I’ll begin this morning by confessing recently I have become a fan of Face book…and by what I am finding apparently so have a lot of you.
Rapidly Face book has become the new “something” of the internet craze of social networking, and I am finding you just simply aren’t in the “it” crowd if you don’t have a face book account.
I see by the look on your faces that most of you are with me so far, but there’s a handful that don’t have a clue what I am talking about so let me give you a real brief history lesson.
Face book is a social networking website that began almost 5 years ago this coming February 4th.
Here is a quick summary of how it works. You as the user establish a personal profile page and then you start building your network of friends.
The concept is that you can keep in touch and in virtual constant communication easily with friends and family members regardless of their geographic location.
Now with over 100 million users Face book is no longer considered just a passing teen fad.
Just over Christmas I got several email messages that so and so had added me as a friend on face book and I was asked to confirm that we are indeed friends.
Most of the requests I confirmed and then begin reading about each person, viewed their photos and occasionally I even left a comment or two on “their wall.”
I have reacquainted myself with a guy named Steve, whom when I was a little kid I hit him with a rock at a church my dad pastured.
Then there was Ginger, Karen & Kayla’s first Sunday school teacher whom has moved to Florida…In fact I am quickly closing in on 100 friends…
And then right in the middle of my facebook frenzy I ran across this article…just listen…Technology has created a magnificent new world, bursting with opportunity. It has opened up global knowledge based economy and has unchained people from their desks. We are all in its debt-and we are never going back. But we cannot move forward successfully with out preserving the "Human moment” For it is that “Human moment” that provides the zest and color in the painting of our daily lives; it is what restores us, strengthens us and makes us whole.
So as I made my way to the office after looking at several photos of Valley Mission people and events, that had been posted I began to think about all the “faces” of valley mission…you see I think it is easy at times to forget that VMC is a living face-book if you will, of people whose lives are deeply entwined.
And the more I looked at those pictures the more I begin to question…just what have I been writing on their walls?
So this morning as we gather for the first time in this new calendar year I want you to think for a few moments about the faces of valley mission.
We have a beautiful facility, a blest history, lots of programs and activities…but here me this morning…it’s the people…not the building, not the programs…no it’s the people that comprise VMC…for you see when VMC looks into the mirror each morning it is your face that appears…you, and you…each one of us here today…we are the living face of VMCN
Lets just look at those faces this morning…first off I see the face of the visitor…that first time attendee….
Might I just stop here and suggest for a moment that perhaps the face of the visitor is the most important face that VMC has….visitors are, or maybe I should say…should be…the focus and reason for our being…listen VMC does not exist just so we…those of us here today…can have a church…that’s not our mission, that’s not why we relocated and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars ….this place is not about us…no…our mission is for that family that has yet to come thru our doors…
So what are we writing on their wall? Do we greet them with affection and follow up on them…you see the truth is that some visitors aren’t just quite ready for church when they visit that first time…they don’t know what to expect, or how we do things…they may not have a clue what all of our Nazarene language means…and therefore the responsibility is up to us…how are we doing? Are we coming down hard on them, wishing they would just “Get it” or are we patient and looking deep into their faces are we seeing all the potential and possibility that God is sending us.
This year lets pause and look deeply into their faces, for the story line is there…look behind that smile and you will see fear, frustration, anxiety, a longing for hope, anticipation….its all there…and they are all saying “Hey I am new here and I am adding you as a friend on my facebook” will you confirm that you know me….Does anyone know me….
My prayer is this year, God help VMC not to hit the ignore button when it comes to visitors…but God help us to always remember that behind each face is an individual, trying their best to sort out their life and looking for us to assist them on their journey..
O God allow the face of VMC to be a visitors face…the face of possibility…
I also see another face on the VMC facebook as well, and that is the face of the faithful attendee…
For you see the mission of VMC is most fully recognized through you. It is in your faithfulness in attendance, in commitment, in financial giving that our mission is fulfilled. You see our visitors want to know that we are who we say we are , and that when they look at us, they really don’t want to just see us, but rather they want to see Jesus in you & I.
Maybe you heard about lady a few years ago in Fostoria Ohio who thought she saw an image of Jesus on her barn late one night as she was coming home. THE lady waited the story goes for a few days before she told anyone and hen after three or four days she brought her friend over and amazingly she saw the image as well…the next day they brought a friend who saw it as well and before long it made the news and cars would literally line up on highway 12 to see the image. In fact so many claimed to see it that Time magazine sent a crew to cover the story. THE story reached its breaking point when a lady being interviewed told of how she parked her car and walked to the barn where there she saw the image, only to be told by the reporter that she had been looking at the wrong barn.
Whether you believe in stuff like that or not I think you would have to agree this morning that there is a deep desire planted with in the heart of man to see Jesus. And I personally don’t think that they are going to see Jesus on the side of a barn in Ohio, no friend if the visitor is going to see Jesus they will have to see Jesus in us!
For those of you who have been faithful to VMC for many years I sincerely want you to know this morning that I thank God for you. I am honored to be called your pastor, and I enjoy working alongside you in this effort to reach lost souls…but this year I am going to ask just a little more from you…
Will you find it in your heart to take the time this year to get to know each other better, especially the first time attendee. Will you take the time to let the lost know how God has made a difference in your life. Will you find time to share with that guy at the gas station, or that lady cutting your hair, just how much God means to you…
Will you find stranger each week and write on their wall a personal invitation to come and try our VMC?
There were times during the American Revolutionary war when supplies for the army became very scarce. On one occasion a valley forge, a young soldier had gone for several days with very little to eat when he suddenly encountered a group of senior officers riding in his direction. The young soldier stepped tot the side of the road as they slowly rode by. He looked into the faces of these well fed men and finally be bolted forward to approach one particular officer saying; “Sir could you please spare some food, for I am very hungry.”
Without knowing who it was, he had approached General George Washington. Washington stopped his horse, dismounted and gave the young man some food and water.
Another soldier who had been watching from a distance ask this young man how he had the courage to speak to the great General Washington. The boy responded; “I didn’t know who he was…all I knew was that he had a yes face.”
O that it could be said of VMC this year that we had a yes face…as people come might they see that here we do have the answers, that here we do possess hope, that here we can introduce them to Jesus….
Finally this morning I want to close by suggesting another face we ought to be thinking about this calendar year…
The bible puts it this way…. "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."
That is my prayer this year for VMC….may the face of the lord shine on us…may his face always be turned toward us…I am thankful that I can pray that type of prayer with confidence because I know that God is faithful and it is his desire to stay in touch with each of us this year on a daily basis…
Maybe this morning I am speaking to some who need to check your inbox….maybe you have this message waiting for you…”God has added you as a friend on Facebook. WE need to confirm that you know God”
Do you….are you ready to live this year so that your life makes an eternal difference?
Are you going to write the story of Jesus on someone’s wall this year?
What are you planning to write this next year? Three hundred sixty five days from today, how will you be any different? If you want to be different, you’ve got to start cultivating some new habits, activities, and relationships now! It just wont happen. It takes effort.
What do you want to be different in your family. . .your finances. .your church…or your walk with Christ?
Whatever you sow, you’ll reap. If you don’t sow anything, you won’t reap anything. I dare you to do something different with your life
This year….
