Many weeks, I will stand up and say that I want us to be a church that is known for its love, its compassion and its generosity.  I want for Christians and non-Christians to look at each of you as an incredible example of what it means to be in the process of “becoming more like Christ.”  Each time I say those words, I know they represent a goal that we are striving toward, not one we have fully achieved. 

This week, I wanted to share with you a moment when I saw a glimpse of the horizon for that vision to be realized.  This week, we have the opportunity to build a wheel chair ramp for one of our own congregation members at his home in Alvin.  He has been in the hospital and rehab facilities for 4 months now and is returning home soon, but has not regained the strength and feeling he will have to have in order to walk on his own. 

His name is Bob Mark, and I have been so proud of his Deeper Group as they have been visiting him in the hospital almost weekly and keeping tabs on his progress.  That, in and of itself, makes me proud to be the pastor at this church!  But in addition to that, they are coordinating a church-wide effort to build this wheelchair ramp at his home this Saturday morning.  They have been to his house, taken pictures, made detailed drawings and purchased supplies.  And to top it all off, there have been two congregation members who have volunteered to pay for the whole project. 

I was present at the home of one of our congregation members last night when several of us were doing some pre-work on the ramp so we could make sure we could complete the project in one day.  During that time, I had a brief vision of what the mountaintop can look like, a little slice of what the kingdom of God looks like.  It has taken time, energy, effort, money, sacrifice and most importantly, love to get to this place.  All of it done in the name of Christ and out of a desire to be the kinds of disciples of which He would be proud.

We haven’t “arrived” as a church, but I am confident that God is doing something special here.  It will not be easy, but following Jesus isn’t.  I hope you’ll join me in praying that God will increase our desire to give our time, energy, effort, money, love and sacrifice to make more and more faithful followers of Jesus here in the Bay Area and beyond.  We’re on our way.  Come with us.

As a very important side note, if you have any interest in helping with this project on Saturday, please e-mail Bob or Celia Ann Saterbak at Saterbak@earthlink.net and they will give you more info about the times and location asap.