If We Can Just Touch Your Robe?

I've been fairly quite on my blog for the past couple of weeks. In fact I think it's been about 17 days since my last post. I have to admit, I've been in a little funk. I've kinda stayed below the radar and simply spent some time reading, reflecting and praying. In some respects it's been a good time and in other it's been very frustrating. During those 2 weeks, we've had 2 great services at The Carpenter's.

Chris Hull spoke on the 27th of may and challenged us all about how to handle criticism and keep Jesus in the boat. Speaking as someone who gets criticized a lot, it was a message that God spoke, just for me. This past weekend we launched the new message series "Cars." In my opinion it was one of the most well thought out, well organized, flowing and purposeful services we've ever had. The music, media, message, flow, payers, baby dedications and yes, the Austin Healey on stage all worked together to communicate the difference between an authentic relationship with God through Christ and a rules based religious experience.

However, in spite of these great services, our attendance hasn't been great and our giving is still way down. I've been spending time asking God, "what are we doing that You don't want us to be doing" (or) "what do You want us to do that we're not doing." While I've not received a clear response, I was reading in Matthew the other day and a story that I've read many times, seemed to jump off the page at me.

Matthew chapter 9 verses 19-22: tells the story of a woman who has suffered for 12 years with constant bleeding. Jesus walks by and she thinks, "If I can just touch His robe, I will be healed." She touches His robe, Jesus turns around and when He sees her He says, "Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well."

I felt like God was telling me, just reach out and touch my robe. Have the tiniest of faith and I'll take care of the rest. Your Faith Will Make You Well!

So, I have some questions. What if we all were able to reach out and touch His robe and believe that by doing this little insignificant act, He would change the world through us? What if we had just a tiny bit of faith and believed that God wants to reach the Greater Lehigh Valley through The Carpenter's Church and then started putting action behind that faith? What if we spent half as much time telling people about Christ as we do complaining about what we don't like in the church?

I don't know about you, but I want to stop playing church, stop accepting mediocre faith, stop allowing Satan to use good people as a distraction to what God is doing and simply reach out and touch his robe. I want to put my tiny grain of faith into action and work with God where He's already working. We've got a big job to do and God is a Big God and I believe He can explode the doors of The Carpenter's in the next 6 months.

Who's ready to go with me??????