"The Door is Open!"

I use to hear those words from time to time. In fact there was a time when it was repeated over and over again. When I began as a pastor (some quarter of a century ago), what it meant to be a pastor was different than what it means now. At least it was different in the community of Mooresville Kentucky.

There really wasn't a "ville" or a town at Mooresville. It was just a wide-spot in the road in a tight turn. There was a country store, at least for a few months when we moved in. It closed. There was no town. There were still a few Moores around too. I knew a few of them. But what it meant to be a pastor in Mooresville was very different that what it has meant in other places over the past 15 years.

In Mooresville, the pastor was expected to drop in unannounced on folks! They liked that! They expected that! Just show up, knock on the back door, give a shout-and often, just walk right on in. It was that walking in part that made me uncomfortable. I tended to wait outside until I hear that familiar refrain, "The Door is Open!" Then I knew I should go in and visit.

"The Door is Open".

A lot of time we like to talk about prayer. We like to read about prayer. We like to think about prayer. But do you pray? Do you talk to God?

In the book of Revelation there is this amazing verse (Revelation 3:10), "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."

This was a word from Jesus to his church. It was his cry to the church that he longed for fellowship with them. He didn't just want to talk about it, hear about it, or think about it. He longed to engage in relationship-and he expresses it in the most intimate of ways, sitting around the table and visiting.

I had lots of visits like that in Mooresville. A knock. A welcome. Sweet fellowship.

I know many of you will not take me up on this offer, but I'm compelled to put it out there anyway. On Sunday mornings at 7 AM (yes, there really is a 7 AM on Sundays), the church building is generally unlocked. (If not right at 7 AM, soon there after). The first Bible study class begins at 8 AM. Other activities and worship doesn't start until 9 AM. That is two full hours. I wanted to let you know "The Door is Open". If you are ready to move beyond reading about prayer, talking about prayer, thinking about prayer ... how about you show up and pray.

Now there is a lot going on even in those hours: rehearsal, set up, etc. But there is room for you to come in and walk through the building and pray. Pray over the rooms and the people who will fill them. Pray over the seats in the sanctuary and the people that will sit there. Pray at the front door for all those who will walk through there.

I know. Some of you can't do this. I get it. Some of you can. Some of you should.

"The Door is Open!"

Will you come in ... and pray?