God has put in our hearts a longing, a desire--each one of us--for certain godly traits and characteristics in the next man who will be our lead pastor, our shepherd, at Cool Community Church. There can be no mistake--we feel passionately about who this man is and what he will be like!

I am so thankful that so many have voiced such earnest desire.

By the same token, I know it is vital that we all hearken to One Voice and One Voice only--and that is the Lord's Voice. When we all take the time to be still and know that He is God, I believe we will all hear His Voice. This Voice isn't likely to be audible, but the scriptures clearly teach "his sheep follow him because they know his voice (John 10:4)." We will know in our spirits when we hear Him.

HIS voice will lead us to HIS choice.

So, then, let us pray and, even, fast that we might all hear HIS voice. And in humility trust that God will use the process established to bring about His will.

At the same time, it is vital that we realize there is a very real enemy who wants the body at Cool Community Church divided, confused, and fighting amongst ourselves. There is an enemy who rejoices gleefully when we argue, backbite, gossip and fight. Do we really want to give him fuel for his evil fire? Scripture teaches us that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Scripture also teaches that Satan has a will and that he wants to take us captive to do that will (2 Timothy 2:26).

Let us remember this and that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:13). If you have a quarrel with me or I with you or someone else on the search team, the elder board, on the youth leader team or someone seemingly sitting in the congregation passively or someone who no longer fellowships with us on Sundays...whatever it may be...our quarrel is really not with them. The enemy loves it when we think it is. The spiritual assault is real. We are being messed with by the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. God says this is so!

Fortunately, he also says these things:

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4)

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:57, 58).

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37)"

Yes, it is true, we are in a battle and sometimes we forget this and say and do things that carelessly contribute to the enemy's strategies to divide us.

Let us remember we don't war with one another. We war with an evil enemy who wants to snuff out any light shining at all in Cool, California. Let us put on the full armor of God and be aware of the enemy's schemes so that we don't fall prey to them (Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 2:11).

Let us do that which builds up and brings unity, rather than that which can bring division.

Be completely humble and gentle;
be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace. - Ephesians 4:2, 3