From Our Pastor

I am challenged by this passage from Numbers 24 where it says that Caleb had a “different spirit” and followed God wholeheartedly. If you will remember the story, Caleb and Joshua were the only two Israeli spies that thought God could help them succeed in the Promised Land. Caleb begged and pleaded with the Israelites to have faith . . . but then faithfully supported both Moses and Joshua when things didn’t go the way he thought they should have . . . No wonder God blesses him!

I want to be a person that has that “different spirit.” Like Caleb, I want to be a person of faith and vision that sees what is actually there with natural vision, but looks through eyes of faith to see what God can do. I want to be a person who is so loyal to God and God’s people that even when things don’t go my way, I stay faithful and dependable to those I above me and those I lead. It took 45 years for Caleb to see what he had seen in his spirit become reality as they conquered and settled Canaan. I want that kind of perseverance.

In fact, I’ve reached a definite conclusion . . . I want that “different spirit” . . . the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, that will make our mortal bodies alive and empower our own spirits. I want to dare to be “different” from others in order to be united with Christ.

If you’ve been with us for a while you know that we’re not afraid to try new things and that we are starting a Saturday sensory-friendly service for families with children with special needs – House of Hope. We’ve searched the web and haven’t found any other churches who are doing this . . . anywhere . . . That means we’re the first . . .  That means we’re going to make plenty of mistakes without the benefit of others to blaze the trail for us . . . that means people will probably criticize us and misunderstand what we’re trying to do . . . that means that we’ll be discovering God’s will as we do it . . . 

And that is exciting . . . and a little nerve-wracking. But we WANT that different spirit: 

• to care for people who have been overlooked . . . 
• to focus outward instead of inward 
• to say things that others don’t say
• to see what is and yet dare to see through eyes of faith a vision of what God can do
• to dare to be misunderstood
• to dare to make mistakes on the way to doing what God is asking us to do
• to follow God wholeheartedly wherever He leads us

Like Caleb, I want that “different spirit” not because of the blessings that follow . . . because that “different spirit” is God’s Holy Spirit and His leading in our lives!

Following wholeheartedly,