Chapter 1, Scene Three

December 6th, 2008

I’ve peeked in the room before when it was open for cleaning; but I have never been in here before I said to Dad.   Dad smiled and said I have been in here a few times. But not very often. Usually when the Elders want something they just come by the office. This room is more for effect than anything else dad said with a smile.  By the way, It’s not really called the Wisdom Room.  It is more of a meeting room.  I looked around and the huge 14 foot glass ceilings were beautiful.  Religious artwork from all over the world was tactfully displayed with lighting. It reminded me of a very fancy prayer room in a hospital, but about twenty times the size of a normal prayer room.

Welcome John, Matthew said while walking in with Tim.  Tim is one of may elders in the church. And is known for his work caring for the poor and visiting people in prisons and hospitals.  Tim had also took on the responsibility of mailing Bibles to people all over the wold who ask for one.  I reached out to shake is hand.  Nice to see you again Tim. Nice to see you as well said Tim.

Matthew set the mood for the meeting after Tim left the room.   Dad was staring silently at one of the paintings of Jesus on the Cross.  It’s very unusual I thought to myself that Dad was being quiet.  Matthew interrupted the silence by calling us to sit down.  John, your father and I have been talking about growing the church since his return from the hospital.  He pulled out a leather binder and opened it up.

John, you may be wondering why we are all here.  I want to get straight to the point because I know you have a busy evening ahead of you.  While your dad was in the hospital a sort of miracle happened here at the church.  Do you know what that is Matthew asked?  No I replied. We received the ratings for the last month. And to tell you the truth I am not at all surprised.

Matthew set the ratings sheet in front of me and dad and continued.  We have had very steady ratings over the past five years with your father leading the morning worship and “the truth hour” television show.  As you can see on the chart the rating stays very close to a million viewers every Sunday up until your father got sick.  Matthew was pointing at a line on the chart.  John, this is the first of your fathers prepared lessons that you delivered.  As you can see your first week was average.  But look here - the next week it grows by almost 250,000st 250,000
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viewers.  And the week after that we have a total of 1.5 million viewers.

I was so relieved to not be in trouble.  And it was nice being appreciated for my work.  Matthew, that is great news.  Nice to see that I could contribute while dad was out; but you know I didn’t write those lessons, dad did.  Dad looked over at me with a nervous smile.  He didn’t seem to be himself.  He kept staring off into the distance allowing Matthew to continue the meeting.

John, let me be very blunt with you.  It is my job to see that this Church continues to grow.  And frankly, to continue our expansion plans we need the extra revenue.  He leaned towards me and looked me in the eye. John, I have talked with the Elders.  Most all agree that it is in the best interest of the church for you to take over as lead pastor.  Your Father still has a five year contract, and we will honor that.  As a matter of fact if you take on the lead Pastor role we will allow him to retire early.  He can use the remaining time bringing you up to speed on how we select and prepare lessons.

I could not believe what I was hearing. Dad was personally responsible for growing most of this ministry. Dad, what do you have to say about all of this?  Dad said, John, I haven’t been feeling so well since I got back from the Hospital.  If you are ready for this I think it is your time now.  You have trained for this your whole life; and you are as ready as you will ever be.  Just look at these ratings. The odds of bringing more people to Jesus are off of the charts.  I talked with the producer of our show.  The only way to see a ratings increase like this is by word of mouth.  People are talking about you.  And people are telling their friends and total strangers about you and the Glass Cathedral.

John, Excuse me for interrupting Matthew said.  We’re not asking you to do this for free.  The Senior Pastor position pays a little over $200,000 a year plus benefits.  Excuse me I said as I stood up.  I’ll be right back.  I walked quickly out of the room and down the hall to the restroom.  I ran cold water and splashed it over my face.  I could not believe what was being offered to me.  The deal sounded fantastic.  But what about dad? And Emily will certainly be surprised.

I heard someone behind me and looked in the mirror.  It was Tim.  What are you doing hear my friend?  Tim answered that his heart was moved to talk with me.  What about I asked?  Matthew asked you to take over the Senior Pastor Role didn’t he?  Yes, I said.  What was your exposure to Greek in College he asked me.  A minimum I admitted.  I had rushed through the degree in three years instead of four and had to cut corners.

