Adventure
I love adventure.
Laila and I were getting away. She was driving as we approached Washington, D.C. I had an idea.
"Turn this exit and into that station," I suggested suddenly. Laila made a hard turn and parked. I ran to a phone booth. Looked up Dulles Airport. Phoned Eastern Airlines and did what can not be done today.
"When is your next flight out for New York City?" I asked.
"The plane is loaded and preparing to remove the steps," was the response.
"Ma'am, please understand. I am a pastor. We rarely get away. This is our Tenth Anniversary. Can you hold the plane just minutes?" I asked.
"We will do our best," she replied.
I drove. Minutes later we were at the airport. Laila jumped out with a suitcase and credit card and ran. I parked the car and ran. She had paid and was heading for the plane. When I ran in they simply waved me through...saying: "Your wife has the tickets."
An hour later we were in New York City. No motel. No pre-plan. Just hanging out for a couple of days.
I still love adventure. I love the adventure that Covenant is experiencing these days. I love what God is doing. I love the challenges.
A powerful pastoral staff is rising to the adventure. Hard-working, efficient, like soldiers preparing for battle the team works day after day refining, strategizing, increasing contacts, examining areas that need reinforcement, praying, discussing, building teams, and believing that God will reward diligence, carefulness, sincerity, and commitment to holiness.
We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe that God is at work. We are not deists who suppose God wound the clock of the world, and He will let is run its course without divine intervention. We believe God is active. Present. With us.
Elders and Deacons are working on strategy. Refining focus. Sophisticated cameras have a mechanism that automatically focuses the picture for clarity. We have no automatic focus. Focus in the Kingdom of God comes when we purpose in our hearts to seek the Lord, to study His Word, to pray, to walk uprightly, and to love mercy. We have to do our part for God to do His part. As we do this, ability to focus is easier and clearer.
Adventure is when the congregation begins to understand that something is happening. There is movement. Where we have been is not good enough. Like with Israel the cloud is moving. God is doing something. The Holy Spirit is stirring revival in these times.
Part of the challenge is that Satan knows time is pressed. Satan knows what is in the Bible. Satan knows that this is the crisis hour. He knows that if he has any hope of de-throning God his time is short. He knows the story of his being cast into a bottomless pit for 1,000 years. Satan is pulling out all stops to abort God's plan. He is setting up his stage for the anti-christ. He is preparing to try and bring the entire world under one government: Satan's. He thinks if he succeeds Jesus will be dethroned, hell will release its captives, and God and God's people will be slaves to an eternal empire of evil.
God is not to be mocked. The clock is on time. Jesus will return. There will be a rapture.
The Holy Spirit is being poured out in a final revival. These are days to celebrate. These are the days to work. These are days of harvest. These are days to keep our eyes heavenward...looking for the glorious return of Our Lord.
Oh, there is excitement in the air! Covenant Church will do its part. We will work until Jesus comes (Luke 19). We will not slack. We will not retire from the fray. We are not afraid of battle because Our Captain has guaranteed victory. Onward we go to adventure with courage, determination, hope and with a song of triumph on our lips! "When the Saints Go Marching In" is not just our theme song, it is what we plan to do!
Much Love,
Pastor Bare
Joshua 1:5-7