weeds. I doubt that I saw more than 5 cars on the road by the time I merged onto Highway 2 in the big burg of Florence. (That was after about 1 hour of driving!) And I didn’t see many more vehicles on Highway 2, even when I got into Iron Mountain. Except that is for a few trucks and SUVs pulling fishing boats. (Over which I felt not even the tiniest smidgeon of envy).
It’s not much different when I drive to other WELS churches to guest preach. Nor will you ever hear me use the excuse “traffic jam,” if I’m late for leading worship here at Trinity. On Sunday morning, except for busy weekends like Memorial Day and the 4th of July, the roads are empty.
Those empty roads remind me of something Jesus once said. “Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way (road) that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it. How narrow is the gate, and how difficult is the way (road) that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
Highways get clogged, and traffic gets jammed outside Lambeau Field for a Packers home game. Or outside the venue of a Taylor Swift concert. Or even in the drive-through of a fast-food restaurant. But for church? For worship? When is the last time you got stuck in a traffic jam coming to church? From the perspective that comes from my age, I’d have to say “fewer and fewer” are finding the road that leads to worship.
All of which concerns me. Why? My heart breaks over little rural churches all over America that are closing, because no one is coming. But my heart breaks even more over families who get so busy living, they forget what life is all about.
And life, my friends, yours and mine, is all about Jesus. “Yes, for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
Life is about remembering that Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” (John 14:6)
That’s why the writer to the Hebrews urged, “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the author of our faith and the one who brings it to its goal.” (Hebrews 12:2)
And worship with fellow believers is where this focus can be sharpened and our faith strengthened. “Let us also consider carefully how to spur each other on to love and good works. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have the habit of doing. Rather, let us encourage each other, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Perhaps by now you’ll understand why I offer what might seem to be a really odd prayer every Sunday when I drive to church. “Lord, I’m praying for a traffic jam into the parking lot at church, even if it males me late.”
Privileged to serve,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
NOT!
I could have driven down the center of Highway 70 heading out of Eagle River, or I could have dared to practice driving like the English do on the left side of the road--it would have made no difference. The road was empty. I half-expected to see tumble weeds. I doubt that I saw more than 5 cars on the road by the time I merged onto Highway 2 in the big burg of Florence. (That was after about 1 hour of driving!) And I didn’t see many more vehicles on Highway 2, even when I got into Iron Mountain. Except that is for a few trucks and SUVs pulling fishing boats. (Over which I felt not even the tiniest smidgeon of envy).
It’s not much different when I drive to other WELS churches to guest preach. Nor will you ever hear me use the excuse “traffic jam,” if I’m late for leading worship here at Trinity. On Sunday morning, except for busy weekends like Memorial Day and the 4th of July, the roads are empty.
Those empty roads remind me of something Jesus once said. “Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way (road) that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it. How narrow is the gate, and how difficult is the way (road) that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
Highways get clogged, and traffic gets jammed outside Lambeau Field for a Packers home game. Or outside the venue of a Taylor Swift concert. Or even in the drive-through of a fast-food restaurant. But for church? For worship? When is the last time you got stuck in a traffic jam coming to church? From the perspective that comes from my age, I’d have to say “fewer and fewer” are finding the road that leads to worship.
All of which concerns me. Why? My heart breaks over little rural churches all over America that are closing, because no one is coming. But my heart breaks even more over families who get so busy living, they forget what life is all about.
And life, my friends, yours and mine, is all about Jesus. “Yes, for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
Life is about remembering that Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” (John 14:6)
That’s why the writer to the Hebrews urged, “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the author of our faith and the one who brings it to its goal.” (Hebrews 12:2)
And worship with fellow believers is where this focus can be sharpened and our faith strengthened. “Let us also consider carefully how to spur each other on to love and good works. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have the habit of doing. Rather, let us encourage each other, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Perhaps by now you’ll understand why I offer what might seem to be a really odd prayer every Sunday when I drive to church. “Lord, I’m praying for a traffic jam into the parking lot at church, even if it males me late.”
Privileged to serve,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
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