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The past six months
here at Francis Asbury has been an exciting time. There
are many things that are reason for excitement, but the
one particular thing I am referring to is the new
building. For me the excitement does not come from the
fact that there is always activity going on or that
plans are being made concerning activities and events
using this building. For me, the excitement comes from
seeing a dream come true. It has truly been a privilege
for me to witness the fulfillment of a dream.
Dreams are funny things, it begins with one person or
one group of people and another person or group of
people see it happen. This is a dream that came long
before I arrived on the scene. I have no doubt it will
continue being lived out long after I am gone.
I am reminded of King David, he had a dream to build a
dwelling place for God. Yet, it was his son Solomon who
saw the dream become a reality. For those of us who are
present when the “dream comes true,” we must realize
that the dream is not complete simply when the brick and
steel are in place.
The Temple that Solomon built would have been incomplete
without two things. First, it would have been incomplete
without a time of thanksgiving. What thanksgiving does
is remind us of our limitations and the limitlessness of
God. It points out the fact that it is not you or me who
made this happen it is God and God alone who deserves
the thanks. Solomon had a great time of thanksgiving
when the Temple was built. We must never forget that it
was God who gave the dream, God who preserved the dream
and it was God who enabled the dream to come true.
Second, the Temple would have been incomplete without
use. For all the beauty and splendor of the Temple it
was of value only when used. If there were no sacrifice,
teaching, worship, praise, prayer and ministry to the
sick, lame, blind, deaf, grieving and poor the Temple
would have been nothing more that a monument to the
achievements of man. We must not allow ourselves to
become complacent and satisfied now that the
construction is over (almost). We must allow the dream
completed to become a vision of what God wants us to be
in this place of ministry.
I am so very thankful for the opportunity to be in your
midst these past five years. Your kindness and
generosity overwhelm me. Thank you each and everyone. I
pray that we may press on together to that which God is
calling us.
“Not that I have already attained, or am already
perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that
for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but
one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind
and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I
press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus.”
With much
thankfulness, appreciation and love, Fred |
