| The Bible is not so much a book about destiny as it is about decisions. In detail at times, it lays out to the reader the stories and life journeys of real people and teaches us about our own real life choices through the decisions these people made. We see both weakness and triumphs of people who were just like us as we like them come to faith encountering both the human and divine in ourselves. In a Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown laments to his friend Linus, “Life is just too much for me. I’ve been confused from the day I was born. I think the trouble is, we’re thrown into life too fast. We’re not really prepared.” “What do want”, Linus asks, “a chance to warm up first?” You may not get to warm up first before entering life, but you can warm up by deciding and putting into practice, what is most important to you once you awaken to the fact that life is already underway, whether you’re ready or not. It’s during these warm ups and awakenings that you grow. If you commit yourself to decide, to choose and to practice; you also commit yourself to discover. (1) You learn quickly that your performance, in the journey and on the stage of life can always be improved. Author Harvey Mackay says, “A good leader understands that almost everything that has been done in a particular way for a given amount of time, can be done better. Every single performance can be improved. This is true for individuals, societies, churches, governments as well as the appliances or technologies they all use. Some one also said the definition of absurdity was doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. (2.) The sharpening and shaping process which brings us to see this truth is always better in the right environment. Improvement always requires some risk of failure. So it is always best to find a place where growth and experimentation is encouraged. Cornerstone MCC seeks to be such a place, “a house of prayer for all peoples”, where life questions and spiritual transformation is not a one size fits all concept but where each individual is welcomed to grow and work out their own salvation with due reverence towards God. Go where you will be celebrated and not just tolerated. Place is very important and where you are in life matters as much as, who you are. Discerning where we should be is as important as knowing what we should be. Jesus said, a prophet is without honor in his own country. It is hard to move forward as an adult if others always see you as a child. It is hard to think of being a saint if you always think in terms of being a sinner. Even as we confess that we are all sinners, saved by grace, the implication is that we have had a spiritual transformation in the way we once and now see ourselves. It is difficult to dream big, if everyone around you is always thinking small. Yet, wisdom says we always begin with small things and the scripture reminds us not to despise the day of small things. Human babies crawl before they walk. Spiritual babies stumble before they run. But small is not all there is and there is a time and a place to grow and even to mount up with wings like eagles. (3.) So, its OK to begin with small things yes… and your gains will be small. But they will grow! The difference is knowing when it’s time to reach for something larger. The difference between the gold medalist in an Olympic competition is often just hundredths of a second. (4.) There’s a price to pay to reach the next level. Sidney Howard remarked, “One half of knowing what you want, is knowing what you must give up before you get it.” I’ve learned in life, that there are many who want what others have, but are never willing to give up what others left behind or, to do what others did or go through what others went through to get or be where they are. Both individuals and great peoples all began small. Little is much, when God is in it. Large churches are always the result of successful small churches. Huge buildings are the result of architectural study, painstaking drawing and laborious execution which all began as simple ideas. Great oaks are grown from little acorns. Even the Creator first thought, then spoke and the created universe appeared but it is still unfolding; the action of the Word is still going forth and we, you and I and our growth is part of it. Scripture says, “We do not yet know what we shall be (become), but we do know that when we see God, we will know God for we shall be like God. What power of decision is this for our destiny! Many of us regard the changes and seasons of life in individuals and organizations as a negative experience, but it doesn’t have to be if you think in terms of discovery and development. So keep on choosing and keep on practicing for a future and a hope. You are God’s best! Pastor Lee |
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