The Vote

Today there are many people in the Liberty area thanking God Almighty for a miracle. North Main Baptist Church prayed together for thirty days, asking God to bring us a man who would be an associate pastor with the understanding that he would become the senior pastor when Brother Jim is no longer able to preach.

For many churches this is a long process, but Brother Jim wanted to know the man to whom he would be handing over the important task of caring for so many people he loves. Many of us have prayed that God would provide the right man soon enough so that Brother Jim could be involved in the transition.

Soon after our thirty days of prayer, a name was brought to the attention of the deacons and Brother Jim: Dick Lintleman. From several highly respected people the leadership of our church was told, "If I were to pick someone to take over for me, to care for the people I love and lead, it would be Dick Lintleman."

After a couple of months of background investigation and interviews, the deacons and Brother Jim came to the church family and told us that they believe they'd found the right man.

Brother Dick Lintleman was introduced to the church Sunday. We listened to him preach the morning and evening services and then voted.

Between the two services, I told Rusty that I felt rushed and that while he and the other deacons had the opportunity to spend time with Brother Dick, most of those being asked to vote have spent no time with him at all. All we got to do was sit and listen to a sermon. For me, that was not enough. I wanted to know the man's heart. How was he as a shepherd? Could he love us as Brother Jim does?

Rusty listened and understood my concern. Then Lynna suggested I go up to the church early to see if I can have a few minutes with Brother Dick and ask him whatever I want to. Rusty agreed and encouraged me too.

Sometimes I think the name of this blog, "What's Linda Up To Now?" sounds awfully self-centered. Well, it is. But there have been so many people over the last four years who have gone out of their way to love and care for me and who often ask what I've been up to. And it's so difficult for me to keep up with everyone all the time, but I don't want anyone to feel slighted. So I put up this blog. I do share with you a lot of family stuff, a few aviation stories, but no, I know the world doesn't revolve around Linda. And this post isn't really about me either. Its my observation, its what I have to share with you that I have witnessed and experienced. But its about so much more than me.

Having only heard Brother Dick preach a short sermon in the morning, I headed to the church an hour before the evening service and found him in the sanctuary. Because there was a brief business meeting there were several others there as well. I knew I wouldn't get much time with him and I'd better think quick of the most important things to ask. What would I say? How could I get a peek into a man's heart in just a couple of minutes? I saw the preacher. I needed to see the shepherd. I asked God as I was driving to show me this man's heart. "This vote is too important, Lord," I prayed, "God, please show me Your will."

So after the business meeting I approached Brother Dick and asked if we could speak for a moment. "Sure," he said with a smile.

I was sure he was a Godly man-I trusted the deacons, Brother Jim, and all those who recommended him. I knew he could preach a sermon. No offense, but a lot of people can do that.

So I began, "I'd like to know how you are with grieving people." Not wanting to be presumptuous I asked, "Have you had any personal experience with grief in your own family? If so, I'd like to hear about that, and also about how you handle others, in your church family or in the community, who are grieving."

Brother Dick answered that while his only personal experience in his family was the passing of his grandparents, which he expected and said that it was not in a tragic situation, that he had indeed had several opportunities over the years to be with people when they are grieving. He said he prays with them, for them, over them. He believes in praying God's Word over a person.

Okay so far.

"But you know what, Linda? Sometimes I think its best just to sit and grieve with them. Sometimes there isn't anything to say at all. Just be there." Bingo, Brother. I had to hear that.

"Why," he asked, "have you been through grief?"

Knowing this conversation wasn't private and was going to be interrupted at any moment, I admitted, "Well yes, but..." This conversation wasn't about me. "I was also thinking of all the people in this church, in this community, who will grieve-some day-when he's not with us any more," I said, pointing to Brother Jim. "There will come a day, whenever that is, that you will have a whole lot of grieving people."

"Yes, and I've been thinking about that, and how thankful I am that I may serve here under Brother Jim. Its such an honor to be here at this time, to be here on this journey with all of you. And I'll be speaking on Psalm 23:5 tonight, 'Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies'".

Shortly thereafter other people wanted his attention so I had to let him go. And then it was time for the evening service.

Brother Dick talked about that table that Jesus prepares for us in the presence of our enemies and talked about things temporary and things eternal. Then, just as he was finished, he said, "I was talking with Linda just a little while ago and she asked me how I handle people who are grieving. As I told her, I think sometimes you just sit there and be with them. You give them your heart." Then he shared this story:

"Katie and Sherry were deskmates at school. One day Katie came in and saw Sherry crying. 'What's the matter?' Katie asked. 'The teacher just came and told me my mother has died.' Seeing her friend broken and weeping, Katie's heart sank.

"Later that day when Katie got home from school she told her mother about Sherry. 'Oh, that's awful,' her mother replied.

"Katie asked, 'What can I do? I want to do something to help her.'

"'Let's get out God's Word and we'll find some Scriptures that will comfort Sherry in her time of need.' So they opened their Bibles and Katie highlighted several Scripture verses of comfort her mother helped her find.

"Each day Katie took her Bible to school with her, and each afternoon when she got home, her mother asked, 'Was Sherry at school today?' For several days Sherry did not return to school.

"Then one day Katie came home and her mother asked again, 'Well, was Sherry at school today?'

"'Yes,' Katie replied.

"'How is she? Did you share the Scriptures with her?'

"'No, Mom, I didn't", Katie answered.

"'Why not?'" her mom asked."

With a lot of emotion, Brother Dick squeezed out these final words: "'Because when I walked into class I saw her sitting there at the desk with her head down and she was crying. So I just put my head down next to hers, put my arm around her and cried with her.'"

It is my firm belief that God so desires a personal relationship with each one of us that He speaks to us personally, in a way we will understand Him. I asked God to show me His will. This story Brother Dick told, his own emotion obvious, showed me the heart of the man I thought there wasn't enough time to see. The story speaks volumes to me. And maybe there were others there who needed to hear something like that too.

By the end of the service Brother Jim asked Brother Dick and his wife, Sue, to leave the sanctuary so the members could vote. The deacons and a few other volunteers were asked to go out and count the votes.

While we waited for the count Brother Jim talked about miracles, and that part of this story deserves a whole post of its own, so I'll tell you that part later. Soon, the basket of votes was returned to Brother Jim.

"Well, you've handed me a basket full of paper, but I need to know what the count is," he said.

"Its unanimous," came the reply.

I thought for a moment Brother Jim was going to fall over. "UNANIMOUS?!?!? UNANIMOUS!??!?!" He had to repeat it over and over. "UNANIMOUS?!?!?!?!?!"

"Folks," he said, facing the crowd, "do you know what this means? A church that is unified is not facing division!" North Main has suffered division and in-fighting and here was a clear indication that the past is no longer our identity.

Brother Jim has asked God to allow him the time to witness the transition, to have some time to meet with the man who will take over caring for all of us who he loves so much. This unanimous vote gives him peace and confidence that this family is together. So while I appreciate the opportunity to share with you how I see God work, just in my own life, its not about me.