Sustainable Energy.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Green. Sustainability. You see and hear those words everywhere these days. Much of what we see is just marketing. The 10% recycled material in Starbucks coffee cups (the cups are not recyclable) or the car that gets 1 mile more than its competition so it becomes the “greenest” car in its class. Fuel made out of corn made food prices go up. Wide use of electric cars will make using electricity in our homes go up. As we struggle to really figure out the sustainability issue, it is important to note that presently the only sustainable energy source is God.

In the 40th chapter of Isaiah the writer states that even youth will faint and be weary. We are simply not made of material that will last forever. Rest will renew our bodies for a time but we get older and wear out. Spiritually, when we trust in our own power we will fail. Ultimately, without a constant connection to God through prayer, we are no match for our weaknesses. If we desire an unlimited source of strength, power and protection, our only option is to seek the Lord while he may be found and wait upon His unfailing grace and mercy.

My prayer is that you connect to and share with those you know the only unlimited renewable energy source.

Arm Rest

But Moses' hands [were] heavy; and they took a stone, and put [it] under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. Exodus 17:12

My neighbors house has a detached garage, a driveway, and a hedge separating it from my house. The neighbor who owns the house on the other side of him is an elderly widower. The families who have owned the house always watch out for the elderly man. They shovel snow in the winter, help rake leaves in the fall and generally make sure he is okay. As Christians, we know that God calls us to help one another.

The children of Israel were fighting Amalek in Rephidim. Moses stood on a hill and held up his hands. As long as he held up his hands, Israel was winning. When he got tired and put his arms down Israel began to lose. Aaron and Hur got on either side of Moses and held his arms up. This passage illustrates our dependence on God and each other. We need support to keep us when times are difficult. We need to offer support when it is needed and we have the time and resources. Aaron and Hur held Moses’s arm up until Sundown came and the victory was secured.

My prayer is that you find an opportunity to offer genuine support.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Blind Ambition.

And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, [Thou] Son of David, have mercy on me. Luke 18:39

This year more than 100,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 28 auditioned to be a contestant on the American Idol TV Show. The show’s 12 producers narrowed this group down to 1,000 and then to 250. The 250 contestants were seen by the shows judges and pared down to the smaller group who will be part of the TV program. The winner will receive a million dollar record contract. Many of the shows contestants are interviewed on air talking about how important it is for them to get “discovered” and to win the competition. There are many emotional moments as contestants give their all in their attempts to succeed. As Christians, we would do well to seek to serve God with the same fervor as we seek recognition.

The 18th chapter of Luke tells the story of a blind man sitting by the side of the road begging. He hears a crowd and asks what is going on. When he hears that Jesus is passing by he starts to yell for Jesus to have mercy on him. The more that the people around him tell him to be quiet, the more he cried out to Jesus. Jesus hears him and heals him. We chase temporal things we desire with greater intensity than we exhibit when we seek God. Yet, no one can help us like God can. As you think about the difficult circumstances you face, think about the blind man beside the road who would not stop yelling to Jesus for help.

My hope for you today is that you are prepared to pray until help comes.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Total Commitment.

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

In golf, any shot you play, whether it is a drive, pitch, chip or putt, must be approached with total commitment to the shot. Before you swing you must make up in your mind what kind of shot you are trying to hit. You take into account the lie, the distance, wind and other variables. You take a practice swing, remove all doubt and then execute the shot with full confidence it will end up where you want it. Any shot approached carelessly or arbitrarily stands a much greater chance of ruining the hole or even unraveling the round. So too, as Christians, we have to make up our minds to commit to serving the Lord to please God and to set an example for those within our sphere of influence.

Joshua was nearing the end of a life of service. He was certain what the Lord had done for the children of Israel. He also witnessed how some of them had begun to follow the gods their forefathers served on the other side of the river or the gods of the Amorites in the new land. Many of us started well. We prayed our way through college and the early trials of working life. Our relationships, finances, plans and goals were all made consulting God through prayer. Then success set in and we developed a secular life outside of our church and families and began to accept other ideas, philosophies and practices. Joshua called the tribes together before God to consider their journey and the true source of their blessings. We too must be mindful that God desires us to trust and worship in him above everything else.

