ABOUT LAST SUNDAY

                Confession – owning, taking responsibility for, and admitting what happened to me.

                So here’s my confession: I never thought two old hymns we sang last Sunday would be used by God to start a spark within my heart. What songs? They are: “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand (My Hope is Built on Nothing Less)” and “Take My Life and Let It Be” (new and old versions). How could Andrew Halladay choose songs that were on target with the singular point of last Sunday’s message: all human effort towards peace with God is in vain; all that matters is Christ?

                Thanks Andrew, whether you’re aware of it or not, you ministered to me personally. Please high-5 your musical crew. Ultimately, thank You God.

                What about the rest of us? Yes, you! Did God touch you in a special way? Please don’t keep the blessing to yourself. Share it. So the rest of our church family will appreciate and admire God more. Tell me, any of the leaders or Cheryl – and we’ll print or let you tell your story publicly, no pressure!

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED LAST SUNDAY?

                That morning, my 8-day sore throat was a little better. Pastor Stewart was standing by in case I could not speak. So that’s another example of God’s kindness (call it “grace” if you like). I’m always amazed how God who is so capable of speaking for Himself would choose ordinary humans to be His messengers.

                After the service, I was hoping CLASS 101 (commitment to church membership) would be cancelled because I wanted to rest my throat. Well, there’s no way I would choose to nurse my 8-day old sore throat over nurturing the 8 people who showed up. I’ve taught that 4-hour class to as few as 2 persons!

                Now I’ve lost count of how many 101 classes I’ve taught since 1997. If I average a minimum of 4 a year, do the math. In all those classes, hardly anyone cries. But, last Sunday? I saw not one, but two pairs of eyes overflowing with tears: one who already follows Jesus for many years and the other, for the very first time.

                Big deal? You bet your pumpkin pie it’s a BIG MAJOR DEAL. Changed lives are what keep me in ministry still – after all these years, in this see-saw-love-it-hate-it affair called “being a pastor.” Nothing else counts for me, nothing restores my zest to continue serving Jesus quicker than when I recount with my fingers and recall stories that shift from darkness to light.

                Every time a person crosses the line, from being spiritual dead to become spiritually living, it marks me, it’s a major milestone in my life journey. It’s what makes me wish God will take me out of this planet while actively serving Him in action.

                So I show up, not really having the energy or “oomph” to teach, God surprises us and touches at least two, if not all 9 of us, instructor included. Special mention: thanks Mike Refugia, for taking 101 for the 3rd time – tell others what it’s like the second and third time around.

SPIRITUAL AWAKENING, SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
 
                Don’t be shocked by these “theological” sounding phrases. It’s what happens to people when they encounter God genuinely. It happened to the crying ones at 101, it happened to me through the hymn-singing. Let me clarify. 

If all you care about is yourself and pursue happiness no matter what means while remaining clueless about God, as in you couldn’t care less, you’re spiritually asleep/dead. God awakens you when you realize how desperately you need the Lord and desire to let God be your leader or boss. So you become spiritual awake or alive.

Renewal is for those who have been awakened but somehow got into a state of drifting away, taking God for granted to the point of getting cold and moving far from Him, back to self-rule again. One could willfully enter this state of drifting away through blatant disobedience or involuntarily through difficult crises. When the drifting person longs for “home”, that is, he or she longs to be tight or close with God again, God’s Spirit brings spiritual renewal.

THE MAIN THING IN FFAC

                Why am I sharing all these? Because it’s FFAC’s main thing. It’s our reason, our right to exist as a church in this city. The main thing is what every good committed member of FFAC should know and live for.

                We exist to make God famous by bringing people to Christ and building them up to become healthy multiplying Christ-followers. This is my paraphrase of our mission statement. Our mission statement is a permanent fixture on our bulletin’s front cover. Turn there, memorize it, burn it in your brain and heart. You should be able to say it word-for-word to anyone who asks you ‘what FFAC is all about?’ If you have not already done so, again, see our bulletin’s front cover.

                We would all do better and be a better church if we keep the main thing the main thing.                                                  

ricky p. mapa, pastor

PERSONAL P.S. I formally turned my life over to Jesus 27 years ago today Friday November 2, the day of this writing. Thank You Father God.