The Praying Mantis

The Praying Mantis

“One day Jesus told His disciples a story to illustrate their need for
constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.”
Luke 18:1

Having a praying mantis in the church planter has been a rare treat these past three summers, another of the wonders of nature that leaves us in awe of God’s creation. Consider these facts about the praying mantis:

• The praying mantis is the only insect capable of rotating its head a full 180 degrees.
• Despite being only inches long, the mantis’s vision extends an incredible 60 feet!
• The “praying” mantis is so named because its front legs appear to be permanently bent in the kneeling position making it look like this insect is constantly in prayer.
• Its legs are so strong that the mantis’s prey rarely escapes from this voracious eater who consumes everything from other insects and bugs to small frogs and mice.

As you look at one fact after another, you begin to realize that the Lord has hidden special truths in all aspects of His creation, from plants and trees to insects and animals, all for our enjoyment and benefit. Seeing the praying mantis when I come to church every day, (and yes, I look for it every day!), has become a daily reminder of my need to constantly be in prayer, to find the time to be on my knees in prayer to the God who is my all in all. Jesus taught on prayer’s importance and on never giving up as we seek the Lord for our future, for our families and fellow believers, and for the many needs that we face on a daily basis.

But there’s more for us to consider from the praying mantis. You have to wonder if the mantis’s being able to turn its head full circle isn’t a hint of the clarity and spiritual awareness we can walk in when we give ourselves fully to prayer. And what about the praying mantis being able to see far distances? Could it be that the person committed to constant prayer has greater insight into their future than others less determined and dedicated, and, because of that, is less prone to give up when trials and delays arise? And is it possible that, like the praying mantis, the prayer warrior lives a far more victorious, conquering life because of the strength and wisdom gained in that position of prayer after which this amazing insect is named? Maybe, just maybe, there’s more available to each of us through the power of persistent prayer!

God Bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church

Catharine Creek

Catharine Creek

“Each of you must take responsibility for doing
the creative best you can with your own life.”
Galatians 6:5 MSG

The short drive from Watkins Glen down to Elmira follows the path of Catharine Creek, a small stream known for its trout fishing, as Route 14 winds through the beautiful rolling hills of Western New York. Our family drove through that area several weeks ago and I had the chance to be back there this week when I got to spend a few days relaxing at a cottage on Seneca Lake and doing some touring in the area. Seneca Lake, as I’ve shared before, is the largest of the Finger Lakes and provides a great atmosphere for a few days of rest and relaxation.

Looking out over the two mile span of the lake, the overall view is so incredible that it’s very easy to overlook what contributes, unseen to most, to making that particular body of water so splendid. A good example is in the number of small, seemingly insignificant streams and brooks that flow into the lake, each one so small that you’d have to wonder if it makes any difference whatsoever. But there are hundreds of these tributaries flowing into Seneca Lake, each one contributing in ways that I would never see from the comfort of my lounge chair.

Underground springs also feed the lake providing a steady supply of fresh water to the lake, springs that at its deepest depths of 600 feet are never seen by the human eye. But the fact that we will never see their contribution doesn’t in the least diminish their existence and their importance to the lake and the many activities it supports. The same is true of Catharine Creek, not more than a dozen feet across in most places and often less than a foot or two deep, this little stream is a primary source of water to the largest of the Finger Lakes. Isn’t it ironic that such a large body of water depends on such small streams, springs, and brooks for its supply and sustenance, and to maintain its all important water levels.

Just as the springs are out of sight, and the streams and brooks so inconsequential in appearance that we wonder about their significance, so too it is easy to overlook the importance of each one of us to the plans of purposes of the Lord in His Kingdom and in our local churches. In some ways, we are all little Catharine Creeks, all important in God’s economy, and all necessary for the work of the kingdom. We all matter; we all have a contribution to make; we all have abilities and gifts to share with others and we all have a uniqueness that makes us indispensible to the Lord and to those around us!

God Bless
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church

Damaged Goods

Damaged Goods

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your
might (all your strength, energy, ability and effort).”
Ecclesiastes 9:10

Walking through clearance centers at local furniture stores has always ended up disappointing for Nancy and I. We see the good discounts and love the prices but we just aren’t interested in buying a major piece of furniture that is already damaged. The store’s part is understandable; they’re just trying to get rid of stock that, for one reason or another, can’t be sold at full prices. Beautiful wooden end tables that have been scratched through carelessness, or exquisite cherry desks that have been dented from having been dropped or run into, you can always find them at greatly reduced prices.

My thoughts started to wander to something so ridiculous that I hope you won’t delete this after reading it: What if someone bought one of those damaged items, the lamp with the cracked glass in the stem or the ripped lampshade, a new pan that was dented, or, worse yet, sheets stained from something being spilled on them, and gave them for a shower or wedding gifts? What words would jump out at you about the person who did that? How would you describe their action? No doubt the words would be anything but flattering.

