What do you see in your mind’s eye when you think about a desk? A small school desk of a grammar school student? Perhaps you think of the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office?  Maybe a large dark wooden desk and credenza fit for an executive’s office?  I have a desk like that, large, formal, and intimidating.  It used to be my father’s desk in his office.  Now it sits in my basement, a hub of school supplies and a place for other things that don’t yet have a place to be stored.  I much prefer my simple U shape desk.  It doesn’t match the décor of my office, but it’s much more user-friendly.

But as a pastor, my soul is drawn much more towards my other desk.  This desk drives my work, is the focus of my week, pulls on my heart, and is the symbol of my office. The Sacred Desk, the pulpit.

Preaching is the heart and soul of my calling, and the sacred desk is the place of my formal preaching.  Standing, Bible in hand to proclaim, “thus sayeth the Lord” is the high calling of a pastor.  The half-hour (or longer) each Sunday is the high point of my week.  It’s the pinnacle of my study and prayer life. It’s the main tool used to lead the flock of God that I am called to serve.  My best family counseling, evangelism, teaching, leading, comforting, and all the other things I do, are done best from behind the sacred desk. That time each week is the rudder that steers the ship.

So now I come to the purpose of this blog; to expand on my studying, counseling, and leadership of my church.  I see this as a place to go deeper, to give fuller explanations, and to comment on topics that are necessary but may never reach my teaching.  But this blog, nor any other communication I write behind my utilitarian U-shaped desk can ever replace the work performed at the sacred desk.