Our church may begin seriously thinking about building a worship center in the not too distant future.  The early planning is very important, because that’s where people kick around ideas, dream of what could be, and study what needs to be.  The entire process is to be saturated in prayer, and the early planning stage is certainly no exception.  God has all wisdom, and I never cease to be amazed how He is able to guide His people into what is right for them.

We are soon to put together a planning team, that will pretty much serve as a “dream team.”  This group will come up with some different scenarios, and present them to our congregation.   We will encourage our congregation to pray for wisdom, as they will make the final decision as which of the scenarios we will undertake as our plan.

As for right now, we must continue to work diligently to reach our city for Christ, and we must realize that buildings, busses, and budgets are nothing more than a tool for the ministry into which God has placed us.

In Acts 2, there were 120 people in an upper room praying and waiting.  They were likely praying for God’s guidance, since they had no idea what was about to happen to them next.  They knew that Jesus had risen from the dead, they knew He told them to wait there, and they knew He had promised them power, but it would be a big stretch to say they understood what that power would be.  When the power came, they suddenly found a boldness that they had not had before.  They understood that they didn’t have to do the hard stuff, that God was going to do it through them.  They realized that God was in it in a big way.

When God gets in something, anything can happen.  There is no goal too lofty, nor is there any obsiticle too large.  With God, nothing shall be impossible!

I look at the pictures from then, and I look in the mirror now, and I know it’s happening.  The important thing to me is not to act too old too fast without totally denying the aging process.

The control center is the mind, so I know it’s important to keep my mind sharp.  Just as physical exercise keeps the body tuned to peak performance, mental exercise will do the same for the mind.  The nature of my work helps me with that, as I constantly read and search for a wide range of information on numerous subjects, in addition to a constant study of the Bible.  I want to be a forward thinker, and not a backward thinker.  I want to have a future perspective, always stretching myself with new goals.

While there are all kinds of products designed to cover up one’s aging, and while I have no criticism of those who go that route, I choose to look natural, even if means looking my age.  I want to be in good physical condition, and I think I am.  I checked the other day just to make sure I can still jump over a four foot chain link fence, and I can.  Being in good physical condition means that I will general feel good and avoid a lot of the aches and pains that creep up on the couch potato.

Age happens, and I can’t stop it, but I can make the most of it, living each day for the special day that it is, loving an obeying God, and serving my fellowman.

I’ve heard that there are two things: die and pay taxes.  Women have to do it, too.  You might get out of paying taxes, though I don’t know how, but you can’t escape dying.  However, Jesus said that “if a person believes on Him, if he dies, yet shall he live!”  Now, that’s worth looking into.

Max Lucado points out that Easter and taxes hit in the same week, that the cruel cross and the empty tomb all happen in the same week, showing that whatever happens, there is victory in Jesus.

Hope your Easter was great.  Now pay your taxes.  You brought nothing into this world, surely you can take nothing out!

2 Corinthians 5:7 says it, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power my be in God and not in us.”

The treasure is, as verse 6 says, “The knowledge of the power of God…”  It is being saved, having God in your life in the person of the Holy Spirit.  What a treasure!  It’s like the man who found a treasure in a field, then went and sold all he had, so he could obtain it.  You can’t buy it, but you sure can let things get in the way of your having it.  That’s what the rich young ruler, in the Bible, did.

The treasure is in earthen vessels, these frail human bodies, where the flesh is always weak.  Why would God do that?  Why would He, in all His power, not bring the vessel up to the quality of the treasure that it contains?  The answer is right there in verse 7:  “To show that the excellence of the power is in God, and not in us.”  He wants the world to see it, and He doesn’t want us to ever forget it!