BRIDGES

I have been watching with interest, the construction and preparation to replace the bridge over Interstate 20 at Well Road. I think they must be spending some of that economic stimulus money, (but what do I know!). I've been so interested because bridge building seems so complicated to me. I was surprised to see they had traffic flowing on the Interstate again by day 3! Amazingly smart people!

Bridge building can be a tedious endeavor--especially when that bridge is built to link different groups of people separated by age, gender, race, belief, style -- well, by more things that I can list here!

Enter the arena of worship. The natural tendency is for people to want things according to our personal preference -- you know -- the way they've always been done -- "yes, from my childhood!" "Don't change a thing, please!" And so there is work to be done -- building bridges to link the generations.

It has been a rewarding experience to lead CCWM through many and varied changes over the years and to see people so willingly lay aside personal preference for the common good. It screams "maturity!" when people who have been serving God for years and years are willing to adjust their expectations about the worship experience so their grand-children can relate to what happens in church and actually want to go! I for one, am not willing to watch succeeding generations walk away from the Church simply because I don't have enough foresight to build a bridge to reach them!

I'm not advocating change simply for change sake, and I am completely unwilling to change the message of the Gospel -- but our methods must always be tweaked and morphed to stay relevant to the culture. Jesus was a master at connecting with His culture. He spoke the language of the people -- and was always at ground zero with His audience. He often suffered rebuke and disdain from the established, status-quo, religious leaders of His day. "Friend of sinners" -- "wine bibber" -- even "Blasphemer" were the names hurled at Him because of His unconventional way of doing things. And even while some were offended at His methods -- He was building the Ultimate Bridge linking man to God and aren't you thankful for that!

So what action is mandated by Jesus' example? Bridge Building!

What say? Let construction begin!

Where Is Yours?

I've been thinking...and one of the things that has really stuck in my mind lately is how many things we try to substitute for God. It's really idol making -- while pledging allegiance to Jesus, we look for all kinds of things that will somehow prop up our faith and placate our flesh. We sometimes turn to feelings, experiences or manifestations that ever so subtly supplant simple faith and trust in God.

Have you thought lately about the level of your faith in Christ? Is is a faith that must be backed up and held in place by some tangible evidence that God is really real? If so, then trust has been replaced by a kind of pseudo faith -- the kind of faith that requires evidence -- which is, frankly, no faith at all.

Abraham, the father of all who believe (Ro. 4) chose to believe God in spite of a lack of evidence. He didn't see any signs or feel any goose bumps while he and his only son, Isaac, made the death march up Mt. Moriah. He made the climb on the strength of faith alone -- believing that even though he couldn't see any way out of his dilemma, God was faithful who promised to make a great nation from his seed. So he trudged ahead.

I'm thinking Isaiah knew something about walking, too. I love the powerful words he penned in Isaiah 40:31, "They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." The truth is simple...every Christ follower knows there is a lot less soaring on eagles wings and a lot more walking without fainting than we care to admit. Why is that true? Because the life for Christ is a life of faith -- where you don't always get to see it before you're asked to believe it. It's a life that requires us to take up our cross and pull up our stakes long before we ever get a road map to where we're headed!

I love to see the power of God on display -- I desire signs, wonders and miracles, but my faith? I choose to anchor it In Christ Alone! I hope you do too.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8 (NIV)

Keep believing -- in Jesus, that is!

Tom Lowe

Tattooed?

Norman Vincent Peale relates this story in his book, Power of the Plus Factor.

Once walking through the twisted little streets of Kowloon in Hong Kong, I came upon a tattoo studio. In the window were displayed samples of the tattoos available. On the chest or the arms you could have tattooed an anchor or a flag - a mermaid or whatever. But what struck me with force were the words that could be tattooed on someone's flesh, "Born to lose."

I entered the shop in astonishment and, pointing to those words, asked the Chinese tattoo artist, "'Does anyone really have that terrible phrase, "Born to lose", tattooed on their body?'" He replied, "Yes, sometimes." But I said, "I just can't believe that anyone in their right mind would do that." The Chinese man simply tapped his forehead and in broken English said, "Before tattoo on body, tattoo on mind."

I thank God for the opportunity to work daily with the people of God, but tragically, and yes, even at CCWM, there are people who have a deflated view of who they are called to become in Christ! Do you realize who you are in Him? Do you see yourself through His eyes - sons and daughters - Kings and Priests before God - the very one for whom Jesus Christ bled and died? Can you comprehend the bodacious, over-the-top love God has for you? Do you realize your eternal significance?

You are of great value in the Kingdom of God. Like a Jeremiah - you were fashioned and shaped for an eternal purpose in the plan of God (Jeremiah 29:11).

God changed Abram's name to Abraham years before he sired a son. He was about 75 years old - Sarah was barren and past the age of bearing children. But in faith, Abram embraced the name Abraham (father of multitudes). He accepted a reality about himself that he couldn't yet see - really, he believed the impossible was possible through God.

What has God called you? What are you saying about yourself today? Embrace what God is saying! You were not "Born to lose!" You were BORN TO WIN! Accept the name!

Go for it!