Waterfall

One of the things that attracted me to Virginia was the mountains. And a great thing about living in Culpeper is that I'm only 3o-40 minutes away from beautiful Skyline Drive that etches its way along the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah National Park. A couple of days ago, my friend Joel and I, took the afternoon off to ride up to the mountains. A few weeks earlier, my family and I had hiked to Dark Hallow Falls up at Big Meadows on Skyline Drive, so I thought Joel would enjoy this hike to experience these breathtaking waterfalls. After parking the car near the entrance to the trail, we grabbed our water bottles and headed down the mile and a quarter trail to the falls. One of the things that caught my attention right away was how small the stream is where you begin your hike. By the time you get to the falls the water is rushing over the rocks at hundreds of gallons per minute. Its amazing to me how such little water could become a tremendous deluge of water in just a relatively short distance. Jesus described the kingdom of God in a similar way. He said it was like tiny seed that grows into a huge tree. For now Mosaic is in the trickling stage and by faith I believe God will grow His church into whatever He wants it to be. The key, I'm learning, is "God" will do the growing. Its mysterious, just like the mysterious way a trickling stream becomes a gorgeous waterfall. I don't have all this church planting thing figured out, but I know He does. So, I'm content to keep doing what He's created me to do, and that is to become all that He wants me to be. For all of us, I believe it all boils down to this alone...a journey to become all that He wants us to become. God has plan for our lives. The plan is not mysterious, but rather simple. Jesus said it very plainly when he said that it all comes down to loving God and loving others. Imagine what our world we would be like or even our town, neighborhood, family, if everyone was becoming what God intended us to become...people who love Him and love everyone else around us. Some days it seems to come easy, other days I just don't feel like it. Its a journey of "becoming". On our way back up from the falls it became very clear very fast that the hike would be much more difficult. We took our time. We took a lot of breaks, especially when Joel's leg began to cramp. Even though this journey of life I'm on sometimes seems easy and other days is extremely challenging, I'm believing that my trickling stream will come along side of other trickling streams and together we will become God's waterfall here in Culpeper.
Duane

The Pew Has Left The Building!

"We're giving away the pews from the choir loft" we heard the pastor say this morning at a church my wife and I attended. The church is going through a remodeling phase and the pews in the loft have to go. He said, "Anyone who would like to have one can take one. They're free." As I thought about the offer I wondered what would someone do with a pew at their house? I couldn't imagine anyone using one or replacing one of their couches for an uncomfortable pew! What would be the purpose? Maybe it could be a memento or a piece of furniture that would spark conversation by those visiting your home or maybe it could be considered an antique. Whatever it's purpose would be it's still out with the old and in with the new. The old pews are out the door and being replaced by something new. The old pews are leaving the building, never to be brought back again. They have no more purpose in that sanctuary. That's Apostle Paul said about Christ followers. He said, "anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The OLD LIFE IS GONE, a new life burgeons" 2 Corinthians 5:17 (The Message). When I received my new life by faith in Jesus Christ, my old life was crucified with Christ and buried, never to come back again. I rose with him a new man. Sometimes I can try to accomplish things in my flesh, but my old man, my old nature is gone. He has no purpose in this sanctuary any longer. He has left the building, never to return. When Jesus creates something, "It is good."
Duane