Dear Fellow Children of God,
Tonight, January 11, the Valley Performing Arts Play,
“Sense and Sensibility” begins, and with the beginning of this play also
continues my part in a new adventure.
Already I have been surprised by responsibilities I did not know would
come my way by agreeing to be in the play.
I knew there would be memorization and practice, but did not realize how
much there would be. I knew there would
be costumes, but did not know it would include dyed hair, a powdered wig, and
my own makeup bag. I knew I’d meet new
people, but did not know how much I would enjoy working with people I did not
previously know. I knew I would learn
from the experience, but I’ve already learned much more than I expected. In other words, when a person takes on a new
task or a responsibility we really don’t know all that the future holds.
This week at St. John many face a similar adventure. In worship on Sunday we will commission or
re-commission between 80 and 90 people who have agreed to serve as
congregational officers or board members.
We don’t know the adventures, the challenges, the heartaches and the
joys the future holds when we start something new. But these folks are agreeing to face the
unknown challenges of the coming year to help St. John serve our Lord, Jesus.
In
Life-light Bible Class last Wednesday we were studying Ecclesiastes 8. Part of the lesson that day included
discussion about verse 16 and 17, “16 When
I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe man's labor on earth-- his eyes
not seeing sleep day or night-- 17 then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the
sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its
meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it.”
Life is full of surprises. We don’t know what the future holds, and
often we are left speechless as we think of what life brings and left with the
question “Why?”
Since we don’t know the future, should we stay away from
any commitments that might lead us into unknown territory? I know people who feel that way about
marriage. But, if I had said no to the
new opportunity of this play I would not have learned many new things, I would
not have struggled with new responsibilities, and I would not have enjoyed some
of these new experiences I am enjoying.
When faced with taking on responsibilities to serve the Lord and His
Church, many fear the unknown. Some simply
say “No!” when asked to serve. But, they
also miss out on seeing God work through them in His Church.
A
favorite pithy saying I learned a long time ago is, “We don’t know what the future holds.
But, we know Who holds the future!”
Or, as Jesus says in John 10, the Good Shepherd chapter, “27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and
they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no
one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is
greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.” Following Jesus is an adventure into unknown
territory. But as people follow Jesus
into all of life’s trials, adventures, challenges, and joys our Lord is holding
His beloved sheep in His hands. “We don’t know what the future holds. But, we know Who holds the future!”
THANK
YOU to all who have taken on the challenge of facing the unknown future to take
on challenges and opportunities to serve the Lord and do His work. I am sure you will experience things you
never expected. Please know that in
these experiences God has you in His hand, eternally.
A
Child of God, Facing Life with Jesus by my Side,
Pastor
Jonathan
P.S. Here is a picture from dress rehearsal on
Wednesday night before the play begins, Friday, January 11. https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/January112013?authuser=0&feat=directlink
****
ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS
FROM THE PASTOR’ - I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully
weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have. (I am
always adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving
this e-mail for the first time.) However, if you don’t want to receive
this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list
for this message. . . Or, if you know someone who would like to receive one
of these e-mails, please send me their
e-mail address.
****
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