BEFORE I GET TO MY REAL POST…

Have you heard the story of the little boy who was noticed by a police officer walking around the block carrying a suitcase?  The boy circled the block twice, and finally the officer asked the boy what he was doing.

“I’m running away,” the boy replied.

“But you keep walking in circles.”

“That’s because my mom told me I’m not allowed to cross the street without her permission.”

There is a part of that little boy in each of us when it comes to God-a desire to run away, or at least in the opposite direction.  Following God is hard sometimes.  Jonah tried it.  Sunday I ended with three truths we can be aware of:

You cannot outrun God.  It is futile to try.

God’s mercy is massive.  God could have raised someone else up to do what He wanted Jonah to do.  But He didn’t.

The storm isn’t punishment; it’s an intervention.  It shows His love for Jonah, not anger.  The storm was sent to liberate Jonah from Jonah.

Any other lessons you have learned from Jonah’s run from God?  Jonah’s desire to run did not change God’s plan for him to speak to the Assyrians.  

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Sunday was a big day for the church I pastor.  A little background: For 6 years we rented a facility that was adequate, but dirty.  In October of 2010 we moved into our own building, one that had sat empty for at least 6 years.  We knew going in that the meeting room was too small.  It would hold 82 chairs, if people wanted to sit close to each other.  We had plans to build soon, but then in 1/11 we were hit with some tough financial news.  The people rallied; the spirit was good initially; and we talked about expansion.  A separate building was considered, but then we got the news a new septic system would cost $120-123k.  So much for that.  In September, the elders asked me to lead the Building Team because we needed to do something. We were being hurt in several ways by the smallness of the room.  After one consideration was shut down because it required a new septic system, I challenged the team to think outside the lines.  One thought led to another, to another, and the dream was born.  This past Sunday, I was privileged to present, on behalf of the Building Team, the suggested renovation of half of our building.  We will go from about 800 square feet with low ceilings, to almost 1800 sq. ft. with high ceilings.   There are many more details I don’t need to share, but the challenge is doable.  Our goal is to raise the money by Easter and pay cash for the project.  To make retooling and waiting even more satisfying, we found out recently there is a good possibility that 95 acres across from us will be purchased for light industrial, which will require sewers!   Can you say NO MORE SEPTIC?   Did you ever hear of someone getting so excited about…well…waste?  😛

Please pray for us.  Please pray for me.   One of our men is serving as GC, but I am smack dab in the middle of something I know nothing about.  😉 Thanks.  How has God surprised you lately? 

Would you like to read/hear what I said or see the proposed renovation?  Click here.   Thanks to Ryan (teckgeek) for making this possible.