Author Archives: chadzaucha

            EGR. “Extra. Grace. Required.”  It’s a term that I first encountered years ago in some training material for small group leaders.  An EGR is a person who has more than their share of needs and likely doesn’t understand healthy boundaries.  When such a person is part of a group, their needs can overwhelm and dominate, potentially sabotaging the effectiveness of the group as a whole.  It takes some special skill to lead such a group.  There is extra grace required.     

            Kim was an EGR.  I hope that doesn’t sound mean, because I say it with a great deal of love.  And honestly, if you ever encountered Kim (and you probably did), I am confident that you would agree with me.  Kim could be loud.  She had a distinctive voice which was stuck in outside mode (I really don’t think Kim was capable of whispering).  So, when she was seated on the front row of a worship service and had something to say to the person seated next to her, well, let’s just say she was speaking to all of us.  And then there were those cringe worthy moments in the middle of the sermon where she meant to speak to all of us.  Kim could also be needy, as she attempted to navigate life on her own with many, many health issues.  She often relied heavily on members of the church to meet her needs.   Kim was most definitely an EGR.     

But now it is for First Baptist Church that extra grace is required, because our beloved Kim went home to be with Jesus this past Sunday.  And in her absence we will more fully realize just how Kim was a wonderful gift from God to us.  You see, Kim taught us so much over the years.  She taught us how to be patient.  She taught us how to humbly serve.  She taught us how to love.  And oh how she taught us to laugh!  The history of First Baptist Church has many, many Kim moments.  Those stories will most certainly live on.     

            And perhaps more than anything, Kim taught us what church is really all about.  Church is not about a flawless religious show on Sunday or about a spiritual country club where only certain kinds of people who measure up are welcome.  Church is for EGRs like Kim—and like you and me. For at the end of the day, we all require extra grace.  We are all sinners, and we all are needy.  The ground is level at the foot of the cross, and the doors of the church are wide open for all. 

            Thank you dear Kim for the many ways you blessed us at FBC.  At the end of the day we received far more from you than you received from us.  We love you and can’t wait to see you again.   1 Corinthians 12:27: “For you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (NIV)

Today I am thankful for the Holy Spirit. Pastor Mike said something in yesterdays sermon (“Angels as Messengers”) that really stood out to me: We don’t ask angels about the interpretation of Scripture because the author lives inside of us. How remarkable to think that God Almighty indwells every Believer. What incredible potential we possess, not because we are great, but because God is great. There is so much power available to us if we would but come to the end of ourselves and rely on the Omnipotent One. This truth is also very freeing because it means that whatever lies ahead is not up to me to power through or to figure out. It is God’s job and He is more that capable. So, today I am thankful for the Holy Spirit. May He live powerfully and victoriously through us today.

“How will you live? In the years to come, our world will most likely go from fast to faster; more hurried, more soulless, more vapid; “deceiving and being deceived.” 14 Will you traverse that road? Will you follow the same old, tired, uncreative story of hurry and busyness and noisy, materialistic, propagandized living? Just try to add in a little Jesus as you careen through life? Make it to church when you can? Pray when you find the time? Mostly just stay ahead of the wolf pack?

Or… Will you remember there’s another road, another way? Will you off-ramp onto the narrow path? Will you radically alter the pace of your life to take up the easy yoke of Jesus? And when you fail, begin again. This time: slowly. This book is both a question and an answer. But mostly it’s an invitation, from one invitee to another. “Come to me…. Find rest for your souls.” I say yes. You? Here’s to the easy yoke.”

Comer, John Mark. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (p. 256). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Possibly my favorite Christmas album.

Eagerly looking ahead to 2021 and asking questions like:

What Scripture passage should be the theme for the coming year? What one word?

What goals is God putting in my heart for the coming year? How does He want to grow me?

At the end of 2021, I’d like to be able to say that…

What would “success” look like in the coming year?