My prayer for you today is that you make up your mind to commit fully to serving the Lord.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Cosmetic Surgery.

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For [the LORD] does not [see] as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

There were more than 12 million elective cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed last year. Over 2 million of them were surgical to redefine or enhance a body part. 5 million procedures were just a temporary fix like a Botox injection to minimize wrinkles. The covers of nearly all of our magazines are regularly graced by movie stars and athletes. Almost without exception the pictures are heavily retouched to remove every blemish and hint of fat so the personality appears even more attractive than they already are. In our world with its over-emphasis on beauty and perfection Christians must keep in mind that God is concerned with our hearts.

It is only natural to be influenced by what we see. Just as a child can recognize a sweet taste or we prefer warm weather to extreme cold. The danger is in being lulled into believing that whatever is easy or pleasurable is beneficial to us. Eat too many sweets or stay out in the sun too long and the thing that started out pleasurable will harm us. If we chase only the thing that seems right to us, we will be misled. When I played soccer, the coach told us, don’t look at a person’s head or body when defending, watch his feet. The Lord tells Samuel that God looks at the heart. God understands our motivations, our intentions and our true beliefs. It is not enough to look and act sincere. God requires that we be sincere.

My prayer today is that you give yourself a sincerity check this morning.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Liquid Faith.

When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." John 2:3

I flew out of LaGuardia Airport this morning at 6:00 a.m. It was a beautiful morning and the sun bathed the city in a golden light. As we climbed we gently banked left just north of Manhattan and I had a clear view of the path US Air flight 1549 took as it made an emergency landing on the Hudson. The river is wide as it borders the west side of Manhattan. It dominates your field of view. I put on my glasses and searched for Teaneck Airport where the air traffic controller tried to send Captain C.B. Sullenberger that day. I know exactly where it is and squinted to find it, tiny from the air and invisible when compared to the Hudson River. On January 15, 2009, God turned the Hudson River into a runway. As Christians, we are aware that God has authority over water and everything else.

Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding. He calmed the sea during a storm. God parted the red sea and caused water to come out of a rock. We are often confronted with situations where we know we don’t have the necessary ingredients for success. Sometimes the cards are so stacked against us it seems impossible to believe we can win. As Christians we need to reflect on the fact that God can come to our aid with the ability to transform His creation into anything it needs to be. And the same thing He does with nature He can do with our lives.

I pray today that you keep yourself open to God’s power to transform.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Panic Button

Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. Daniel 2:20

In many gas stations and convenience stores staffed with only a single employee late at night there is an implicit danger. Often, there is money on hand and the establishment is vulnerable to robbers. Many of these places have a button that is concealed and easy to access that when pressed can trigger a silent alarm alerting the police or a private security company that help is needed. As Christians, we have ready help in times of distress.

It is a terrible feeling. We suddenly find ourselves in bad situation. An accident, a pending pink slip, a crisis in a relationship or a sober diagnosis. We are taken by surprise and the surprise quickly begins to yield to panic. What should Christians do? How do we keep it together? In the second Chapter of Daniel King Nebuchadnezzar had a problem and because he was king, he made it everyone’s problem. He explained to Daniel and his companions that if they could not interpret his dream they would be cut to pieces and their houses be made ash heaps. Daniel asked for time to go home. He and his group immediately sought God’s mercy. God answered him and he began to praise God. Please note Daniel begins to praise God before he has spoken to the King or interpreted his dream. In his praise he acknowledges that God raises up and removes kings (Daniel 2:21). In his crisis, Daniel reminds himself of who God is. In your most difficult times, you need to remind yourself that God is merciful and faithful and an ever present help in time of trouble.

My prayer for you today is for the presence of mind to go to God in every situation to seek the peace he can provide even in a storm.

Deacon Larry Woodard