A Note from Pastor Keith
January 30, 2000
"Timeout," now there is a word I can work into a Pastor's Note on Super Bowl Sunday. Coaches call timeout when they want to stop the other team's momentum, or maybe to "ice" the opposing kicker before a potentially game-winning field goal. Quarterbacks call timeout when they recognize the play they are about to run is not going to work against the defense. Parents call a timeout when the children are acting out of bounds. Kids call a timeout just before they are tagged in a game of freeze tag (at least I did).
Does God ever call timeouts? With apologies to the students in the What A
Christian Believes class, who would correctly point out that God is transcendent
of time and therefore has no need to call timeout, I would say, yes. For
example, I think God called timeout to Moses when he got to the Red Sea. God
then huddled the team together and called a crossing pattern, which collapsed on
the defense resulting in a major last-minute victory for Israel. I would also
say He called timeout to Paul in a big way on the road to Damascus. That, of
course, resulted in a crucial conversion and yet another victory for His
kingdom.
I think God calls timeouts to us today, too. Maybe it is in a loud or shocking
event to get our attention, or maybe it is in the stillness of our quiet time
with Him. God's timeout is His way of saying He wants us to take time out for
Him. He also wants us to take time out for the people who are most important in
our lives. Maybe it is for your spouse, or for your kids, or for the neighbor
who no one talks to.
So, if you are watching the Super Bowl today, enjoy the game. But when you hear "timeout", maybe you can also think about what God would speak to you as you take time out for Him.
In His service,
Pastor Keith
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