There just are no words to describe today.  But we will continue on and try to find some appropriate exposition.  We had an experience unlike any here in my nearly fourteen years of ministry.  Power went out all over our town this morning.  It was indeed not more than two minutes into my message.  We did pay our light bill but my guess is an animal or human being had an accident with a transformer.  There was a blink followed by a last gasp of electricity failing in our building.  Darkness reigned literally for the rest of the service. 

The first issue was regaining composure as we adjusted to a lack of light.  I knew the message would be intentionally brief.  Why would we cut back on the sermon you ask?  I fully grasped we had kids in the nursery that would not tolerate these conditions for long.  Adults going into mutiny is one thing but our workers deserve some understanding of the situation.  So we began shaving away all extra to the material to bring it down to about twenty minutes.  All affected seem to be grateful.

We could make the obvious point about a church not having power but it would be too easy.  I do wonder if we notice the lack of electricity more than we do spiritual power in the service?  Our churches today are so dependent on technology and such to keep us involved as we go through a service.  That is not usually a major complaint but merely a reality.  God's servants in scripture knew more of His power than we care to admit.  We can duplicate the sounds and sights of those moments with all of our gadgets.  But it will always be more imitation than the real deal.

I did read of a large church in the South that has regular studies with only the most bare of technology.  Being as close as possible to the climate of mission churches in poor countries.  Only a few songs are performed if any followed by extensive study from the Bible.  Reports are positive even during a time without all of the bells and whistles.  My guess is most congregations would not do quite as well in that effort.  Now we do not have to copy that approach just to be spiritual.  You still have to wonder how much of what we do still exists due to divine power.

We start again in the morning to get ready for next Sunday.  The technology should be working again.  But will we have any more of God active in our midst?

Bro. Trey