Back in the Saddle Again

I have been without my motorcycle for a week now!
It was last week when I went out to ride and noticed a flat rear tire and the offending nail.  The weekend activities and travel would mean mid-week at the very earliest to have it repaired and it ended up with today being the day I could get it taken care of.

I feel like I have been missing out by not being able to ride on some very nice days.
I know that it isn't exactly withdrawal, but I am feeling like I need to ride!
Waiting for them to roll out my ready to ride cycle is trying my patience. (Okay, so pretty much waiting for anything tries my patience, but you know what I mean.)

It's probably not a bad thing that I haven't been able to ride. It has allowed me the time to work on my sermon for this coming Sunday. I have to admit that this preparation is much different than I'm used to doing. As a traveling evangelist, I never really get to work through a book in the Bible as I'm usually looking at a single service or a limited amount of services. Most of my sermons are going to focus on challenging believers to share and live their faith, while making clear to unbelievers their need of a Savior and introducing them to Jesus.

I'm not a big fan of topical messages, nor do I particularly care for themed messages (i.e. Mother's Day, Father's Day, God and country messages at Memorial Day or other holiday, etc.)
This Sunday is kind of a themed service Sunday. This Sunday is Youth Sunday and many of our young people will be participating in the service. The day was scheduled some time ago and our Youth Leader was set to deliver the message. Due to his mother's death from cancer this past week, he asked me if I could take his place.

The truth is that I can fill in for him, but as for taking his place -- I doubt that I will convey the need to encourage and support our kids with the same passion that he would have used. In any case, I'm not sure if I would say that I am looking forward to this Sunday. If you're the praying type, I'd appreciate you putting in a good word for me during your prayer time.

Time to clear the mind and take a ride!

John <><