Sunday, November 29, 2009

101 to 1 Odds

Well, I am at the churches office on a Sunday night where we normally hold MERGE, our young adult group.  It is rainy, cold and windy out and as you can probably guess, if I am on here, that means the people that I should be ministering to never showed.

I often wonder sometimes if our efforts are like the weather.  When it is sunny and warm, do we feel like giving it our all or do we have a cold and rainy day when we just want to stay in and hide from the elements.  My feeling is that we need to give it our all and let our heart shine no matter what we feel like doing.  It goes back to the whole idea of Colossians 3:23 which says, "Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans"(GWT).  That said there are times when you just have a hard time kicking your butt into gear, but when push comes to shove, if you remember who you're doing it for, then it makes it worthwhile.

As I said in my Friday blog, I preached on Rahab and her faith and how it was credited to her as righteousness. (James 2:25)  She put her faith into action.  She knew that faith without works wasn't faith.  It was just a thought!  I know that for me personally, that I want to put my faith into action.  I want to do the things that please God because that is who I am living for.  I don't always get it right, but at least I try and give it my best.  That's all God requires of us, that we give our best.

Back to the empty room ... My desire is that this room is filled with a plethora of young adults that have a desire to seek God in all they do.  Whether there is a 101 or only one, I will give my best effort because I know that I don't do the things I do to please the one, but I do it to please the One who has called me to serve the one.  I guess that means that I will speak to myself tonight, but every change has to start somewhere.

Let's be the one ... hoping for 101.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Faith in Dispair

I'm sitting in William's Pub right now trying to write a sermon and I have to admit that I am a little distracted. In my spirit, I am just feeling the need to write and express myself in this medium.

The reason that I am in a coffee shop and not comfortably sitting at my desk surrounded by resources other than the internet, is because my car is in the garage needing serious medical attention. I made the mistake of taking it to the doctor to have a physical done for a safety and to my dismay found out in order to pass the test it is going to cost me over $1600. To some people, that may not be a big deal, but to me, it definitely is a kick in the pants. The worst part is, that the car NEEDS $550 bare minimum to make her worthy of even walking again. I realize that my vehicle is not an investment, but I didn't think that it would walk in to my bank account and take it hostage. Where are the SWAT Team when you need them?

All this month at our church (www.thelifecentre.ca) we have been encouraging our congregation to put God to the test (Malachi 3:10). It is the only place in the entire bible where God tells us *best Clint Eastwood accent* "Go ahead ... Make my day!". Now that might be my own paraphrase of that verse, but the bottom line is that I have been faithfully tithing (as should everyone) and as a Maverick of the Gospel, I guess God is putting my faith to the test in this manner. I don't know where the funds are going to come from, but I know that my God is faithful to supply all my needs (Phil 4:19), even when I don't know where they are coming from. I'm not preaching a name it and claim it mentality, but I am suggesting that God will provide my needs because His word says it to be true.

Back to my sermon ... I am preparing a message on Rahab who is a woman of faith according to Hebrews 11:31. She trusted God to make provision for her and her family in what would seem a hopeless situation. I guess what it comes down to is this; If God will reach down to a woman who has faith that the God of Israel will rescue her, then I need to have faith that the God of Israel will rescue me in my moment of dispair.

Let the walls come down ... I'll keep you posted!