Pastor's Letter for Month of August, 2008    

.    What can I do for you today, God? 

                                             

Greeting Friends,

 

Well, our summer is almost over and the regular routine will soon invade our lives once again.  I pray this summer has granted you the opportunity to rejuvenate, recreate, and re-create your body, mind, and spirit.

 

As I look forward into our scripture and sermon topics for the month of August, I see a common theme of trust.  Trusting God in all matters of life, death, and faith.  Our scriptures for the month call us to fully put our faith in God even when we don’t feel God’s presence, for even though we don’t sense God in our lives, God is there and in control.  As we know, control plays a big role in how we live our lives.  How much control am I going to have and how much control am I going to give up.  The Apostle Peter demonstrates in one of our scriptures this month how we sometimes let God be in control and sometimes we don’t want to totally let go.  Matthew 14:22-33 tells the familiar story where Peter, putting his total faith and trust in Jesus; basically giving up control, walked towards Jesus on the water.  You know how the story ends, Peter sinks after only a few steps.  Peter took back a piece of that control and did not trust Christ to be the one in control of the situation.  I think we are very much like Peter.   We say we want to give control of our lives to Christ, and we might for just a bit, but when Christ asks us to do things outside our comfort zone, we try to take that control back.

 

Last month the Men’s Morning Bible Study (that meets on Mondays at 7:30 a.m.) began the  study of a new book called Get Real, A Spiritual Journey for Men by Derek Maul.  In the first few pages of the book, Maul talks about where we start our spiritual journey.  He says our journey begins with our conversations with God.  Maul suggests that too many times our conversations are one way and about what we want God to do for us.  Basically, we want to be in control.  Maul advocates for a different kind of prayer; a prayer that begins with, “What can I do for you today, God?”  This is a more faithful prayer, it is a prayer that represents a way of life, a dedication to the one whom we say we follow.  A prayer that begins with this question brings with it many consequences.  If we begin with this question, we are giving up control and putting our lives in God’s hands.  If we truly mean what we say, then we have to trust where God is sending us.  We have to be willing to walk on water if that’s what God asks us to do.

 

As we move into the “routine” of the school year, I encourage you to ask  God the question, “what can I do for you today, God?”  and see where God takes you from there.  Will it be scary to give up control and see where God leads?  You bet!  But I bet you will be amazed at what you can do, and what can be accomplished when you let go and let God.

 

Peace, 

Andy 

 

 

  Andy and his Family (Wife Cheryl, Daughters)