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| photo by Nancy Bates |
Contact Cards
So were sitting there. And we notice they have "contact cards". You know what I mean: first time visitor "contact cards" churches normally have in their pews. So we grabbed a few and started filling them out. It's funny to read contact cards as a pastor; it's even funnier to have your kids read them to you aloud.
Abigail finished her piano lesson. We loaded up into our white van, pulled out of the church parking lot, heading down past Multnomah University to Fred Meyers to pick up some charcoal for the night's dinner. The cards became an instant hit. Abigail and Ethan both wanted pens and were intent on filling out their own "contact card". Sophia grabbed her own card and joined the fun, too.
What became hilarious is when Abigail and Ethan read each question out loud as we drove down the street. Are you a "Mr.", "Mrs.", or "Ms."? "Daddy, what's Dr.?" "It's what Daddy's going to be when he eventually goes back to school," I said.
Would You Like A Pastor to Visit You?
Ethan read out loud: "Am I a 1) current church attender, 2) regular church attender, 3) church member, or 4) new to the church? What do I put dad?" "Put whatever you want?" I say. "But what church should I write down?" "Put down River West." "Is that one word or two" "It's two."
Abigail followed, and read: "Would I like prayer for something in my life?" "I think so," I say, "What do you want to pray for?" "Oh, I know…" she says and silently writes a list.
Then, Ethan reads a line that makes the whole car explode with laughter: "Do I want a pastor to come visit me?" whoaaaahahahahahahah! Hahah!
"Dad! I want you to come visit me!" both kids are yelling this as we pull into the grocery story. "Daddy, I neeeeeeeed a pastor to come visit me!" hahhahahahahaha!
"Daddy, I'm circling the box! You have to come visit me!" It just didn't quit. I think they laughed the whole time we were in the grocery store.
Why Were They Laughing
They were laughing because it seems weird to have to ask a pastor to come engage them. They've grown up with a pastor dad. They don't have to ask to engage with a pastor. I'm just there. I'm just their dad. So it's funny for them to think of calling me and having me come over to hang with them.
It's weird to ask whether or not we want God to engage our life. If someone asks you if you want God to come pay you a visit, the answer should be "yes", "please", and "all the time".
AB.
