Good morning and happy Saturday. I hope that you had a great week. The last two weeks have been really good in the life of our church. God is doing some amazing things. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, for the past two weeks, we have done VBS in the community. On week one, we did it at Westbrooke Glen, Arbor Square and the Meadows. This week, we were at London House and Kessler Park. It truly was a good time to interact with some of the people we used to bus to the church as well as some new people we got to meet. Several times I heard people say, “This is like what we used to do at Quivira Place.” If you aren’t familiar with that, we got our start doing an apartment ministry there. It was great to see and hear of the teams in each location doing a Bible lesson, activities, crafts, snacks, etc. The people loved our willingness to bring the ministry to them. I am thankful for those that were willing to lead this effort. It is so consistent with our church model and our desire to impact the community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And now that the schools are all delaying their reopening until after Labor Day, we are gong to continue this outreach model until then. Starting next week, we are going to try to offer ministry one day per week (mostly Wednesday’s) at each of the five locations. If you would like to help weekly or periodically, please let me know. It really has been great to see how our church has been able to respond to the ever-changing crisis around us and continue to move forward with ministry.
A special thanks is due to Zeru. He led the effort in putting together the VBS effort this year. It has been great having him at our church this summer. I hope you can join us on Sunday as brother Zeru will be bringing the message. I look forward to the challenge he will have for us from the Word of God.
Yesterday, Michelle and I had the chance to go spend a little time at the pool at our apartment complex. As some of you know, I am not one that likes to sit still for very long. I like to be in motion constantly. So, after about ten minutes of laying by the pool like an orca that had washed up on shore, I started looking around. I was reminded once again of the many things you can see if you take the time to open your eyes. And no, I am not talking about that. Get your minds out of the gutter. Although, as a public service announcement, your face mask should not be the largest covering you have on your body, just saying. Anyway, as I stared up into the sky, I noticed a few clouds dotting the otherwise blue sky. I thought about how we would look at the clouds with our kids and point out the various shapes. I saw a cloud that looked like a dragon, another that looked like an anteater, and a few other things. Yeah, I know, heatstroke is a dangerous thing. Actually though, it made me think about how, as adults, we often lose our imagination. We lose our fascination with things. Life becomes routine and more concrete. If we are not careful, we no longer enjoy the simple things in life. I know this is true of me. But, for whatever reason, on this day, I noticed the clouds. And I was fascinated by how they moved and changed shapes as they made their way across the sky. And then I heard the sound of a plane. I watched as it made its way across the sky and wondered where they might be going. Later, I saw a couple of birds soaring in the sky. Almost as if they were mocking the plane that had to be propelled with an engine and fuel. The birds would climb higher and higher and then, with wings extended, glide almost effortlessly riding the wind. It was likely the sight of something like that which caused people to begin to imagine what it would look like to fly themselves. After many failed attempts, Orville and Wilbur Wright finally got a manmade bird off of the ground and flew. Of course others had done so in a variety of ways with things like balloons, gliders and even jumping off of things with wings that resembled those of a bird. Many failed attempts, but at least they tried. As I looked around some more, I saw a turtle swimming in the pond. There was one of those large birds like a heron or a crane that landed on the rocks by the pond. After a while, it took off and flew right over the pool area. It was an amazing creature with a very wide wingspan. That was much different than the bees that were buzzing around the flowers around the fence. Their undersized transparent wings seemed to go non-stop in order to keep them aloft. Anyway, I could describe a few others things but you are likely bored with all of this. Especially if you can’t sit still like me. However, what I would encourage you to do is to try to look around. Open your eyes to see the wonderful and fascinating things that are all around us. There are plenty of problems in the world. There is a non-stop barrage of news and disinformation. If we spend too much time focusing on all of that, it can be downright depressing. Instead, let’s take some time, even if it is only a few minutes, and notice some of the many other wonderful things in the world that are all around us. Use your imagination. Allow yourself to be fascinated by some of the things God has created. Marvel at some of the incredible things that mankind has invented. Slow down long enough to be filled with wonder once again.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)
Hope to see you in the morning. If you can’t make it in person, join us via video. May God bless you with a truly worshipful Sunday.
Love God. Love others. Impact our community. Change the world.
Pastor Larry
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