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From The Pastor

From the Pastor
In that wonderful movie, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Jack Nicholson stars as Randall P. McMurphy, the ringleader of a bunch of trouble-makers in an insane asylum. In one scene, he springs them out, and they all go down to the pier and are about to charter a luxury cruiser, when a guard comes charging out of the gate shack and yells, “Who are you?” And without missing a beat, Randall P. McMurphy, with a devious smile and a swing of his arm, says to the guard, “My dear sir. I would like to introduce to you a group of the most eminent psychiatrists in America.” And then he goes right down the line and names them one by one by name: “Mr. Bill Bibbit.” “Mr. Bromden.” “Mr. Martini.” And here’s what’s beautiful, -- right before our very eyes, these broken down, dejected, wretched mental patients suddenly become the person they are called. They nod condescendingly as their name is mentioned. They stick out their chests, and stand tall and dignified. 
This Sunday, we are going to be looking at the story of Gideon in the Old Testament. He is an anxious man, living a cautious life. However, God saw something more. God saw a warrior. God saw a man of might. God saw something in Gideon that Gideon didn’t even see in himself. We may not see it within us either. Thankfully, God’s call on our lives is not determined by our self-esteem, IQ, or what we may see staring back at us in the mirror. Instead, God calls our name, and in humble response, we are to stand tall and dignified in light of that call. 
Friends, I believe that God is calling us to something more in 2020. God’s great call on our lives is not to become a hermit and play it safe. It’s not to look to our left or right, and hope someone else will take up the challenge. God has called each and every one of us. We don’t have to be a warrior like Gideon was. We just need a warrior-like faith to the God who called us into service. Maybe what you are called to do today is simply to show our fearful world what it looks like to live confidently in God. Maybe it is to powerfully demonstrate a peace that only God can provide. Maybe it is to give hope to the hurting, but while quietly working behind the scenes, and without a lot of fanfare. Whatever it may be, don’t run and hide. Don’t try to bargain with God. Just believe that God knows what He is doing, and say “yes” to Him.  
Pastor John
Quote of the Week
“Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.”  
Thomas à Kempis
Thomas à Kempis, was a German-Dutch canon regular of the late medieval period and the author of The Imitation of Christ, one of the most popular and best known Christian devotional books. His name means Thomas "of Kempen", his home town, and in German he is known as Thomas von Kempen.