Looking Ahead
October 1
One of the things I enjoy about the fall season is the return of football season. I have had the opportunity to attend a couple of high school football games already this school year. “My team” didn’t fare too well in the games I attended and at times I found myself, a little bored by the “action” on the field, studying the players left on the sideline. There were a few players hanging around the the trainer’s table waiting for an ankle to be taped or for the trainer to check a potential injury, these athletes were not available to enter the game. The vast majority of players were assembled in a large group. While these players were in full uniform, everyone of them with a helmet on, appearing to be ready to play in the game, the more you watched, the more you knew, very few were truly ready. While walking the sideline in a large mass, they were clustered in smaller groups talking to one another with less than their full attention on the field. Not many every talked to, or even made eye contact with a coach who might sub them into the game. Only a few athletes stood near the coach, within arm’s reach or able to catch a glance from the coach alerting the player to be ready. These were the athletes who were really prepared to get off the sideline and into the game.
That group of football players reminded me of the army of Israel in 1 Samuel 17. This chapter tells the famous story of David and Goliath. For forty days the giant, Goliath, would come out of the ranks of the Philistines and shout for the army of Israel to send a challenger for a winner take all duel. And for forty days the soldiers stood, I imagine, in full armor with swords and spears “ready” for battle, but not one willing to step off the sidelines and into battle. Finally, a shepherd named David, working “DoorDash” on the side (he was delivering food to his solider brothers) volunteered to face Goliath. He was laughed at and told to go away, but was finally brought to the king who dressed David in the king’s own armor. David, looking like a child playing dress up, decided the armor wasn’t for him, that God was all he needed to face the enemy. Most of us know the story ends with David striking Goliath with a stone from his sling and killing the Philistine champion with is own sword.
As I think about that football team and the story of Israel facing off with the Philistines, I’m reminded of our message from last Sunday in Ephesians 4:8-16. Jesus has gifted and prepared His team for the battle in front of them. He has given His Church everything it needs to succeed. What is our part in the game plan? Well, it begins with getting off the sidelines, not just looking like we are ready to play in the game, but really getting into the action! Here at Wallula, there are so many ways that you can get into the game. A great first step is to attend “Explore Wallula” and discover the many opportunities to serve and what it means to be a member at Wallula. Our next “Explore Wallula” will be on October 19. You can register for the class on our Wallula app. There is plenty of information about all our ministry teams on the Next Step station in the worship center, you can check them out Sunday. This November we will serve teachers in the Leavenworth school district lunch, maybe carving out a little time on November 10 is way for you to get into the game.
When everyone does their part the church grows!
Lance
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Ephesians 4:15-16
September 3
I have a picture sitting on my desk. It is a photograph of my son from when he was just a little guy. We were living in Yuma, AZ at the time & it must have been the winter. My guess is that I was preparing to head to winter camp in the mountains with the youth group. In the picture Klayton is dressed up in my gloves, hat and backpack. Little kids love to imitate their parents. If dad has a Chiefs hat, little Tommy wants a Chiefs hat, If mom wears high heeled shoes, little Sally wants uncomfortable shoes too! When Dad mows the yard, Billy is right beside him pushing his bubble mower, when Mom is paying the bills, Lisa is punching away on her device as well. Often somewhere along the way in childhood development kids turn into teenagers and hope they won’t turn into their parents only to get a little older and realize they’re still imitating their parents!
When Jesus called His first disciples, He called them by saying “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” When those folks answered His call, “they left everything and followed him.” And for around three years these twelve men did exactly that, they physically followed Jesus all around Israel. They listened to Jesus teach, they saw Him heal people, cast out demons and then they went and did the same!
Jesus’ call to us is not so different. He is calling us to be in relationship with Him. He desires for us to know Him and to follow, to obey Him, to imitate Him. The Apostle Paul accepted Jesus’ invitation to follow Him and to share His story with others. Paul shared Jesus with people in person and through his letters. This year we have been studying one of those letters he wrote to the church in Ephesus. In a couple of weeks we will get back into Ephesians and consider how we can construct a life that honors God, how we can imitate Him better.
Our series covering the last three chapters of Ephesians, At Work, will begin on September 21. This will be a great series to invite your friends and family to worship with you at Wallula. Pick up your personal invites from your chair in the worship center this Sunday and encourage others to construct a life that honors Him!
Lance
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
- Ephesians 5:1
