The A Team

I remember growing up watching the A-Team, and the key line of their leader, Hannibal, came at the end of each show when he said, "I love it when a plan comes together." This put the finishing touches on an action packed episode of intricate planning, wild explosions, drugging Mr. T with milk that made him fall asleep so they could put him in a helicopter, etc. So, with some planning, lots of luck, and plenty of blunders the A-Team would always come through at the end of the day. Well, unfortunately, real life isn't always like that. In real life, people don't always come through, and the breaks don't always go our way. In real life, it is sometimes very difficult to get very different people to focus on a common goal and give themselves away to see it succeed. But that is what makes real life so much more rewarding than t.v. When we get to be part of an "A-Team" in real life, we know what it takes to achieve the victory. And the victory is real. Well that is how I felt on Sunday as many different men came together to construct the new playground for the children of our church. Guys who would normally be doing completely different things on that afternoon all came together to tackle a monster project. Everywhere I looked there were extension cords leading to saws or drills or nail guns...so much power :) There were guys sweating, and laughing, and joking, and digging, and drilling, and having a great time together accomplishing a great task. It was a real blessing seeing so many people give up their entire day off to provide a playground for our kids. It was very humbling though when I thought about the fact that many of them would be returning to work the next day, after having spent their entire day off in the sun doing HARD work. Knowing that I would be off the next day, and have a chance to rest, I began to understand the level of commitment that these men showed even more. Some of them had also joined us all morning and afternoon on Saturday. These guys gave up their entire weekend to help serve the church- only to return to work without having had a day to rest or spend time with their family. That is humbling! That is servanthood! That is what motivates me about my church. I know that my son and daughter are going to have a wonderful, secure, sturdy place to play because the men of their church provided it. Those are the kind of men that I want my son to look up to. Those are the kind of men that I want my daughter to look for when she starts dating (at 35). Those are the kind of men that push me to be a better pastor! I am grateful for them, and the servanthood that they continue to display as our church continues to grow. Looking at all that was accomplished this weekend I can only say one thing,
"I love it when a plan comes together." ;) Now it is time to light up the cigar. HAHA.