(Sermon was opened with the Reader’s Theater script, ‘Lost in the Desert,’ written by Tom Ewald in the ‘Christian Readers’ Theater’ published by Carson-Dellosa Christian Publishing © 2005)
(Slide 1) Have you ever been lost?
(Slide 2) I am not talking about being lost on our way to another destination. That is frustrating and sometimes scary.
(Slide 3) I am talking about being lost here in our heads (point to head) and here in our hearts (point to heart.)
(Slide 4) David Damico would probably call this kind of loss, a loss of purpose. A loss of purpose is a scary kind of loss. It is disconcerting. To live with no purpose is to live often with no hope and no joy and no peace and no love.
The Israelites seem to have lost their purpose; their way as they travelled through the desert.
They did not know who they were anymore. They were no longer slaves. They were a free people.
But they had no place to call their own and all the familiar landmarks and events and places they had known for a long time were no longer around. It was an unsettling time.
Several years ago, our late state minister, Richard Shockey, wrote a column about experiencing changes in life from the perspective of a river crossing. (Slide 5) He spoke of beginning, middle, and end.
The beginning of a change sometimes comes quickly. Sudden news – bad and good, brings change into the living rooms of our lives and we are forced to deal with new situations and new opportunities.
Then there is the middle of the river, when we reach the point of no return. Do we stay the course, or do we turn around? Do we go a new direction?
It requires us to take stock of our resources and situation… and our faith. Our main text, which is featured at the end of our dramatic reading is about both an end and a beginning and, when you step back a take a good historical look, a middle as well. Let us hear the word of God this morning from Joshua 1:6-9:
“Be strong and courageous, for you will lead my people to possess all the land I swore to give their ancestors. Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
I suggest this morning several important things for us to remember whether we are at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a chapter in our lives.
(Slide 6) First and most important, God is with us all along the journey.
Not long into our script, and not long into the new beginnings for the people of God, memories grew short and people began to forget God’s presence.
The question, ‘What has God done for us lately?’ is a question that is asked today and often! We forget, don’t we, God’s blessings as soon as we make a turn in the next bend and encounter our next challenge.
‘That was yesterday! What has God done for me lately?’ Maybe we need to start asking, ‘What have I done for the Lord lately?’ This memory lapse is a major reason for the numerous commands to the Israelites from the Lord to ‘remember’ and to ‘teach.’
(Slide 6a) Second, how we choose to respond to our circumstances is critical in how we handle the challenges that come in our journey.
Each step of the way, the Israelites had new challenges that challenged their faith in this God who had chosen them to be their God.
And as I wrote this segment of the message it hit me that the challenges they faced were based on the lack of something.
First there was the lack (or perceived lack) of safety as they were caught between a fast moving army and a body of water. ‘Have you brought us here to die?’
Second there was the lack of resources, namely food and water, along the way. ‘Have you brought us here to die?’
Third there was the lack (again a perceived lack) of direction and leadership along the way. ‘Have you brought us here to die?’
Fourth there was a lack of patience when Moses left for a significant period of time. ‘Where did he go?’ ‘Make us a god we can see with our own eyes!’
Our journey contains the same elements as the Israelites did. Their journey and story is also our journey and story!
They developed an attitude; a mindset that was quite frankly defeatist! In my recent
We constantly deal with the lack of something – time, money, and other resources – that is also a part of the Biblical story. But, we need to remember that our story, to be truly meaningful and purposeful, is really a part of God’s story.
It was not, as we so often think today, about them, or us, it is about the Lord and His great and wonderful plan of grace and forgiveness. This leads me to the third and probably most important point of this morning.
(Slide 6c) Third, God is our great provider and leader.
When the Israelites came to the Jordan River, after a 40 year wait because of their lack of faith, God reminded them that in the new chapter they were beginning, He would be with them just as He was when years earlier they left Egypt and to take courage and strength from Him.
I would not be surprised if each of us is not at a beginning, middle, and an end in some area of our lives. Be assured that the Lord is with you no matter where you are at. But have faith in Him, let His courage and strength be a part of your life and follow and obey His words as outlined in Scripture. Remember His faithfulness to you in the past.
