A Community with Solid Foundations
Recently I had the opportunity to visit my daughter and family in a “dormitory community” adjacent to a large US city. They live in a newish home located in a housing development, which is under constant construction as new houses are being erected on a near daily basis – there are hundreds of them now!
In taking my “morning constitutional” I walked through an area which is being prepared for even more brand new homes. Seeing all of the preparatory work in the area brought some interesting thoughts to mind…
Over the years I have several times heard comments in sermons, which brought out the analogy of a building being built and the importance of the foundations. Living near London, we have regularly been able to observe this phenomenon. It will often take two to three years to put up a new skyscraper in the middle of a large city. At the beginning of the process you will probably see an old block of buildings destroyed. Then excavation begins, a large, solid wood fence (with peep holes – excuse me, “observation portals”) goes up and for the next several months to a year one does not “see” any progress. That’s because the foundation for a multistory structure must be done properly and that takes time. In the next year or two the building takes shape, until the final edifice gleams on the horizon. But the foundation is critical. Otherwise those many tons of steel, concrete and glass would not stand the test of time. This, of course, reminds us of the importance of a firm foundation and building carefully on that in our own lives. “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it” (1 Corinthians 3:10).
So, the individual foundations of the single buildings are vitally important.
But in walking through the area where a community of homes was being built I was forcefully reminded that there is more to it than just the houses – each with its solid foundation – as important as they are. There are roads to be graded and leveled. Pipes and electrical conduits to be buried in their respective places along those roads. Asphalt to be meted out to finish them off. Curbs to be poured, sidewalks to be laid out. Lighting poles and stop sign must be set in place… and on and on it goes. In short to be a habitable, viable community the entire area needs to be worked on and prepared.
God is certainly working with us as individuals and what He is doing with us contributes to the building of that firm foundation, which each and every one of needs. But the Body of Christ is more than simply a conglomeration of scattered, lonely people (though some of us may be quite lonely). God wants us to be part of the Body, part of His Church. So, in ways that only He knows, He is working with us, giving us the opportunity to learn to work together — with the goal of forming and shaping us into that viable community of believers – the Body of Christ.
In these end times, as the world seems to be falling apart around our ears, it is exciting to think that God loves us enough and cares enough about us to work with us. He is grading roads and pouring concrete and setting light poles in our lives and He is very desirous of us learning to work together and help one another. He wants us to become that community of believers, which will be able to assist Him and Christ in the tremendous jobs that lie before us.
Feast Reminders
Children’s Choir: If you have a child who would like to participate in a children’s choir at the Feast, please contact Ruth Myrick at remyrick@gmail.com. Ruth will provide the music your child will need to learn ahead of the Feast.
Bentonville, Arkansas Music
Music is an important part of God’s Feast and we need your help in all these areas to make this happen.
Pianists are still needed to accompany at the daily services as well as offer up suitable solo numbers for special and/or offering music. We are assured of a baby grand piano which is a special blessing. Any other instrumentalists or solo singers are also needed.
Adult Choristers, I have appropriate choral music that can be easily presented with some on-site practice, but to date I do not have sufficient numbers to make that feasible. If you would like an opportunity to sing in a group you’ll need to let me know now so I can have suitable numbers of music and presentation folders and schedule practices.
Herb VanCuren: hgvancuren@yahoo.com
A similar announcement could be made for Oxnard.
Ray Newby: raynewby@att.net
This year we have many needing financial assistance to attend the Feast. If you are in the position of being able to provide some excess tithe for distribution it would be most helpful if you sent it in now.
Have a good Sabbath,
Cliff Veal
