The Vanguard Report: 10/28/2009
Welcome to the Midweek Connection Service! This past weekend was a defining weekend in the life of our church. It has been a tough season on our staff and leadership. Yes, we have learned a lot. Yes, we are more dedicated than ever before. Yes, what we do matters more to us than ever before because it has cost us. I know it hasn't just cost the staff, it has cost everyone that calls Vanguard their church home. All of us have labored this year to be a people that are thankful in the face of adversity and godly in the face of temptation. All of us, including me have had overwhelming moments of sorrow, confusion, angst, and frustration with the predicament we find ourselves in as a society. Yet, here we are, still remaining faithful to God calling on our lives. We keep showing up and it matters to us.
Twenty-two months ago we completed the building of theater seven. Then about nineteen months ago we completed theater six. Did we anticipate growing faster numerically than we have? Yes, we actually have grown better financially the last two years than we have in weekend average attendance. We have seen huge leaps of growth in our finances, especially since we haven't seen the numerical growth we anticipated. Have we grown numerically? Yes, we have. We have grown every year as a church with the exception of one year. We have seen 12 years of attendance growth and it appears we will see by the end of this year our 13 year of financial growth.
Why am I telling you this? Because I don't want us to be like the nation of Israel as they crossed the dessert. I don't want us to become a grumbling people who only see the shortfall or the negative. Yes, it is there and yes it has to be addressed one way or another, but no, we don't want to become an UNGRATEFUL people in the face of ADVERSITY. We want to be grateful and we want to be godly in the face of temptations.
I know in my own life God has been for some time purifying the brokenness of my life. Every year I live I see more of my brokenness and my deep need of Him. None of us can pull off this Christian life with perfection or fly solo through the challenges that await us each day. We need Him and we need each other.
Here are some questions I am pondering as your pastor as we walk through this adverse time in our nation, city, and church:
Am I more loving now than I was a year ago to my wife, kids, friends, and those I lead?
Am I more committed to God's calling on my life now than I was year ago given the adversity I have walked through this year?
Am I more convinced of who God has made us to be in light of our present circumstances?
Am I more godly than I was year ago in how I handle the temptations of my life?
Am I more in love with God than I was a year ago?
Unless you deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him, we can't be His disciples. Who are we becoming due to our circumstances? Are we becoming his better disciples or bitter disciples? Who determines that? We do, regardless of our circumstances. May God give us the grace to BE who He has made us to be regardless of what is going on around us.
Let's keep walking faithfully and living our mission! We want to love as many people as possible into a REAL relationship with Jesus Christ that is the main reason why we built Theater Seven. Each week we dedicate it to the Lord. Use it and us Lord!
Love ya,
Pastor Kelly
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