September 30, 2018

The Shepherd's Corner

[:en]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

Think with the end in mind

That race was fun, tough, memorable, difficult, and I trained, some days training hard.

I was the Bule who was running around Bangkalan, saying hi to the becak workers, the fruit sellers, the police, and as many people as I could, because it wasn’t just about running and the race, it was ALSO about a different race – to bring the Gospel to Bangkalan and the Madurese. The two weren’t separate. I do my normal every routine in such a way, with faith, for God, so that it is like I am also running a race, so that I can finish well.

Paul says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.” (1 Cor. 9:25) I went into training, and some others on our ministry team did as well. I trained the hardest though. So, it wasn’t surprising on race day that I did the best out of our team…the guy who trained the second hardest did the second best, the others who didn’t train at all did the worst.

How much do you see your faith as “training”?

Do you see your faith as something that can potentially stay stagnant (if you don’t really do much with it), could die (if you never use it), or could grow beyond what you could ever thing imaginable (if you use it more & more)? I think Paul would say we should.

How can you begin to take your faith more seriously like a runner going into strict training? Because one day the race (of life) will be over.

Pastor Steve[:id]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

Think with the end in mind

That race was fun, tough, memorable, difficult, and I trained, some days training hard.

I was the Bule who was running around Bangkalan, saying hi to the becak workers, the fruit sellers, the police, and as many people as I could, because it wasn’t just about running and the race, it was ALSO about a different race – to bring the Gospel to Bangkalan and the Madurese. The two weren’t separate. I do my normal every routine in such a way, with faith, for God, so that it is like I am also running a race, so that I can finish well.

Paul says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.” (1 Cor. 9:25) I went into training, and some others on our ministry team did as well. I trained the hardest though. So, it wasn’t surprising on race day that I did the best out of our team…the guy who trained the second hardest did the second best, the others who didn’t train at all did the worst.

How much do you see your faith as “training”?

Do you see your faith as something that can potentially stay stagnant (if you don’t really do much with it), could die (if you never use it), or could grow beyond what you could ever thing imaginable (if you use it more & more)? I think Paul would say we should.

How can you begin to take your faith more seriously like a runner going into strict training? Because one day the race (of life) will be over.

Pastor Steve[:]

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - October 11, 2020
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER This week I received a special gift—a big kiss from our two-year-old grandson.  Out of the blue and without prompting he just landed that six-million-dollar kiss on my chubby cheek.  At that moment I felt like a six-million-dollar grandpa!  Even though he has...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - January 7, 2024
Every year we wish each other a happy new year knowing full-well that it may not happen. In fact, we know that it will not happen.  At its best this year—like the years before—will only be a mixture of happy times and gloomy times. Nonetheless we still say it; and this shows that not only [...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - May 03, 2015
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER May 2 and May 4 have always had a special meaning for me. May 2 was the day I left Indonesia and May 4 was the day I set foot on American soil for the first time. The year was 1978. It was the beginning of the second chapter of my life—the […]...
Read More