Aircraft Carrier

Yesterday was Day Two of our missions conference, and I have to say that it's probably my favorite missions conference yet.  There is such a sense of purpose and hope at church under our new senior pastor; a great encouragement.  Tim challenged us with a sermon on Acts 20, and asked one question that will stick with me: as a church, do we want to be a cruise ship, or an aircraft carrier?  One bends over backwards to meet every felt need of those aboard.  People lounge around in the sun waiting for the next activity on the schedule.  Or, do we long to be an aircraft carrier, equipping, refreshing, ministering to people with a mission, sending them out, welcoming them home?  That's what I want to spend my life serving.  To enable a consumer mentality to flourish in a church is to render it useless in the Kingdom.  It becomes self-absorbed and lazy, and usually full of dissension; that's what happens when people are bored.  I am excited for our church, and eager to see what God will do next.  I am profoundly grateful.