Coronado Bible Church

• On my knees with a razor blade scraping wax and paint off the floor tiles.
• On a ladder fixing damaged ceiling tiles or running sound cables.
• With a hammer drill putting up closet doors.
• Staring blankly at the kitchen … I’m mentally rearranging.
• Straightening, hiding ecclesia-clutter (all the stuff that accumulates at a church).
• Washing windows … washing anything that needs washing.
• Buying carpets at PriceSmart to capture some of the dust that blows under the doors.

Don’t let me fail to mention that Sue is right beside me, doing the same things. I’m so thankful that we’re wired the same way. I’m admitting that part of this is due to our personality bents. But I’m also glad she shares my vision for a clean and inviting worship space. I like to come into that kind of environment and I think others do too. Actually research by the Rainer Foundation bears this out. People form instant opinions about a church if it is cluttered or dilapidated.

Now … do I think a committed Christ-follower will be put off by such things? I hope not. I do want a nice worship space for all of you, but I also want to remove barriers for the seeker and the disenfranchised. I will not dumb down the Gospel to reach out … but I don’t mind cleaning up the church.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Colossians 4:5

One issue that I have with his technique is that making exhaustive lists can be … exhaustive! Seeing on paper everything that must be accomplished can be overwhelming. I do much better at identifying a few high priority tasks and then attacking those. The real secret, of course, is to never let your list get too long to begin with.  That’s great as long as you are in control of the flow. But sometimes, something huge gets dumped on you … and someone else sets the deadline. That emergency is like having an elephant stuck at the end of your escalator with all other projects piling up behind it. You’ll never win by staying on your list … you’ve got to deal with the elephant before the pileup can ever be sorted out.

 After the service today, Sue and I will be leaving to hunt elephant in Kansas. Our goal in being gone is to be able to return … and be ALL here. God has already provided much in the way of the resources for this trip. Would you please pray that we’ll have the needed wisdom as well? In the meantime, we’re going to take one step at a time and trust God. If your facing something huge and looming, make the best plans you can, but don’t forget to …

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Joseph Sterner III was pronounced dead four times; twice as a POW in the Pacific Theater during WW 2, once in his early sixties … and once for real. Despite those two initial reports, Sterner survived the war, returned home, married and raised five children. Stresses associated with his war experience took their toll and Joseph separated from his family. Then in 1986, his truck was found abandoned in Pittsburg and he was presumed murdered. After an extensive search and investigation, Sterner was declared legally dead.

Ten years later, the 72 year-old Sterner contacted the family lawyer looking for his vital records so that he could get medical benefits from the Veteran’s Administration. It was the same lawyer who had filed the death petition on behalf of his family.

So what calendar are you living by? By which time system do you recon life? While it’s not often expressed, one popular scheme (Existential Materialism) measures time like this … “Get what you can, while you can, because this life is all you get.” Another says, “Careful how you live, what goes around comes around.” That’s Karma. But what does God’s word say about time?

God’s Mercy: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Our Brevity: You sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 

Our Mission: As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 

Let’s get on God’s time system. If you haven’t yet, start by accepting his patient mercy … while there’s time!

Undercover Boss: Have you see the show? A CEO goes undercover in really bad makeup. He or she pretends to be a newbie employee at their own company. Invariably they meet employees from these basic molds:

The climax of the show comes when the boss reveals his or her true identity to the employees they had worked alongside. The excellent employees are usually a bit surprised at the boss’ praise and generosity. The burdened employee is relieved and encouraged. The poorest performing employees seldom own up to their bad attitudes and habits.

Can you imagine if Jesus appeared on Undercover Boss? Or maybe it would be called Undercover LORD. We call him “LORD” in our songs and prayers, but it’s easy to forget what that title implies. Here are some synonyms: Master, Ruler, Sovereign, Potentate, Monarch, King.

Is that the position He holds in your life? Are you a good representative of His Kingdom and its values? Have you ever embraced the privilege of being His servant? Jesus cares about the burdens you bear … and He notes those who serve Him faithfully. There is a moment of revelation coming. Read the preview in Matthew 25:31-46. It starts,

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne …