My high school ride was an older gray-blue Ford Taurus station wagon. There was a little seat that popped up in the back so seven of us could go out cruising Ali’i drive on Friday nights. Rollin’ with my homies. Aww yeah. The truth is, except for a bout with rebellion when I was six or so, I’ve always been you know, the spiritual type. It might be because I was almost born in church. My mom went into labor right around Wednesday night prayer meeting time. She played the organ as usual because she’s hard core like that. My dad the pastor, who has become more sensible with age, decided to stay late counseling a lost soul while his wife was waiting for him in the car with three boys to go to the hospital. She almost didn’t make it. Since I was practically born in church, it’s not entirely surprising that some of my earliest memories involve talking to God. I remember lying awake in the dark, and tentatively asking God if you are real, please save me. I was 13 and my Grandma Beck had died. My dad was in Oklahoma laying her body to rest when he received an invitation to interview for a pastor-job in Kailua-Kona, HI. I absolutely did not want to leave all of my awesome friends. But in my heart when I prayed, God told me we were going. So here I am in high school cruising down Ali’i drive in my mom’s station wagon. I can’t remember if it was Good Morning America or Regis and Cathy Lee, but one of those had a contest for a brand new truck. It was a mail-in entry and I wanted it so bad. I told God several times a day that he should help me win. You’ll be shocked to find out that I did not win. But even then I didn’t doubt that God heard me. I just thought, huh, I didn’t really need a big truck anyway. You can’t cruise safely with 7 people in a pickup. Oh well, thanks God for hearing my prayer. Maybe like any good father he was whispering “Get a job.” Yesterday I told you that being MADE NEW begins with knowing God. Knowing God starts with prayer. I want you to know that God hears your prayers and will answer. I could quote tons of scripture and keep telling you stories about times God answered my prayers. But I would rather you simply try it for yourself. Try not to start with, please God give me a brand new fancy truck. Maybe something like, “Hey God, today at work I felt really lonely…” I am confident that no matter what you say, God is in fact listening and will be faithful to respond. Hebrews 4.14-16 (short passage, so feel free to read it a few times) 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
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AuthorThe Pastors of Cornerstone Wesleyan Church Archives
July 2017
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