Is there not a cause?

Written by Pastor McCarty on September 9, 2014. Posted in Pastors Pen

Is there not a cause?  This rather famous statement was uttered by a young shepherd boy named David.  He came upon a scene he didn’t expect.  He arrived at a battlefield that actually wasn’t a battlefield!  Soldiers were present from both sides.  Land was disputed and purposes voiced.  The enemy came to engage the army of the Lord every day.  yet, none would step up to fight.  When the young, inexperienced boy arrived his heart was stirred.  He heard the words of the enemy and his indignation arose because this enemy dared to defy the God of Israel.  For the sake of God’s name little David was read to fight.  And, fight he did.

Today many are ready to find their cause in any number of places.  These are a few of the “causes” I found; Paws for a cause; Birthday for a cause; Canvass for a cause; Suits for a cause; Shop for a cause; and donate for a cause.  Some will remember the popular movie from 1955, “Rebel without a Cause.”  It seems for many years the theme of a cause has caught people’s attention.  Today I want to ask you, “What is the cause you are living, and maybe dying, for?”

In the years following World War 2 a flood of missionaries followed God’s call to the four corners of the world.  Young, underpaid, and inexperienced they left the comforts of “home” to go to where God had called.  Most left for their fields of service, not on giant planes, arriving in but a few hours.  Rather, they boarded freighters bound for the “regions beyond.”  Some would take three to six months aboard these ships planning and waiting for the day they would arrive.  Everything they brought with them were in barrels, suitcases and on their backs.  Without language or much money, they would embark upon a lifetime of service.

As I write this my eyes are filled with tears thinking of one of these dedicated, faithful servants of God.  He has been to me a tremendous encouragement, though I don’t really know him well. Harry and Lyn Ambacher headed to the city of Hong Kong in 1969.  They, like so many before them, boarded a freighter and headed off.  At the time Hong Kong was the “most crowded city” in the world.  The British, then in control of Hong Kong, decided to spread out the city into outlying areas.  Eight “satellite cities” were planned and built.  It was into one of these new cities Harry and Lyn went.  Over the next nearly 25 years God would use them to plant four churches across these new cities.  In time Lyn would be struck with Alzheimer’s and they would be forced to leave the field.  But, the field never left them.  Eventually Lyn wold be ushered into the presence of her Saviour.  But, Harry would continue on.  But, he would begin to suffer the effects of Parkinson’s, yet still serve on.

This dear saint of God has never stopped serving.  I have begun a study of the life of King David.  You know, the young man with a cause.  I knew Harry had taught courses on the Life of King David.  So, I wrote to him for any help he could be.  He very graciously sent me material.  Just before I was to preach my first message in this series I received yet another note from him.  In it he gave me some really good things to think about.  But, what touched my heart more than anything was when he said, “I would love to be in the first row cheering.”  Well, you can be assured, I will consider Harry in the first row cheering me on.  How can it get any better than that!?

Do YOU have a cause?  I mean, a real one you can give your life to.  The Lord has given me the privilege of meeting and knowing many others who, like Harry and Lyn, have given their lives to their call and not looked back.  I know the days for these dear saints were not always easy.  Yet, they have kept in their hearts the knowledge of Who they are serving.  Please allow me to quote a bit from a letter I received just yesterday from my “cheering” friend. “Autumn sweeps over Hong Kong with beautiful sunsets and clear mornings.  We often have our baptisms in October, with the new Christians crowded around the baptismal pool.  It is a custom for friends to give flowers to their friends.  We have so many memories of autumn.  In the early years, when we were helping Pastor Teddy Cheng those years were an encouragement.  Later, as our 4th church joined the others, we saw again how God could build His church.”

May the life of King David and people like Harry and Lyn Ambacher stir us on to greater service for God.  Who will go to serve?  You?

Role, Purpose or Function?

Written by Pastor McCarty on March 19, 2014. Posted in Pastors Pen

What is our purpose?  What is our role? What is our function?  Is this simply three ways to ask the same question?  Is our purpose the same as our role which is the same as our function? Is it related to how the words are used in a particular context?  Let’s see.

When we speak of a role our minds will often interpret this as in the role an actor plays.  The part, or role, he or she plays is not their real life or their real job or their real family.  They are given a part to play and they say woods given to them to say.  People who play the role of a smart person may or may not be as smart as they appear.  An actor or actress play the part, let’s say, of a doctor may perform that role extremely Well.  But, I for one, will not call upon them when I need surgery!

Purpose has become an overly used word in our day.  It seems everyone from Rick Warren to Dr. Phil uses this word!  Of course a legitimate use of it is fine.  But any word or thought that is overused loses its significance.  What our most important purpose on earth do is to glorify God.

But, I want to think about function.  How we function is part of doing what God has called us to do.  Each of us functions in many different capacities.  For instance, each of us functions as a producer. That is, we function as a worker.  Some of us function as a parent.  Everyone has a parent, but not all of us will be parents.  Another function some of us will take on is that of a partner.  Not as a partner in a company, but functioning as a partner in marriage.  Every husband and wife have certain functions that are more related them them than to the other. In the coming weeks we will be looking into these functions in relationship of the biblical family.

Though I will use these three words somewhat interchangeably, I want to try to focus on the thought of function.  I don’t want us to just be “playing a role.”  I don’t want us to just know what our purpose is to be.  Rather, I want us to function in way God has called us to function.  If husbands and wives, moms, dad, and children would do this, Christian homes would better reflect Jesus Christ.

So, how’s your function quotient.  In mathematics the term function is used of inputs and outputs.  A home will only put out what is being put into it.  Let’s commit to functioning well.