Stay In YOUR Lane...

The theme that WAU has chosen for the entire week is Get In the Race! If you are a fan of the Apostle Paul's writings like I am, then you know that on several occasions, he uses the analogy of athletic competition, including that of a race, to give us a clear idea of what our Christian journey is all about. Although there is much debate as to the authorship of the book of Hebrews, it includes Paul's use of the racing metaphor. In Hebrews 12:1, it says: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

What makes this portion of scripture so intriguing for me is that, not only does it describe our journey as a race, but it also reveals that there is an individual race that each of us as spiritual runners have been called to run. In other words, God has a journey for me that is uniquely mine and the same goes for you as well. If we are going to run this race successfully, it means that we must be willing to "STAY IN OUR LANES!" Just as crossing over into someone else's lane in the world of track can potentially disqualify you from the race, the same can be said for the race that God has called each of us to run.  

It was Albert Einstein that said, "God doesn't play dice." And when it comes to our lives, neither should we. Our job should be to discover the plan that God has for OUR lives, and then be content to run that race and not occupy our thoughts with running someone else's race. Remember, the key to life is staying in YOUR lane.

Pastor Charles A. Tapp

Sligo/WAU Unity Day

On Saturday, September 17, 2011, during the 11:15 a.m. worship service,our guest speaker will be Barry C. Black, the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate. He was elected to this position on June 27, 2003, becoming the first African-American, the first Seventh-day Adventist, and the first military chaplain to hold the office of chaplain to the United States Senate. He previously served for over 27 years as a chaplain in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral (UH) and ending his career as the Chief of Navy Chaplains, commanding the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. He officially retired from the Navy on August 15, 2003. In addition to opening the Senate each day in prayer, Chaplain Black provides counseling and spiritual care for Senators, their families, and staff - a combined constituency of over seven thousand people. We hope you can join us!  

Chaplain Black is the best-selling author of his autobiography entitled From the Hood to the Hill, as well as The Blessing of Adversity. Both of these  books are available at  Potomac Adventist Book & Health Food Store.