November 15, 2006

Dear family and friends of WCPC:

I got back Tuesday from Charlotte.  My younger brother and I have for years gotten together every fall to go to a Carolina Panther (NFL) football game.  We had a great time and the Panthers won, an added bonus.  My nephew also came down for the game and he’s got one of the GPS Navigational tools in his car.  We drove around Charlotte, trying to find the house my nephew lived in before they moved to Virginia.  Every time he missed a turn or made a wrong turn the voice of the GPS Navigational device would  say, “Hey dummy.  You missed your turn.”  Not really.  Instead it would say, “Recalculating,” and then offer new directions. 

I think in my life I’ve done a lot of “recalculating.”  Maybe you have as well.  We get started and suddenly discovered we made a wrong turn.  Often those “wrong turns” aren’t intentional.  We’re not trying to see the sights, but nevertheless we get detoured.  Sometimes those turns are intentional.  Sometimes it’s even necessary to go back to where we started and try and get it right this time.

Sunday is COMMITMENT SUNDAY!  Members and friends of WCPC will be invited to come forward with completed Commitment Cards which reflect an intentional decision to grow in discipleship.  It’s an opportunity for each of us to say “Yes” to God’s intent to transform each of us and use us as a means of transformation.  An opportunity to experience God’s blessings so we in turn can be a blessing!  

I realize that many, if not all of us have taken some wrong turns in our lives.  “Recalculating” is God’s grace to us, as we adjust and move in directions pleasing to God.  God will never say, “Hey, dummy, what happened?”  That’s a real relief.  Instead God offers gentle and sometimes not so gentle reminders along the way.  Eventually we get the message.  My prayer throughout this Stewardship season is that all of us will have heard clearly God’s gentle yet persistent voice.

No matter where you have been in regards to your discipleship, this Sunday represents an opportunity to “recalculate” your spiritual life.  Maybe the growth will be one step, maybe a giant leap.  Whatever God has placed upon your heart, be open and responsive. 

To God be the glory!

Your pastor,

David Jones