I am reading through the book of 1 Samuel for my personal devotional time these days. Unlike the M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan ‘homework’ that I feel obligated to complete each day, I enjoy the freedom to be able to read and meditate upon as few or many verses at a time, waiting on God to ‘speak to me’ through His Word.  In 1 Samuel Chapter 6, the Philistines, who had captured and kept the ark of the Lord for seven months, frantically try to send it back to the Israelite territory because God afflicted the Philistines everywhere the ark was moved to.  After consulting with their priests, they get a new cart and hitch two cows that have recently calved and never been yoked.  They put the ark of the Lord on the cart and send it on its way.  If the cart reached the intended Israelite territory despite these ‘unqualified’ cows, they would know that it was not a coincidence but the hand of God that has caused the great disaster upon them. 
The cows go straight up to the destination without turning to the right or to the left, but the Bible also records that they lowed all the way.  This part really got to me.  Because I am a mother, I could relate to these cows- how sad they must have been to have their calves stripped away from them.  In addition, this was their first time being yoked and hitched to a cart.  Indeed they suffered greatly both emotionally and physically.  And for all the suffering these cows endured, I expected a happy ending for them.  The Bible, however, does not say that the grateful Israelites freed the cows, allowing them to find their way back to their calves. 
Not even close.  The Israelites were so happy to get the ark of the Lord back that they chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord!  Instead of all the other available cows, two never-been yoked, nursing cows were taken away from their calves to be used by God, and what do they get for their sacrifice?  They become a burnt offering!  I was furious.  What kind of justice is this, Lord? 
As I sat there in my anger, God began to ‘speak to me,’ not in an audible voice, but by revealing His heart to me:  
God:  “Do you know what life is like for cows?”
Me :  “Eat, poop, work, sleep, & repeat. They eventually get killed and eaten by people.” 
God:   “Then which is better – to be slaughtered to fill man’s stomach or to be offered as a
 burnt offering to the Lord to renew the relationship between God and sinful man?
Me:  “. . .”
God: “It wasn’t a sacrifice, but a privilege for those cows to be chosen by Me.”
God revealed to me that it was not about the cows, but about me. I felt enraged by the final destiny of the cows because I saw myself in them.  In ministry I often feel like an unqualified cow hitched to a cart. But I am able to keep going, telling myself, “Hang in there. You will receive a great reward for all your sacrifices.”   There is nothing wrong with this statement of faith except what we often consider a great reward, such as successful ministry, recognition from men, or financial security, may not be what God has in mind. God doesn’t want to give us just good things, but the very best according to His glorious riches and grace.   “Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of being a burnt offering for you.  May you be honored and glorified, not through what I do for you, but through how I trust you no matter what.”

From Pastor Sara’s Heart 
August 10, 2014

So I had attended a church Promiseland PTA meeting a few weeks ago since my son Julian is a 5th grader and I wanted to try and support the ministry as a parent if I could. One of the topics discussed was ideas for fun field-trip events to plan for the future. Snowtubing was one of the ideas for example. So there was conversation back and forth among the group but then I noticed no one was able to volunteer to merely look into the costs and dates etc and report back to the group. I’m a typical guy so therefore I’m sorely lacking in the children’s event planning/detail department. But nevertheless it’s something that needed to be done so I thought why not and raised my hand and volunteered to look into it. I naively wondered to myself what harm could that do to offer to just look into things?
So a short report of several different fun things to do (like glass blowing!) was prepared and submitted. Not long after that I get an email from the group thanking me for volunteering to lead the field trip. Whaaaa? Hey what just happened here I had merely offered to look into it and next thing I know I’ve been “volun-told” I was leading. Very smooth of them that’s for sure.
Of course I’m only good-naturedly complaining about getting deftly roped into further involvement. This is not the first time I’ve tried to be involved. I think it finally dawned on me as a parent that it’s not enough to just expect others to provide these experiences for the kids. The church staff and volunteer Sunday school teachers and other parents have continued to invest in these younger generations so faithfully. And I’ve been blessed not only in fellowship meeting the other KC congregation parents and but also in my relationship with my son. Julian still occasionally recalls the last Promiseland retreat when our 12-bunk cabin had a late night pillow fight of epic proportions. Our cabin was the “cool” cabin. The kids in the other cabin even wanted to join our cabin. I told my son I was pretty much a band geek growing up so I had never in my life ever been considered in the “cool” crowd. So even though I’m not personally thrilled about these overnights sleeping in bunks, or campground tents, or on the Playstation floor upstairs (my back is not crazy about it either) it’s worthwhile to be part of our kids lives and maybe also score some Dad points too along the way.
Our church ministries across the board are relying more and more upon individual participation in order for the ministries to continue their good works. No doubt there are opportunities for each and every one of us to be more involved and quite honestly our participation is becoming essential. We can’t take for granted that the same parents or same church leaders should bear the full responsibility for this congregation’s spiritual well-being. The excellent examples our young adult and high school leaders have set investing their time, energy and heart into the youth over and over again is humbling. How does one say no to making an effort in the name of the Lord? And all this time God is watching.

From Pastor Mark’s Heart
December 14, 2014