Like A Child

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."   And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. – Mark 10:13-16 (NIV)

 

What does it mean that the kingdom of God belongs to children?  What does it mean that you must receive the kingdom of God like a little child?  Do you believe you receive God’s gifts this way?  How does one live life like this?  Who have you met that lives life like a child in God’s kingdom?

 

The following story found at: http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/stories.cgi?record=30

Hot sun.  Salty air.  Rhythmic waves. 

A little boy is on his knees scooping and packing the sand with plastic shovels into a bright blue bucket.  Then he upends the bucket on the surface and lifts it.  And, to the delight of the little architect, a castle tower is created. 


All afternoon he will work.  Spooning out the moat.  Packing the walls.  Bottle tops will be sentries.  Popsicle sticks will be bridges.  A sandcastle will be built. 



Big city.  Busy streets.  Rumbling traffic. 

A man is in his office.  At his desk he shuffles papers into stacks and delegates assignments.  He cradles the phone on his shoulder and punches the keyboard with his fingers.  Numbers are juggled and contracts are signed and much to the delight of the man, a profit is made. 

All his life he will work.  Formulating the plans.  Forecasting the future.  Annuities will be sentries.  Capital gains will be bridges.  An empire will be built. 



Two builders of two castles.  They have much in common.  They shape granules into grandeurs.  They see nothing and make something.  They are diligent and determined.  And for both the tide will rise and the end will come. 
Yet that is where the similarities cease.

For the boy sees the end while the man ignores it.  Watch the boy as the dusk approaches. 

As the waves near, the wise child jumps to his feet and begins to clap. There is no sorrow.  No fear.  No regret.  He knew this would happen.  He is not surprised.  And when the great breaker crashes into his castle and his masterpiece is sucked into the sea, he smiles.  He smiles, picks up his tools, takes his father's hand, and goes home. 



The grownup, however, is not so wise.  As the wave of years collapses on his castle he is terrified.  He hovers over the sandy monument to protect it.  He blocks the waves from the walls he has made.  Salt-water soaked and shivering he snarls at the incoming tide. 

"It's my castle," he defies. 

The ocean need not respond.  Both know to whom the sand belongs... 



I don't know much about sandcastles.  But children do.  Watch them and learn.  Go ahead and build, but build with a child's heart.  When the sun sets and the tides take - applaud.  Salute the process of life and go home.

 

Life will go on no matter what we do, but God wants us to enjoy it will all our hearts!  The kingdom of God is reserved for those who rejoice with a child’s heart.  Adult worries are often meaningless, fruitless, and cause only pain.  Today enter the kingdom of God by becoming like a little child, and see the entire world as glory and surprise!

With hope and joy,

Garrett

December's "Minister's Minute" from The Journal of Hope and Joy

Merry Christmas everyone!  O where must I begin this minister’s minute?  First off let me begin in the spirit of thanksgiving.  I am aware that Thanksgiving was celebrated last month, but that does not mean we cannot and should not be continually thankful throughout the year!  I am thankful for each of you who are reading this letter.  “Pastor,” some might be asking, “why are you thankful for me?”

The last month of my life has been a whirlwind of experiences.  As Melinda’s pregnancy progressed, I took comfort from the multitude of you all who told me you were praying for us.  As we found ourselves in the hospital a couple of weeks ago, I was reassured by the calls many made before hand to make sure we were holding up well.  As we stayed in that hospital looking at our son and wondering where life would lead us, I was blessed by many of your calls, visits, and gifts as you each became a part of our joy.  As we arrived home, I was honored to have so many bring us food and gently demand we call should we need anything at all.  And as I sit here today, writing this to you all, I am overwhelmed with gratitude that God would see it fit to allow the life of my family to intersect with each of your lives, and I am grateful for each of you!

While the gift of my son is undoubtedly one of the greatest gifts I will ever receive, the gift of being able to know each of you is also one of the greatest gifts I will ever receive.  As I immerse myself in Advent preparation and consider the greatest gift God has ever given anyone, Jesus, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude for the wealth of gifts God has bestowed upon me.  So to each of you who has felt so called to bless my family, and me I thank you!

The first Sunday of December will mark the one-year anniversary when Melinda and I drove into Albany realizing that this place is our new home!  We have been here a year, wow!  We arrived in the midst of Advent, in the midst of preparation, and I declared to the church upon my arrival that not only were we preparing to accept our Savior again into our lives, but we were preparing to be made new by God.  There can be no doubt that in this last year our church has been made new.  Membership has nearly doubled, attendance has increased by 500% on average, papers have written about us, seminaries are studying us, and God has declared with emphasis, “Behold, I make all things new!”

To meet the needs of our incredible growth we have reestablished the Deacon Board and expanded the Session.  Leaders are being put in place to ensure that the newness, which God has begun, has not been done in vain.  My brothers and sisters, whatever you think about what God has done, we enter into this new season of Advent with the expectation that nothing is done!  We have laid the foundation of success, but the foundation alone does not constitute success.  There are bricks and mortar to be laid, let us build upon this foundation and let our light shine brighter and more fervent.

My hope is that by the time my family’s second anniversary in this land arrives, by the time my son’s first birthday is celebrated, we might be able to celebrate Advent 2009 with 150 members, with church services averaging 150 people, with new ministries for children, shut-ins, the needy, and many others.  In the spirit of preparation and thanksgiving, let us prepare ourselves for the work to be done in this next year to witness how much God will continue to do in our midst!

Riding the wave of the Holy Spirit,

Garrett