The other morning when I walked into my office I heard a strange sound. It was a “thump/whack/thump/ whack” so loud that I could hear and see the source immediately— a robin was trying to enter my office through the window (without an appointment too)! Of course, the bird was unsuccessful as the window to the outside world is impenetrable to bird brains like him. But beyond watching this foolish display of bravado, I wondered, “Why on earth and in heaven does he want into my office?” “What is so interesting in here?” (In fact, he would fly away for a few minutes and come back only to repeat the process for about half an hour.) In the end, he got wise and flew away. But why try to get in my office when he had the whole outside world to explore? Why confine himself to only what he could see?

     There’s a lesson there for us, at least in terms of trusting God and turning our limited vision from what we see to what He sees beyond that. How often do we, in a “bird-brain” state, confine ourselves and ministries to possibilities we only see? How often do we look around us at our temporal circumstances without the expectation that there is a whole outside world out there waiting to hear about Christ? As Jesus Himself is quick to remind us, all things are possible with Him (Matthew 19). So, if all things are possible with God, we need to “do ministry” like all things are possible!

     As our congregation moves forward we will not marginalize the history of this church and the sanctified success it has had in impacting lives in the Akron area and beyond. It has been here for over 50 years, growing, not with a limited vision, but with a vision beyond what it could see. Even now, we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us, not to gaze back, but to look ahead, with boldness at “what will be.” Like our predecessors, we have placed our faith and trust in the One who IS and will be forever, the One who exceeds our expectations about what doing “church and ministry is.”

     As God leads us forward in Christ, we don’t always know where He’s going. We don’t always see as clearly or as far as we’d like to. But that is where we are called to follow in faith, willing to explore the world outside of our limited vision. Birds do not fly by trying to move indoors! Churches do not grow by looking in, but by looking out.

     Even though my first 12 weeks have been a blur of activity and vision, I’m excited about the progress we’ve made. For example, our steady increase in worship attendance, giving, and our planning for The Bridge contemporary service is creating an air of expectation about how God will use us to grow His kingdom. Even with “bird-brains” like me (and geniuses like you!), He will do great things. May He exceed even what we expect as we prepare to fly!

     Serving Him with You,

     Pastor Tom