One day, upon learning that Mrs. Peick was ill, I made a hospital visit. Her husband happened to be present and she mentioned the article I wrote about in the last blog post.
“That bothered me,” said Mrs. Peick. “That headline that said ‘Teamster Boss Gets Religion.’ That’s not so. Louie has always been religious!”
Perhaps that statement from his wife lends insight into Mr. Peick’s motivations. At any rate, I remain very grateful to him all across the many years right up to the present day.
Since the very beginning of Circle Church, we had chosen to accept God’s working through whatever means He desired to sustain us. And, the glimpses into the labor world proved both fascinating and illuminating. It became a part of my cultural maturing. The only time I was asked to return a “favor” was when they requested that I say a prayer for the meal at the dedication ceremony for their new multi-million-dollar office building.
We had no contract that ensured our future in the Teamsters’ facilities, nor did we ask for a guarantee of that kind. Consequently, we had to consider the possibility that none of these arrangements was permanent. When somebody asked, “What will we do if we have to move?” I always replied, “We will face that when it comes.”
I remained fully confident that God would provide for us in the future the way•He had provided, both in the past and in the present. In any case, it was a very healthy type of insecurity.
Too often the church depends so much on her physical crutches: the roof over her head, the new heating system, the adequate Christian Education facilities. Such dependence causes her to completely eliminate the need for God. Trusting in her securities, and because of their solidity, she is not forced creatively to overcome struggles and obstacles, inconveniences and dilemmas.
We at Circle Church always were grateful that these insecurities existed.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
