April 2005

The 3rd Annual Ministry Fair will be held in May this year; I am both excited and pessimistic. I am excited because I see the fantastic potential of new volunteers working together for Christ’s church. Those who would commit to serving in ministry over the next 12 months. I am convinced that by exercising your faith in service to others your faith will grow like no other time. No steroids necessary! You will be stretched, challenged and strengthened. You will learn that in losing yourself in service to others, you experience joy and contentment and that you are the one who is ultimately blessed. “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42)

I am also pessimistic. Last year the Ministry Fair was just a blip on the radar. And I believe we have some weak ministries that attest to the fact. Ministry Fair may not sound too appealing to some. Perhaps they don’t like the name. Maybe the thought of “Ministry” sounds dull or toilsome or clergy-like. It could be that people are already burned out from church work and hate the thought of committing to do even more. So I feel somewhat apprehensive as our fair approaches.

Here’s what I would like to see. I would like you to discover your passion, harness it, and use it for God in Christ’s church right in Kalkaska. Do what excites you! Allow God to use you. We’re not looking to just fill holes here; Peter says that we’re building “a spiritual house” using “living stones.” Come be a “bricklayer” with us. Find what interests you. See where your spiritual gifts lie. (There’s a test on the church website) Do what you love to do – just do it for God!

Contentment

It's days after Christmas and there are still unopened gifts under our Christmas tree! My 2-year old son is in no hurry to unwrap them. Once he opens a present, he is content to play with that gift for hours, even days. My 1-year old daughter is happy just playing with the wrapping paper or the box the gift came in. The present could be a rock! It wouldn't matter to her. Meanwhile the colorfully wrapped gifts sit untouched under the tree as I excitedly try to entirce my children to open them.

Why do American Christians spend so much on Christmas? Why do we persist on possessing more and more things? If you are like me, you are looking over your credit card statement from your Christmas spending. You may be asking yourself, "Where did I spend all that money?!" I know it's cliche, but "we spend money we don't have to buy things for people who have everything." Is that good stewardship according to scripture?

My children demonstrated contentment to me this past holiday season. I pray I am not found guilty of taking that God given peace away from them by my endless spending. As a wise man once said, "The secret to contentment isn't having what you love, but loving what you have." The apostle Paul wrote, "...I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation..."

Discontented? Observe a toddler with a gift. Their contentment is pure and unspoiled.