As I begin my seventh year as your pastor I have been thinking lately about our Church, our mission, and our vision for this New Year. Our recent business meeting pointed out that we are beginning a new chapter. We have known for some time that we need to make some changes. We are faced with some challenges that we can no longer put off until later. But my experience so far with the people of this church has shown me that we are up to the challenges we face. We are a Church made of people who sincerely desire to follow God’s leadership and I am excited to serve the Lord with people who share such a common purpose.
We point to our mission statement: “Our mission is to reach across the street and around the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.”
Our mission is only a reflection of the Great Commission:
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20, HCSB)
Our purpose is HIS mission. Everything we do is to teach us and prepare us to go and to send others into the world to teach and preach Jesus. At the end of the day it is all about HIS mission.
We need to replace one of our buildings. We voted to tear down the old building and we need to raise some money to do it. We have never had a problem raising large sums of money to send groups of people on mission trips. We have gone in recent years to Africa, Chile, Bahamas, Alaska, Iowa, and Nebraska. Now we need to go to Gentry. We need a building to train people for the mission. But, we are not just building a building. We are building a kingdom, the kingdom of God, the cause of Christ, the Mission.
When I welcome new members to this church I pray with them. My prayer is always for God’s help as we work together serving Him in this Church. That is my prayer today.
Bro. Robin
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Surviving the Wilderness
The study of Exodus has raised some thoughts about how we all handle the wilderness we are in. The children of Israel certainly had their struggles. Their experiences are lessons from which we can all learn. Several key lessons can give us an “ABC” outline for surviving our wilderness experiences.
An Attitude of Gratitude is important for surviving the wilderness. Attitude changes our outlook and can determine if we are on top of our circumstances or if our circumstances are on top of us. The Israelites had much to be thankful for and reasons to look up. They had the pillar of cloud and fire and the promises of God in the distance. But when they looked at the desert around them they got discouraged and complained. Complaining led to division and rebellion which always brought discipline from God.
The Behavior of a Believer is also important for surviving the wilderness. We need to act like we believe in the promises to which we are going. The Israelites often gave up and behaved badly. Our faith should lead us to follow God and to enjoy both His fellowship and the fellowship of others who are also following Him in the way. We are on this road together. We have a happy destination to reach. Our behavior on the road should reflect the destination and the direction of the One we follow.
The Cup of Contentment important for surviving the wilderness. We supply the cup and God supplies the contentment. He gave the Israelites everything they needed for the journey including manna, water, and clothes that never wore out. But, if our cup is already full of complaints, expectations, or anything else we put in it, there will be no room for the contentment God is waiting to pour into our cup, no matter how much He pours out. If we empty our cup of all the things we put there and hold it up to God He will fill it. Then we will understand why He called us to this place. He calls us to the place where He is. He calls us to follow Him to the other side of the wilderness where we will find the Promised Land.
Let’s all go there together.
Bro. Robin
An Attitude of Gratitude is important for surviving the wilderness. Attitude changes our outlook and can determine if we are on top of our circumstances or if our circumstances are on top of us. The Israelites had much to be thankful for and reasons to look up. They had the pillar of cloud and fire and the promises of God in the distance. But when they looked at the desert around them they got discouraged and complained. Complaining led to division and rebellion which always brought discipline from God.
The Behavior of a Believer is also important for surviving the wilderness. We need to act like we believe in the promises to which we are going. The Israelites often gave up and behaved badly. Our faith should lead us to follow God and to enjoy both His fellowship and the fellowship of others who are also following Him in the way. We are on this road together. We have a happy destination to reach. Our behavior on the road should reflect the destination and the direction of the One we follow.
The Cup of Contentment important for surviving the wilderness. We supply the cup and God supplies the contentment. He gave the Israelites everything they needed for the journey including manna, water, and clothes that never wore out. But, if our cup is already full of complaints, expectations, or anything else we put in it, there will be no room for the contentment God is waiting to pour into our cup, no matter how much He pours out. If we empty our cup of all the things we put there and hold it up to God He will fill it. Then we will understand why He called us to this place. He calls us to the place where He is. He calls us to follow Him to the other side of the wilderness where we will find the Promised Land.
Let’s all go there together.
Bro. Robin
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