REACH FOR THE SUMMIT
“I was just an enthusiastic mountaineer of modest ability who was willing to work hard and had the necessary imagination and determination.” - Sir Edmund Hillary, On reaching the summit of Mt. Everest, March 23, 1953 It was only the beginning of a lifetime of service to others.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:22b,23 So, I became all things to all men, that I may save some of them by whatever means possible. All this I do for the gospel’s sake, in order to share in its blessings.
There is a sense of awesomeness and exhilaration when a mountaineer reaches the summit of a mountain. But, before that can be experienced, much planning, preparation, training and commitment must be done before the apex can be reached.
After such an emotional trek, time is needed to rest, reflect and gather in what has been learned, so that the following journeys will have the ability to reach their own magnitude of celebration.
There are many summits reached and celebrated in the life of the church body as well. When a young person finishes the confirmation process and comes before the congregation and professes his or her love of God and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, and is then baptized, a summit has been reached. The new follower of Christ, the parents, pastor and congregation are as one, in the moment of an amazingly glorious time. You can feel the Holy spirit flow through you veins.
Anyone who has come back from a successful work camp, mission trip or spiritual retreat has a certain glow about them. You know that their lives were changed, and it is reflected in there excitement of retelling their ‘Story’.
Building projects, mission projects, musical cantatas, plays, special dinners and programs all have their own pinnacles. Even the weekly services and classes have their own peaks to reach. And, they all share a common thread. They all take planning, preparation, training and commitment. There is also the needed time to rest, reflect back and gather in what has been learned, so, that more people will be given the opportunity to be part of a summit celebration.
It is important that the church keep a focus on where these mountains are to be reached, and that there is the needed commitment by its leaders to prepare its people for these treks. It is those mountains and journeys, that give strength to the times in between and the hunger for reaching a part of God’s ultimate summit, when we can physically and spiritually feel God’s presence.
With its diversity of people and their God given talents, a church can reach out to all people, and with even the modest of abilities, imagination, determination, commitment and enthusiasm, help others climb their own mountains and reach for the summit. All for the gospel’s sake.
“Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop.
And I don't mind.” - Martin Luther King, Jr, 3 April 1968
“I was just an enthusiastic mountaineer of modest ability who was willing to work hard and had the necessary imagination and determination.” - Sir Edmund Hillary, On reaching the summit of Mt. Everest, March 23, 1953 It was only the beginning of a lifetime of service to others.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:22b,23 So, I became all things to all men, that I may save some of them by whatever means possible. All this I do for the gospel’s sake, in order to share in its blessings.
There is a sense of awesomeness and exhilaration when a mountaineer reaches the summit of a mountain. But, before that can be experienced, much planning, preparation, training and commitment must be done before the apex can be reached.
After such an emotional trek, time is needed to rest, reflect and gather in what has been learned, so that the following journeys will have the ability to reach their own magnitude of celebration.
There are many summits reached and celebrated in the life of the church body as well. When a young person finishes the confirmation process and comes before the congregation and professes his or her love of God and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, and is then baptized, a summit has been reached. The new follower of Christ, the parents, pastor and congregation are as one, in the moment of an amazingly glorious time. You can feel the Holy spirit flow through you veins.
Anyone who has come back from a successful work camp, mission trip or spiritual retreat has a certain glow about them. You know that their lives were changed, and it is reflected in there excitement of retelling their ‘Story’.
Building projects, mission projects, musical cantatas, plays, special dinners and programs all have their own pinnacles. Even the weekly services and classes have their own peaks to reach. And, they all share a common thread. They all take planning, preparation, training and commitment. There is also the needed time to rest, reflect back and gather in what has been learned, so, that more people will be given the opportunity to be part of a summit celebration.
It is important that the church keep a focus on where these mountains are to be reached, and that there is the needed commitment by its leaders to prepare its people for these treks. It is those mountains and journeys, that give strength to the times in between and the hunger for reaching a part of God’s ultimate summit, when we can physically and spiritually feel God’s presence.
With its diversity of people and their God given talents, a church can reach out to all people, and with even the modest of abilities, imagination, determination, commitment and enthusiasm, help others climb their own mountains and reach for the summit. All for the gospel’s sake.
“Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop.
And I don't mind.” - Martin Luther King, Jr, 3 April 1968
posted by John | Friday, September 22, 2006
1 Comments:
REACH FOR THE SUMMIT
“I was just an enthusiastic mountaineer of modest ability who was willing to work hard and had the necessary imagination and determination.” - Sir Edmund Hillary, On reaching the summit of Mt. Everest, March 23, 1953 It was only the beginning of a lifetime of service to others.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:22b,23 So, I became all things to all men, that I may save some of them by whatever means possible. All this I do for the gospel’s sake, in order to share in its blessings.
There is a sense of awesomeness and exhilaration when a mountaineer reaches the summit of a mountain. But, before that can be experienced, much planning, preparation, training and c
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