Well, we in the Jennette household had a minor celebration this week. And when I say minor...well, you'll see what I mean.
A few weeks ago, we bought Guitar Hero III for our Wii. We've enjoyed the Wii, probably more than any of us thought we would, and find ourselves regularly playing this game. I play guitar at a beginner's level (which I hope doesn't disparage beginners) and this game has some similarities to playing the guitar. There are 5 different colored buttons and a toggle that you strum. You press the correct color and flip the toggle at the same time to get points and if you play well enough, you can complete the song.
My oldest son worked and worked on learning the first song, Slow Ride by Foghat (apologies to my current church that got to hear our youngest singing that song over and over before church one Sunday). It took him quite a long time, but last week he finally finished his first song. It was a video game, granted, but I was so proud of him for setting a goal, working hard, and accomplishing his goal.
It made me wonder about myself: If my son has the kind of drive to play a song on a video game, do I have that same drive to do things that matter in the world? Family fun is wonderful (and needed in our family from time to time), but what about those things that are important. Do I have the kind of strength it takes to see it through?
As that question rolls around in my mind, I think about Paul's letter to the church in Philippi, and the words of confidence he shares with them: "...(God) who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." As we and the people of Merrillville set out on this new adventure, I want to remember those words from Paul. There will be times when things get hard, when people question what we're doing, if we've lost our minds. Some people may outright fight what it is we are doing for God. But in my mind, it's not us, but God who is beginning this work in us, and if God is beginning it, then God will be faithful to complete it in and through us.
So with that in mind, I want to continue to do the work of God, no matter what's against me, because ultimately it is God who will carry it on to completion, finish the job. And I've got a great example of the hard work it takes to complete a goal sitting next to me at the dinner table.
What about you? What kind of work is God asking of you to complete that good work? I'd love to hear from you.
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St. Irenaeus said" The Glory of God is a human being fully alive." God does not pull our strings and things happen. We are fully alive and positive in our efforts and then things happen.
ReplyDeleteRev JJ:
ReplyDeleteI am Molly Dunscombe's sister Betsy, and I live in Northeast Indiana. I surely can't drive that far. But your words are encouraging. Well, I got a little lost on the "attractional church." But I heard you very well when you mentioned Paul's words that God begins a good work in you will continue it to its completion until the coming of Jesus Christ. I hope that is close. I am too far away, but I need church. It is just something one knows when it is missing. One thing I really wish is that somehow "church" is when I can get there, and those times are not the traditional times. Maybe that is part of the answer is that people work odd hours. I wish I knew for myself. And it is kind of scary to go to a new church. I am Episcopalian and there aren't any up here.
Well I wish you both the very best and the best of luck finding answers to do you ministry. If Merrillville UMC wants to sell the church my prayers are for that too, but isn't it supposed to be what God wants? thompson.betsy48@gmail.com
Well then I totally missed your question about what work is God asking of you to complete that work? I will have to ponder on that.
ReplyDeleteBetsy Thompson thompson.betsy48@gmail.com