I am calling an All-Church “State of the Church” meeting after church on June 27 for whoever is in town & is interested in the latest happenings. There are no major surprises to report, but I did want to give everyone the opportunity to see where we are at this point and ask me any questions you may have.

I anticipate being finished by 12:15 pm.

The agenda is:

• Care Groups
• Leadership Teams/Structure Update
• Financial/Income/Expenses State/Update
• Budget Review
• State of Building/Grounds
• “State of Road”
  (Discussion of the gravel road leading to the church)

PEACE!

Thomas

Many people are familiar with the story of David and Goliath, how David took his smooth stones, ran across the valley of Elah and slayed the giant. What they may not know is that, earlier in his life, David had spent hours, days, weeks, even years guarding his flock of sheep from lions, bears, perhaps wild dogs, and who knows what kind of other predators. And how did David guard them? By practicing for even more countless hours, days, weeks and even years with his weapons- his sling and staff.

Do you think David slaying the giant with his sling and a stone was a “miracle?” Or, was the miracle more in the timing of David being in the right place, at the right time, to be able to demonstrate to the entire nation of Israel his courage, leadership, and competency? If Goliath had been a 1500 pound bear or an attacking lion, do you think the results would have been any different?

For me at least, I tend to think of David as someone who was prepared. He was ready. He was disciplined. And, he used his “down” time getting ready for the inevitable giants that would come his way. And when they came, God gave him the strength and the courage, and yes the steady hand, to do what David was already equipped to do. The result? Complete and total victory.

What about you today? Looking down the road of your life, if you were honest with yourself, what are your greatest challenges going to be? Do you think you will face a bear, lion, or even Goliath? Or, do you think you will somehow avoid these enormous, Herculean, behemothic, colossal battles?

The thing is, for far too many people, they think they can skirt the battle. “It won’t happen to me.” Or, “I if just ignore it, then it won’t happen.” Really? Is that the way it works? Or is it more that you wake up and find yourself in the valley, and you have a sling and stone in your hand with Goliath charging, and then you are thinking “Oh … puppy poopy; I sure wish I was more proficient with this thing.” Honestly, what makes more sense: to just “play it by ear” and hope for the best? Or, to get ready and start practicing now?

Jesus had a few words to say about this, one of the more famous being, “build your house upon the rock, so that when the storms and floods come, you will not be swept away.” (Mt 7:24-27)

What do you think? Where are you? Is your life lumbering down into the valley to face Goliath, but you haven’t given it all that much thought? Or, have you heeded the call, and you are spending every single day practicing, getting ready, preparing yourself? Our culture would tell us these “practices” of God- daily devotionals, personal BIble study, prayer, service, missions work, witnessing, tithing, being debt-free, building Christian friendships, regular church attendance- are unimportant. Our culture would tell us that work, sports, even family are more important than our a disciplined walk with God. Are they right? Or, could putting “life” above God be perhaps the greatest ongoing blunder ever made by our human race?

Consider: “Therefore, keep watch, be alert, for you do not know when the Lord will come. But understand this, if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So also you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an house when you do not expect him.” (MT 24:42-44)

Are you ready?

More to come on Sunday. Hope to see you then!

PEACE!

Thomas

PS – If you EVER want a personal visit with me, please don’t wait for me to extend the invitation. I want to visit with you. So, please let me know, and we’ll get together as soon as possible.