Unfortunately, the scenario is not all that irrelevant. In the book of Malachi, we see God’s people sacrificing animals to him that were blind, blemished, crippled and diseased. (Malachi 1:8). And to make matters worse, they expected God to accept them from their hands. They took animals that no one would buy for food in the marketplace because of their disease, and animals that were too crippled to graze in the field and ever grow to maturity, and offered them in sacrifice “to honor” the Lord of heaven and earth. That they were shocked when God rejected their offering only shows the spiritual state they had sunk to.

The challenge for you and I is to make sure that we are giving our very best in everything we put our hands to, both in natural areas and in spiritual areas, both relating to our homes, work and church, and to our relationship with the Lord and with others. Solomon wrote “whatever your hands find to do, whatever you do, do it well, do it with all your strength, effort and ability, do your best.” If we’re giving less than our best to the Lord and to others (and that includes our family and employers), then the ridiculous thought of giving those damaged goods as presents is not all that ridiculous. Let’s all be men and women who give our best in all we do!

God Bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church

Definitions

Definitions

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now
I know in part but then I shall know even as I am known.”
I Corinthians 13:12

Just as you can find definitions for thousands upon thousands of words in a dictionary, you can also look up people’s names to discover what defined their lives. Here are a few examples to show you what is out there:

· Abraham Lincoln – The 16^th President of the United States who successfully led his country through its greatest crisis, the Civil War, only to be assassinated less than a month after the war’s end.

· Howard Hughes – A brilliant aviator, inventor and industrialist who became one of the wealthiest people in the world but who was better known at the end of his life for eccentric behavior, bouts with OCD, and reclusiveness.

· Mother Theresa – An Albanian Roman Catholic nun who for over 40 years ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned and dying throughout India becoming known internationally as an advocate for the poor and helpless.

· Benedict Arnold – A general for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War before switching sides to the British, a man whose name has now become a byword for betrayal and treason.

· William Booth – A British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army,a Christian ministry known throughout the world for being one of the largest distributors of humanitarian aid.

· Hetty Green - A woman known as “America’s Greatest Miser” who when she died in 1916 left an estate valued at over $100 million, but who, despite her almost limitless wealth, chose to live as a pauper.

The list goes on, men and women, defined by their accomplishments, by what had a hold on their lives, by attitudes and behavior, by sacrifices and choices made. And so the question has to be asked: What are we allowing to define our lives? Will it be our jobs, the people we associate with, maybe an overriding attitude, whether good or bad, or choices that define who we are to the people around us. Or will it be about our family, our God, or our relationship to Him and service for Him? Let’s make sure our lives are being defined in a meaningful, lasting way.

God Bless
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church

Wake Up Call

Wake Up Call

“….for it is light that makes everything visible. That is why it is said:
Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!”
Ephesians 5:14

One of the amenities found at the Crowne Plaza Hotel we’re staying at on this trip to New York City is one found in every motel and hotel around: the wake up call. Whether it is for catching an early morning flight, getting up after getting to bed way too late, or serving as an extra alarm clock, the wake up call is an invaluable service. I’ve used it when traveling alone and used it to wake up every room on our school trips to Washington; yes, the wake up call is a nice thing!

Of course, we all know that the Master of the wake up call is God, using the circumstances of life to wake us up from spiritual slumbers and from times of drifting away from Him. How many can relate to events happening in our lives that served as wake up calls from heaven, reminding us that we’ve stopped praying, or that we’ve gotten away from the place of trusting God for our lives and have, instead, taken matters into our own hands or fallen into depression or despair. Maybe it was a disagreement with a loved one, someone close to us getting sick, or hearing a “no” on something we were so sure would happen, our regular need for wake up calls is both true and unfortunate.

Jesus repeatedly had to wake up the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane when he had asked them to pray as he went further into the garden and prepared to go to the cross. It is from that encounter that we have the words: “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” and “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”. Our getting tired from the busyness of life and losing our focus on the things of God is understood in part, but we must be on guard against missing God’s wake up calls, those invitations to see with the eyes of God what is needed in our walk with Him.

God’s wake up calls are as varied as we can imagine: wake up calls to prayer, wake up calls to holiness, wake up calls to faithfulness, devotion, and commitment, and wake up calls to not ignore or avoid others who may need us at this time in their lives. But consider this: how much better would it be to live in the Spirit, to live with an awareness of the needs around us, and to constantly be searching our heart to make sure we are walking in the light we’ve been given. Let’s ask the Lord to bring us to that place where we are awake to the things of God and to the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

God Bless
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church