From the Pastor's Desk
Reverend David Kaul
“ But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.They shall mount up on wings like eagles. ”
- Isaiah 40:31
Where were you when the eagle landed?
Dear friends in Christ,
There are days and experiences frozen in our minds. We vividly recall the time of day, the place where we stood, and the people who were present. These days are unique because of the enormity of the event and the scale of their impact on our lives and in some instances the world. The short list includes such personal events as the day of your marriage or the birth of your children. Some of us can recall the first time we saw a T.V. broadcast in living color - for most it was "The wonderful world of Disney." Others remember when the Beetles sang, "She loves you!" or Elvis gyrated his hips and sang, "You ain't nothing but a hound dog!" on the Ed Sullivan Show! On a more somber note where were you the day President John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Texas or September 11, 2001 when the twin towers were destroyed in New York, N.Y.? Now bring to your minds eye the evening the spacecraft named Eagle, part of the Apollo 11 space project, landed on the moon. Six hundred million people watched on television as Neil Armstrong took his "giant leap for mankind." He was soon joined by Buzz Aldrin for humankind's first walk on the moon as Michael Collins circled overhead. Mr Aldrin celebrated a brief Communion after touching down on the moon. This was kept secret to avoid inflaming the militant atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair who had filed a lawsuit after moon-orbiting astronauts on Apollo 8 in 1968 read from the Book of Genesis. The courts rejected her separation of church and state complaint pleading lack of jurisdiction in matters of church and space!
These moments transcend us. They lift us out of the common and ordinary and stir our hearts to a greater vision. I fear life in 2009 has become too small and too shallow! Satan has too many of us gluing our mood to the present economy, the sad events of the evening news and the fearing the answer to the question, "Can it get any worse?"
On that evening the Eagle flew right to the moon and into our living room and every person alive wondered what next? Humankind soared beyond our present barriers and limitations! How much more exciting is the question what couldn't humankind accomplish with God's help?
The time has come for us to again join the eagle in flight! Tough times are as fleeting as good times. We need to build our lives on something far more concrete and permanent. Isaiah said that to renew our strength, we need to wait on the Lord. We are to trust in God's love and faithfulness. To look up for that is where our help is found.
Once loving hands held you as a precious gift from God and envisioned all that you would accomplish. Who told you that you could not fly? God created Adam and Eve and their children in his image.
Go out this evening after dark. Look up into the heavens. Time to find a star or a moon to walk on, offer a prayer seeking God's guidance and blessing. Let's get started in Jesus' name!
See you at summer worship,
P. Dave