January 23, 2004

• Well, it’s been over a week since I’ve blogged and some of that comes from the fact that I probably get some of my enthusiasm from comments received and when I post something as serious as my thoughts on prayer and receive very few comments, I wonder if I’ve hit too close to home or what.  At any rate, when I do skip blogging for a few days it seems the last posted blog will gather more comments as it seems some people only read the most recent posted.  Anyways, the last post didn’t receive much feedback and for whatever reason I guess it’s time to move on.

  
  

   

  
  

  I’ve continued to alternate between the office and going to the dam where we are installing the new generator.  The first day of this week was a holiday and then the next two days were spent sitting a room with three other guys going over resumes to hire two new electricians to replace the latest two to retire.  The fourth is also eligible but being the kind of person he is, he’s stated that he’d hang on for a while to get the other guys broken in on the kinds of work we do.  I’ve never really discussed “religion” with this guy but he a person who usually puts other’s first and is a very generous and giving person.  I’ll definitely miss him when he is gone.  I spent the last two days at the dam.  It will probably be about another week before the job is done so I’ll be returning there most likely on Tuesday after a day in the office to catch up there.  I’ve a meeting on Wednesday at another dam to discuss a job but may have to postpone that one to be at the present job when they fire up the new generator for the first time.  I’ll know by early next week.

  
  

   

  
  

  As our Saturday Night service continues to evolve back to it’s original purpose of being an outreach for the church, I go through many mood swings as far as being excited at one moment and then being disenchanted at another.  There is a lot of hard work going into the various facets of the service and various ways to reach out and attract the lost, but at times I wonder if there isn’t too much thought going into it.  We have one very sincere man with lots of ideas but he is constantly referring to another church and how they do their outreach to the point where I’d just like to scream and ask him why he doesn’t just attend that church.  That certainly wouldn’t be very Christ-like and I wouldn’t want to dampen his enthusiasm but I also don’t want to become a clone of another church and miss what God wants to do at our service.  What works at one church doesn’t necessarily mean it will work at ours and unless the ideas are coming from God, they can seem the best ideas ever and still not accomplish the desired results.  Sometimes we research things to death (literally and figuratively) and not spend enough time seeking God’s input through spending time with Him in praise, in the reading of His Word and in prayer.

  
  

   

  
  

  I also have an ever growing fondness for the sentiments expressed in the song “Heart For The Nations” by Gary Sadler and Martin Nystrom (ã1994, Integrity's Hosanna! Music).  Left click the title for the complete song. The chorus is:

  
  

   

  
  

  Father here we are, Standing in Your presence

  
  

  Send us forth, To lead them to the cross

  
  

  Spirit here we are,  Fill us with Your power

  
  

  Send us forth, To lead them to the cross

  
  

   

  
  

  When we get caught up in the planning for outreach I start to wonder if the lines get blurred between a desire to lead the lost into the kingdom and to lead them into our church.  Christ’s concern was with leading the lost into the kingdom and He really didn’t care where they attended church, per se, but sometimes we measure our success in evangelism by how many new people come to Christ and then join our church.

  
  

   

  
  

  So, the thing that knits both these concerns together can be boiled down to the fact that it is not our church, but it is His Church and our concern needs to be with bringing people to Him, by seeking His plan and His method, and being satisfied that they are saved and not be concerned whether they end up a statistic for ourselves or for others.  It’s not a competition but a joint effort and He needs to the largest part of the equation.

  
  

   

  
  

  "Next to the wonder of seeing my Savior will be, I think, the wonder that I made so little use of the power of prayer." - D.L. Moody

  
  

  
  
  God IS Good!
  
  Go Ahead! Say It! Believe It! Confess It!
  
  You're Invited!!
  
  Go to The Prayer List , don't forget the others in need!

  
  

   

  
  

  Due to some confusion as to where to send prayer requests I want to clarify that you can use the email link at Isaiah56 (The Prayer List) or use this link (Click Here).  Please include your xanga address so I know who you are!

  • 4:40 pm
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