Tension. Everyone likes tension, said no one, ever. But we have it, nonetheless. Sometimes from other people’s doing, most of the time from us. Why do we have tension? Maybe we’re not getting our way in a matter. Maybe we don’t like how our boss, spouse, or neighbor is doing something, like asking us to take on another shift, not putting dirty clothes in the hamper, putting up that annoying fence, or having that barking dog, respectively. Tension happens.
How about your pastor not meeting an expectation you thought they would meet? That’s why we’re in Kansas. Let me explain. Life can come at us fast, and we “think” we know what’s best for us, what we need, and how to get from point A to point B. If said expectation isn’t being met, impatience can quickly turn into tension. At my first pastoral assignment, I was a youth pastor in California. Yeah, I was a Caly for a while. It took me a few short months to realize my pastor wasn’t going to be for me who I thought I wanted him to be. The tension between us grew. I thought, “Doggone it, I was called into the pastorate, I need to be shown what that looks like and how to deal with people.” I wasn’t getting that from Roland, so I felt it was. I wasn’t getting any younger; I was chomping at the bit. We were at church for three short years. I was given my “pink slip,” so to speak, in February and had to be elsewhere by May. I was furious. Did I fail to mention I’m a Christian? Yeah, I was having un-Christian thoughts, and some of my language, what I said, and how I said it to the pastor wasn’t kind or respectful. I began to blame him for things not received that I thought he needed to do for me.
People who were my age at the time had been in their second church, had been in the pastorate well over ten years. I had yet to have my first church and was going nowhere, fast. Don’t get me wrong; we loved the people and teenagers where we were ministering. We’d taken the youth on a couple of Mexico mission trips and had led them in three winter retreats, swim parties, weekend parties, and Wednesday night Bible studies. But I grew impatient, and with each passing month, tension grew. Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
How many times have we not waited, only to end up in trouble. Sometimes, it’s big trouble. I pretty much ended up in “big trouble” as I called over half the U. S. for a church vacancy. I thought I was ready. One was open. Pratt, Kanas. I thought I was ready to tackle the world and see Pratt set on fire for Jesus. We wanted to see an “awakening,” but it was I who was “awakened.” I wasn’t quite ready for what my family and I experienced there. Things got better, and after a few years, God called us to Emporia, and after calling us out of the pastorate in ‘15, He has called us back into it here in 2026. My California Pastor? I made things right. I asked for his forgiveness and told him the tension; the unmet expectations I had of him were my fault. I was in a hurry. I didn’t want to wait. After that conversation, the last month at the California church went way better than anticipated.
Saul was told to wait for Samuel so Samuel could offer the burnt sacrifice and to call on God before going into battle (Sam. 13). Saul didn’t wait. Times were desperate, and his men were deserting him. The Philistine army looked overpowering; Saul was overwhelmed. Tension was at an all-time high for Saul. He could no longer wait for the sacrifice to be offered, so he did it himself. He wasn’t supposed to do this. It wasn’t his place. He wasn’t a priest. Only the priest could offer the sacrifice. What happened? His kingship over Israel no sooner began than it was over. Oh, he was king for a while still, but God had already removed his dynasty and was giving it to David, a man after God’s own heart.
Tension can be costly. It cost Saul, and to some degree, it cost my family and me. All wasn’t truly a loss. All of our children met their spouses here in Kansas. Leann does an incredible job at Flint Hills Tech, and I have the privilege of pastoring a wonderful church here in Council Grove filled with faithful and caring people. As I continue getting to know you—the amazing people of Council Grove—I truly believe God has great things in store for all of us. All because of tension.
Dear God, Thank You for all the fathers and father figures in this world.
Thank You for the many ways You use them to lovingly guide others to Your heart.
We ask that You bless every father and father figure.
Give them great joy and peace. May they see You and know You in new ways.
Show them how much You love them and care about them.
Guide their steps, use their hands and make them a blessing to others.
Continue to fulfill Your special purpose for their lives.
Amen.
Meet Pastor Tony
Tony Garcia, Pastor of Life Church Council Grove, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwest Nazarene University in 1988 and his Master of Ministry degree from the same university in 2003.
He and his wife Leann, who have been playing an active role in Life Church Emporia, look forward to meeting area residents, as Garcia’s official start date was March 3.