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Pastor Rob's Fresh WordWhat If Our Chances of Getting to Heaven Were 1 in 1,392,469? I am a long-time fan of all things Star Trek. In fact, I like Star Trek so much that at some point along my facebook journey, I must have visted the Star Trek fan page and clicked the "Like" button. I assume this is so because the facebook post below from the Star Trek page appeared in my facebook news feed today. Being a fan, I thought "Beam me up, Scotty!" This would be a wonderful prize to win. For the sake of context, please hang in there with me long enough to read about the sweepstakes and to consider the wonderful little "aha - hallelujah!" moment I had. Here's the invite from Star Trek: Enter to win the Ultimate Star Trek DVD Sweepstakes on the official Star Trek page and you could win every season of every Star Trek series and every Star Trek movie on DVD! https://www.facebook.com/StarTrek?sk=app_252562648090890 My flush of excitement at the prospect of watching every episode of every Star Trek series AND every scene of every Star Trek movie nearly made me faint. Then I read the update below the invite: 1,392,469 people like this What! That means I would have only a 1 in 1,392,469 chance (as of 1:07 pm) to win the coveted Ultimate Star Trek DVD Sweepstakes. Those are stiffer odds than Pike, Archer, Kirk, Picard, Sislo, and Janeway combined ever faced in all their galaxy-saving adventures! It would be easier to rebuild Data ex nihilo! In my despair, a light of glory pierced my ... dullness. I am so glad Heaven is not gained by a sweepstakes! Thank You, Jesus, that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Joel 2:32; Romans 10:13). Whosoever will! Yes! Hallelujah! Wow! As the psalmist sings: “God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs!" (Psalm 96:4, The Message). Oh, and thank You, Father, for the rest of the Good News, namely, our invitation, our delightful duty to join You in getting the Word out to the world: 14 But how can they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How welcome are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things! 16 But all did not obey the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? 17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ (Romans 10:14-17). Selah. A Fresh Word on Growth: Hey, I Can Do That!
July 31, 2011 There I stood, the last Saturday morning of June, ready to work, ready to do whatever the professionals needed to help put up the wainscot beadboard and chair rail around the perimeter of our renovated fellowship hall. Sonny Ely and Bill Balden were knocking it out. By that I mean that they were doing a very impressive job. David Rudd and Steve Jarrell stood nearby, like me, waiting for instructions and opportunity to contribute. Now, when it comes to these types of projects, I am more like Cliff Huxtable (The Cosby Show) than Mike Holmes (Holmes Inspection, Holmes on Homes). I have had to work hard over the years to nurture what is now at least a genuine desire take on light construction and repair projects in our home. The idiom with which Jesus admonished Peter’s devotion to “watch and pray” – “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41) – aptly describes my relationship to handy-man ventures. (Good grief! Even my Savior was a carpenter! No help for my bruised psyche there). So, there I stood, ready and willing, even if not particularly able. I stood and watched. I watched and stood. The height of my actual participation, however, was limited to sincere compliments on the work being done and applauding from the periphery as David and Steve measured and cut and Sonny and Bill glued and nailed the paneling into place. I felt very much like a screen door in a submarine – maybe not even that useful. After some thirty or so minutes of awkward posing that felt like three hours, I decided to excuse myself from the company of a team that was working efficiently whether I stood and watched or not. The truth was, I had plenty of work to do that only I could do, namely, sermon prep and ministry calls. I walked away relieved but also perplexed. To be totally honest, I also walked away a bit perturbed. I sincerely wanted to help. It bothered me that I could not translate that sincerity into constructive contribution to the work these good brothers were doing. I was frustrated that there did not seem to be anything I could do to help. I have played that scene over in my mind a number of times since. That episode has me asking some important questions: If this what it feels like to want to serve but not know how or where or when, how does this apply to our church? Are there brothers and sisters in our church who would truly love to give time and talent, but they honestly do not know what they can do or how they can engage? It literally took years – yes, years – for me to get to a place where I would even show up for this kind of volunteer work. I wonder if some of our faith family may not be working up the muster to show up, to volunteer for service, only to be similarly discouraged. As pastor, a man God calls a gift to His church assigned “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12), I feel deeply compelled to make sure nobody feels like I did that day – inadequate, nothing to offer, left to watch the experts do the work. Here is what I know: God has a plan and place for every single believer in the life and ministry of His church. Moreover, when every one of us discovers and determines to fulfill our place in His plan by His power, God will be glorified, the church edified, each member profoundly satisfied, the Gospel winsomely clarified, our family and friends notified, and the enemy utterly mortified. Here is what I do not know so well: What is your special place in the body of Christ here at First Baptist Church? I would very much like to discover that with you. One way we can help one another is for you to use the “Hey! I Can Do That!” insert in today’s bulletin to begin to identify some areas of your interests, skills, and giftedness. Please check off the categories of service that appeal to you, sign your name, and return the form to me today. By His grace and for His glory!
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