We get so busy sometimes don’t we? It has been awhile since I have sat down to really write what’s on my heart. So many things are going through my mind. It was July of 2000 that all the leadership, pastoral, board and lay people came together to discuss vision and where we were headed next as a church. Some of what was discussed has since came to pass, the personnel part. Yes we have hired a receptionist, we hired a full time music director, and I am full time filling several rolls. I knew a long time ago that I would be here at this church full time. God has been preparing my hearts for many years. Feeding me pieces of a vision, then more, and then some more again until I finally had a pretty good grasp of the whole picture. I didn’t understand it at the time, but I had the picture. The understanding part would come with time, when I was ready. Part of that vision was that I would be working at First Assembly full time. Although, I thought it would simply be as technology director. I also thought that the time was back in 2000 when my job was complete at Rockwell. However it was me trying to rush God’s plan, 2000 was not the right time I hoped that it would be because I knew I would be without a job soon. Funny how God’s timing really works. Sometimes we think we are ready but our heart and mind is not.

Then under circumstances that could never have been predicted I became a part of the staff of First Assembly this year full time, the timing was perfect. Then, a month and a half later we began to endure a great hardship in our church family. As I said I “thought” I would be just the technology director, never could I have imagined that I would be a cornerstone in the finances, or responsible for impacting our teenagers lives. At first I thought God why? This is too much, how can I take the role of minister in the youth group. I’m not a minister yet, yes I am working one that but I’m not there yet. Then this past weekend Gary Spicer reminded us we are all ministers and missionaries to the lost of the world, regardless of title or position. If I am in this position then God’s knows I am really ready, remember what I said about perfect timing earlier? It’s true the year 2000 also marked something else in my life, I began my ministerial studies with Berean University. Two year later I’ve accomplished some but not what I could have. I probably would be more mentally prepared for this task if I would have kept on schedule. But, God renewed that desire to finish what I started and I am now back on track.

See God has a plan for us, however we sometimes wonder off the road consumed by what we think matters. We get tunnel vision, we are so busy we don’t see what’s going on around us. We sometimes neglect the things that are the most important to God, reaching his children. I myself over the past several months have been so consumed by our financial problems and finding ways to correct some of the problems I have missed the point. Yes, I needed to do what I did in the area of finances for this is a critical time for us, much has been done, but there is still much to do. However, I kept feeling this tug to the youth group. We’ve got events planned, we are doing things for the kids. We are doing more that simply surviving after everything that happened, but is that enough?  NO it is not. We are failing these kids in what really matters, equipping. Most of these teenagers know the truth but, we must begin to mold them, to heal their hearts and lives, to prepare them to be missionaries outside of our building. In their schools, in their workplaces, they must be light and salt everywhere they go. Not dwelling in what was, or basking in their misery, hurt and pain. But to break the spirit of bondage and help them tell the enemy he has no place here.

God I pray that you will continue to give us strength and wisdom, this which I pray everyday. But I must add to that Lord, that you help us keep our minds focused on the mission you have commanded us to do. The 2002 Speed-the-Light theme is “One Mission under God”. That really is what it all is about, one mission. Not my mission, or the children’s department mission, not the adult bible studies mission but God’s mission, one single mission. We must do it right this time and walk the walk not talk the talk about what we should be doing. I pray that this time we keep focused on you Lord, and two years from now we can look back and say we really truly do have one mission under god.