Covenant Church

"It is not whether you win or lose. It is how you play the game," it has been said.

Watch children play a softball game. Tell me winning does not matter.

Fans of a university can be ready for a coach to be fired, only to have a change of heart with one win.

What losing coach has held a job with a college or professional team for ten years?

Wars lost can enslave peoples and destroy infrastructures.

Jesus said those who lose their souls lose everything.

Are you in to win? Does winning matter?

I have a great-niece ten years-old. In August she won two gold medals in state championships for swimming. In December she competed in 12 events and placed first in all 12 events. She practices upwards of 2 hours at least four times each week.

What price will you pay to win? What would winning look like? How would you describe winning?

The story is told of a very wealthy woman who wanted to be buried in her convertible Ferrari. Tested in court the judge said "It's her money." As the Ferrari with her body tied to a seat rolled into the grave a couple of cemetery workers leaned on their shovels and watched. One wistfully said to the other: "Man, that's living!"

Blindness only sees money, fame and fun. The world says, "He that finishes with the most toys wins!"

Jesus says: "What is the profit if a man gains lots of toys and loses his soul?" (Mark 8:36).

New Year's Resolution? Have I made one? No. However, I have made a commitment. A commitment is more than just a feeling about changing the way something has been. A commitment is reasoned in context of right and wrong, a matter of constitution, a Carpe Diem, a do-or-die. A commitment is driven by inner passion, not emotions or impressions based on behavior or reaction of others.

I knew a man who was committed. He traveled to primitive parts of the backside of Burma to minister to lepers. He was known to get in a tub with lepers to baptize them in obedience to Scripture.

I knew a woman who considered it high and noble to cook for a Bible school, while her husband traveled the world. More than 3,000,000 lbs of rice was cooked in her kitchen for redeemed addicts who were studying and preparing to preach the gospel.

I knew man who rowed a canoe across treacherous waters to take the gospel to people on another island.

I knew a man who had plenty but counted his greatest joy in life to give to the needy.

I know a Savior who gave His life to save sinners.

I have made a commitment. As pastor of Covenant Church I will lead into the highways and byways to take food, clothes, furniture, medicine, encouragement and the Gospel of Hope. Such a commitment I have made for 2008.

Let us go together.

Pastor Bare

Matthew 25:36-37: “ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” NIV