“If patience is worth anything, it must endure to the end of time. And a living faith will last in the midst of the blackest storm.”  - Mahatma Gandhi

Reading the story of the prodigal son brings to mind what Gandhi calls “the blackest storm.” How long did the father wait, wonder, and endure? No matter the length of time in waiting or the unknown fate of the son, the loving father waits. The loving father is willing and ready to display the traits we long for in an ideal father… ready to proclaim when we come, “he was lost and is found.”

God created. His creation included time and space. Both were problems for a man lying by a pool in Jerusalem. He had been an invalid for 38 years. Many other disabled people were around the pool. They believed the first person who got in when the waters stirred would be healed. For the invalid, the distance was too great. The time was too long. He could never get into the water first.

Then Jesus showed up. He removed the time and space problems and healed the man. It's hard to understand, and often frustrating, but God's timing is perfect.

In Matthew 28:18-19, Jesus gives us a very clear command, "Go and make disciples of all nations." The key word is "Go." It's not a suggestion or optional. As followers of Jesus, He expects us to do what He asked. Our task is to go. The authority to do this was given to us by Jesus himself. Our responsibility is to reach all of the world. The world needs Jesus now more than ever. We have the amazing task of being like Jesus and sharing the good news of the gospel with the world. We must not keep the truth to ourselves. We have to share it!

As babies, we are reliant on others to sustain our lives.  So, it is as we journey through our entire lives in relation to our mission and direction.

Chasing lions—yes you can do it. Lions and fear go hand in hand, so confronting them is scary. The question then is this: Are you going to let fear (the lion) overcome you and run from it or are you going to chase your fear and overcome it? 

In Genesis, we learn that God created the heavens and the earth; day and night; the sky, sun, moon, and stars; land and sea and all creatures including man and woman. Then He rested.

July 26, 2020, full worship service.