Here Comes the Sun

The promise of warm, sunny days always makes me nostalgic for a certain period of country music. I am reminded of going to my grandparents’ for the summer. The fair and all its country concerts. The free stage, especially— Doug Kershaw was one of my faves. My grandfather liked seeing Sons of the Pioneers. And of course the main stage. Must’ve seen Alabama 5 times. Dwight Yoakam. Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. And, no lie, Kool and the Gang. I know they had to wonder about their agent… small California town. On stage where the rodeo took place the day before. Saw Hank. Charley Pride. Charlie Daniels. The Oak Ridge Boys.

And then, of course, the radio was pumping solid country gold. I loved Highway 101. George Strait. The Judds.

Summer always makes me think of country music.

Discipleship even feels better in the sun! I was preaching a revival last night at the first church I served, Dunaway, outside of Winchester, KY. 4 families who came with Daniel Boone founded the church! I sought the Lord for what to preach on, and after some times of asking and seeking, it was clear: “Prayer.” The power of prayer has been fresh in my mind.

About 2 years ago, Sue Eaton, our prayer coordinator in the MidSouth Conference, was talking to me about church planting. I was lamenting the lack of planters and said we needed to recruit. She said something like, “let’s change your language. Ask the Lord to send workers into the harvest field.”

Oh. Ok. I see. So that’s how it is, Sue!? I was shocked and embarassed and laughing at myself all in one. She was referencing to Luke 10:2. One of my favorite, foundational verses. In the thick of being busy, I neglected something. Think about the number of things Jesus tells us to pray for. It’s not a long list! He teaches us to pray, but you’d think there would be this long list of things to pray for. That’s because… pray about everything. But then… if Jesus tells you to pray for something specific… must be HUGE. And He says we should pray that God would send workers into the harvest field. Evangelists.

I do that. A LOT. Every so often I will out an alarm on my phone for 10:02, remembering Luke 10:2 and praying for more workers.

Crazy thing is, it works! Back in a regular time of prayer for the harvest… and where do I think Josh, Martha, Gary, Dan, and Drew have come from? Did they just show up out of nowhere? Nathan has popped back up… but that is another story of a kid I have known for almost 20 years has caught fire for the Lord. Why are the youth singing praise songs at Waffle House? And asking to go out on the streets to evangelize? Pray, bro.

We sent a guy named David McKay out to pastor a church north of town. He has a co-worker in his secular job, a Muslim fellow who was open to talk about the Gospel. He ended up leaving the job and I told David not to worry, someone else will water the seed he planted. And another will harvest. David said “yeah, but why should Apollos have all the fun?” Now there is a title for a book! The pain of knowing another will see a person come to faith that you diligently witnessed to! That tinge of envy! There is a tribe I know of that has had a lot of conversions in the past 10 years. But three missionaries, starting in 2007 saw nothing and were sent packing. Actually, they were beaten on occasion. One plants, another waters, the sower and reaper rejoice together.

Been drinking a lot of tea and coffee, pouring gasoline on fires the Holy Spirit started, prepping for the harvest. Let’s sit out on the porch at Old School, talk about Jesus, and make some plans for you to get to work in the harvest!