Sunday

Today is Sunday, and that meant worshiping with the church family again. I am thankful every week that we can meet together. I know most churches are closed or limited, but we're part of GraceLife of Edmonton (that church in the news), so we're open and have been filled to overflowing. It looks like the people who came just to support us or see what was going on have started to go back to their own churches; we could fit everyone into the building today.

It was a good Sunday. I enjoyed teaching Sunday School, I loved worshiping with the church family, and I really appreciated Pastor Jake's sermon. It was good.

But oh, I miss my pastor today. Friday was the day we heard if the judge would overturn the conditions of bail so James could come home, but the judge refused. We weren't surprised (we sort of expected it), but we were disappointed. And it was hard today; this is the third Sunday with him in jail (and those are words I never expected to write).

It's not that he's never been away from church before. He's been on vacation, and he went away for school a few times, so him being away is normal. What's not normal is him being in jail and us not knowing when we will get him back. It's not the same as vacation or school; it's hard and it hurts and I want my pastor back.

I hate that he's in jail and paying the price for obedience to God's word (and that his family is paying the price, and then to a lesser extent the church), but I'm proud of him for standing for truth and not giving in.

I'm going to cheat here and finish with something that I posted on Facebook this week. A friend from Ontario had asked me to post when we had the news, so this is what I posted:

The judge upheld the conditions of bail, namely that Pastor James will not attend or conduct services unless he complies with any existing orders.

Complying with the existing orders would require him to close corporate worship to most of the congregation each week and would keep him from properly pastoring the flock under his care. To do so would violate his conscience, so he will remain in jail until his trial at the beginning of May.
I cried a little bit at the decision of the judge: I cried for Pastor James, for his family, for the church (and so for myself).
At the same time, I am so thankful to have been given a pastor who has such a love for God, for His word, and for His people; who is a man of strong convictions who will not go against conscience even when it would be easier (and I know he wants desperately to be with his family and with the church); and who walks in integrity and stands for truth. I am so thankful that God sent Pastor James to us and that I have had the privilege of being part of his flock.
Please, pray for Pastor James, for his wife and children, and for our church, because this is so hard for all of us. And pray that God's will will be done and that He will be glorified in all of this.