Friday January 25, 2008
Hi friends,
I hope this email finds you doing well. For those of you reading this while lounging in warmer climes, I hope you are not burdening yourself by exerting excessive sympathy for the rest of us trapped in the cold and snow of Simcoe county or Eastern Ontario. Because we just love to shovel and freeze. We thrive on challenge!
What has been challenging you recently – and I mean more than the weather. Some health issues perhaps? Or financial strain? Possibly relationship stress? These things turn up in our lives from time to time – like giant goliaths ready to destroy us! “Impossible odds for any victory on our part” is what goes through our minds. Our emotions unravel, our faith fizzles and our soul ‘sings the blues’. Oh, I know there are a few of you out there who triumph every time, unscathed, no battle scars. But the rest of us know exactly how Saul and his people felt as they trembled at the taunting from Goliath and his Philistine army.
Conveniently David arrives on the scene to be the savior. He is partly prepared for this role because of his faithful obedience and success in the past. He is further prepared when he is willing to say no to King Saul’s suit of armor and stay with what he is confident/comfortable in – not someone else’s attire, but what he knows God has gifted him with: a strong faith in the Lord; a strong faith in his ability with the sling. For David, that is all that is needed.
Hi friends,
I hope this email finds you doing well. For those of you reading this while lounging in warmer climes, I hope you are not burdening yourself by exerting excessive sympathy for the rest of us trapped in the cold and snow of Simcoe county or Eastern Ontario. Because we just love to shovel and freeze. We thrive on challenge!
What has been challenging you recently – and I mean more than the weather. Some health issues perhaps? Or financial strain? Possibly relationship stress? These things turn up in our lives from time to time – like giant goliaths ready to destroy us! “Impossible odds for any victory on our part” is what goes through our minds. Our emotions unravel, our faith fizzles and our soul ‘sings the blues’. Oh, I know there are a few of you out there who triumph every time, unscathed, no battle scars. But the rest of us know exactly how Saul and his people felt as they trembled at the taunting from Goliath and his Philistine army.
Conveniently David arrives on the scene to be the savior. He is partly prepared for this role because of his faithful obedience and success in the past. He is further prepared when he is willing to say no to King Saul’s suit of armor and stay with what he is confident/comfortable in – not someone else’s attire, but what he knows God has gifted him with: a strong faith in the Lord; a strong faith in his ability with the sling. For David, that is all that is needed.
Popular business wisdom stresses ‘dress for success’. I don’t know about you, but I can usually see through the man or woman who is ‘dressed’ in such a way to make me think (fool me ?) they are operating at a certain level of competency while their words and presentation clearly suggest something much less. I could purchase new skates (everyone takes a good look at mine and laugh – they belong in a museum!), I could buy an Ottawa Senator’s sweater and attempt to join the team in the race for a Stanley Cup. You won’t be seeing me on HNIC tomorrow night – even if I wear the right uniform. (now, perhaps a Toronto Maple Leaf sweater….no, not even the lowly leafs would take me).
David was offered a new uniform to make him better. He had the courage and wisdom to say no.
It is so silly to think … “if only I could preach like Billy Graham, lead a church like Bill Hybels, write a book like Chuck Swindoll or Max Lucado, be courageous and creative like Carey Nieuhof…”. I am who I am, gifted by God’s Spirit according to divine design, strong in His strength! That is all I need. Last Sunday as I preached looking out at our congregation that included three good Ministers, I thought how foolish it is to think that if I borrowed Kevin Smith’s Hawaiian shirt, Allan Duncan’s Hebrew Bible, and James-Peter Jones’ robe, I could then be ‘Mr. Super-Pastor’! David refused to be dressed like someone else. And we learn from him.
So all that I have been reflecting on was part of our teaching last Sunday. We now move into the second half of what I consider to be a truly amazing Old Testament story with 21st century application. Prepared for the big fight, now let’s get this game going!
Lord willing, tomorrow I will offer a few observations as we move into the zone of adventure.
On a personal note, thanks for being understanding, supportive and concerned as I have fought this pneumonia over the last three weeks. I am thankful that I have not had to miss any Sundays. While I have been confined to home mostly, I have managed to get sermon themes prepared through Easter and outlines and bulletins through February 10th. It has not been totally unproductive. Yvonne has also been ‘doing battle’ with some health concerns – we are quite the pair!
Blessings in Christ,
Doug
Ps. For further devotional reading after you have looked at 1 Samuel 17, check out Ephesians 6:10-18.
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