Have you every heard of the Greek word ekklesia Tim asked?  Yes, I answered, but I am unsure of the meaning.  Tim put his hand on my shoulder and continued.  The Greek work ekklesia is translated into the English word church.  But that is not what it means.  Do some research when you get a chance.  And whatever you do.  Follow your heart when you get back in there with your dad and Matthew.  You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.  My advice would be to think about it first.  I thanked Tim and shook his hand.  I will talk to you soon my friend I said as I walked back to the Wisdom Room.

Half way there my phone rang.  Hello Emily.  Hi John, Emily said.  How is your meeting going?  We are not quite through yet.  Can I call you back when I am leaving?  Yes Emily said laughing.  I will talk to you soon.  I hung up the phone and opened the door.  Matthew and dad were waiting for me.  Are you okay dad asked? Yes I am fine I replied.  This just caught me a little off guard.

John I need a decision Matthew said with a ridgid face.  Tim’s words, Just do what is in your heart,  kept going through my head.  It did not feel like the right thing to do.  Yes, I said.  I will take the position. Matthew smiled and told me to go get ready for my date with Emily.  Dad also smiled and shook my hand.  As I was turning to leave Matthew said one last thing that made me feel even less comfortable than I did already.  Be prepared to give the last of your fathers lessons on Sunday.  And John, you may want to start thinking seriously about a wedding date.  People expect a Senior Pastor to be married.  I opened the door and walked through the church and left.  All the while having the strangest feeling that I had done something very wrong.

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Chapter 1, Scene Two

December 4th, 2008

I have always wondered why you can get more done the day before vacation.  The day isn’t any longer.  But there is something about knowing you will have some time off that really helps pull everything together.  I shutdown my computer and cleaned up my desk very quickly as I headed for the door.

I started second guessing the last few Messages I delivered for dad the last three Sundays.  As I walked the hallway towards dad’s office my mind was racing again.  Why is Matthew going to be there?  What did I do wrong?  I wished that it was 8PM already so I could spend time with Emily.  Emily was such a welcome break from the day to day grind of running such a large church.

When I think about Emily the first thought that comes to my mind is her contagious smile.  Her long blond hair that looks like it has been tossed gently by the wind.  How beautiful her green eyes were when the light hits them just right.  How her cheeks puff out and blush with simple eye contact from me.  Tonight is going to be very special I though to myself nearing the end of the hall.

I knocked on dad’s office door.  Come on in John I heard faintly through the door.  As I opened the door and walked inside my nervousness peaked.  Dad and Matthew were seated in the informal area.  A couch separated by a table and a couple of chairs that were usually used in counseling sessions.  Great I though.  I’m definitely in the hot seat now.

Matthew and dad both stood up and motioned me over to sit down.  They were talking about a few things that seemed to threaten the Cathedral.  I sat down quietly while they finished their conversation.  My eyes roamed around the office while I listened to them talk.  Austin, Matthew said.  We need to put and end to this conservative faction within the Church before they split us in half.  Everyone is taking sides in the Church.  And I do not see any good coming from it.

Matthew is an interesting fellow I thought.  He can look you straight into your eyes.  But somehow it feels like he is not looking at you at all.  He is looking past you.  His head was tilted to the right a little bit and he had his normal uneven smile.  Something is just not right with him I thought.  Matthew is 5′8″ with jet black hair and dark eyes.  He had circles under his eyes from obvious worry.  He was wearing a dark blue suit with a red tie with a spotted white pattern.  He was sweating as usual.  Obviously a very tense talk was in progress.

Dad spoke up and assured Matthew that everything would be ok.  Not much has changed at the Church since we started dad assured him.  I feel confident that we can find a way to work this out for everyone’s benefit.  My dad Austin is taller than Matthew.  He is 6′1 and always a very happy looking man.  I glanced over at a photo of mom and dad on the desk.  He is arm and arm with mom and as happy as can be.  I laughed inside when I noticed how long his tie was in this picture.  You could not even see his zipper on his pants because of the tie.  It is very obvious from the look on their faces that dad and mom are still very much in love.

John, time to join the conversation Matthew said.  How are you John asked dad?  I cleared my throat and joined the conversation.  I’m doing well thank you.  I have just finished up the arrangements for Easter Sunday.  We are planning on having almost 3500 members and visitors that day.  I have the welcome booth planned for new visitors.  We only get a small opportunity for many folks who attend church just a couple of times a year.  Our biggest day is Easter and our next busiest day is Christmas as you both know.  Were going to have coffee and doughnuts for visitors this year I added.

