One Life Blog

The “One Life” journey for me has been very revealing about the gulf between “heart” and “head.”  Intellectually, I have always believed the Bible’s teaching that “God owns everything,” and I am fully convinced that Jesus meant what He said in Matthew 6 that we shouldn’t worry about things like what we’re going to eat, or what we’re going to wear, because God knows we need these things.  He’s promised that if we seek God’s kingdom first, all these things will be added to us.  I believe that.  I really do.

As I’ve thought through “One Life,” however, I’ve seen in myself that I really haven’t lived like I believe it.  I have always held back in some way.  And I’m not just talking about finances.  I’m talking about all aspects of my life – that “whole person” stewardship that Dr. Jones has been talking about.  It seems like I’ve always tried to keep  something in reserve “just in case.”  This journey has made me think, “Just in case what?”   Well, if I’m being honest, the only possible answer to that question is, “Just in case God doesn’t come through as He’s promised.”  In other words, the root problem is a lack of faith. 

Wow!  Before the “One Life” journey began, I thought I had this stewardship thing all figured out.  Now I have been confronted with a lack of faith and trust that I never knew was there.  There’s been a disconnect between head and heart, and, as the Apostle James tells me, my faith without works is dead.  The truth is that if I think I believe it but don’t act on it, then I probably don’t really believe it, at least not completely.  I really do need to live “all out” for God.  Because of who He is, I don’t need a backup plan.  Thanks be to God for showing me that. 

For me, this “One Life” journey isn’t about strategic initiatives and raising money.  It’s about the gulf between “head” and “heart,” and about an opportunity to put my faith in action.  Hopefully, the gulf is a little smaller now than it was before. 

Chris Gleason
Immanuel Elder

Each morning as I’m getting ready for work, I see them out walking. The older Korean ladies come striding along with purpose. A few minutes later they are followed by two women strolling along chatting. A retired couple, engaged in conversation, often pauses at our corner before continuing on. With the weather warming up I expect we will see more of our neighbors out for an early morning walk.

I have a pair of worn leather sandals that I bring out each year at Easter. Several years ago I played one of the disciples on the road to Emmaus in the Pageant. Lorenzo and I walked along, lost in casual conversation. Stopped by a stranger, we spent some time walking with him. Later in the drama, we “asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” ( Luke 24:31)

The other evening during Bible study, the topic of our One Life campaign came up. As we discussed some of the details of the program, the question arose: what is a “spiritual journey”? I thought back to those Easter performances for an example to share. And I thought of something we have been challenged with recently. If we really do believe that “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1), then it starts to make sense to ask the Owner what He wants us to do with what He has entrusted to us.

Have you set out on a spiritual journey? This week, I would encourage you to look around in your closet and slip on a pair of worn leather sandals; go for a walk with Jesus. Talk with Him. What better way to find out what is on His heart that to spend some time with Him.

Ron Hilbig
Communications Director
Immanuel Bible Church

We’re in the middle of a capital campaign, but we’re hearing it’s a spiritual journey.  Which is it?  Well, I believe it’s both.  I personally believe the capital campaign will be no problem when we embark on the journey.
 

In Exodus Moses finds himself in the middle of a capital campaign too, when God commissions him to build the Tabernacle while they are wandering in the wilderness.  God commands him to tell Israel to raise a contribution for Him; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution. Ex 25:2  And God gives a very specific list of needed materials for the very detailed building plans that He gave Moses.  In keeping with the form of Hebrew literature, the instructions are given again in the 35th chapter.  “Take from among you a contribution to the Lord; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the Lord’s contribution…” and the detailed list of materials and building instructions is given again.  Now here’s the neat part, verse 21 says, “And everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord’s contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments.”  The really exciting part comes in the next chapter when the workmen come to Moses and say, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform. So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, ‘Let neither man nor woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.’ Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more.”  Ex. 36: 5-6  The Israelites had just been given the Ten Commandments, Moses had read the book of the covenant to them and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken, we will do, and we will be obedient!”  They were on a spiritual journey and when it came time to build the Tabernacle, their hearts were willing and they gave and gave until Moses had to tell them to stop.  I pray that we will embark on the journey with God where we can tell Him, “All that You have spoken to us in Your Word, we will do, and we will be obedient!”  When God has our heart, then He also has our wallet.  And then there will be more than enough resources to accomplish what He wants us to do.

Barbara Faught