Pastor's Blog...

Nine-year-old Jeremy’s mother asked the boy what he had learned in Sunday School.  “Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.  When he got to the Red Sea, he and his engineers built a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely.  Then he used his walkie-talkie to radio broadcast headquarters and call in an air strike.  They sent in bombers to blow up the bridge, and all the Israelites were saved.”

The mother stared at him, “Now, Jeremy, is that really what your teacher taught you?”

“Well, no, Mom, but if I told it the way the teacher did, you’d never believe it.”

This is a joke obviously, but it made me wonder, do we really believe?  We all come to church on Sunday and enjoy the fellowship.  We like being in “God’s space” and taking a moment out of our busy week to commune with God—through our singing, praying, sermons, and giving.  But when we walk away, do we really believe in the changing power of God?  Do we feel God’s presence, not just in church, but everywhere?

I have been thinking a lot lately on bungee jumping.   Several years ago, I went white water rafting in West Virginia with friends of mine.  Along the way down the New River, we entered a calm part of the river that led under a tall bridge.  As I looked up, there were people jumping off the bridge and being caught by the bungee cord.  They would just jump, holding their arms out like wings, and feel the gush of air around them.  The would then be caught by the cord, and fly up and down for a couple seconds.  When they stopped, they were pulled back up by others who were on top of the bridge.  I sat there for a long time watching them.  Not because I wanted to do it!  I am too much of a chicken.  At best, I would probably lose my lunch.  I was just amazed at the utter trust they had in that cord to keep them from falling to their deaths.  The excitement of being so free, allowing your body to just move into the air, led to an utter trust in the cord.

I want us to be that free in God.  Think of the image of jumping out, no idea what is going on, what you are doing.  Just jumping, letting God do the work for you.  So many times, we are too sensible.  We don’t go out on a limb, trying to do the work of God, letting it just happen.  Think of ways in church we can bungee jump.  How do we do the work of God without fear?  Just  jump, in faith and believe. 

Yours in Christ, Pastor Tracy