Matthew turned to dad and stated that this was the sort of thing that they were talking about.  This kind of thing splits a church and cause people to take sides in a matter.  One of the biggest things that separate folks here is the divorce rate between Christians.  Case in point is a couple who were recently divorced and re-married to other Christians within the Church.  And they were in a battle to see which couple could keep the Church as their Church.  All parties involved keep pressing me to make a decision that frankly I do not want to make.

Dad followed up stating that these things will happen as a Church grows.  But I fail to see how coffee and doughnuts could be a division issue?  Matthew replied that anything that is added that is new and different makes the conservative base nervous.  It makes them want to seek shelter from change either at a new Church or by starting their own.  Excuse me, I said.  We can get rid of the coffee and doughnuts if it is such a big deal.  My only thought was to make people feel at home, and welcome here.

I wondered to myself if any conversation like this could be productive at all.  I thought that if Jesus were sitting in the room with us he would likely have something very interesting to tell us about a great many things.

Enough of the small talk Matthew said with a smile. We actually invited you here to share some great news with you.  My eyes peaked with interest.  That certainly took the pressure off as I originally thought I was in trouble.

Matthew continued.  John I have to tell you that the Sermons you delivered during your dad’s absence were just fantastic.  We have some things we would like to share with you.  Take a walk with me and your dad to the Wisdom Room.  Matthew’s cell phone rang.  He excused himself for a moment to take this important call.  As he left the room it sounded like he might be talking with Emily.  A perfect opportunity to find out what was going through my fathers mind I thought.

Dad had lost 20 pounds while he was in the hospital for three weeks.  And he is looking pretty good now.  I thought that his hair looked a little grayer though.  Son, let’s take a walk up to the Wisdom room dad said.  Matthew can meet us up there.  I helped him up from his chair and we walked slowly together.  So what is this about dad?  He replied, Matthew has an idea on how to really grow this Church into the largest non-denominational Church in the United States.  Why the Wisdom room I asked?  Knowing Matthew it is probably just more for effect.

My mind always thinks too much I thought to myself with a smile.  The Wisdom Room is used mainly by the Elders when they meet to decide on important Church matters.  I had not actually attended a meeting there and I don’t think dad has either.  Dad patted me on the back as we neared the entrance to the door.  Just be yourself John, Dad said.  Dad knocked and swung open the huge door.  It was absolutely breathtaking.

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Chapter One, Scene 1

December 2nd, 2008

Why does it seem that the drive to work takes little time John wondered? And why does the drive home seem so long? One of many thought going through my mind on the way to work today.  The thought of one more day until I get a chance to relax with Mike, Ethan, Josh, and Dan brought a smile to my face. It had been almost ten years since everyone last got together.

My mind drifts back and forth between different events as usual this morning. A meeting with dad and Matthew at 4PM. Wonder what that’s about? Dinner with Emily at 8 PM. Emily, my girlfriend for the last two years is a beautiful young Christian girl. My love for Emily is very strong and I been mean to ask for her hand in marriage soon. I just have to work up the courage to ask Emily’s father, Matthew, for permission first.

I love Minnesota but it is colder than I remember. I sure miss the warmth of living in South Carolina though. Take it easy by the Eagles was playing on the Radio. I was singing along and not paying attention to the road. Suddenly the brake lights in front of him lit up. I had gotten too close to the truck in front of me. I locked up the brakes and barely missed hitting the vehicle in my path.

Whew, I’m okay. It took a minute for the adrenaline rush actually hit me. My heart was beating out of my chest and I was shaking nervously. Scared, I thought I better pull over for a minute. I pulled over to the side of the road and set quietly for a few minutes until the odd feeling passed. He thought it was funny I could keep my composure during the incident. But I was unable to control myself after the near miss. Okay, time to go to work. I took the car out of park and placed it into drive. And I slowly started back to work.

After another 15 minutes I pulled safely into work. What a beautiful Church I said out loud as I pulled into the Glass Cathedral parking lot. My father Austin had really done a great job growing this Church. It started in a suburb of the Twin Cities called St. Louis Park. Back in the early days the Church had a couple of hundred members. Today that number is closer to 8,000 members that attend every Sunday. And of course the national viewing audience that tunes in every Sunday. The last number I remembered dad telling me was 870,000 viewers.

I got out of my car and started walking to the main entrance. As I looked up at the magnificent structure I was awe struck. My inner voice wondered how many starving people could have been fed with the eight million dollars it cost to build this Church. I always thought about things like this, but dare not bring it up to his dad.

I opened the door and walked inside. It was colder than normal. The Church only heats the offices during the week to save money. I opened the door to the office and walked inside.

