Pastor Craig - August 2016

 Young people have an ability to put things in perspective. Their minds are filled with wonder and awe and sometimes, we get the privilege of seeing one of those moments when a young person suddenly realizes or gets something. Growing up we called them an "awe hah" moment. That light bulb that goes on and a face beaming with awareness.

 As you read this our VBS has been completed or in the process of happening. I already know that it will be a wonderful time filled with surprises and young people that will come and be blessed and be a blessing. Like church, the theme of the week will deal with only one thing and that is the love which Jesus brings to all the world. Through music, stories, snacks, crafts and yes even work, all of us will be amazed at how God shapes and forms lives, not of just the children but those who are children at heart.

 The reason I started this is that all of us can become distracted by things that ultimately don't matter. In the past months, I have felt some frustration over just having one projector working. At present, the office is having significant problems with our phone lines. I have faith that they will be repaired, but it also affects our internet. God has blessed us with simple repairs to 2 air conditioners and I thank God for people who know how to fix them.

 Having said all of this, I realize how this stuff really does not matter in the big scheme of life. God's Word will continue to be proclaimed even if the projectors or the microphone doesn't work. Somehow we would survive if the air conditioning did not function. We would just pretend it was an outdoor service. It is nice to have a bulletin, but we can still proclaim an Apostles Creed, our Lord's Prayer, and celebrate his Supper, perhaps even sing "Jesus Loves Me". Remember there was a time when we did not have email or EBAY or Google Maps and somehow we still knew that we were still connected by a God who loves us.

 Think of those things that distract you. Those things that get in the way or cause your mood to shift and you become a person that you don't even like. All of us have those moments. Yet it is up to us not to lose our perspective or to give those things more attention than they deserve. God's promise to us is that he will be with us always. Not just in the "good" times, but will be there when we face those everyday challenges of life. Of course this is sometimes more easily said then believed at the time, but if we keep repeating and repeating and believing and believing, it allows us to see the miracles and rejoice when we are able to get "whatever" fixed.

 Somehow we need to hear that voice in our brain that reminds us that the brokenness, of a computer or car, does not compare to our brokenness as people who are "fixed" by a God who is more powerful then we can imagine.

 Here's to that sense of joy when that thing that was broken has been fixed.

Pastor Craig