Dearly Beloved

Dearly Beloved,

A new series begins this Sunday! 

On the first Sunday of January, I shared a message built mainly out of Luke 19 and the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus. Before we got into that story, we spent a few moments considering the story that occurs just before of Jesus healing Bartimaeus (because it sets up the story of Zacchaeus so well!). 

In the closing verses of Luke 18, we follow Jesus as He comes across Bartimaeus, a man who is blind and is begging at the side of the street. 

His needs appear very obvious. He is blind, and he is poor. 

Yet Jesus asks, "What do you want me to do for you?" 

A bit astonishing, isn't it!? Jesus  —God incarnate, God omniscient— is curiously asking a question. Wow! 

"I want to see," says Bartimaeus. 

Jesus heals him, Bartimaeus sees, and not only does he praise God, but everyone who saw what happened praised God also. 

Greater vision. 
Praising God.
Even more people praising God.

Sounds good to me. 

While this Sunday is the beginning of a new series (you'll have to wait until Sunday to find out what its entitled), we are calling this coming Sunday "VISION SUNDAY."

Like Bartimaeus, we want to see! 

We want to see what Jesus wants to see! Perhaps you may be curious about what our church is envisioning for the future? I hope to see you at either our 9 or 11am service this Sunday. 

I'm reminded of the quote I shared at the close of the message on the first Sunday of the year. Fanny Crosby, who wrote the hymn "Blessed Assurance" along with 8,000+ other hymns and songs, was born blind. She said, "If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind. For when I die, the first face I shall see will be the face of my blessed Saviour." 

Behold Jesus!
Wouldn't you love for others to see Him too?

See you Sunday,
Pastor Mike