Dear Friends,

There is a lot we do week after week in terms of being a church.  There are set-ups for classes; copies to be made; bulletins crafted; classes, teachings and sermons prepared; liturgy prepped and loaded onto computers; music rehearsed; coffee made; chairs straightened; flowers arranged; altar guild duties of cleaning linens and preparing for Eucharist; offerings counted; the list could go on and on and all of this just for Sunday morning. Their are the large 'brush stroke" tasks of stewardship; leadership; vision and mission; the details of calendars and events; the "what's next" on the "to do list".  There is a lot of things that go on in the function of the church and its ministry.  It makes me want to pause and give thanks for how you as a a congregation serve the Lord through various ministries and giving of your time, talent and treasure for this Kingdom work.

As I consider further the task of ministry I think again of the Gospel call we heard on Sunday "to be salt and light".  In all we do as a member of the church, as an employee, as a husband, wife, parent, child, whatever role we place ourselves into we are to be always and in all things bearing witness to the grace of God in our lives. I said on Sunday that to be salty is to be "Christ-like"  - to let our light shine is to do good works. This as I said is  the evangelism the world wants to see. When people follow Christ, are filled with the Holy Spirit, build their lives upon the principles and teachings of Jesus, when their lives reflect the joy, peace and love of the Kingdom of God, the world will notice and respond with a desire to have what we have.

The Christian life is not an easy life. I am reminded by a quote form G.K. Chesterton... "The Christian life has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."  As we press into God, as we lean on his promises and build our lives upon the Solid Rock.  Sometimes times it is prudent to "hedge our bets", to "not put all our eggs in one basket".  That may be good stewardship of our finances or our careers. It is not true of our faith.  I am betting all I am, all I have on Jesus. I am yielding all of my talent, time and treasure to Him.  Though it may be "found difficult" I am investing the totality of my life in one thought... Jesus is Lord!  This has been the aim of my life and though I have been surprised, confused, and not understood things at times, I proclaim with confidence and joy; I have never been disappointed. This is being salt and light.  Join me...