How are you today I asked Janet? Janet is the Church office manager and had been working for dad since the beginning. I’m fine and you she asked? I’m fine, thanks for asking. Janet filled me in on the day’s events. You have a meeting with your dad and Matthew Johnson at 4PM today. I know. Do you have any idea what the meeting is about? No, she answered with a smile on her face. Not really, but your father told me it was really important. Thanks Janet, I replied while walking to my office.

Why was dad back to work so quick after his return from the Hospital? Austin Smith had been at the Hospital for the last three weeks recovering from a severe case of pneumonia. During his stay I had led the three morning services for him. Including the nationally syndicated tv show the Hour of Grace which is broadcast at 11 AM every Sunday morning.

I couldn’t help but wonder what the meeting was about. I met often with my father. But Matthew is not usually involved. I opened the door to my office. Sitting down at my desk and turned on the computer. While it was starting up I glanced up and read my Diploma. Master of Divinity degree from Columbia International University presented to John Smith. If he knew how hard I had to work to achieve that goal in three years instead of four.

A couple of hours into work the phone rang. It was Janet confirming my appointment at 4 PM with Austin and Matthew. I asked her if she had any more information about the meeting. I know it has something to do with your preaching over the last three weeks Janet said with a laugh. Now I was nervous. I delivered the last three weeks of Sermons during dad’s hospital stay. Thanks Janet I said in an attempt to end the phone call. John, hello are you still there? Yes Janet. Emily is holding on line #3 for you. Thank you. Please tell her that I will call her back in a few minutes. I hung up the phone to contemplate my fate at the meeting.

What did I do wrong? Not having an answer immediately available I decided to forget it for now. I picked up the phone and called Emily. Hello she answered? Hi, it’s John. Hi Honey, how is your day going today Emily asked curiously. Pretty good I answered. Honey, what do you know about the meeting today at 4 PM with our fathers? Emily was quiet for a moment and then started speaking after an awkward silence. Well, my father told me it was very important. But that is about all I know. It’s just a little odd I said. I am nervous. Don’t worry honey Emily replied. I love you very much and I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.

I hope your right. Honey, I have to go for now and finish the details for the Easter Service. Can I call you back a little later? That’s fine she said. I love you very much. I love you too John said as he hung up the phone.

I found myself lost in a daze looking at Emily’s Picture on my desk. How beautiful. And the best part of all. She loves me. Emily and I met when I moved back from Columbia, South Carolina two years ago. Fresh from the South she found my acquired southern accent very charming. I find everything about Emily just perfect. She is everything any Pastor would every look for in a Woman. She loves God. Emily loves to help everyone.

The rest of the day was spent arranging the Sunday morning Easter service. That is the busiest day of the year at the Glass Cathedral. My phone rang again. Hello, John, it’s dad. Matthew and I are waiting for you in my office. Is it 4 o’clock already I thought to myself? I will be right there. I hung up the phone and nervously started walking to dad’s office.

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When I woke up this morning

November 20th, 2008

Welcome to our web site.  Mike Foster and I are friends from an email list called TruthQuest.  Over the years we have both come to the same view of Christianity.  If you read your Bible with an open mind it will not take long to discover the truth.  What is that Truth you ask?

The truth is the New Testament really does not establish any guidelines for corporate worship.  Not as most know it today that is.  I encourage you to re-read the New Testament with this in mind.  The word Church as we know it is a deception of the highest caliber.  The Greek word Ecclesia (Ekklesia) means assembly of believers, Congregation, or those belonging to our Father in Heaven.  It does not translate into Church.

I truly believe that we are meant to treat each other as family.  We are to encourage one another as we pass through this life.  If our Father in Heaven wanted us to have strict rules for worship he would have given them to us.  Similar to how Israel was given strict rules for worship in Leviticus chapters one through seven.

I ask you to place you pre-conceived ideas of Church to the side while you visit our web site.  And learn to live in the Love of your Father in Heaven.  Jesus Christ came to set us free of all of the rules.  Not to bind us with strict rules that must be followed to obtain salvation.  We are saved by the grace of God.  Not by anything we can do to earn our way into Heaven.

If you are a new visitor please sign up for a free account.  This will enable you to leave comments on our work.  And suggest ways that we may be able to improve our message to the world.  You might be wondering what is in it for us?  That answer is simple.  To show as many people as possible how much your Father in Heaven loves you. 

Blessings,
Greg McAbee

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