For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
that dwell in the tents of wickedness!
Psalm 84:10

As many of you know, I took off this past week to go back home to Arkansas and spend a little time with my family, and especially my mother, on the anniversary of my father’s passing. I’m very grateful to have been able to to do so, and confident I was where I needed to be. I will, likewise, be gone again this coming week for a needed time of spiritual renewal and retreat at a place not far from here. And so, thank you Nevin and Kyle for being willing to take up the slack while I’m away these two weeks. I can’t express enough how much I treasure these two brothers both as friends and co-laborers. God’s goodness truly is seen in the fellowship we share in Christ!

But there’s a question I want to answer that occurred me as I was making plans this week. “If I’ve taken two weeks off, why am I here at Rockport this morning?” Two answers come to mind. First, I’m here because not only am I a pastor in this church, I’m also a sheep. My soul needs to be fed by the Word. My heart needs to be fueled in it’s passion for Jesus through worship. I need what God supplies when his people gather on the Lord’s Day just as much as anyone else. I’m here to worship and receive! And that is a privilege I don’t intend to neglect! (Heb 10:25). But that’s only a partial answer.

Second, why am I here at Rockport? I could have taken advantage of this time “off” to go worship with another fellowship in our area (perhaps Heritage of Grace?). Nothing wrong with that, indeed, I’ve done it in the past. But with all that’s going on in the world, my heart longs to be here with you, my church family: to hear the same Word you hear; sing the same songs you sing; and be together in this place with the people I love most in Christ! I’m where I need to be.

I love to be with you when we gather in Christ’s Name!

Pastor Scott