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A Message From The Pastors
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A Higher Purpose By Pastor Kim This week Dr. Bob and I attended a conference on Passionate Leadership. While there, the speakers reminded us, laity and clergy alike, that we have a higher purpose than simply to 'do church' for ourselves. We exist as a church for the purpose of the people who are outside our doors who do not yet know Christ as their Savior. But many churches, become more and more inward focused as they move from new faith community through significant growth to the stability of formal structures. As Dr. Jorge Acevedo put it, many of us have become "domesticated." in some cases having transitioned from being like the younger son in the prodigal story, with his passion to receive forgiveness, to being the older son, who begrudged his brother that same forgiveness. North Alabama Conference Bishop Will Willimon challenged us to remember that we are a sent people because in his words, "In the Great Commission, Jesus did not say go buy real estate, he simply said Go." While he said that somewhat tongue in cheek, indeed, we are to be focused outside our doors to the community beyond, not because Dr. Bob or I say so, but because that is where Jesus was focused, to those who were not yet part of the family, so to speak. So, I would ask each of us to think about how we are taking Jesus to those who are not here. Maybe we have work to do to make St. Andrew's a catalyst for the transformation of people we do not yet know into committed followers of Jesus.
A reminder that the informational meetings for Financial Peace University are on February 7 at 2:00 p.m. in room 421 (note the time change) and on February 10 at 6:45 p.m. in room 421. This is can be an excellent point of connection with people in our community. After all, who among us doesn't have concerns about finances and how we might do better with what God has provided? So, even if you might not be planning to attend, let your friends and neighbors and family members know about this opportunity. It must be getting close to Labor Day. School has started, football season is kicking off, and we have multiple hurricanes coming across the Atlantic. Please be in prayer for those in the path of Earl, which looks like a major storm, if there ever was one. The words roll off our lips so easily sometimes: I will pray for you. We hear of tragic losses or heart wrenching injustice and our intention is to bring them before God in prayer. So, we utter those words, 'I will pray for you.' The thing is, though, that for many of us, we continue through our day and we never think of it again, at least not until we run into that friend again or read yet another article about the situation for which we intended to pray. The hot, "lazy" days of summer are winding down. Even as a say that, I know that for most of us there weren't many "lazy" days this summer and the "hot" will continue. But, ready or not, it is "back to school" time and back to busier schedules and more hectic days for most of us. Before we get inundated with activities, before we find ourselves caught up in the flood of family needs and work issues, I hope we will take a little time to consider the bigger picture. This Sunday we are going to think about God's vision for us and for our world. |
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