It's On My Heart...May 2009

Being a member of the club is important when you're a child or when, as an adult, your car breaks down and you pull out your AAA card and call for a tow. The American Express motto for years was, "membership has it's privileges." I've found that through my life I've belonged to lots of clubs. Some intentional and others because of circumstance. When I graduated from Seminary with a Master's Degree, at that time there were only about 4% of Americans who had graduate degress and were part of that club. Recently the AARP sent me an invitation to join their club. Now that was a real affirmation. When I accepted Christ as my Savior, I became a member of club whose members now belong to God. When I ride my motorcycle, it is very common for other riders to wave at oncoming riders. We're members of the club. Like the princess wave during a Disney parade, motorcycle riders have a "rider's wave" down. Not too high, hand below the handlebar, a subtle wave that is returned. We're members of the same club.

When my brother-in-law lost my sister over a year ago, he said he felt like he was a member of a club. Just the mention of the death of his wife connected with others who had lost loved ones. Instantly they knew the heartache of losing one you love. The mere mention of your loss becomes a catalyst which forms a bond with others who have experienced similar losses. It is a club that none of us want to be members of, yet in due time, we will. Being a member of God's club helps us in our time of grief and distress when other clubs come knocking at the door of your life. The Psalmist asks, in light of who God is and who we are as humans, for God to "teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90.12) Since life is short, we need godly wisdom to make the most of each and every day. We become wise when we number our days, that is, when we realize that our days are a limited resource.

Since death comes to us and to those we love, we should live as if today is our last day, yet prepare as if the Lord will grant us another 30 years. Prepared to meet our Maker on any given day. Prepared to deal with life, both short term and long term dynamics. So, don't let today pass you by without thinking what God wants you to accomplish today. Don't let words be left unspoken that really need to be expressed. Don't worry about the AARP or other clubs that ask you to join. Some clubs you get to choose to belong to. Others you don't. My prayer is that you belong to God's club and then grow in your faith and knowledge of God, so that whatever may come your way, you are prepared to face it with the Lord's help.

Blessings,
Pastor Pete