Pastor Dwight: April 2009 Archives

This week we are reading Isaiah 40:28-31 together. The repeated word that stands out to me is "weary." I see it four times in these verses. Why are the readers of Isaiah weary? The answer may be found in verse 27, "Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, 'My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God.'"

    "Weary" means weighed down, distant from God, with no refreshing springs of water, no inspiring word in the night, and no energy for the good work of the day. "Weary" is a hard place to live.

    I once heard of a preacher who was expounding on this text, and at the conclusion of his sermon he got excited in this good news of God, but as he made his final point his tongue got twisted a little. He proclaimed, "We will soar on ings like weagles!"

     I think that can describe me sometimes. I can feel like a "weagle" - a weary eagle. We were created by God to fly like eagles, but so often we get weighed down, we run out of energy, we wonder where God is on our lives. We complain. We become weagles.

    Isaiah gives an interesting response to Israel's complaint.

           Do you not know?

           Have you not heard?

           The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

During this Holy Week we remember the center of our faith; we remember what we know and what we have heard.

Jesus Christ died for your sins.

He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

By the transforming power of God's love and victory through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we "weagles" become eagles again!

      The phrase that catches my attention in I Peter 2:9-12 is, "that you may declare the praises of  him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

     Last Sunday was an experience of moving from darkness to light. When I got to church, I discovered that the parking lot was filled with snow, the walks were all covered in slush, and there was a power outage in the building. So it was cold and dark inside and nearly impassable outside. What could I do to help move us from this cold darkness into light?

    I thought I would start with the walkways, but before I could even get started, Brian grabbed one snow shovel and Trevor had the other, and in no time the walks were clean. I tried to do some shoveling at the entry way so at least cars could get off the street. Then an angel masquerading as a guy with a truck and blade appeared and offered to plow our lot. He did not charge anything for doing it!

   Our guest speaker, Andy Larsen, arrived about 10 after eight, and due to long years as a missionary, he was ready to do whatever we needed. With no electricty and a cold, dark sanctuary, we had to hold the 8:30 service in the Narthex, using the light from our big windows. Sarah and her Worship Team quickly figured out which songs were feasible and willingly led them a capella. The order of service went out the window, and instead we spent time giving witness to the goodness of God and praying together, and then Andy talked about sharing the Good News with Muslims.

    During Sunday School, the adults stayed in the Narthex and listened more to Andy, while the children found some places by the windows downstairs, and Maria and the teachers quickly put together a revised plan. It went great! Ben went out and bought a few boxes of coffee and Mike and Ruth had already brought in the pastries. We had a Great Sunday School!

   But what to do at 11 am? We ventured into the cold and dark sanctuary not knowing quite what might happen. And then at precisely 11 am the lights came on! And the heat! Ben and Brian scurried to get the microphones set for the worship team and to load the Power Point that Andy brought. Kathy extended the prelude, and by five after 11 we were on our way to a joyful, and quite normal worship. From darkness to light.

    What did it take to move us from darkness to light on Sunday morning? How many jumped in to help? Who came by at just the right time? How many workers were out on the power lines that we did not see?

   "He called you..." Yes, it is God's work to bring us from the darkness of sin to the light of the Gospel. But how many people took part in the call that came to you? Some were visible and you can name them. Others you do not know, but their witness through the centuries was absolutely essential.

   Are you part of God's work in calling people today out of darkness and into his wonderful light? Are you praying for God to show you the people who need Christ through you today?