Revelation, part 2

It's been awhile. VBS ended with a bang- about 100 people (including the children) were present for Family Night. I was able to visit with several parents regarding our fall ministry schedule.
Then on Sunday we voted to pursue authorization to begin our remodeling/epxansion project. This week the building plans should be presented to the County and City for approval and discussion. Then, we begin to build....
I've been thinking about the essentials I mentioned a few posts ago. I'm still studying the process of revelation- How God makes Himself known. Raised in a traditional type of church- several hymns, a sermon, an invitation, regular observance of the Lord's Supper - I often fall into the trap of thinking God uses Sunday services to make Himself known. That may well be true. But I've begun to wonder if my thinking has limited how God can make Himself known. Today might be an example. I came to my study around 8:30am- two interruptions between 8:30am - 9:30am. Then at 10:00am a minor emergency required me to leave the office till about 11:30am. Then, back in the office I was able to finish the weekly correspondence. Then it was time for lunch. After lunch, I met with a fellow pastor for prayer and feelowship, met with a couple planning to be married in August, made several phone calls, and now it's 5:00pm and I need to get home to do yard work and fix dinner (I promised my wife I'd grill for dinner) Where was time to encounter God? Must I wait till Sunday? Can't I find ways to know God's presence - even in the midst of a busy and overscheduled day?
How can I create space in my life so that God can make Himself known? And as He makes Himself known, will my choices reflect His presence? Would I have done anything differently? Will I do anything differently tomorrow to make myself availabe for God to speak to me so He can speak through me?

If, as I believe, revelation is the foundation of a theological system, then I must find ways to place my life in the path of God's revelation. John Calvin wrote, "the first step in true knowledge is taken, when we reverently embrace the testimony which God has been pleased therein to give of himself" Institutes(Book One, Chapter 6, Paragraph 2.)

So, reading God's Word needs to be an integral part of my day. Not just at the beginning of the day, but throughout the day. I can build into my schedule 10 or 15 minutes of time to just read God's Word and listen carefully for His voice. In an article I read today about spiritual discernment, the author notes, we must learn to pray with indifference. "This is not apathy. Rather, it is praying that we would be indifferent to everything but the will of God." (Ruth Barton Hailey, Can You Hear God Now?, www.christianitytoday.com/le/2008/003/1.90.html).

Does God reveal Himself on Sunday? Of course. Does God reveal Himself any time a person seeks to know Him through His Word- of course. Maw we truly be people of the Word!

VBS Day One

VBS began this evening. It's always hard to gauge attendance as we begin on a Sunday evening. Attendance usually picks up towards Tuesday and Wednesday evening. But there is a great group of adults and kids here tonight for Bible School.
The weather is not cooperating. It's 7:40pm and 92 degrees. It's warm. The air-conditioning is working hard, but not quite keeping up.
I noticed some new families- parents I've not met, so here in a few minutes I'll wander out into the auditorium and wait for parents as they come to pick up their children.
Looking forward to a great but busy week.

Happy Fourth of July

Enjoy the freedoms that so many have fought and given their lives for!

Spend some time with your family!

Gather with friends and just visit- about the weather,about your family, about life in general- and above all, enjoy each other.

But most importantly- Thank God for the spiritual freedom that is ours through His Son, Jesus Christ who is made real in our lives by the Holy Spirit!