Are You Working?

Hello Emmanuel, 
Happy Labor Day! Are you working? I would say that I'm not, but I am typing this MMP. I suppose it technically is work. 

Now that it is September, it is time to switch gears. More work is in the future. While Emmanuel is relatively VERY active in the Summer, the truth of our culture is undeniable: Labor Day marks the end of vacations and the return of the day-to-day grind for many people and families. As one whose job is connected to the day-to-day lives of many of you, I feel it in how I spend my time in the life of the church. While the Summer is often a juggling of who is not going to be on vacation and when. September changes the juggling to the calendar and when are we going to schedule which program and in which room will they meet. 

As I move through this transition each year, I try very hard to keep the focus on Christ.  It is easy to get over-stressed when the routine of the weekly changes.  It is therefore easy to get distracted by the change and lose perspective on my Call.  The same can be said of the church.

I know that some of you hear about 'change' so much from me that it can elicit an eye roll (yes, I've caught some of you before...  hehe).  It's okay.  I also would prefer the comfort of some same-ness.  But I believe with all of my faith that God isn't ready to tell us to relax.  The Disciple-Making process is actually on a roll.  As we received 3 more new members on Sunday (congrats to Hank and Rachel Sloan and Jackie Barber), bringing our total to 19 this calendar year,  I was reminded of the consistently in which Emmanuel has invited, welcomed, inspired and developed new disciples as well as established disciples.

And yet the unrealized potential for Emmanuel is still great.  I'm still hearing dreams that seem far too realistic to ignore.... even in the short-term.  To be honest, I don't think we've even touched what God has in store for us.  It scares me.  But it also excites me enough to work on Labor Day.

My intent in the months ahead is to make sure enough leaders are equipped to handle the potential of Emmanuel as it becomes realized.  It will take your help.  Some of you will help a lot.  Some of you will help a little.  I hope all of you will consider helping some.  We already know that only relying on leaders who were leading 3 years ago won't work any more.  I would even suggest we need to expand our leadership from 1 year ago.

I won't be brazen enough to say I know what God has in store for us.  But I do feel that Emmanuel is a place of faith and good works in the community.  And any time a church can be a positive force in the community, the community, in turn, will invest in the church.  And that opens the door for people to be drawn to Jesus.  And when people are drawn to Jesus, hope is given, more faith is had, and love is shared.

And that is where our focus should stay:  to be drawn to Jesus.

God is Good,
Pastor Joe