Being back in Watonga, Oklahoma this weekend brought back a lot of memories for me. A stroll down memory lane is good every now and again. I enjoyed visiting with folks that were there when I began my ministry and meeting new folks as well.

As I sat in that sanctuary, I remembered that August Sunday in 1984 when I was installed. The installation service was in the afternoon, which meant the vacancy pastor was leading worship and preaching that morning. I sat in the pews with many family members who had gathered for the occasion.

There were thunderstorms in the area that morning. While the pastor was preaching, we heard a loud clap of thunder and the sanctuary went dark. The power was out. The pastor was in mid-sentence when the power failure occurred, and he stopped. Dead silence. No one said a word. The power was out for about twenty seconds, which seemed like an eternity. And then the lights came back on. As soon as the power was restored, the pastor picked up right where he left off, in the middle of his sentence, and continued as if nothing had happened.

I will admit that I had to stifle my laughter when that happened. It appeared as though he was plugged into the wall and when the power went off, so did he. When the power came back on, he started again.

I have thought of that many times over the years. It reminds me that the followers of Jesus need to be sure we stay connected to our power source.

Luke 6:19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

When I take my laptop computer with me on trips, it will last a while without being connected to a power source, but the battery will die if I don’t recharge it. If I don’t take my charger with me, the computer will soon be useless.

You and I need to stay connected to our power source, God’s Word. It is there that we are reminded of our failings and our need for God’s help. It is there that we also hear how God provided the rescue we needed. Scripture tells us that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners by offering Himself as the payment for the sins of the world. That is the power we need for every day of our lives.