Discipline in a Long-Distance Race

That's the heading for this section in the Message. We have been talking a lot about how this "race" at Faith is a marathon, not a sprint. Churches move notoriously slow. A lot of us aren't even jogging in our faith.

But I have heard that if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. We are trying to re-create ourselves as a healthy church that goes together...jogging, not sprinting, not plodding.

The Faith Center is well on its way to being leased (mid-month, not at the end of the month like our last announcement stated) with the intent to be sold. We will officially vote about this as a congregation on Rally Day.

We need to be together in ministry and mission. If you hear me refer to MY Mutual Ministry Team, correct me. Its OUR team, building relationships and eventually scanning the congregation and community for how we can do the above, together, sharing the ministry at Faith.

Put on your seat belt, not because we're going fast, but because we're going far. How do we do that?

"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way..."

What do we do when things don't seem to be working? Blame our leaders? I'm not sure how helpful that is. Sometimes we're just getting a side ache, because we're running and may be out of shape. Faith hasn't gotten a young, new pastor for 40 years. We may need to walk for 100 yards (or a mile), but we certainly aren't dropping out of the race. This is a life-long journey, having faith, living with God and our sisters and brothers in Christ.

"Why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God."

That's my long-term dream for Faith. I'd like to seem us train together for years and then use that strength and health to build up the kingdom.

"No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!"

When we were on first call, Heidi did a 100 mile St Jude's run from Champaign to Peoria with 19 others. They always ran together (at least two at a time). She ran 23.2 miles, one woman ran 50 of them, others ran far less, but they were all in shape and they all did it together.