The Plane! The Plane!

Well, it finally happened. After almost five years of preaching in a church with a side wall of glass, underneath the approaches of Eglin Air Force base, having to compete almost weekly for the congregation's attention with all manners of high performance and commercial aircraft - I lost it - right in the middle of a sermon.

"Whoa - cool!" I believe were my exact words. (I'm not sure about what that is in Greek or Hebrew)

It was a stealth fighter coming low over the sanctuary that finally got me to notice. Of course everyone else already had. The movement of such a unique airplane did it.

Reflecting on that this morning got made me think - how can you tell when a church is moving forward? And how does the world outside notice?

With the planes, when they turn and cut against the air, their speed creates a "ripping" sound that lets you know that they are pushing through the opposition on their way.

With the church, what catches my eye is people.

When people of various backgrounds and places in life are coming to worship, and staying after to share - that's movement.

When families grow stronger and when those families grow closer to others, that's movement.

When individuals grow in the reality of their commitment to Christ, and then display that commitment by going against the culture - staying faithful in marriage, true in their words and actions in every situation to what they say they believe - that's movement.

But when will the world notice?

34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35 (NLT)

This week, that love might take the form of invitation - asking a friend or neighbor to share the Easter experience with you. From Good Friday's gloom to Sunday's exhilaration - it is a weekend to be with those you love. Bring them all - that surely will be noticed.

Grace!

David Wilson

This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.