(Slide 7) As a church, we are at a possible beginning of a new chapter in our history. Next week, we will vote on two motions that will eventually provide us, if we approve them both, with new property that will allow us to build a facility with off street parking and better access in a very high visibility location.
(Slide 8) The first recommendation that must be approved before the second recommendation which is the actual purchase of the property is for us to use the Parsonage Fund CD that was created nearly 20 years ago when the former parsonage on State Street was sold, to assist in the purchase of the Orchard Park property. By using both the current building fund and the parsonage fund we will be able to pay cash on the property and not have to borrow any money.
(Slide 9) Now before we look at the second recommendation, I want to give us a visual view of the property and encourage you to go out and look the property over this week. It is lots 6 and 7 in the Orchard Park Development out by Parkview Noble Hospital. (Point out the hospital, traffic light entrance, and other landmarks.)
(Slide 10) The lots, which are 3.66 acres together, are in the Northwest corner of the development and is bordered by US 6 on the north, the Kendallville Day Care center on the south, Orchard Place Parkway on the east, and private property on the west.
(Slide 11) Now we come to recommendation number 2. Here as some important things to note. First the purchase price is $100,000 for Lots 6 and 7. It will require a minimum vote of 2/3 passage to be completed. (I hope that it will be much higher than 67%.)
Also in the deal is that we will help pay a prorated amount of property tax in 2009 of about 2 to 3 thousand dollars.
(Slide 12) Another important part of the deal is that the soil is tested to insure that it is suitable for building. The Ministry Council contracted with Soil Testing Inc of Ft Wayne to drill four samples down 15 feet. That has been completed and I hope to have the report here soon.
As for Zoning, I spoke with Dave Lange from the City of Kendallville who indicated to me that churches can build anywhere but need a special exemption must be sought when we are ready to build. This will also require notification of all property owners within 100 feet of our property.
(Slide 13) Very important here – this is a cash deal. With approval of the parsonage CD to be used for assisting with the purchase, we will be able to obtain the property with no debt.
Regarding our CD and other building funds, I have been told by our treasurer that with a closing date of mid-July, we will be able to cash in all of our CD’s without any interest penalty.
(Slide 14) As for some responsibilities we will be responsible, as a property owner and a member of the Orchard Park Association, for property upkeep before we build. I will have more to say about the Association responsibilities in a moment.
As for insurance, our agent has indicated that for at least the first 190 days of ownership, there will be no additional cost to us. However, down the road there will probably be an increase in our liability coverage.
Now with regard to Orchard Park Association membership, I would encourage us to review this document prior to next week’s meeting. It contains very, very, very important information about our responsibilities. In purchasing this property we become a voting member of the Association.
Among them is that we will be paying, even before we have a building, around $400 a year for ‘common areas’ and their upkeep. Common areas include the islands at the two main entrances and the pond in front of Parkview Noble Hospital. The per year amount that is paid is subject to change depending on the desires of the Association.
(Slide 15) Included in the sales agreement is that we have 60 months to build. The current time frame is 2 years. Please remember that this is a commercial development not a residential or private development.
In the document I have just referred to, please note Article 3 which refers to ‘Architectural Control.’ This means that the developers, L.D. Baker, Inc, will need to review and approval our building design so that harmonizes with the rest of the development. This probably means no metal pole type buildings.
We also need to be aware of a potential new city ordinance that will require that any part of any new building that faces main arteries, such as US 6, will need to be made of natural materials like stone, stucco, brick, and wood. Again, I strongly urge you to read this document very, very careful before you cast your vote (and absentee votes are accepted).
(Slide 16) I like this slide. It speaks of building a nest egg. I think that we are looking to do the same with our church.
The couple on the right is our founding pastor, Cecil Asbury and his wife. He came in the early 1940’s from our sister church in Stroh to start this church, which was begun on this site. His work was kingdom building and he started our sister churches in Stroh and Ashley. He represents all of those who have given their time, talents, and money to the ministry of this church the past 65 years.
(Slide 17) All of this is truly in God’s hands but it is also in our hands. Let us believe and trust in God’s power and provision and let’s walk by faith and not by sight in this important decision. Amen.
